Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-02-21
NO. 93.--VoLUME xxx.


wars We paid-or assumed, if you pleose-only
debts Incurred in prosecuting the Of the Confede
ration and Union, IN objects belonging to the central
and General Government But all these debts the
assumption Of which now the subject of discuss
sion, have been incurred fo State Objects for local
purposes; and many for banking and other pur-
poses most injudcIous and unous; and of then,
either by the request of Congress- under its egsn.
ton, or under any responsibility to its authority,
The other question was connected with the distri.
button of the public ands-ether directly, or BY an
Issue Of stock founded on them.
The objections TO the principles involved in such
cou.se-wheher in reference to the Constitution or
expediency-hod been fully discussed, in recent SEES
sions in both Houses Of Congress. He would not 20
into any Of them, and he thought the Senate need not
be delayed much, if any, in their discussion.
But, in the present condition Of the finances TO talk
of giving away two three Millions which the trea-
sury estimates from the public ands talk Of i'm
posing six millions more the treasury for three per
cent interest two hundred millions Of stock seemed
TO him 10 be perfect insanity.
The Secretary Of the Treasury and the Chairman Of
the Committee Finance both think that with all the
receipts from The lands, and the Of seven mil
Mons more Of borrowed money, we may be barely able
10 make the ends OF this calendar year meet
do any gentlemen, under these circumstances pro.
pose to borrow six millions p or to levy direct
taxes for that sum- in order to issue this famous two
hundred millions Of stock.
Talk about this Stockton what srs To ininrc S,ota
credit, and not strengthen it. This talk dscreds the
character and Of the States which, IL let alone.
are perfectly competent in time 10 redeem their own
obligations We thus intimate that they are unable;
while IT we step in, also become spendthr bank.
ruPf, and all are dscredited together. No, SIR Our
conduct is not as the Senator supposes that Of harsh
or hardhearied parent On the contrary, the States
are our parentswe, their children: they created u.s.
and not we them; and, children, we shout abide BY
The Constitution, and orders and powers they have pre-
scrbed for u.s.
Let us then, speak openly decidedly, manfully, on
questions SO momentous and set the public mind, at
home and abroad, at rest this subject II is due to
the occasion, and 10 the expectations of the world and
can be accomplished with little or no loss Of time
Mr.. CoNRAD moved poslponement of the subject
to Tuesday next.
MIR. WALKER, on this motion, moved an amend
men, that the posponement be illto morrow instead
of Tuesday.
The CHAIR explained that the vote would first be
on the postpone ment for the longer time.
Mr.. WALKER conceived his motion, as an amend.
men to the motion the Senator from Louisiana would
have precedence.
The Chair decided not.
Mr.. KING SAID the Chair was right. But he would
submit TO the consideration Of Senator'S that nasmuch
the repeal of the bankrupt act was question 10 be
discussed on Monday, and there could be doubt it
would mol be got through in one indeed two days,
whether posponement of these resolutions to Tues.
day would not virtually be the giving the ques
ton The 90 by, the if laid on The table. The
subject involved questions which every Senator had
made up his mind; for he could safely that
question OF general policy had ever received more
thorough discussion than that of the distribution OF the
proceeds OF The public lands to the States; and there
was nothing IN the new idea of assumption Of the
State debts the power Of Congress in the matter,
that could moi be fully considered night that
gentlemen Could come tomorrow rs well prepared to
vote, AZ they could on any day next week If put
till Tuesday, either the resolutions bill for the repeal
of the bankrupt act will have to be laid the table;
whereas both subjects may be disposed of by proceed
ing with the resolutions to morrow, and voting them
before Monday; leaving that day free to proceed with
the subject of the bankrupt law.
MIR. WRIGHT said he was compelled to say word
in consequence of the remarks of the Senator from
Alabama, MIR. King,l touching the suggestions which
he Mr. WI made as TO the day proper TO which to
postpone the resolutions under discussion. When
Monday moved BY the Senator from Louisiana,
mir. Conrad,l he (slr. W. suggested that Tuesday
would be better day His strongest objection to post
poning the subject till Monday, was, because the bank
rupt bill had been postponed to, and made the order for,
that day; on which day he hoped that bill would be
taken up, and proceeded in till final action. He
the more willing for that course, ecause the resolu-
tons before the Senate, being properly
ing business could be proceeded in during the morning
hour Of each day Monday being the day proposed by
the Senator from Louisiana to which to postpone, he
(Mr W. compelled 10 reject one the other Of
the subjects the business for that dav and it in
that alternative ho suggested to the Senator from Lou
sana Tuesday. Extremely anxious as he was to have
direct vote and expression OF opinion by the Senate
on these resolutions, which involved many serious
consie raons yet he believed it was more important
TO the country that the act for the repeal Of the Bank.
rupt law should be passed than TO have expression
of opinion these resolutions. IL was his desire that
both questions should be voted upon and disposed of
and with that view he would first vote TO postpone the
resolutions till TO morrow and not then 10 the day;
and if the matter to be postponed till the next
week. be should feel it his duty TO vote for Tuesday
the day for their final disposition, that they might not
a., a. De-, A.
poned till Tuesday, Senators would come there with
the understanding that they to be finally dis
posed of on that day He had doubt that could be
accomplished
Mr. CALHOUN remarked that he was not among
those who believed that these resolutions alb
sractions lie held them in very different light
I he subject involved was one of the greatest magn
tude presented TO the consideration OF the Senate
of the U. S. 1t fraught with consequences, that
no man who anticipated the worst, anticipated half
bad as the reality will be. AS the question pre-
sented, in his opinion they under the highest OBJ
legations to themselves, to the public credit, to thu
States, TO the country, and 10 the world, TO have
free and direct expression Of the opinion of the Senate
on the subject Of these resolutions. Considering this,
as he did, he held the repeal Of The Bankrupt law-as
obligatory he felt that 10 be the Senate, both on
account OF its unconsutonali,y and nexpedency-
as nothing, compared 10 expression Of opinion
these MISUNDERSTANDING nothing. If it depended
upon his vote 10 decide between lhe two, he would
hesitate the hundredh part of moment. He would
consider the time well consumed If they devoted every
moment of the remaining time OF the to the dis
cussDg Of that subject, except what necessary
be devoted TO the consideration of the appropriation
bills; and these should stand in it's way But
he did not deem it necessary to occupy much time
upon il; for there scarcely single aspect Of The
question which was not fully understood by the coun.
try. The only one which had not been fully discussed
and public attention strongly called 10, the propo-
son alluded to by the Senator from Maryland of ia
suing $500 OO0 900 of STOCK founded the public do
main, or its proceeds He rejoced that that Senator
had not expressed himself favorable TO the scheme be-
cause it showed even on his part Hnchng.
Mr.. MERRlCK interrupted, and said be finched
from nothing which duty required of bin.
MIR. CALHOUN said he had not intended to irr.ate
the honorable Senator by making of the word;
what he intended was, that he had shown rather he
station about expressing himself in favor Of the pro-
posed scheme. He was glad that the honorable Sena-
tor had done SO. He supposed he countenanced IN
opinion roher against it.
MIR. MERRiCK said he had made no specific propo.
sition What be said was, that his State claimed as
she had always claimed her share of the public lsnds