The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-11
IN. SENATE.
WEDNESDAY. Sent.


Mr.. PRESTON, from the Committee on the Mi
litia, reported the bill from the House making appro-
piatons for the repair Of forts at Staten Island New
York. ~4
Mr.. EVANS, from the Committee on Finance, re-
ported, with amendment, the bill from the House
to repeal the 9th section Of the act for the support
the military academy at West Point for 1885, and to
prohibit the investment Of trust funds Of the United
States in the stocks Of theseveral States.
The joint resolution authorizing the purchase by
the Secretary of the Treasury of American water
rotted hemp for the use of the Navy and to extend in
ment from the Naval Committee, That such purchase
shall be made with regard to the price and quality Of
the article
of the Navy that had been the practice of the De-
partment for some years to contract for and give high
er prices for domestic hemp than for the foreign arti-
Gle, when the quality was equal. The COMMITTEES
did not think in reporting the amendment that it was
proper TO give great premium TO domestic hemp. The
amendment regulating the purchase according TO the
price and quality would make very little difference
with the practice Of the Department. and he thopsht
il ought to be adopted. ~ w
MI. CALHOUN moved to lay the resdution on
the table till next session. He, hows,er, at request
Mr.. MANGUM thought the resolution, as amend
ed could do no HARM and might stimulate to the pur-
chase of domestic hemp t iG
The a pasNa9%M We. .h.n saeP.ed,,
4
be adopted, it would give general stmnlus to the
production Of hemp throughout the country.
Mr.. KING thought it was best to leave this matter
to the sound discretion Of the Secretary. If domes-
tic hemp could be advantageously procured as other
the Secretary would feel bound to purchase it. He
preferred to leave the matter as it stood.
n After further brief remarks by Mr.. WOODBU-
RY in favor Of and Mr. CALHOUN against the
Mr.. CALHOUN renewed the motion to lay the
resolution nthe table This was negatived.
The resolution was then ordered to be engrossed,
and read third time. g,.
The bill from the House making an appropriation
of 1888 800 for repairs of Notifications Staten ISL
and, New York, was taken up. s
Mr.. KING hoped they would have some explana-
on on the subject. Did that island belong to the
General Government sEss 5sf
Mr.. PRESTON said some doubt had existed, but
il had been ascertaned satisfactorily in the other
House that it was the property Of the United States
The Of money was the result of estimates OF the
proper Department. for the repair Of forts which were
Messprs WRIGHT and HUNTINGTON spoke
of the question of the validity Of the title of the Uni
ted States to these forts and the matter had not
been sufficiently examined, Mr.. II. moved to lay the
resolution the table. He however, at request,
withdrew the motion, and
Mr.. SEWER expressed the hope that it would not
be laid on the table, He wished to move amend
ment to appropriate $4,000 for repairs of Fort Glib
son, Arkansas.
After further conversation, Mr.. HUNTINGTON
renewed the motion to lay on the table, which was re-
jected !: yeas IS, nays 81. s a
Mr.. WRIGHT offered an amendment, applying a
part of this appropriation for the purchase of the sites
Of the forts, in case il should appear on examination
by the Attorney General that the title Of the United
States TO them was not valid
After some conversation by various Senators, the
amendment Of Mr.. Wright was adopted. Yeas 81,
nays H. ss,st.s
The amendment Of Mr.. SEWER was thon adopt.
M. HUNTINGTON moved that the further
consideration Of the bill be postponed to the first Mon
day in December next. This motion was carried
yeas "a, nays 81. VI. ,.s
Thus the bill was postponed till next session.
EMPLOYMENT OF REPORTERS BY THE SENATE.
Mr.. BAYARD, from the select committee on that
subject reported resolution for the employment OF
Reporters by the Senate. The resolution and report
were ordered to be printed and he gave notice that
he should call them up for consideration tomorrow.
The resolution authorizing the purchase Of domes-
tic waier-rottcd hemp for the use of the Navy, was
taken up the amendment having been engrossed, and
was adopted. -...ai..
The bill from the House to repeal the 9Th section
Of the act fol the support of the Military Academy at
West Point, and to prohibit the investment of trust
funds of the United States the stocks of the several
States, was then taken up.
The amendment of the Committee provided for the
repeal of much of the 9th section Of the act Of
1888 appropriating for the support of the Military
Acadamy at West Point as requires the Secretary OF
the Treasury to invest the annual interest accruing
the money arising from the bequest Of the late James
Smthson of London and other trust funds in stocks
Of the several States and that the Secretary be
qured to invest the accruing interest from such fund
in any stock Of the United States bearing rate Of
interest not less than five per centum per annum.
Messrs. LINN and WOODBURY. spoke briefly,
after which the amendment was adopted
Mr.. CLAY said the relation between the Govern
ment and the States Of the latter being debtors to the
former, ought always to be ayoided for what means
could be used to the States If they refused to
payl We had stocks of our own in which this trust
fund ofthe Government could be invested He should
prefer the adoption Of this principle that in all
Of trust funds, account should be opened with the
Gnyernment Of the Initial Saies and TINT the fund