Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-06-19
TwCnty.SCyenth Congress.

Correspondence Of the Bait. American.
WASHINGTON, June l2, ls4l.
SENATE.
THE BUSINESS OF THE SESSION.
The resolution of Mr. CLAY for limiting and de-
signaling the business of the session came up
which Mr.. BENTON opposed as an attempt TO
dictate TO the Senate.
Mr.. CLAY set forth his right to offer what rcso-
luton he pleased. The general wish being to get
through this Extra Session, and to make it as short
as possible, the struggle Of men of opposite opinions
should be limited, he thought, to the struggle of
mind with mind, and not to that power of endurance
or brute force, which spent itself in starving each
other out When in the minority, he declared he
had always objected to this kind of opposition. and
that his position had changed, it certainly had
no charm for him. Bank Bill, he said, would be
brought forward next week, to which he thought
especial attention should Re directed.
Mr.. YOUNG of III. having suggested that the
Senate was, and alv ays would he in advance of the
House. Mr.. CLAY replied that the Senate should
do its duty without reference to the House.
Mr.. BENTON complained that the President
had sent in none of the Executive nominations,
which, by the way, he had invited the Senate to
scrunze Now he wanted time for tha, scrutiny,
such as he could not have if Mr.. Clay's resolutions
passed.
Mr. BUCHANAN did not feel any necessity for
changing the rules. He glad to hear, though,
that the Bank Bill To be brought forward next
week, which he deemed the great business of the
! 4 :, l., II a.
Senator from Kentucky would find him ready as
any body TO act upon it speedily.
| Mr.. CALHOUN though, the resolution nfringed
the rights of the minority. The Senate he conten-
led, should always be far in advance of the other
House, and this attempt to cut short the expression
of opinion in the Senate, neither right pro-
! per. lie hoped Mr.. Clay would withdraw the reso-
/ ls,ions.
Mr.. CLAY said he needed no better evidence of
desire, disposition 10 protractthe session, than
this debate on so plain proposition. The coun-
try, he repeated, called for, and submitted to
extra session of Congress, not TO hear what MEM
hers of Congress had to say, but to have them
act and carry out their will, without wasting time
too, and quickly as possible.
Mr.. CALHOUN said the people would not
thank us for action, if we did not act wisely. Hs
would rather remain there year than not to be
able TO let oil have expression of their opinion
upon the great measures which il was proposed
10 act, Mr. Calhoun moved to lay the resolution
upon the table, but upon the suggestion of Mr. Al
len, withdrew the motion.
Mr.. ALLEN then spoke at considerable length
The democratic party, he said, not response
BILE for this Extra Session. but now that their Rep
rcsenta,ivcs were there, they could not be gagged
Asto a Bank, he did not believe that the peOpi
called for one, and the Ptesiden, himself had admit
ted indeed, that the people had decided against one
MIR. Cluy's resolutions he pronounced to he arbirf
ry and iyranrical, and then he went on to speak
the purposes of the Federal party allengh.
Mr. BENTON called for the yeas and navs.
Mr.. CALHOUN novel to lay the resolution
the table, and asked for the ayes and nays when lh
question being taken, ii was decided in the mega
tive ayes 10, nays 27.
After some further conversation, the respIutio
was so modified as TO agree take up the unfnist
ed business after the morning hour, when the Res
lutons agreed to.