The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-22
CONGRESS-.

at the State of Maine. Among the most re
markable of the resolutions offered, were the fol-
lowing: one from Mr.. Fessenden for rescind-
ing the 2lst rule, relating to the reception Oh
petitions From Mr.. Anterior, fixing the last
Monday in May as the day of adjournment. A
resolution also was read directing that law
should be made establishing the same day Tor
the election of members of Congress In all the
States; and another, for establishing the one
hour rule Mr.. Charles Brown offered one, in
structing the Committee on Public Expendl-
lures to report bill reducing all the salaries of
the Government officers exceeding thousand
dollars in certain ratio also that it inquire into
the expedency of reducing the pay and mileage
of members of Congress. large number of
resolutions of no very particular importance
were offered.
One, however, offered by Mr.. Stanly tor
changing the rule relative to taking bills out OF
Committee of the Whole, produced the usual
invoution of points of order. Mr.. StanlY on
offering his resolution, called the previous ques
ton. A point of order was raised by Mr.. W Use,
who denied that proposition could be offered
and the previous question Immediately called
upon it by the same member. The Speaker
decided in favor of Mr.. Stanly, and Mr.. Wise
appealed. Many preliminary votes were taken;
among others, on motion to lay on the table,
interminged with motions to adjourn.
In the Senate, Mr.. Tallmadge, from the Sc
lect Committee to which the Exchequer plan of
the Secretary OF the Treasury had been referred,
submitted report, accompanied by bill, which
were read, and made the order Of the day tor
the 7th of March
A copy Of the letter of instruction from Mr..
Webster to Mr.. Everett, with regard to the brig
Creole, was also laid before the body, and it
elected the highest commentator from Mr..
Walker and Mr.. Calhoun.
The Select Committee of the Senate, to whom
was referred the Special Report Of the Secreta-
ry of the Treasury, presenting plan OF a Fiscal
Agent for the Government yesterday made their
report, through their Chairman, Mr.. TALLMADGE.
We listened to it with attention and gratifica
ton. Omitting, until we shall have room for
the entire document, any discussion of its de-
tails, we regard it, in the main, as sound lucid,
and eminently practical. 1t proceeds upon the
radical principle justly asserted to be at the bot
tom of this whole controversy, that it is the duty
of this Government to exercise its power In re-
guIating the currency of the Union. 1t proper
ly maintains the legitimate objects of the exer-
else Of this duty to be, to facilitate the colec-
ton safe-keeping, and disbursement of the pub
lie funds; to provide currency of uniform va
lue wherever it may circulate, and incidentally
to equalize and cheaper the commercial exchang-
es of the country. All these objects were never
perfectly accomplished by National Bank, and
they were not pretended to be undertaken by
the sub-Treasury, either of which, at any rate,
at this time, and probably forever, are beyond
all resurrection.
Mr. Tallmade and the Co nmittee, like prac
teal and patriotic statesmen and like the com
mittee of the House and the Administration it.
self. have, therefore, looked calmly around them
and selected and combined the best, in their
judgment, of existing materials. They seem
to have consulted, very earnestly, to discover
not what ought or might be accomplished, but
aohat can certainly be executed in the present
important emergency. Considering the heats
and the hates Of party, the multifarous shades
of opinion, the pref JUDGES, habits and attach
ments of Senators, we think we have reas on to
congratulate our readers upon the great progress
which has been made during the last three
months, and upon the hopeful prospect now pre-
scented of a sufficient union of the honest and
patriotic Of the land to bring this great question
to at least present ad justmenl, through whic h
the country may again struggle into peace AM
prosperity.
The subject seems to have been exam
ined in the same frank and lnagnanimou,
spirit in which it was submitted to the
wisdom and patriotism of Congress-" by
the President. The result is, not the slight
est modification of the principles Of the
plan proposed by the Executive, and only
few amendments ia the details of the manage
ment and operations of the Institution. These
notifications consist solely in reducing the
Board of Control, in reducing the paper ennis
sions to solid specie basis dollar for dollar (;
and in limiting the exchange operations of the
system still more than contemplated by
the plan Of the Secretary. We understand
that the Committee unanimously in
favor of the leading principles of the re-
port and bill, though some few features of
both did not meet the entire sanction Of ALL
May we not now hope that by concert OF action,
and union of effort, system may speedily be
erected on the principles of the Exchequer,
adopted and urged as they are by the able select
committees of the two Houses of Congress,
which shall quiet the agitations Of party, and
meet the wants of much abused and long suf-
fering people?
The bill reported by the Senate Committee