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

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 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.
Messrs. Andrews and Rhett, at the same mo-
ment, moved to lay the resolution on the table.
The motion prevailed by vote of 100 to 70.
Mr. Arnold held a singular petition In his
hand, which he wished to present to the House,
but objection was made.
Mr. Meriwether asked leave to offer resou
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 dit-
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 :Appropria-
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 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 deducible 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-
portioned to the wants Of the country, and es-
pecially with 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 TO 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
igan, 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 of the Bankrupt
law. He said that it was his intention, on some
morning, 10 bring in bill to repeal the law. He
had been looking OVERT, and had considered it 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 it or not, he had in
formation, on which he could rely, that the ques'
ton of its constitutionality would be carried to
the Supreme Court of the United States.
Mr. McRoBERTs presented memorial from
citizens Of Montgomery county, Illinois, re-
questng Congress to place the nation in pro-
per state Of defence. They deprecate war as
a national evil, but would prefer war rather
than submit to insult and aggression-ask for
reduction of the public expenditures in ratio
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,
a sufficient amount may be afforded for
the support of an economical administration OF
the Government They wish Congress to avoid
a national debt and to pay the present debt, and
ask for the settlement Of the Oregon Territory
as speedily possible, by liberal grants of lands,
and express the hope that Congress will give
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 SEN
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
nued at the rate of daily compensation respectively
now allowed them and that the clerk to the presiding
officer during the session be continued the same
rate as is now allowed.
Mr.. E. said that in the Appropriation bill
here was proviso which restricted the pay