The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-17
Continued from FIRST page.

end, by the declaration OF Mr.. van puteH, Is
eleventh of November last continued In iact tnrougn
out the wear in consequences of the season, which
prevented the resumption OF puDhc "oiAs,
same was the case with the appropriations lot lae 10
Tida war All these suspended apProPr'auonhs NV NV
fell upon the present Administration, tnough justly
charyeable upon the preceding one. These works
were essential to the defence and security OF the coun
try IL was necessary that they should be steadily
progressing. - uouof 80 N.
Treasury he observed that while upwards OF S24,-
100000 were required for the year, only
would accrue from means now In the hanos oi INC
Secretary of the Treasury. But Of these, upwards
of $4,000 900 were Treasury notes, which were mem
selves a charge upon the Treasury. They were not
cash, as the other available means Were Deductng
these from the nominal means of the year, the real
means would be only Sl0965,OOO.
, The deficiency of the past year had been created
in part by the unwise suspension OF the COLLECTION oil
dues from settlers on the public lands. Another item
of expense inherited from the late Administration
was charge Of $500 900 still due for the ex-
penses of taking the last census. The expenditures
on the public works, now no longer to be suspended
by the President must fall disproportionatey on the
summer months. This was expenditure that was
not to be refused, important as was the Improvement
of the deences of the country at this time yet men,
bers had denounced this with the rest OF the estimates
of the Secretary, as needless and extraVagant,
He quoted and criticised the speech OF an oPposi-
ton member who had labored to show that the dehcit
could be only Sl743,0OO. The ground OF TINS anus
ing estImaIe was the assumption of "a GOO, as
the available means of the year. Much was made,
also, of an apparent discrepancy between the fnan-
cial statements of the Presidents Message and those
of the Secretary's Report. This was due to the
difference of dates The Presidents statements were
from a report of the Register of the Treasury, May
eth. The Secretary's from report of the
Treasurer himself under date of the first of June.
Mr.. DAWSON said he intended to confne himself
strictly to the subject before the committee, which
was the ascertaning of the actual amount Of liab-
&c nd tha hast of mi Eya
only show the present existence of such debt
claimed, without asking how ii had been caused,
whether by the late Administration or otherwise. He
gave both parties credit for sincere desire to
tain the truth and to decide upon the amount of the
debt and the past mode of dscharging it, whatever it
might be, and how ever caused.
Interviewing the proposed appropriations he referred
to the bill NO 81 recently reported by the Committee
of Ways and Means for the Notifications and other
military expenses of the country That bill was not
yet passed But would any oppose it There were
many gentlemen, holding on this floor most hostile
to Great Britain and would they deny the Govern
ment the of sustaining itself in the position to
which such language might force them9
Both parties should speak out candidly, and tell
their constituents that there debt; but that they
differed to the best mode of paying it,-one party
preferrng loan, the other proposing Treasury notes
If Government would pay its debts, that would
operate at measure of relief to the whole
country. Business would revive the citizens would
be enabled to pay their debts; and the Government
would thus more efectually benefit the People, than
by any direct measure of professed relief.
He did not rise to occupy his hour, nor to go fully
into the subject but to present to Congress and the
country the simple state of the case. Mr.. Dawson
spoke but twenty minutes saa ssHs
MIR. ATHERTON commented on the great dr
versty of opinion among the friends of the Admins
traton, to the amount Of debt and liabilities for
the year. He noticed the statements of the Secre-
tary's Report and contrasted them with those con-
tanned in the speech made last session by the gentle
man from New York, Mr.. Barnard) He attacked
that speech in detail The supporters and organs OF
the present Administration were agreed in but one
thing; and that to charge the late Administra-
ton with extravagance, and the accumulation OF q
national debt. t
The real object Of the session. he maintained, was
not to provide for the necessities Of the Treasury,
but to charter Bank, appeared from the confess
sions Of gentlemen on this hoor one Of whom had
declared that as soon as he was satisfied that they
could not pass bill for Bank he was ready to adj
journ and 60 home. ssJ& .at
: He then went on to show that ample means exist
ed and would exist to the end of the year, to meet
all liabilities. He pointed out many reductions
which should be made in the estimates Though the
item Of the expenses of the extra session had ex-
ceeded the estimates yet he considered that result
unayorable to the Secretary character for accura-
cy The estimates for Notifications and military ex
penses he considered too large. II was desirable
that the Government should be kept short of mems.
A rich government implied poor people for the
money Wnlcn enTlcneQ the government nuSt uC
ed by taxation Of the people
The distribution of the proceeds of the land sales
was one great cause of the necessity OF new means
This measure had deprived the Government OF por-
ton of hitherto devoted to the ordinary ex
penses Of Government much as the customs. The
money thus distracted from the revenue was now te
be supplied from taxes imposed upon the people
Those who were to be taxed were not those who re-
ceived the benefit of the distribution. a
He then denounced the Administration as favorine
xl,a IF ctata oh
sal to reply to the letter of British bankers was ia
cit acknowledgment Of their claim on the Genera
Government.
Al the close Of Mr.. Atherton's hour, at half pas
one there many competitors for the floor, but Mr.
FILLMORE obtained it, to move an amendment.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON objected that by the rules
Of the House no gentleman could speak twice in Com
mittee of the Whole, when any member wished L
speak who had not yet spoken.
The CHAIR decided that the gentleman from N
York was in order, as be rose to move amendment
which the rules made always in order.
Mr.. FILLMOR RE presented his amendment, which
wns to this effect TO strike out the first section, and
insert section increasing the rate of interest
sir per cent. and rendering the loan redeemable, il
deemed expedient, in three years He then occupied
the brief time remaining for the bill to continue y
committee, (from half past one till two when the bill
must be reported according to the order of the House.
with hasy reply e the substance Of the a..a g
days in committee Hewas interrupted by the arrva
of the hour of two. 49, .E s.s, r.
Mr. GILMER moved to amend the amendment by
striking out the whole and inserting new paragraph
permitting the issue of Treasury notes as substitute
for q loan E a @s #
Ayes 80, noes 49, The amendment to the amend
ment was rejected. @ 4f
Mr. MCKAY moved to amend 80 az 70 render the
loan rembursabIe attne pleasure Of the Government
and not of the Secretary ofthe Treasury
The CHAIRMAN decided that the amendment
was not in ORDER would lead to division Of the
question.
the decision Of the chair
Mr.. KcKAY's amendment was then rejected--ayes
81 noes 106. @
Mr.. Mckay moved to amend the amendment gain
by limiting the application of the money borrowed, &c
the redemption Of the Treasury Notes. Lost without
n division. ay
Mr.. MCKAY moved TO amend the amendment fur
forbid iha &c be offh