The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-09

thought that he would not take the liberty of giving
his opinions as to the effect Of their proceeding they
were mistaken, for il privilege which he would
yield TO nobody. As to the opprobrious epthets OF
the Senator from Missouri, he hurled them back TO
the source whence they emanated.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE PROCEEDS OF THE PUBLIC
LANDS.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the fol-
lowing resolution, heretofore submitted by Mr. Clay,
viz:
| Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be
instructed to inquire into the expediency of proyd-
ing by law that, whenever any State or States shall
refuse their proportion of the public lands, such pro-
portion shall be distributed among the residue Of the
asserting States; or in what manner these proper
tons ought to be disposed Of or whether any DISPOSE
| ton OF them ought TO be made
! Which Mr.. KING had moved to amend by strk-
ing out the words such proportion shall be dstribu-
| ted among the residue of the asserting States"
| Mr.. SEWER moved to lay the subject upon the
table but he withdrew the motion at the request of
Mr.. CLAY, who said that, as he wished to show his
spirit of accommodation, he would agree TO accept
| the modification of the Senator from Alabama,
that the Committee the Public Lands might nyes-
tigate the subject in all the variety of modes which
| might be presented to them.
Mr. KING remarked that he wanted to whe-
Their any Senator disposed to distribute to the as
sentng States the proportion OF the public lands
which might be refused by any State or States and,
therefore, he asked that the question be taken upon
| his amendment.
| MIR. CLAY said that, as the Senator would not
accede to the accommodation, he hoped that the Sc
nate would not consent to strike out the clause desg
| mated.
| Mr.. BERRIEN observed that when he told
that in voting against striking out the portion of the
resolution proposed by the Senator from Alabama,
he would be giving his sanction to the distribution to
the asserting States Of the proportion OF the lands
belonging to the dissenting States he rose for the
purpose of saying that while he held himself bound
to vote for the inquiry proposed, he should not affirm
the result of the vote maintained by the Senator
| Mr. MANGUM concurred in the views expressed
| by the Senator from Georgia
i Mr. BUCHANAN would vote for the amendment
as he did not think they were competent to make the
inquiry proposed. The asserting States had right
the proportion of the public lands which any State
or States might refuse to accept and the asserting
States had just about much claim to it as he (Nlr
Buchanan) had to Ashland or to any other property
belonging to the Senator from Kentucky.
Mr.. SMITH, of Indiana conceived that, by striking
out the clause specified by the Senator from Alabama
the resolution would, in effect remain precisely it
now
MIR. SEWER said that as gentleman advanced in
life they became fond of talking, and he thought
that they had shown il on the present OCCASION
Congress had been in session for the space of ten
weeks, and had not spent three days in the transac
ton of business but nearly the whole time OF the
Senate had been taken up in discussing distractions
(he meant ofence) and nonsense they had been
during this whole day
Mr.. BUCHANAN, with smle.) callt the gen.
teman to order.
Mr.. SEWER, (pleasantly.) | will take my seat,
| sir.
Mr.. BUCHANAN. My point of order is based
upon the mputation that the Senate could talk
sense. [I4aughter,l But will withdraw my objec-
{ ton.
Mr. SEWER would then proceed. They had been
discussing this subject for entire day; and where
was it to end What was it all about Why, to
the propriey of dividing money which was not yet in
the Treasury, and which would not be there until
,,t&.la l,e,,
ture and in order to enable them to proceed to the
consideration of the business of the country he moved
! to lay the whole subject upon the table.
Mr. CLAY called for the yeas and nays, which
t were ordered, and are as follows
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Barrow, Calhoun, Full
ton, Mouton, Pierce, Sewer, Smith, of Conn, Stur-
; geon, Tappan, Woodbury., Wright, Young-l3.
4 NAYS-Messrs Archer Bates, Bayard, Benton
Berrien Buchanan, Choate, Clay, Clayton, Evans,
Graham, Henderson, Huntington, Kerr, King, Linn,
McRoberts Mangum, Merrck, Miller Morehead,
Porter, Prenss, Preston, Simmons Smith, of Ind,
Southland, Tamadge, Walker, White, Woodbridge
81
So the Senate refused to lay the subject upon the
table
The question was taken upon the amendment of
Mr. KING and it decided in the negative--yeas
2 20, nays %, as follows:
YEAS essrs. Allen, Archer Benton, Buchanan,
Calhoun, Fulton, King Linn McRobers. Mouton,
Pierce Preston SEWER Smith, of Connecticut, Stur-
geon, TaPpan, Walker, Woodbury., Wright Young
20.
! NAYS essrs Barrow, Bates Bayard Berrien,
Choate Clay, of KY, Clayton, Evans Henderson,
Huntington Kerr, Mangum, Merrick. Miller, More
head, Porter Prentiss, Simmons, Smith, Of Indiana,
Southland, Tallmadge, White, Woodbridge-23
The resolution was then adopted-years 25, nays
10, as follows
YEAS-Messrs Barrow, Bates, Bayard Berren
Choate Clay of Kentucky Clayton, Evans Graham,
Henderson, HUNTINGTON. ManQum. MeTrck,
Miller, Morehead, Porter, Prentiss, Preston, Sim
mons, Smith, of Indiana Southland, Tallmadge,
$ White, Woodbridge-25.
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Archer, Benton Bucha-
5 nan, Calhoun, Fulton, King Linn, McRoberts,
Mouton, Pierce, Sewer, Smith, Of Connecticut,
Sturgeon Tappan, Walker Woodbury., Wright,
Young-l9.
CLAIMS ON MEXICO
' Mr.. WALKER submitted resolution, (Which
lies under the rule) requesting the President of
the United States, if incompatible with the pub
lie interests, to communicate to the Senate copies of
all papers addressed to the President to the Sece
tary of State by citizens ofthe United States having
claims on Mexico, and which claims were to have
0 been adjusted under the Joint convention between
this Government and that of Mexico, etc He
remarked that not only every Senator, but the
civilized world would be astonished at the pro-
cecdng of the Mexican Government in relation to
these claims and he believed that she had instructed
her commissioners to prevent fair examination of
them If his resolution should he answered, this fact
would be made apparent. The joint commission
the whole subject should be brought before the Senate
and the country in order to give to American claim
ants whatever redress they may be entitled to.
The Senate then adjourned.
The Report and the various circulars from the
Post Office Department have satisfied the country
that that important arm OF the government, in which