Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-08-27

Illultllid1 VI TIC NIlCil
the bill, (Mr. Smith, of Indiana,) and also
that Of the distinguished Senator from Ken
lucky, (Mr. ClayD so long its ardent and
persevering champion. If a proposition
thus solemnIy made and accepted-not a
private and questionable bargain, conduct
ed in corner-in the conclave of a COM
mittee room-but an open, manly and hon
orable negotiation, carried on in the regular
process of legislation, in the face of the
Senate and the world, attested by official
records, and finally imbodied in the form
of law, carries with it, as is now alleged
no degree of obligation upon the parties,
am at loss to conceive what there can be
in any legislative proceedings to engage
the responsibility or to bind the faith of
man.
The honorable Senator from Maine tells
us that he declared at the time, in his place.
that he attached no particular sanctitv to
the proviso in the Distribution act-that
the same ma jority which might hereafter
impose higher duties than twenty per cent.
would have it in their power to provide, at
the same time, and in the same act, that the
distribution of the proceeds Of the public
lands should take place, notwithstanding
the imposition of these higher duties. Such
declaration Qhough have no recollection
of having heard it from any quarter) might
have come naturally enough from the Sena-
tor OF Maine, who was opposed to, and
actually voted against, the proviso But
suppose that it had been then made bv nv
friend from Indiana, the chairman Of the
committee on Public Lands. (Mr Smith1
or by the distinguished Senator from Ken
lucky, (Mr. Clay0 both of whom, together
with many other friends of Distribution,
assisted by their votes to engraft this pro-
viso upon the law-suppose that they had
announced to us, in effect. that though we
now vote for this proviso, to secure your
votes for the bill, yet, having effected the
passage of the law by your cooperation
thus obtained, we shall seize the first mo-
ment which may place in our hands the
power, to withdraw and cancel it, APP
peal to the honorable Senator from GeOr-
gia, (Mr. Bcrrien.) if such a sentiment and
purpose had been avowed. on this floor, bv
any conspicuous friend of Distribution. who
had voted for his amendment whether he
would, after such declaration. have rivcn
his support to the bill. appeal to nv
honorable colleague, (Mr. Archery whether
it would have received his support if he
could have unprecedented, even, any sucI
purpose Of rctracton on the part Of an,
Of the leading friends Of Distribution who
had given their votes for the incorporation
Of the proviso in the bill. But, in truth
not the slightest cause was furnished 70
any such apprehension, On the contrary
the whole proceeding in this Chambe
seemed to give the ampest assurance tia
a principle, incorporated into the bill as
fundamental part Of the measure, ant
known to be the sole basis of any practica
legislative action upon it, would be faith
fully adhered to and sacrcdly maintained.
But this is not all, Mr.. President. No
only was the amendment to the bill, mad,
in this body, deliberately concurred in b,
the House Of Representatives, with a ful
knowledge of its import. but on a subge
quent and distinct occasion, the stipulation
contained in the amendment (Which had, il
the meantime, become a part of the law 0
the land) was re-allirmed and ratified, il
the most solemn manner, by both House!
after formal conference. refer to ceI
tain proceedings Which lOOh IJltIC uuI III
the late session Of Congress, on the bill re
latng to duties and drawbacks. This b
had been amended by the Senate, and
was sent back by the House of Reprcser
tatives, with an amendment proposed b.
them to the Senate's amendment. TIL
amendment proposed by the House of ReE
rescntatives, from the generality. of il
terms, seemed susceptible Of a constructo
incompatible with the proviso in the Di:
tribution bill. though not SO intended
was Immediately objected to. on that at
count, by the honorable Senator from Al;
bama, (Mr. king) suggested modif
cation to remove the ambiguity, which wa
f readily acceded to by the Senator frol
Kentucky, (NIr. Clay.) who had charge c
: the subject, and who requested me to re
duce the modification to writing. A cor
ference was then asked between the wv
Houses, on the subject Of their disagrceir
| votes in relation TO the amendment. whc
l terminated in a recommendation, by ii
; Committees of Conference TO their respe
! tive Houses, that they should adopt III
= proposed modification as it had been acc,
t dcd to by the Senator from Kentucky, al
= which was in the following words: "Th
: it, in virtue of this section, any duty e
/ ceeding the rate of 30 per centum ad '
D lorem, shall be levied prior to the 30th
Y June, 1912, the same shall not, in any wis
Y affect the disposition Of the proceeds
e the public lands as provided for by an a
: passed at the present session Of Congress
: This modification, as proposed by Il
e Committee of Conference, was, on II
b | same dav anrnnh 10 hu both HnnSnS =,