The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-05
Tmemtp=&RbeMth Congress.
SECOND SESSION.
THURSDAY, March 3, 1912.

THURSDAY March 3, 1912.
Mr.. CLAY presented petition signed by num-
Der of glass manufacturers in the State of Pennsyl
vania, praying for specific duty on foreign window
glass; Also memorial from John Tug, Of the city Of
Baltimore complaining Of the abuse Of the ranking
| privilege by members of Congress.
! Mr.. BUCHANAN presented several petitions
from the State of Pennsylvania asking for additional
protection on iron.
Legislature of Rhode Island, passed in January last,
upon the Importance of protection American in
dustry.
Mr.. MILLER presented petition from l54 ladies'
of Railway in New Jersey, asking that an additional
duty may be levied upon imported ready-Inade cloth
| ing also, memorial from Alexander M. Cumming
praying compensation for certain extra services per-
formed under mail contracts.
Mr. BARROW presented the resolutions of the
Legislature of Louisiana with regard private land
claims in that State ALSO the resolutions of the
body in relation to the aggressive policy of the British
Government, and pledgng the State of Louisiana to
support the General Government in redressing the
wrongs our citizens and preserving the honor of the
| country.
| Mr.. YOUNG remarked that friend in London
had to him a statement, in tabular FORM of the
produce of the revenue of Great Britain for the
years l84l and 1912, showing the amount derived
from customs, excise stamps, taxes, post office, crown
lands and from other miscellaneous sources with the
increase and decrease in each branch of the
| within these years As it was matter of some I'M
| portance, he would present the statement for the
use of the Senate; and his motion, it was refer
| red to the Committee Manufactures.
| On the motion of Mr.. McROBERTS, it was
Resolved That the Commissioner of the General
Land Office be directed to lay before the Senate a
statement of the of such of the early settlers
in the Illinois country not confirmed by the
Governors of the Territory in the full quantity of
400 Of land also, that he state what number
of confirmed in each case, and in CORE
spending column the number of acres necessary to
make up the said quantity Of 400 acres aso that he
inform the Senate whether the reports of the Com
missoners for reexamning adjusting land titles at
Kaskaskia showed the said claims to be valid and
further whether the Register and Receiver, acting
Commissioners subsequent to the reports made by
the Board Of Commissioners aforesaid, approved said
claims and recommended that the additional quantity
to complete the grants of 400 acres aforesaid,
| should be made by Congress.
| The bill for the relief of Hezekiah Cunningham
was read third time and passed.
The resolution of Mr. MERRICK, Joint rule to
the two Houses-that no amendment shall be made
to any general appropriation bill for objects not call
ed for by some pre-existng law, was taken up for
consideration
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE opposed the resolution, and
remarked that those who its friends should ex
hibt strong reasons why it should be adopted. The
effect of the resolution if acquiesced in, would be to
tie up the hands of the Senate, and he did not
why the members Of the body could not trust to them
selves and act wisely.
Mr. MERRICK replied that it was to be pre-
sumed that the Senate would act wisely; but not
withsanding, Senators were not SO wise and perfect
as to dispense with all restraint whatever The
solution which he had submitted was, in his opinion,
very important, for it was well known that at the
last night of session important bills had been
passed with amendments engrafted them re-
atng to objects not at all german to the subject
Therefore they bad to reject the whole bill vote for
it with its Objectionable features; and he hoped that
gentlemen, from their long experience in legislation
would see the necessity of the measure which he had
proposed, and adopt it, with view to guard against
the evil which he had designated, and Of which they
had so much to complain.
Mr. WOODBRIDGE called the attention of the
Senate to the disadvantages which would result to
them if the resolution should be adopted and he stated
that an appropriation some time since made to
general appropriation bill for the improvement of the
harbor at Annapolis, which could not have been
added had rule similar to that now proposed been
then in operation.
Mr. LINN remarked that as the Senator from Indi-
ana Mr.. SMITH had the floor for to-day, upon the
resolutions of the Senator from Kentucky he would
suggest that the resolution now before the Senate be
passed over informally until tomorrow.
Mr.. MERRICK hoped that the suggestion would
not be acquesced in the resolution would not cause
much debate, and it could be easily disposed Of
Mr. LINN assured the Senator that there was like |
Iy to arise considerable debate upon the subject and
on his motion the Senate proceeded to the orders of
the day.
THE TARIFF AND INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM. |
The Senate resumed the consideration of the reso-
luons of Mr. Clay with regard to the revenue, etc.
Mr.. SMITH, of Indiana, after some preliminary
remarks said that, the head Of the Committee on
Public Lands he felt called upon to speak of the dis
tribution land law, which had been particularly as
sailed. This act now the law OF the land, and
he should meet the question upon its merits, and en-
deavor to show not only that the Land bill was con-
stitutional but that if it was unconstitutional all the
acts of Congress connected with the public lands
were unconstitutional also. The public lands were
derived from three several sources viz the lands OBJ
tanned under the treaty of peace with Great Britain
the lands coded by the States to the General
Government, and the lands acquired by pur- |
chase from France and Spain The express pow |
er of Congress the public lands was per-
feet, and ample, and plenary. 1t was not an i'm
piled power, but was full and sufficient The dis
posal Of the lands was power with Congress, and
the only contingent question was that connected with
Congressional discretion. Congress had the express
power to borrow money but all of the incidents of this
power the manner of borrowing, and the interest to be
paid were subjects of Congressional discretion Con-
gress had power regulate the commerce of the Uni-
ted States but the whole vitality of the power rested
upon Congressional discretion. Congress had power
to coin money but the amount of the money the stan
dod of value the proportion OF alloy, were all lett TO
the discretion of Congress- Congress had an express
power establish post Offices and post roads, but all
Of the forms of this power dependent upon the
action of Congress The Senator from New York,
(Mr Wright J however, in his argument yesterday,
had spoken only of the abuses of the power and IN the
same way he might have debated every express power
in the Constitution He then referred to the several acts
of Congress making grants of land for the purpose Oh
showing wherein Congress- and members OF congress,
had committed themselves upon the supJect OF the
public lands and he advered to the opinions Oh zen
eral Jackson and to other authorities to prove the