The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-03-02
tp=Aeoemth Gomgress.
SECOND SESSION
IN SENATE,
TUESDAY, March |, 1912.

Mr. YOUNG presented several communications
and documents the subject of grant oil lana 70 e
State of Illinois, to aid that State IN the
of the Illinois and Michigan Canal peution from
large number of citizens residing IN the Norer part
of Illinois ON the same subjects commamcatioh from
the Commissioner of the General Lana omce, snow
ing the relative quantity Of public land granted 10 the
s1tes NJ Ohio Indiana and Illinois, for purposes of
;n,arnaI Improvement; memorial from the Mayor
and Aldermen of the city of Chicago, praying that the
saIes az the 10TH or school section of land made
NV the Inhabitants of the township, in which that city
4 situated, may be confirmed by act of Congress
and petition from number ofcitizens of Pike
IT, Illinois, praying that the inhabitants of township
No South, of range No. West, of the 4th princi-
pal meridian, in that county, may be permitted to
linquish fractional section No. l6 containing 1863
acres and reserved for the use Of schools in that
township, and which is represented being unfit for
cultivation, and to select other lands in lieu of the
same. All of which, on his notion were referred to
the Committee ON Public Lands.
Mr. KING introduced Joint resolution, that the
Postmaster General be authorized TO extend the ex-
isting mail contracts between Mobile and New Or
leans for years from the expiration of the present
contract; which read first and a second time,
and referred to the Committee on the Post Office and
Post Roads.
The resolution of Mr. MERRICK inhbitng any
amendment from being made to any general appro-
priation bill unless proposed by pre-existing
law, and the resolution Of Mr. ALLEN to open the
doors of the Senate during the transaction of Execu
tive business, except when engaged on treaties, were
severally passed over
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration Of
the following resolutions submitted by Mr.. CLAY Sc
veIal weeks since, viz
L. R.soired, That it is the duty Of the General Go
vernment in conducting its administration 10 provide
an adequate within the year to meet the cur
rent year and that any expedent either
by loan or by Treasury notes. TO supply, IN time OF
N nee "A deficenCy of especially during
ccssse years, is unwise, and must lead to pernclous
consequences.
2 Resoiped, That such adequate revenue can
be obtained by duties on foreign imports, without
adopting higher rate than twenty per cent. as pro
vded for in the Compromise act which, ut the time OF
its passage supposed and assumed as ratio that
would supply sufficient revenue for an. economical
administration of the Government
3 Resoiped, M.refore, That the rate Of duties on
foreign imports ought to be augmented beyond the rate
of tw nty per cent so as to produce nett revenue Of
twenty millions of doarstwenty two for the
dnaIy expenses of Government, two foI the payment
OF tue existing debt, and two millions reserved
fund for contingencies.
4. Resoired, That in the adjustment Of tariff to
raise amount of twenty-sx millions Of revenue,
the principles ofthe Compromise act generally should
be adhered to- and that especially, a maximum rate
OF ad valoreni duties should be established, from
which there ought TO be little departure possible
5. Resotred, That the provision in the act of the
session. for the distribution of the proceeds of
tile PUBIC operation OF tuat
be suspended, in the contingency of higher rate Of
duty than twenty per cent. ought TO be repealed
g. ReSolDed That it is the duty OF the Govern
ment at all times, but more especially in such
exists OF general embarrassment and pecunla-
ry distress, to abolish all useless institutions and Of
fees curtai all unnecessary expenses and prac
tice rigid economy
I. Resoiped, That the contingent expenses of the
two Houses of Congress ought be greatly reduced
and the mileage Of members of Congress ought TO be
regulated and more clearly defined.
s. RESOLVED, That the expenses ofthe judicial de-
parment of Government have, of late years been
greatly increased, and ought to be diminished
9. Resoired, That the diplomatic relations of the
United States with foreign powers have been nnne-
cessary extended during the last twelve years, and
ought TO be reduced.
10. Resolped, That the ranking privilege ought to
be further restricted the abusive Of restrained
and punished the postage letters reduced the mode
of estimating distances clearly defined and pre-
scribed and small addition TO postage made on
books, pamphlets, and packages transmitted by the
mail to be graduated and increased according to taeir
respective weights
H. Resoired That the Secretaries of State of the
Treasury, Of the War, and of the Navy Departments
and the Postmaster General be severay directed as
practicable, to report what offices be abo
shed, and what Ietrenchment of public expenditure
can be made without public detriment in the respec-
tive branches of the public service under their charge
Mr. CLAY observed that he did not come here as
if he were entering garden, adorned with beautiful
flowers and swect-scened shrubbery, to Gull tea
japonicas, jasmines and woodbine, and weave them
into beautiful wreahs to please the eyes and regale
by their fragrance and flavor the of the ladies
and it was far from his wish to revive any subject OF
a party character calculated to excite renew ami
mosities which heretofore existed between the two
great parties of the country. He had come here to
pursue far different purpose-to speak of the sad
condition of the country, and point out, not the re-
mote causes but the proxmate causes of the embar-
easements which prevailed and to suggest effect
i've remedy for the evil and he would remark that il
any body had come here to see him make an ambi-
tious display, and high-sounding Speech and to deal
in metaphors and tropes they would find themselves
disappointed, as his figures would not be those OF
rhetoric but of arithmetic. With reference to the
first resolution, he said that, in 1887, when Mr. Var
Buren, convened Congress, instead OF laying take:
upon free articles as ought to have been done Trea
sury notes issued year after year, TO furnish the
necessary to carry on the Government and the
responsibility ofthe payment OF this debt thus contract
ed was thrown upon the succeeding Administration
therefore, it now became necessary to look to some
mode of supply In this state of the country, bleeding
as il was at every PORE he hoped that Senators would
Danish party feelings and look to the true interests
the nation. During the administration of Mr.. Var
Buren, the excess of expenditure the income
every year. was between seven and eight millions o.
dollars and the moment that the Administration per
ceved this distress, it their duty to impose upoI
free articles, according to the principles of the Com
promise act, an adequate amount OF revenue for ar
economical administration Of the Government. Pass
ing by the first resolution he would take the mex
three all relating to the same subject, and he pro
posed to consider them together. The first question
presented was, what ought to be the amount o.
the annual expenditures The aggregate to-
tai expenditure under the administration of Mr.
Van Buren, $l42 Sol 900, averaging for the four
years 1886 GAO 600 year. Now, the proposed ex
penditure which he had suggested was only twenty
two millions, which, deducted from the S35, $40 00C
per year, would leave $I3 GAO 000 or in other words
an excess than the average amount of expend
lures during the administration Of Mr.. Adams, whose
necessary expenditures were TO have been reduced
and curtaied by those who to succeed that gen
lcman. But how were they 10 come 10 twenl vi we