The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-07
CONGRESS-.

The House, on Monday, met at 10 o'clock,
Whole to take up the Army bill. 1t may be
well to remark that the discussion has adhered
to the starting point, being on the amendment
of Mr.. Cave Johnson, providing for the gradual
reduction of the Army to the establishment OF
1921, and disbandng the Dragons, and the sub
stitute of Mr. Roosevelt, that no part of the APP
preparation shall be applied to the payment of
any officers hereafter appointed, or privates here
after enlisted, beyond the number now actually
in service.
Mr. LEVY resumed his remarks against the
reduction, grounding his argument on the pre-
sent state of Florida.
Mr. FILLMORE followed IN reply, but being
pronounced out of order did not p; oceed.
Mr. EVERETT said he would agree to proper
re luction of the Army, but wished the subjec'
more minutely investigated by proper com
mittee. He wished no blind action on this sub
ject.
Mr. ADAMS was in favor Of proper reduc
ton but, considering the increase of population,
&C.. he thought reduction to the standard of
1921 lmpolilc and wrong.
Mr.. SrANLY followed in an able argument
against the reduction altogether; but his speech
was abruptly brought to close by the arrival OF
the hour of one, when, by resolution, the COM
| mittee proceeded to vote on the items Of the
| bill.
| On the substitute Of Mr.. Roosevelt the vote
stood SO to 102. On the first part of MIR. John
sons amendment, the vote stood 102 to Ga.
On that portion, virtually dsbanding the corps
of Dragons, by ordering that no part of the APP
preparation should be applied to pay it after the
3Olh Of September next, the vote stood ayes 81
noes 70.
| Mr. CAVE JOHNSON offered another amend
ment providing that no money appropriated in
this bill, or hereafter to be appropriated, shall be
applied to granting officers of the staff, topogra
phical engineers, &c. any greater emolument
than that allowed to officers of the line be-
longing to the infantry and artillery. On this
amendment, tellers being ordered, 81 voted in
the affirmative and 90 in the negative.
To the second section proviso was proposed
refusing extra rations to commanders of posts.
On this amendment 81 voted in the affirmative
and SIS in the negative.
The section appropriating thirty thousand
dollars for recruiting was reduced to fifteen thou
sand dollars.
In the section providing for the incidental ex-
penses of the Army, the words relating to the
dragon corps were struck out
The provision for the special agent of found
ries was also struck out.
For arsenals it was proposed to appropriate
$150,000 instead of $4,000 as in the bill.
The amendment was rejected.
| These and other amendments were rapidly
acted ON as they were proposed. Their charac-
ter mostly tended to a reduction of the esti-
mates.
In the Senate, Mr.. BATES presented remon-
STRANGE from the inhabitants Of New Bedford,
in the State of Massachus against reduc-
ton of the appropriation for The Navy, as report
ed in the House bill. He remarked that that
town owned more than two hundred vessels,
ranging from three TO six hundred tons, and that
some of them were round Cape Horn, some in
the Austral Atlantic, others in the Indian
Ocean, the north of Europe; indeed, every
where, and the People felt deep interest in the
matter to which they referred.
| Mr.. EVANS presented similar memorial from
Portland, Maine, signed by persons engaged
largely in commerce, foreign and domestic, with
out distinction of party.
| Mr. PHELPS presented memorial from a con-
vention of wool growers, held in Vermont com
planning that, in the various propositions before
Congress, sufficient encouragement had not been
held out to this class of citizens; and they there
| fore ask for protection.
Mr. BUCHANAN presented a memorial from
Delaware county, Pennsylvania, asking for the
enactment Of such tariff of duties as will af-
ford full and ample protection to one of tn
greatest interests of the country-domesc ma
nutactures in all their ramifcations.
Mr.. CONRAD presented memorial signed by
by the importers OF and dealers in jewery, re-,
siding in the city of New Orleans, asking that
an increase of du may be imposed upon jew
elry imported from foreign countries, and expos
tuatng at the same time against such rate OF
duty as may lead to the temptation Of snug
Cling.
Mr. WOODBURY. i'd that some time since he
submitted resolution that, until otherwise ordered,
the daily hour of meeting OF the Senate shall be ee
ven O'clock A. NJ. He did not press the resolution
at the time he offered it, because he conceived that
the state of the business of the Senate did not abso
lutely require its adoption. However, as month
had elapsed since he submitted the proposition he
would move that the Senate proceed to its con-
sderation. On the question being taken, the motion
prevailed-ayes IL, noes II.
Mr.. WOODBURY. remarked that he did not wish
to say word upon the subject-he merely desired
to have the deci ion of the Senate.
The question was taken and the resolution was
adopted--ayes 81 noes not counted
MIR BENTON asked the Senate to take up the bill