The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-19
I. Mr.. GRAHAM, from the Committee on Claims,
reported the bill for the relief of the legal represe na
lives of William Piatt.
PROTECTION OF THE UPPER LAKES.

Mr.. GRAHAM, from the Committee on Clan's,
reported the bill for the relief of the legal represe na
lives of William Piatt.
PROTECTION OF THE UPPER LAKES.
On the motion of Mr.. WOODBRIDGE, it was
ResolUsd, That the Secretary of the Navy be re-
quested to report to the Senate whether any mea-
sures have been taken and if any, what measures,
for the construction of steamer for the protec-
ton Of the Upper Lakes. gh
The bill in favor of Mary Snow and the bill for
the relief of Thankful Reynolds read third time
and passed.
The bill to authorize Chapman Lewis to purchase
pfe-empon right certain quarter section of land,
now occupied by him, at the minimum price per acre
the bill relative to the entitled act granting
land to certain exiles from Poland, approved June 80
1884, and the bill for the relief of Hezekah L. This
tie, were severally engrossed for third reading.
iEa THE NEUTRALITY LAW.
The Senate then took up the bill TO revive and con-
tnue in force act supplementary to an act entn
" An act in addition to The act for the punishment of
crimes against the United States, and 10 repeal the
Mr. RIvES remarked that az it likely that the
bill would lead to discussion, he would propose that
some day be DE- sgnated for its consideration
Mr.. BUCHANAN expressed his opinion that the
bill would not lead to the difficulty which the Senator
Mr.. RIVES was perfectly willing to take it up and
dispose of it at the present time. The whole de-
sign of the bill was to add some supplementary
provisions to the Neutrality law of 1888, and
he hoped that the sense of the Senate would be
taken and that the bill would be passed to third
reading to day
The bill was then ordered to be engrossed for third
reading
AMENDMENTS TO APPROPRIATION BILLS.
The following resolution of Mr.. MERRIcK, hereto
fore submitted amendment to the Joint rules OF
the Houses, taken up for consideration, viz
Resolped That no amendment shall be received or
made in either House 10 general appropriation bills,
except for objects authorized by existing law
and except for contingent expenses and compensation
to persons employed by the two Houses.
The question being upon the passage OF the reso-
luton,
Mr. WOODBRIDGE called for the yeas and
nays. 1855
Mr.. LINN said that, at the called session, an APP
preparation for the Western frontier was refused on
the ground that estimates had been before the
committee which had charge of the subject and that
no appropriation had been especially recommended
by the Department. He would ask the Senator from
Maryland whether an appropriation Tor the defen-
sve works in that quarter, created and made by law,
coming from the House as an amendment to the Ge-
neral Appropriation bill, would be within the mean
ing of the resouton If, it was the design of the
resolution to cut them off from making approprla-
tons for the Western forts, he would certainly inter-
pose his objection.
words of the resolution were, "that amendment
shall be made except for objects authorized by some
pre-existing law; and, as consequence
fort was authorized to be erected by law the re-
solution would not preclude an amendment to an APP
preparation bill for that purpose
Mr.. SEWER inquired whether an appropriation
for the Cumberland Road would be in conformity
with pre-exsting law?
Mr.. MERR1CK replied, that the Senator was as
competent to judge of that as himself.
Mr.. SEWER observed, that even if it should be
necessary to construct fort or arsenal, on the
frontiers, forthwith, and recommendation should
come from the War Department itself, this rule
would prevent it from being done by amendment
to general appropriation bill, in the absence of
pre-existing law Therefore, it would be absurd to
pass such rule and he moved that the resolution be
laid upon the table, and called for the yeas and nays
but he withdrew his motion for the present to enable
MIR. YOUNG to say that if former OCCASION
this rule had been in operaton his friend from Michi
gan Mr. Woodbndge) would not have been success
full in obtaining appropriation of S $4,000 for the
erection of fort at Detroit in section OF country
the very first to be attacked in case of war with
foreign power yet the resolution of the Senator from
Maryland would cut off all these kind of appropria
tons If the rule had been in operation last session,
the appropriation Of S. 600 for the purchase OF site
for Western armory, would not have been made,
and instead of getting that sum- they would not have
obtained five cents.
MIR LIN N further opposed the resolution
B Mr.. MERRICK replied and the resolution was
then laid aside for the purpose of proceeding with the
orders OF the day.
THE TARIFF, AND INFRINGEMENT AND REFORM
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of
the resolutions of Mr.. CLAY, PROPOSING an augmen
tation Of the duty imports and dimnuton of the
expenditures Of the Government.
Mr. EVANS addressed the Senate for more than
two hours and replied at length to the remarks of Mr.
Woodbury. delivered several days since. He denied
the assertion of the Senator from New Hampshire
that Congress, during the administration of Mr..
Van Buren, appropriated than called for
by the estimates of the Departments, and this he en-
deavored to demonstrate by reference to documen-
tary evidence; and he differed also from the Senator
as to the amount of expenditure to which the Govern
ment could be reduced this and the ensuing year,
viz: Sl9, 5000 600 this and $l7,000,000 the next
In his opinion the expenditures this and for some
years to come mu be at least as high as % or
S23, O0O,0 900. He made several suggestions by
which large amount of money could be saved
to the country; among which was one TO change
the commencement Of the fiscal year, and appropriate
sufficient the outset to carry into effect OBJ
jects designated by law.
The Senate then went into Executive session,
and after some time spent therein, the doors were
opened, and it adjourned
SUPERIOR INDELLIBLE INK.