The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-31
CONGRESS-.

On Monday, in the House, Mr.. Gwinn asked
leave to introduce resolution, that the House
should meet after the first of June, at 10 o'clock,
and that there should be a recess every day from
two till four o'clock
Mr.. James proposed to strike out that part OF
the resolution establishing a recess
Objection was made to the reception OF the
resolution. Mr.. Gwinn moved suspension OF
the rules. The motion was negatived by vote
of 81 to 67-two-lhirds not voting for 1t.
Mr.. Fillmore expressed wish that a time
should be fixed for terminating the debate on
the Army Appropriation bill-he had no pecu-
liar prediction for any specified time, but to
test the sense of the House on the subject, he
proposed to terminate the debate in Committee
of the Whole on Tuesday, the 3lst, at O'Clock.
Messls. Andrews and Rhett, at the same mo-
ment moved to lay the resolution on the table.
The motion prevailed by vote of 100 to TO-
Mr.. Arnold held singular petition in his
hand, which he wished to present to the House,
but objection was made.
Mr.. Meriwether asked leave to offer resolu'
ton calling on the Secretary of the Navy to IN
form the House what orders had been issued
since the first of the present month to the dlf-
ferent navy yards, and information in respect OF
the arrest of launching vessels and the discharge
of workmen.
Objection Icing made, motion was made
to suspend the rules. Upon this motion, liz
voted in the affirmative and "a in the negative.
The rules having been suspended, the resolu-
ton was then adopted.
Mr.. McKennan, the new member from Penn
sylvania, appeared and was qualified. The
House then resolved itself into Committee
Of the Whole and took up the Army Appropra-
ton bill. Mr.. Gilmer resumed his remarks in
favor Of the reduction of the army. He saw no
reason to apprehend war from England-he
saw nothing to dread on the part Of Mexico,
with respect to Florida-he was in favor of an
armed occupation of that country. He depressed
then into a minute examination of the abuses
existing in the army, and proposed the reme-
dies for their correction.
He was followed by Mr. Lowell, who agreed
with him on the principles he had stated in re-
lation to the standing army-but differed from
him on the consequences deducibe from them
The defenceless condition of the State OF Maine
alone, shows that the present army is not toe
large. The numbers of the army must be ap-
porioned to the wants Of the country, and es-
pecialy with a large exposed country on the
Eastern frontier, constituting the most impor-
tant topic of dispute with such nation as Great
Britain, it would be lmpolitic 10 reduce the army
at the present moment Mr.. Lowell then went
into review of the question of negotiation be-
tween this country and England to show the
claims of Maine and the hazard of predicting an
amicable termination of the dispute between the
two nations.
In the Senate, Mr.. PORTER presented me-
mortal from individuals engaged in the manu-
facture and sale of lumber, in the State of Mich
gan, asking protection against the competition
of persons residing on Crown in lands Canada
Mr. CRAFTS presented petition from the
wool growers in Vermont, asking for protection
Mr.. BENTON presented memorial from the
same State, asking for repeal fthe Bankrupt
law. He said that it was his intention, on some
morning, 10 bring in bill to repeal the law. He
had been looking overit and had considered in
ALL its aspects, and he was persuaded that it was
not Bankrupt law within the meaning of the
Constitution Of the United States. 1t was un-
constitutional and void, and he believed that it
was the duty of Congress to repeal it; but,
whether Congress repealed il or not, he had in
formation, on which he could rely, that the ques
ton of its constitutonality would be carried 10
the Supreme Court of the United States.
MIR. McRoBERTs presented memorial from
citizrns Of Montgomery county, Illinois, re-
questng Congress to place the nation IN pro-
per state of defence They deprecae war as
national evil, but would prefer war rather
than submit to insult and aggression-ask for a
reduction Of the public expenditures In ratio
proportonate to the agricultural and mechanical
products of the country-express desire tor
tariff duties for revenue so adjusted that,
with other legitimate sources OF revenue,
sufficient amount may be afforded Tor
the support of an economical administration OF
the Government They wish Congress to avoid
national debt, and to pay the present debt, and
ask for the settlement Of the Oregon Territory
as speedily as possible, by liberal grants of lands,
and express the hope that Congress will give
encouragement to the importation OF precious
metals, so that the paper circulation may be
based on the constitutional currency-gold and
silver.
Mr.. EVANS submitted the following resolu-
ton:
Resolved That until the further order of the Sem
ate, the same number of messengers, laborers, and
pages, as are employed in the chamber OF the Senate
and the Office of the Secretary Of the Senate be con-
tinued at the rate of daily compensation respectively