Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-28
friday, lime "a.
SENATE

A communication was received from the Secretary
Of the Navy, stating the objections to the invention OF
Mr. Eason for the prevention OF the explosion oil steam
boilers which the Secretary authorized Professor W.
r. Johnson 10 examine, under the authority Of
luton passed on the 18th of A rl last.
The Senate passed the bill define and establish
the fiscal year OF the Treasury of the United States,
providing that and after The first Of July, l9l', all
matters Of accounts PTS and expenditures, Pst-
mates and appropriations, shall commence on The first
day Of July in each year.
The Join, resolution for the relief of Ferdinand Pet
tric who was engaged in the preparation of basso re-
tros for the pedesia OF the statue OF Washington, was
read n third time and passed.
The Senate then proceeded 10 the consideration Of
the bill TO extend for limited period the present laws
for LAYING and collecting duties on Imports the question
pendnr being the amendment Of Mr. Evans to post
none The distribution of the proceeds OF the sales o the
public lands among the States until the first OF August
Mr. RlVES addressed the Senate at great length, and
in the course Of his ks he contended that read
ius,ment of the tariff ought, before this time have been
effected As where The responsibility for this neglect
should rest not for him TO determine; but 1t could
moi be denied that the amount Of duties on imports al.
ter the 18Th of June, if action should be taken by
Congress- the time, upon The SUBJECT, would be
inadequate for the existing purposes OF tie Government
Therefore he was perfectly willing 10 assent 10 tempo
rary continuance OF the laws imposing gher rate of
duty than 20 per cent contemplated By the first part
of The bill But while he wiling TO give his assent
to ihie he held that must be taken with the REGULAR
lena and pre- ordained consequences contemplated by
the existing state of the Distribution law. BY mea
sure of the last session of Congress, which received as
solemn and deliberate consideration any subject
ever brought before them, it was soemny declared
that If at any time dnrng the existence OF the Distr
button act the rute OF duties should exceed 20 per cent
from that moment the distribution OF the sales OF the
proceeds Of the public lands shall cease and continue
suspended long the of suspension existed.
He did not believe that il conlended grayely that
the rate of duty contemplated BY this be-
fore them would not exceed 70 per cent. many ar
cles but not on all. Then they entitled 10 claim,
and he did claim for himself and his country strict and
faithful compliance with the stpulatlons contained in
that act II was strong the recollection of Senator's
that the 20 per proviso sanctioned by the lead
ing friends of distribution themselves The proviso was
ratified in both Houses, and IT was conceded on all sides
that il should be vital integral, and essential part Of
the Distribution law. With regard TO heamendment of
the Senator from Name, (Mr. Evans) it simply post
poned tie distribution until the first of August, at Which
time il was proposed TO lake place, anything IN the
Distribution law. any other law TO the contrary not
withstanding But had admitted that they had
the constitutional power TO distribute money they had
TO raise it BY taxation; and yet all these principles must
be trsmped to grasp ct distribution practical
measure Nor had any man admitted that they had Il
right distribute except in case Of surplus. This
was the language of Mr. Clay III 1888, aud the Ian
ruare of all The advocates of distribution from that
time TO the recent revival Of the measure When dis
ributon was con,ended for the single principle that
by ia duty of twenty per cent. on Injuries, in the
fashionable language of tie day, there would be more
than snicicncy Of means for the support of The Go
vernmen and therefore the proceeds the public lands
cou aid be s.ribncd among the indebted States But
there vas now no surplus-nobody dreamed Of one;
Sc, distribution was contemplated and insisted on By
Senators, notwithstanding the impoverished state Of
the Treasury and the difficulty of negotiating loans to
carry OH the Government. In conclusion he adverted
10 the cesson Of the public lands TO the General Co
verrment for the common benefit aud support Of the
Union and dissenled from the premises assumed by the
Chairman of The Committee Public Lands, and
other gentlemen, thai The public lands The
property of the States These lands could only be DIS
posed Of under the power of Congress, other terrific
~ Of the United States and the proceeds could moi be
distributed unless they not wanted for national
purposes II with tariff Of ~ per cent there should