The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-13
CONGRESS-.

In the Senate, on Thursday, message was re-
ceived from the House of Representatives, stating
that tney had disagreed to the report of the Commit
tee o Conference on the disputed points in "the bill
for tie reorganization of the army and for other Pur-
poses and asking further conference.
Mr.. PRESTON moved that the Senate acquiesce
IN the proposition for a further conference
Mr.. BATES inquired whether it was in order to
move reconsideration of the vote by which Com
mittee of Conference was ordered to be appointed on
former occason2
Tie CHAIR replied that the vote could not now
be rsconsidered, as Committee had been appointed
ON The part of the Senate and their report con-
CURED in. But this difficulty could be obyiated by
1.-THE appointment of another committee.
Tie question was taken and the motion OF MI.
PREroN having been agreed to. committee OF three
was ordered to be appointed by the Chair.
Mr. CALHOUN presented memorial from sun
dry citizens of Caroline county, Virginia, protesting
against the tariff bill recently returned to the House
With the Presidents objections and asserting that the
Government should only pay its debts by tightening
the burdens Of the people, and that this should be
done by economy, retrenchment, and reform.
Mr. EVANS, from the Committee on Finance re-,
ported the bill providing for the contingent expenses OF
the Government, with various amendments; which
were ordered to be printed
Mr. PRESTON asked the consent of the Senate
to proceed to the consideration of the joint resolution
to reimburse to the Treasury the moneys heretofore
paid for the REIMBURSEMENT Of the Indian title to lands
Mr. MOREHEAD said that if it agreeable to
the Senate, he would prefer that the motion lie
until tomorrow, as he wished to submit an amend
ment.
Mr.. PRESTON withdrew his notion and, at the
same time gave notice that he would renew to
row morning.
The bill regulating the pay of officers in the reve
nue. cutter service laid upon the table.
The bill to establish police for the protection of
public and private property in the city of Washing
ton, was taken up.
The question was taken on the amendment pend
ing, thatthe auxiliary guard shall be appointed by the
Mayor OF Washington instead of by the President OF
the Uniel States proposed by the bill; and it was
decided il the Acknowledgements 81 nays 20, as fol-
lows
YEAS.-Messrs Archer, Bates, Bayard, Berrien
Choate, Conrad, Crittenden, Evans, Graham, Kerr
Mangum, Miller, Morehead, Phelps, Porter, Preston
Rives, Simmons, Sprague, White Woodbridge-21
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Benton, Buchanan, Cal
houn, Clayton, Crafts, Cuthbert, Fulton, King Linn,
McRoberts, Smith of Connecticut, Smith Of Indi-
naa, Sturgeon, Tappan, Wilcox, Williams, Wood
bury, Wright, Young-2O
The amendment was ordered to be engrossed and
the bill to be read a third time.
The bill to authorize the Secretary of the Treasu-
ry to pay to Captain Shreeve $4,000, whenever he
shall convey, in the proper form, all his right, title,
and interest, to his patent for snag boat, having
been read
Mr.. MOREHEAD remarked that the Select Com
mittee the subject satisfied with the import
of the nvention and that the only point OF diff
ference among them was as to the amount which
should be paid to Captain Shreeve.
Mr.. KING observed that the distractions in the
Western and Southwestern waters had been re-
moved, but, notwithstanding, they were now asked
to vote $4,000 to purchase the patent Of the boat
for pulling snags out of rivers He thought that
under existing circumstances, the matter might as
well lie over and, if no Senator felt disposed to GO
on with the subject he would move to proceed with
the consideration of busilsas of more importance
the country.
Mr.. LINN apprehended that the People of the
United States had been more benefited by the
invention than Captain Shreeve himself. With
put this invention for ages to come, obstruc-
extensively removed. Thereby the value of the
ands of the United States had been largely en-
aanced, and this could not have been effected except
by the expensive construction OF canals, or other
means. As long snags remained in the river they
would be compelled to the boat-they could not
do without it-and Captain Shreeve should be remu-
nerated for the invention. Its usefulness his friend
from Alabama would scarcely deny; and the expert
ence and testimony of all who had foated on that
river was sufficient show that the invention had
been productive of incalculabe good.
| Mr.. MOREHEAD conceived the invention to be
of the greatest Importance, and Of the opidon
that they had better give the 800 600 to Captain
Shreeve for the of his boat if 1t in his pow
er to deprive the Government of its use.
Mr. KING said that if, by possibility (but which
he did not antcpate should be ascerained that this
boat was of essential service to the country, they
could then pay Captain Shreeve for the of it. He
believed that the patent was about to expire.
Mr.. MOREHEAD observed that it had ten years
to run from this time.
| Milking resumed He believed that this boat
III AL
venton had been resored to- This, at least, was his
impression.
Mr.. MOREHEAD thought that the Senator uis-
took in supposing that any other invention had been
substituted for the snag boat of Captain Shreeve.
The present superintendent, Captain Russell had
given it as his opinion that the boat was of the
greatest Importance, and article of lndspensa-
BILE necessity.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN knew nothing about the in
vention but he had understood that Captain Shreeve
had had money placed in his hands to construct boats
for the removal of distractions. The boats were
built and furnished with the necessary machinery ,
and they were the property of the Government. Cap
tain Shreeve employed our boats for us and had we
not right to them2 And would any body say that
should not the boats 2 He had heard it stated
that there was no new principle In these boats-no
invention that was not familiar and long in use
Therefore, under no circumstances could Captain
Shreeve be entitled to compensation. he stated this,
not on his own knowledge, but rom what he had
heard, SO that the Committee might turn their atten-
ton to the subject, and ascertain whether the nfor-
nation was not correct
Mr.. ARC HER said that some years ago. on the
Ohio river, when the boat stopped he was asked to
look at this invention. He consented, and after he
had walked short distance he saw two bateaux,
connected at the PROV. He nothing in their APP
pearance different from that of similar boats in his
country. What ingenuity displayed, and
what the worth of the patent he could not say,
as he was conversant with such things; but, as
to the value of the boats, he thought that thousand
dollars was sufficient.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN The boats are ours.
Mr. LINN observed that the Senator had spoken
ofthe invention simple thing The feat perform
ed by Columbus with the egg also simple
thing. Nobody could make it stand upon its