The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-25

|
Committee ofthe Whole and the Navy Appropn
ton bill was takenAp. Mr.. Brown, of Pa, was
entitled TO the floor, and after some preliminary
observations on the comments appearing in some
OF ihe newspapers respecting the dimnutlon IL
the appropriations, proceeded TO vindcation OF
his course and Of those who voted with him IL
regard TO the Navy.
In the Senate, communc alton was received from
the Secretary of the Navy stating the objections to
the invention Of Mr. Easton for the prevention Of the
explosion of steam boilers, which the Secretary au
| thorzed Professor w r. Johnson To examine, under
the authority of resolution passed ON the 18th OF
| April last.
Mr.. TALLMADGE presented memorial from
Buffalo, New York, demonstrating against any reduc-
ton oflhe Army and Navy. lie observed that was
numerously signed by many respectable business men
OF that city, without distinction Of party; also me
mortal from individuals interested in the lead mines
of Illinois, in which they state that they do not think
that their rights have been duly represented and APP
precated. They therefore suggest 10 Congress 10
take some action the subject to dispose and
egulate the mineral with dispense justice to
all interested.
| Mr.. YOUNG presented some additional d cuments
IN relation to the lead mines of Iowa and Wis
| cOnsin.
Mr.. WALKER presented the memorial Of cilizent
Of Mississippi setting forth that there are lands ocon-
siderable value in the States of Louisiana, Alabani
Mississippi and Florida, bordering the Gulf coast,
| but which were now worthless account of the oc-
on OF the tides; and II is practicable to reclaim
these lands they ask the lnterposton OF Congress ior
that purpose,
/ Mr.. McROBERTS presented the memorial Of citl
zens OF Illinois, asking Congress to abolish the frank
ing privilege except during the session. and Tor re-
ducon of all the expenditures of the several depart,
| mens ofthe public service
! On motion OF Mr.. BATES, it was
| ResOired, That the Secretary Of War be directed
to inf run the Senate when the late superintendent OF
the public armores at Springfield and Harpers Fer
~ were removed, and whether successors have been
appointed. If appointed, when and by virtue of what
authority and the puIport of their commission.
The bill providing for the satisfaction Of claims
arising under the fourteenth and nineteenth articles
of the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek having been
amended, and the amendment reconsdered, the turh-
er consideration of the subject postponed until
| tomorrow.
| The Senate passed the bill to define and estabsa
the fiscal year OF the Treasury Of the United States,
providing that and after the first of July, lo43 all
matters of accounts receipts, and expenditures, esli-
mates, and appropriations shall commence on the
| first day of July in each year.
| The joint resolution for the relief of Ferdinand
Pettrch, who was engaged in the preparation of bas-
relieros for the pedestal Of the statue of Washing
| ton, was read third time and passed,
The Senate then proceeded 10 the consideration OF
| the bill to extend for limited period he present laws
for laying and collecting duties on imports; the
| question pending being on the amendment OF Mr.
Evans to postpone the distribution of the proceeds OF
the sales of the public lands among the States until
| the first Of August
| Mr.. RlVES addressed the Senate at great length
and in the of his remarks he conended that
adjustment Of the tariff ought, before this time, TO
have been effected. As to where the responsibility
for this neglect should rest it not for him to de-
termine but it could not be denied that the amount
of duties imports after the thirteth of june II
no action should be taken by Congress, in the mean
time, upon the subject would be inadequate Tor the
existing purposes of the Government. Therefore,
he was perfectly willing to assent to temporary
continuance of the laws imposing higher rate OF
| duty than twenty per cent. as contemplated by the
first part of the bill But while he was willing to
give assent to this he held that it must be taken
with the regular, legal, and pre-ordalned con-
sequences contemplated by the existing state OF
the Distribution law BY measure of the last
session of Congress- which received as solemn and de-
| beratc consideration any subject ever brought
before them, it was solemny declared that II al any
time during the existence of the Distribution act the
| rate of duties shou d exceed twenty per GEN.
tum, from that moment the distribution OF the
sales Of the proceeds of the public lands shall cease
and continue suspended so long the cause of sus
pension existed. He did not believe that 1t
tended gravely that the rate of duty contemplated by
| this measure now before them would not exceed
twenty per cent on many articles, but not on all
| Then they entitled to claim, and he did claim
for himself and his country strict and faithful COM
plianCe with the spulations contained IN that act,
| 1t was strong ia the recollection of Senators, that
the twenty per cent proviso was sanctioned by the
leaiing friends of distribution themselves The pro-
viso was ratified in both Houses, and it conceded
on all sides that it should be VITAL integral, and es-
sential part Of the Distribution law. With regard to
the amendment of the Senator from Maine, Nr,
| Evans) il simply postponed the distribution until the
first of August, at which time it was proposed to
take place, anything in the Distribution law, or any
other law, to the contrary notwithstanding But no
had admitted that they had the constitutional pow
erto distribute mooey lfhey had to raise by taxation;
and yet all these principles must be trainped on to
grasp at distribution practical measures Nor had
any man admitted that they had right 10 distribute
except in of surplus. This was the language
of MIR Clay in 1888 and the language of all the ad-
vocates Of distribution from that time to the recent
revival Of tie measure. When distribution VI as con-
tended for the single principle that by "a duty
of twenty per cent. on uxures, in lie ash ionab e
language OF the day, there would be than sui.
fcency o. means for the port of the Govern nent;
and therefore, the proceeds OF the public lands could
be distributed among the indebted States But there
was now no surplus nobody dreamed of one; and yet
a distribution conemI lated and insisted on by
Senators, Notwithstanding the impoverished state OF
the Treasury, and the difficulty of negotiating loans
| TO carry on the Government la conclusion, he adj
yer ed 10 the cession of The public ands TO tie Cen
eral Government for the common benefit and sup
port f the Union, and dssented from The premises
assumed by the Chairman If the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, and other gentlemen, that the public lands
were now the property OF the States Tnese lands
could only be disposed Of uader the power Of Congree,
as other territory of the United States and tho pro,
coed could not be Distributed unless they Were not
wanted Tor national pun lfwh tariff OF 20 per
cent there should be surplus, could be distributed
but if duties above 20 per then the lands
would revert - the Treasury and he believed that
The country would place the question upon that
ground
Mr.. CRl TTENDEN replicl, and sad that as the
Senator voted Tor the Dl>rihu ion law he would OPP.