The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-31

ACT entitled, AN act 10 appropriate the proceeds oil
the sales OF the public lands, and grant pro-empon
rights" approved The 4th day of September, 1871,
approprates those proceeds to the States and Ter
rtore and to the District Of Columbia, ought to be
repealed because 1t is now apparent that this portion
of the public cannot be taken from the Ma
tona Treasury without creating the necessity
for reased loans additional taxation both TO
amount sufficient to supply the deficiency thus
produced.
4M Resolution Strike out all after the word
amount" in the LIST line and insert-of revenue
such as may be required, over AMI above the means
TO be derived from the sales Of the public lands,
which amount should always be equal to the current
expenditures of the Government, economically and
properly administered and to the gradual but certain
extngushment of any existing debt the principles of
the act of the I'd of March, 1888 entitled AN act
to modify the act of the fourteenth of July one thou
sand eight hundred and thirty-two and all other acts
imposing duties Imports" commonly called the
Compromise act ought TO be adhered to, the gene
raj basis of such adjustment.
5th Resolution. Strike out the words Sought to be
repealed" in the last line and insert presents the
ground upon which only Congress has assented to the
distribution of the land revenue to the States and
when shall appear that the distribution cannot take
place consistently with the terms of that provision, it
will appear that state of things exists under which
Congress did not intend it should take place at all.
debate ensued, in which Messrs. BATES,
CLAY, RIVES, MANGUM WALKER, WOOD
BURY, CALHOUN, WRIGHT, and others parti-
cpated, when the question was taken on the amend
ments, which were rejected by the following vote,
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Archer, Bagby, Benton,
Calhoun, Fulton King, Linn, McRoberts Preston,
Rives, SEWER Smith, of Conn, Sturgeon, Tappan,
Walker, Wilcox, Williams, Woodbury., Wright
Young-2l.
NAYS-Messrs. Barrow, Bates, Berrien, Choate,
Clay, Clayton, Evans Graham, Huntington, Kerr,
Mangum, Merrck, Miller, Morehead, Phelps, Porter,
PrentiSS Simmons Smith of Ind Tamadpe White
Woodbridge.-22
resolutions of Mr. Clay, were then referred to the
Committee on Finance, viz:
Resolped, That such an adequate revenue can
not be obtained by duties foreign Imports without
adopting higher rate than twenty per cent. pro-
vded for in the Compromise act which, at the time of
its passage, supposed and assumed ratio that
would supply sufficient revenue for economical
adninistIa alton of the Government.
Resolped therefore, That the rate of duties
foreign imports ought to be augmented beyond the
rate of twenty per cent. to produce nett
nue. of twentysx millions of Enthusiastically two for
the ordinary expenses of Government two for the
payment of the existing debt and two millions
served fund for contingencies.
Resolred, That in the adj usment of tariff to
raise an amount Of twenty-six millions of revenue
the principles of the Compromise act generally should
be adhered to and that especially, maximum rate
of ad valorem duties should be established, from
which there ought to be little departure possible
RESOLVED, That the provision in the act of the
session. for the distribution of the proceeds of
the public lands requiring the operation Of that act
to be suspended, in the contingency of higher rate
of duty than twenty per cent ought to be repealed.
The following resolutions were severally referred
to the Committees Retrenchment, the Judiciary,
Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Post Offices
and Post Roads:
Resolved, That the contingent expenses of the two
Houses of Congress ought to be greatly reduced; and
the mileage of members of Congress ought to be re-
gulated and more clearly defined
RESOLVED, That the expenses OF the Judicial depart
ment of Government have of late years. been greatly
increased, and ought to be diminished.
Resolved, That the diplomatic relations Of the
United States with foreign powers have been unne-
cessariy extended during the last twelve years. and
ought to be reduced
Resolved, That the Thanking privilege ought to be
further restricted the abusive of it restranednd
punished, the postage on letters reduced the mode of
estimating distances more clearly defined and pre-
scribed, and small addition to postage made on
books, pamphlets, and packages, transmitted by the
mall to be graduated and increased according to their
respective weights.
The first and sixth resolutions of Mr.. Clay were
adopted, viz:
Resoiped, That it is the duty of the General Co
vernment in conducting its administration, to provide
adequate revenue within the year to the cur
rent expenses of the year; and that any expedient
either by loan or by Treasury notes. to supply in time
of peace, deficiency of revenue especially during
successive years, is unwise, and must lead to PERM
cious consequences.
Resoped, That it is the duty of the Government
at all times, but more especially in such
now exists of general embarrassment and pecuniary
Distress to abolish all useless institutions and Offices
to curta all unnecessary expenses and to practice
rigid economy.
The Senate then went into Executive session,
and after some time spent therein, the doors
opened and it adjourned.