The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-07-29
CONGRESS.


that The duty on railroad iron may be discontinued ;
also from the miners of Wisconsin and Illinois, re-
quesung that the lead mines in these Territories may
neither be sold or leased but that board Of COM
mssoners may be appointed to take the matter into
consideration, and report plan for equitable dis
position of them
| Mr.. PRESTON moved that the Senate take up the
following resolution, that it might be read second
time, viz
Resoued by the Senate and House Of Representatives Of
the United States Of .4uerica Congress assembled That
all sums hereafter appropriated to carry into effect
treaties for the extngushmen of the Indian titles
lands, shall be reimbursed 10 the treasury of the
proceeds OF the sales Of the lands acquired by the
treaty under which the appropriation is made
The resolution having been read a second time,
The CHAIR said that it would take its place upon
the calendar.
Mr.. WHITE thought that it ought to be referred
to a committee Ii was in the recollection Of every
one that during the extra session. the selfsame ques
ton voted on and rejected. He could not acqu-
esce in this resolution and when he reflected that its
tendency would be to destroy one of the favorite
measures for which the Wings had struggled for
twelve long years, 1t med to him to be Of the
most extraordinary propositions presented to the
Senate. 1t designed, by single short sentence, to
cut down the distribution OF the proceeds Of the sales
of the public lands and therefore, he moved TO re-
fer the resolution the Committee on Public Lands
Mr.. PRESTON sail that he did not intend to en-
ter into discussion Of this question now He diff
fered decidedly from the Senator from Indiana on
this subject, and from his friends attached to the
Wing party. He was not friend to the distribution
policy; 1T had never met with his appreciation, and
he had opposed it, He did not intend to make dis
tnct attack on this policy, but he begged leave to
put to the Wings Of the Senate for their re-
lection 1t was known to all that the Treasury was
now in the most embarrassed condtion-their utmost
exertions were taxed to devise ways and means for
the Government-the authorized loan was not taken
IN truth, and in short, the Treasury exhausted
Now, in this actual condition Of things suppose the
highest interests Of the United States should REQUIRE
at the hands OF the Senate the passage of the Indian
treaty for the purpose of extinguishing the Indian
titles to lands would honorable gentlemen saw in
| this exhausted condition of the Treasury that
| they would go on and give away the proceeds of
the lands thus acquired This question pre-
sented in naked simplicity and with overwhelming
cogency, only one answer. He desired that the ex-
penses consequent upon the extingushment of In
dian titles should be paid out of the proceeds de-
rived from that source. If they relied on rumor
there were two Indian treaties in progress for
the purpose of extinguishing Indian titles; and,
would the Senator from Indiana say that means for this
object should be taken out of crippled Treasury
and not one cent arising from the sale of the lands
be returned to the isc The lands would be more
valuable than the price paid for them and after all
expenses paid there would be left balance for
distribution. But he trusted that distribution was
not to be carried to the extent of squandering the
proceeds from the CUSTOMS for the purpose of aug
menng the proceeds of the sales of the public lands
If that was to be the policy they might well give
money out Of the Treasury directly, instead of in
this way. His policy not to run counter to the
general policy of distribution on this occasion al
though he had opposed it recently. But he had
powerful reason for bringing forward this resolution
because, under the pressing state of things he could
| not vote for the treaties to which he had alluded
unless provision be made to pay the expenses in
volved in the extnguishment Of the Indian titles as
| designed by the resolution.
| Mr.. ALLEN acquiesced in the views of the Sena-
| tor from South Carolina and, after submit ting his
views adverse to the policy of distribution he said
| that at proper time he would submit an amend
men to the resolution, that all the proceeds of the
| public lands might be made available to extinguish
the Indian titles. II the resolution should be passed
in its present form, the money would be paid from
the Treasury for the lands, and it would not be
imbursed cent or dollar until the specific lands
shall have been sold, which might in many cases. be
deferred for twenty or thirty years; that OUTLAWS
| from the Treasury would not be compensated
| from the sales of the lands for which the OUTLAWS
| were made
Mr. WHITE replied to the Senator from South
Carolina. He conended that duty of about thirty
per cent. on six or millions of imports would
supply the deficiency occasional by the withdrawal
OF the lands from the Treasury and that the disri-
button of The proceeds of The public lands among the
States would stimulate industry and enterprise, and
be productive of many benefits than If that re-
venue should enter into the purposes of the Govern
ment.
Mr. PRESTON further replied to the Senator
from Indiana
| Mr. MOREHEAD suggested that this resolution Ell
ther lie over until Senators could reflect further upon
the subject that it be permitted to go to the Com
| mttee on Public Lands
Mr. EV ANS said it apparent that this subject
was likely to lead to lengthy discussion and, it
was now one O'Clock, he moved that the further
slderaton OF the subject be postponed; and the
ton agreed to.
The bill providing for the settlement of claims arr
sing under the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was
read third time and passed.
The Senate then took up the bill to provide reye-
nue. from imports, and to change and modify existing
| laws imposing duties imports.
The first amendment of the Committee on Finance
was read viz. to change the duty cotton baggng,
or other imported substitute from five to three and
half cents per square yard.
| Mr. CRITTENDEN hoped that the amendment
would not prevail The price of hemp at Louisville
was, at the latest dates sixteen and half cents per
pound, ana TINS too at time when every thing was
IN state OF great depression and manufact, rers
were obliged to close their works because this price
would not sustain them. The Russia hemp entered
Ia gely INTO competition with the American
Inc grass oaggng procured in the East Indies but
penny yard and If two yards made the bag, it
sold here at double the price of cotton; say more
than forty cents Therefore it was evident that un-
der this state of things the manufacturers of our
own country could not succeed. The Government
was making an effort, which was a liberal one, and
he hoped that it would succeed, to substitute our
hemp, for naval purpo es, for that which has been
heretofore received from Russia
Mr.. CALHOUN, after estimating the duty on bag
glng rope, and Irvine, said that it would cost the
planter seventy one and one-nnth cents for putting
up every bale OF cotton. Surprising that the product
OF cotton this year would be two millions of bales
the bill would impose on the cotton crop alone du-
ty, IN round numbers, of one and a half millions
That was to say, the anter ud be taxed one bale
OF cotton in every thirty-seven
message was here received from the House of
Representatives stating that they insisted on Sc
veral of their amendments and had appointed
Messrs. Wise, W. b. Campbell, and Mckay, as a