The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-03

SECOND SESSION.
IN SENATE,
TUESDAY, March |, 1912.

State of Illinois, to aid that State the completion
of the Illinois and Michigan Canal petition from
large number OF citizens residing In the Northern part
of Illinois the same subject; communication from
the Commissioner of the General Land Office, show
ing the relative quantity of public land granted to the
States Of Ohio Indiana, and Illinois, for purposes of
internal improvement; memorial from the Mayor
and Aldermen of the city of Chicago praying that the
sales of the 10th, school section of land, made
by the inhabitants of the township, in which that city
is situated may be confirmed by an act of Congress
and petition from number of citizens of Pike
ty, Illinois, praying that the inhabitants of township
No. South, of range No. 2 West of the 4th princi-
pal meridian, in that county, may be permitted to re-
linqush fractional section No. l6, containing 1863
acres and reserved for the use of schools in that
township, and which is represented being unfit for
cultivation, and to select other lands in lieu of the
same All of which, on his motion, referred to
the Committee on Public Lands.
Mr., KING introduced Joint resolution that the
Postmaster General be authorized to extend the
istng mail contracts between Mobile and New Or
leans for two years from the expiration of the present
contract; which read first and second time,
and referred to the Committee on the Post Office and
Post Roads.
The resolution of Mr. MERRICK, nhibiting any
amendment from being made to any general appro-
pration bill unless proposed by some pre-existing
law, and the resolution Of Mr. ALLEN to open the
doors of the Senate during the transaction OF Execu-
tive business, except when engaged on treaties were
severally passed over.
THE TARIFF, INFRINGEMENT, AND REFORM, &c.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of
the following resolutions, submitted by Mr.. CLAY
veIal weeks since, VIZ
J. Resolped That it is the duty of the General Co
vernment, conducting its administration, TO provide
adequate within the year to meet the cur
rent expenses the year and that any expedien either
by loan by Treasury notes, to supply, in time OF
ace, deficiency of revenue, especially during sue
cessve years, is unwise and must lead to perncious
consequences
. Resolped, That such an adequate revenue can
be obtained by duties foreign imports, without
adopting higher rate than twenty per cent. as pro-
vided for in the Compromise act which, at the time OF
its passage supposed and assumed ratio that
would supply sufficient revenue for an economical
| administration Of the Government.
3 Resoioed therefore, That the rate of duties on
foreign imports ought to be augmented beyond the rate
of twenty per cent to produce nett revenue OF
twenty six millions of dolars-twentytwo for the Or
binary expenses of Government two for the payment
OF the existing debt, and two millions reserved
| fund for contingencies.
a. Resolued, That in the adjustment of tariff to
raise amount of twenty-six millions of revenue
the principles of the Compromise act generally should
| be adhered to; and that especially, maximum rate
of al valorem duties should be established, from
which there ought be little departure possible
5. Resolped, That the provision in the act of the
extra session, for the distribution of the proceeds oil
the puOc landS requiring the operation OF tnat act u
be suspended in the contingency OF higher rate oil
duty than twenty per cent ought to be repealed.
6. Resolped, That it is the duty of the Govern
ment at all times but especially in such
exists of general embarrassment and pecuna-
diotross To abolish all useless institutions and Of
fees to curta all unnecessary expenses and to prac-
tice rigid economy.
7. Resolred, That the contingent expenses of the
two Houses of Congress ought to be greatly reduced
and the mileage of members of Congress ought to be
!
B. Resolped, That the expenses OF the judicial de-
partment of Government have, of late years, been
greatly increased, and ought to be diminished
| 9. Resolped, That the diplomatic relations of the
United States with foreign powers have been unne-
cessarily extended during the last twelve years, and
ought to be reduced.
10. Resolred That the ranking privilege ought to
be further restricted the abusive of it restrained
and punished the postage letters reduced the mode
of estimating distances more clearly defined and pre-
scribed, and small addition to postage made on
books, pamphlets, and packages, transmitted by the
mail to be graduated and increased according to their
respective weights
H. Resolrsd, That the Secretaries of State, of the
Treasury, of the War; and of the Navy Departments,
and the Postmaster General be severally directed
soon practicable to report what Offices be abo-
lished, and what Ietrenchment Of public expenditure
can be made without public derment in the respec-
tive branches ofthe public service under their charge.
Mr.. CLAY observed that he did not come here as
|
flowers and sweescented shrubbery to Gull tea roses
japonicas, jasmines, and woodbine and weave them
into beautiful wreaths to please the eyes and regale
by their fragrance and flavor the senses of the ladies'
and it far from his wish to revive any subject OF
party character calculated to excite or renew ami
mosities which heretofore existed between the two
great parties of the country He had come here to
pursue far different purpose-to speak of the sad
condition Of the country, and point out not the re-
mote causes but the proXmate es, of the embar-
easements which prevailed and to suggest effect
i've remedy for the evil and he would remark that il
any body had come here to see him make an ambi.
tous display, and high-sounding speech and to deal
in metaphors and tropes, they would find themselves
disappointed, as his figures would not be those OF
rhetoric, but of arithmetic With reference to the
first resolution, he said that in 1887 when Mr. Van
Buren, convened Congress, instead of LAYING taxes
upon free articles, ought to have been DONE Trea-
sury notes issued year after year. to furnish the
necessary means to carry the Government and the
responsibility ofthe payment of this debt thus contract
ed, was thrown upon the succeeding Administration
therefore, it became necessary to look to some
mode of supply. In this state of the country bleeding
was at every pore, he hoped that Senators would
Danish party feelings and look to the true interests Of
the nation. During the administration of Mr. Van
Buren, the excess of expenditure over the income
every year, was between and eight millions of
dollars and the moment that the Administration per-
ceived this Distress it their duty to impose upon
free articles, according to the principles of the Com
promise aCl an adequate amount OF revenue Tor
economical administration Of the Government Pass
ing by the first resolution, he would take the next
three, all relating to the subject and he pro-
posed to consider them together The first question
presented was, what ought to be the amount Of
, the annual expenditures The aggregate to-
, tai expenditure under the administration of Mr.
Van Buren, Sl42, SCI 000 averaging for the four
years S35 $4,000 year. Now, the proposed ex-
pendture which he had suggested was only twenty
two Millions which, deducted from the 1886 $40 600
| L..
more than the average amount of expendi-
lures during the administration of Mr.. Adams whose
necessary expenditures were to have been reduced
and curailed by those who to succeed that gen