The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-10


Mr. BENTON presented the memorial OF the
Mayor and City Council OF the city OF ST. Louis ask
ing that further appropriation be made by Congress
for completing and repairing the harbor ut that city
Mr. GRAHAM, from the Committee on Claims,
made an unfayorable report the petition Of Mon
sieur Gonon praying remuneration for the expenses
incurred by him in testing his system Of elegraphs.
Mr. HENDERSON, from the Committee GA Pr-
yate Land Claims, reported bill confirming TO the
heirs aud legal representatives OF Pierre Dhel, de-
ceased tteir claim to of land in the State of
Louisiana.
Mr.. PRESTON, from the Committee Military
Affairs, reported, without amendment the bill to re-
fund the balance due the State of Massachusetts on
account OF Expenditures incurred by her during the
late war with Great Britain
he following resolution, heretofore submitted by
Mr.. EVANS, was adopted viz:
Resoiped, That the Secretary Of the Treasury be
directed TO communicate 10 the Senate any information
IN his possession showing the comparative tariffs OF
duties OF foreign nations upon imports, with such other
Information as he may deem relevant to the subject.
THE ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS-.
The resolution of Mr.. KING, proposing that Con-
gress adjourn die, the Both Of May next was
taken up for consideration.
Mr.. KING said that after he had offered the teso-
luton the other day. he had moved TO lay il upon the
table, in order that Senators might direct their atten-
ton to it, Every gentleman must be aware that, ii
day be fixed, their proceedings would be shaped with
reference to the adjournment and the business could
be taken up and acted equally well without as
with continual discussion, from day to day, when
there was no necessity for it. The extra session
occupied more than three months, and, if they add
journed on the 3Oth of May they would have a SIX
months session, which would make session OF nearly
ten months in the of year. From the present
time until the 30th of May they would have sufficient
unie 10 transact their business including the bill fixing
the ratio of Representation according The last census
and also the Tariff bill. Let them pass the resolution
and send it to the House, and if it there objected
TO, they could amend IL to suit themselves.
Mr.. CLAY hoped that Congress would adjourn on
the Both of May but he thought that the proposition
10 fix day ought to Come from the House of Re-
presentalves, with whom the great burden of busl-
ness would originate, He of opinion that the
resolution premature, and, entertaining is view
of the subject he moved that the resolution be LAID
upon the table.
Mr. KING said that as he did not wish to inter
fere with the Senator from Virginia, (Mr ARcnER,)
who entitled to the floor the resolutions OF the
Senator from Kentucky, (Mr CLAY) he would
move to postpone the further consideration OF the
subject until Monday next when he thought
that he could show that if they continued to
indulge in premature discussions, they would be
here until July
The further consider alton of the resolution was
then postponed until Monday next.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The resolutions of Mr.. CLAY to amend the Const-
tuition of the United States coming up for considera-
ton, ,..@
Mr.. ARCHER addressed the Senate, and in the
course Of his remarks said that although modif-
cation of the veto power might be beneficial the good
that would result from would not compensate for the
evils which might ensue If they opened the
door to amendments it would be like the highway de-
scrbed in the immortal poem of Milton, for when the
devil travelled through chaos to earth, there was no
highway at ALL but he made one and called
on the other devils to travel at his heels;
and, if the road to amendment be opened greater
evils might result than those which it proposed
to remedy. He said, however, that if the Senator
from Kentucky should insist on bringing his resolu-
amendment to them SO that when bill return
ed by the President the vote upon should take place
at the succeeding session. and that it should become
law if passed by majority of both branches of Con-
gress.
The Senate then adjourned