The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-31


act entitled An act to appropriate the proceeds Of
The sales OF the public lands and TO grant presumption
rights" approve the All day Of September, 1871,
appropr,tes those proceeds to the States and TEL
rtones and to the District Of Columbia, ought TO be
repealed because 1t lie apparent that this portion
of the public revenue cannot be taken from the Ma
tional Treasury without eating the instant necessity
for increased loans, additional TAXATION both
amount sufficient to supply the deficiency thus
produced
An X solution Strike out all after the word
amount" in the LIST line and insert-of revenue
such may be required, over AMI above the means
10 be derived from the sales OF the public lands,
which amount should always be equalto the current
expenditures Of the Government, economically and
properly administered, and TO the gradual but certain
eItingushnent of any existing debt the principles OF
the ACT Of the I'd OF March 1888, entitled IAN act
TO modify the act OF the fourteenth uf July thou
sand eight hundred and thirty two and all other acts
imposing duties on Imports" commonly called the
Compromise act, ought 10 be adhered to- The gene
raj basis of such ad uslment.
9th RESOLUTION. Strike out the words Fought to be
repealed in the last line, and insert presents the
ground upon which only Congress has assented The
distribution Of the land revenue to the States and
when il shall appear that the distribution take
place consistently with the terms of that provision,
will appear that state of things exists under which
Congress did not intend should take place at all.
A debate ensued, in which Messrs. BATES,
CLAY, RIVES, MANGUM, WALKER, WOOD
BURY CALHOUN, WRIGHT, and Others part
cipated, when the question was taken on the amend
mens, which were rejected by the following vote,
viz:
YEAS-AIessrs. Allen, Archer, Bagby, Benton,
Calhoun, Fulton, King, Linn, McRoberts, Preston,
Riyes, Sewer, Smith, of Conn, Sturgeon, Tappan,
Walker Wilcox, Williams, Woodbury. Wright,
Young-2l
NAYS-Messrs. Barrow, Bates, Berrien, Choate,
Clay, Clayton, Evans, Graham, Huntington, Kerr,
Mangum Merrick, Miller, Morehead, Phelps, Porter,
Prentiss, Simmons, Smith, of Ind, Tallmadge White,
Woodbrdge-22.
On the motion of Mr. PRES TON, the following
| resolutions Of Mr.. Clay, then referred to the
Committee on Finance, viz
Resolped That such adequate revenue can
not be obtained by duties foreign imports, without
adopting higher rate than twenty per cent. as pro-
vded for in the Compromise act, which, at the time OF
its passage, supposed and assumed as ratio that
| would supply sufficient revenue for an economical
, administration Of the Government
! Resolved therefore, That the rate Of duties
I foreign imports ought TO be augmented beyond the
rate of twenty per cent. TO produce nett reve
of twenty-sx millions Of dollars twenty two for
| the ordinary expenses of Government, two for the
| payment Of the existing debt and two millions
served fund for contingencies.
ReSoired, That in the adjustment of tariff TO
| raise amount Of twenty-six millions of revenue,
the principles of the Compromise act generally should
he adhered to ; and that especially, maximum rate
| Of al vaorem duties should be established, from
which there ought to be little departure possible
Resoirtd, That the provision in the act OF the
extra session for the distribution OF the proceeds OF
the public lands requiring the operation Of that acL
to be suspended in the contingency OF higher rate
OF duty than twenty per cent. ought to be repealed
/ The following resolutions were seyeraly referred
to the Committees on Retrenchment, the Judiciary,
Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Post Offices
| and Post Roads
i Resolved, That the contingent expenses of the two
Houses of Congress ought to be greatly reduccd and
the mileage of members of Congress ought to be re-
| gulated and more clearly defined.
Resolved, That the expenses of the judicial depart
ment of Government have, of late years, been greatly
| increased, and ought to be diminished
ReSoircd, That the diplomatic relations of the
United States with foreign powers have been unnc-
cessarly extended during the last twelve years and
ought to be reduced
Resolved, That the frankug privilege ought to be
further restricted the abusive of restrained I'd
punished the postage on letters reduced the mode OF
estimating distances clearly defined and pre-
scribed, and a small addition to postage made ON
books pamphlets, and packages, transmitted by the
mail to be graduated and increased according their
! respective weights.
The first and sixth resolutions of Mr.. Clay were
! adopted, VIZ
i Resolred That ii is the duty of the General Go
vernment, conducting its administration, provide
adequate revenue within the year to meet the
rent expenses of the year; and that any expedent,
either by loan or by Treasury notes TO supply
Of peace, deficiency OF revenue, especially during
successive years, is unwise and must lead to perm
4 ci0us consequences.
Resoired, That it IS the duty of The Government
at all times, but more especially in such
now exists of general embarrassment and pecuniary
distress to abolish all useless institutions and oiic,
to curtal all unnecessary expenses, and to practice
rigid economy
The Senate then went into an Executive session
and aitrI some time spent therein, the doors were
| opened and it adjourned.