The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-29


upon himself say from his knowledge Of our Mir
ster, that that gentleman had done ms duty,
and he would believe until the contrary shouiu
be made apparent and he would prophesy thd
when the Senate should receive the corresPou
dence, they would find that our Minister hau
obeyed his instructions TO the letter. lie hoPeu ia
the resolution would pass, and be followed uf, NO.
by words, but in a suitable manner, ana MOI oniy %
confined to Mexico, but that the inquiry mouiu e
extended little farther He wanted all uie long
accounts settled. in fact he was tired OF the post
ponement and he trusted that he would never heai
the matter mentioned, unless IN spirit 10 give assu-
rance that it would be carried out In proper
manner
The resolution was laid upon the table until to-
morrow.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
Mr.. BENTON submitted the following resolution,
but objection being made to Its consideration at inns
time, il lies over, under the rule, VIZ
Resolped That the President of the United States
be requested inform the Senate what quantity OF
public lands surveyed and prepared for The market
and after the 4th day of March, lSll, aud not
brought into market during that year, and also what
quantity of public lands has been offered for sale to be
brought into market during the present year also
what quantity of public lands Is now prepared tor mar
ke and are not offered for sale and also what guam
tity of public lands expected to be surveyed and be
prepared for sale during the present year
NAVY RATIoNs.
Mr. WILLIAMS, in pursuance of notice hereto
fore given introduced bill to establish and regulate
navy raiions which read, and ordered to Sc
cond reading.
A LOAN FOR THE RELIEF OF THE GOVERNMENT.
The following resolution, submitted by Mr.. Preston
on Thursday was taken up for consideration, VIZ
Resored, That the actual condition of the finances
and credit of the country requnes the most prompt
and decisive legislation the part OF Congress, and
to this end that loan should be authorized for an
amount sufficient for the present exlgency, ana on
terms which will insure its success.
Which Mr.. LINN proposed to amend by striking
out all after the word Congress- and inserting:
First. To sustain that deprecated and sinking
credit by solemn and involabe pledge OF Its I'm
mensc public domain for its support and the appca
ton of the of the sales of the public lands to
the payment of the interest and redemption OF the
principal of any public debt contracted to be con-
tracted in any form whatever.
Second. To restore the Just relation between the
public revenue and the publ expenditures SO as to
limit the necessity for resort credit at all, within
the narrowest ssbe bounds consistent with the pub
lie safety and the public honor.
Mr. PRESTON said that the amendment of the
Senator from Missouri inconsistent with the OBJ
iect which he had in view he desired an expression
of opinion on the part of the Senate to whether they
were disposed to remove the calamites which now
rested upon the country. BY announcing tins deter
minaton they would revive hope In the nation, and
the subject ought not to be mixed up with an abstract
propositions which would endanger the passage OF
the resolution, which ought to be considered on the
broad basis of patriotism alone In the present
condition Of affairs, he hoped that all party disputes
and personal predictions would be waived, and
that Senators would give voluntary expression OF
the generous and patriotic sentiments which should
dwell within their bosoms, for, surely, if there ever
was a time when such expression OF feeling ought
to be elected this the most BETTING opportunity
as this was extraordinary epoch in the history OF
Il Il tbouf ,Od
themselves plunged into the most appalling condition
the honor had been assaled only the con-
temptation of foreigners but what was Told worse
it had been keeny felt in the bosoms OF our own peo
pie. He did not know what other gentlemen thought
but for himself he willing to call any man bro
Their who with him, would sacrifice all his former
opinions upon the altar of his country in order to re-
lieve it from presnt pressure On the wings OF the
wind accounts of the public dishonor had been
brought to them from the four corners OF the earth
He had received letter from friend who was now
in Europe and it brought to him intelligence OF dis
may and CONSERVATION. This gentleman observed
that his mouth was closed in consequence of the adj
voca,es of monarchcal institutions haunting him with
the incapacity of his fellow citizens for self-govern-
vornmcnt and this produced in consequence OF the
uncertain condition OF our public credit winch was
every thing in time of peace. From present appear
ances the scheme of finance which had been recon-
mended would be acted upon for two months at least
and therefore they the more mpeIously called
upon in the present emergency to give unanimous
expression of opinion in response to the general voice
of the country. Such expression would have
| moral influence On another branch of Congress, and
it would show what the Senate would do in the Elf
Gent discharge Of It's duties II they were permitted 10
anticipate the action OF the House.
| Mr. LINN said that this was the time to act, and
not to talk but the Senator from South Carolina
and his friends responsible Tor the state OF
things which now existed. However, he would vote
for any measure of relief if it proper and just ii
any of its parts, for the purpose OF sustaining the
honor and the credit of the country His amend
ment would restore the public lands, and give al
amount of revenue which would, especially at this
time be of great relief to the country; and he hat
understood that since the message of the President
advising suspension of the Distribution law, diff
ference of two per cent in favor of Treasury notes
was already perceptible.
Mr. BARROW said that the abstract opinions de
sired to be elected by the Senator from South Caro-
lima amounted to nothing. So far as party prejudice
went, he was willing to make sacrifices, and ne
would go far any gentleman but he would no
sacrifice his party principles. He regarded the mes
| sage which the President had sent to the House tt
suspend the Distribution bill, white flag OF re
capituaton to the Democratic party but if the Pre-
sident were surrender to that party, his fate would
be as hard as that Of the Texans who recently sur
rendered at Santa Fe. That functionary was re
sponsble for the present condition OF the coun
try-had he signed the Bank bill, different STATE
of things would be presented and a Ma
tonal Bank and liberal protective policy woult
restore the currency and enable them to carry on thu
Government successfully their past history full,
| demonstrated
! Mr. ALI EN- remarked that, eighteen months ag'
the public credit was sound and unimpaired but thu
Wings in loud denuncIatons, asserted otherwise ant
said that if the people would but displace MIR. Var
Buren, such state of things should succeed as woult
add to the glory, prosperity, and honor of the eoun
try change, undoubtedly, was efected' bu
/ now, at the end of year and one month, these
same gentlemen were forced to say that ruiz
and bankruptcy existed all over the country
and they called upon the Democracy by all the ties o
brotherhood, to forget what the Wings had sait
against them and come forward and redeem the coun
try from degradation The President had been a lit
tic more frank than the rest of the Wing party h,
had by his recent message, in effect admitted that thu