The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-26
TWemtp=&RnRmth Congress.
SECOND SESSION.
IN SENATE,
THURSDAY, March "a, l842.

IN SENATE.
THURSDAY, March "a, l842.
| Mr.. GRAHAM remark ed that the indsposition of
the President of the Senate still continued and that
he had been requested by him to take the Chair with
which request he complied and after the reading Of
| the journal,
| Mr.. STURGEON presented the memorial of Cad
wallader Evans, of Plttsburg, Pennsy stating
that he has been engaged for number Of years, in
constructing safeyvave to guard against steamboat
accidents, and asking that the same may be adopted
| by the Government of the United States.
| Mr. MERRICK presented memorial from citl-
zens of Maryland, praying for an increase of tariff on
| all foreign imports.
| MIR. YOUNG presented petition from GIundy
county, Illinois, praying tor grant of land for the
completion of the illinois and Michigan canal; Also
memorial from the same State, recommending Con
gress of Nations that international differences may be
| settled without resort to the sword.
| Mr. BUCHANAN presented petition from CO.
lumbia county, Pennsy lvana, asking for revision OF
the tariff, with view to the protection of domestic
manufactures.
| Mr. SMITH, of Indiana said that several days ago
a petition had been referred to the Committee on
Public Lands from the President and Visiters of the
Virginia Asylum for the education of the deaf dumb,
and the blind praying for grant OF land to aid that
institution; and also the resolutions of the Legislature
OF Illinois, asking for the grant of township of land
to establish an ylum for the deaf and dumb. The
Committee had come to the conclusion that grants Of
land Tor these purposes ought to extend to all the
States of the Union, instead OF being confined to but
few of them. Therefore he had been instructed to
move to lay the documents upon the table, and ask
leave to introduce bill granting lands to the several
States for the education of the deaf, dumb and blind,
and for the relief of insane persons.
The bill was then read, and ordered to a second
reading.
! Mr.. MANGUM introduced bill to provide for
establishing naval schools, and for other purposes
which read first and second time, and referred
| to the Committee on Naval Affairs
Mr.. BAGBY submitted the following resolution,
! viz
Resolved That the Committee on Military Affairs
be instructed to inquire into the proprety of erecting
Notifications the east side of Dauphn island, for
the protection Of the city and harbor Of Mobile.
Mr.. KIN said that this site was once selected and
included in the classification of Notifications to be
built under the direction of the Engineer Department.
The erection of fort was commenced there, but,
from some cause, was discontinued and an impress
sion now prevailed among intelligent officers, and
others, that to defend the port of Mobile, in of
hostile attack, it was necessary that fort should
be erected on Dauphin island He made this state
men in order that the attention OF the Committee on
Military Affairs might be called to the Importance of
the subject Indicated.
| Tho resolution then adopted
| Mr. TAPPAN introduced bill for the relief of
| Jacob Graves; which read first and second
tme and referred to the Committee on Naval At
| fairs.
| RELIEF OF THE GOVERNMENT
MIR. PRESTON begged leave to propose a resolu-
tion for the purpose Of elictng declaration Of the
opinion of the Senate with regard to the present
dtion of our finances, and suggesting also express
sion of the opinion of the Senate to the proprety,
efficiency and soundness Of mode Of relief which
was much desired. He had been so much detained
from the Senate, that he had little opportunity of
pertaining what others thought of present condi-
ton but for himself no begged leave to say that he
had been oppressed with the accounts daily received
of the distress of the country and the dshonor which
attended the credit of the Government finances. He
did not introduce the resolution for the purpose of
political effect, but merely to call the attention of the
Senate to it, and in order that this and another
branch Of this Government might be stimulated to
some action to preserve them from disgrace and
dshonor-and from pitiful condton-and from
| one exlgency or another to which they might
be exposed. He did not purpose TO investigate
the means by which they had been brought to
this sad condition, nor to attribute tine existing evils
to party or to the other this the other po
| icy for his mind was full of sympathy in con-
| sequence of these calamities that there was
no room for bitterness leproaches; and,
| as he before said, all he desired to do
SO to bring his resolution to the atten-
ton Of the Sennte for the purpose of stimulating
ton on the part of Congress for the relief of the Go
vernment, and he would perhaps take occasion, to-
| morrow, to express his views with regard to it.
The resolution was then read, and is follows:
lleSOfUeU, nat the actual COnutOn OF the finances
and credit Of the country require most prompt and de-
csive legislation the pant of the Government and
to this end, that loan should be authorized for
amount sufficient for the present exigency and
terms which will insure its success.
The following bills were then passed, viz
The bill further to amend the act entitled " An act
to appropriate the proceeds of the sales of the public
lands and to grant pre- empion lights approved Sep
TENDER 4, 1871, and the bill TO amend the several acts
establishing district of the United States at
Jackson, in the west district of Tennessee.
THE TARIFF, AND INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the
resolutions of Mr.. CLAY proposing augmentation
Of the tariff and reduction of the expenses of the
Government, as follows
l. Resolped That it is the duty of the General Go
vernment, in conducting it's administration, provide
an adequate within the year to meet the
rent expenses of the year; and that any eXpedent
either by loan by Treasury notes, to supply, in
time of peace, deficiency of revenue, especially du-
ring successive years, is unwse, and must lead to
perniclous consequences.
q Resolved, That such an adequate revenue can
not be obtained by duties foreign imports, without
adopting higher rate than twenty per cent pro-
vided for In the Compromise act which, at the time Of
It's passage was supposed and assumed ratio that
would supply sufficient revenue for an economical
administration of the Government.
j. Resolped, therefore, That the rate of duties on
foreign imports ought TO be augmented beyond the
rate OF twenty per cent to produce nett reve
Of twenty-s millions of dollars twenty for
the ordinary expenses of Government, two for the
payment of the existing debt and two millions a re-
served fund for contingencies.
d. Resoiped, That in the adjustment of tariff to
raise an amount of twenty-sx millions of revenue,
the principles of the Compromise generally should
be adhered to and that especially, ximum rate
of ad valorem duties should be established from
which there ought to be little departure as possible
5. Resolved 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 act