Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-02-21
TNENTY-sEyENrlI coNGREss--sd Session
7aarsddy, Fet. 10, 1913.
SENATE

which had been referred numerous memorials aud reso.
lutons of the State Legislatures on The subject of Con-
gress passing law TO restore Mr. Kendall his per.
sona liberty, reported bill to amend the laws relating
TO imprisonment for debt in the district Of Columbia;
which was read, and ordered 10 a second reading.
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE, from the Joint Committee
The Library, to which the subject had been referred
by resolution of the Senate, reported bill 10 provide
ior The publication OF The debates and proceedings Of
Congress, in connected SERIES and 10 authorize one
more contracts for the purpose; which was read and
ordered to 4 second reading.
The resolution of Mr.. Linn, fixing II o'clock, a. m
os The daily hour tor the meeting of the Senate from,
and after Saturday next, was taken up and odoptcd
ASSUMPTION OF STATE DEBTS
The resolutions Submitted by Mr. R,yes Yesterday
came up for consideration.
Mr.. RlVES stated the circumstances under which
these resolutions up as a substantive proposition
distinct from the resolutions ofthe Senator from South
Carolina and the additional resolutions offered by the
Senator from Maine, TO which they intended to be
offered as amendment, so soon as the amendment
Of the Senator from New Jersey, should have been dis
posed one way other had net these other proposi.
lions been laid on The table by the vote given vester
day But the question of the debts of The States and
the interference of the General Government on that
SUBJECT having been once brought before ibe Senate
by the Senator from Maine, he (Mr. Rives) considered
II his duty to present these resolutions for the purpose
o.! obtaining direct and unequivoca vote of the Sc.
nate II Of the greatest Importance 10 set al rest
"
can have any constitutional power TO saddle ITSELF in
addition to its own debts, with debt of two hundred
millions OF dollars, incurred by portion of the States
of The Union in their individual capacities, and for
their own local purposes, and in the of their
own local policy. The very suggestion Of such an idea
appeared to him 80 monsrous, and tending so obviously
TO course OF policy subversiye Of every principle upon
which this Union had its existence, that he considered
Congress bound in duty TO ITSELF and TO the coun.
try TO put upon it promptly and at once, the seal Of is
Condemnation.
/. would not do for gentlemen TO deny that any cues
ton of assuming the debts of the States had been moot
ed TO Congress. If ii not done directly and in
substantive form, the way was paved for the PROPOSE
ton, and in manner plain and obvious, that no one
could be left instant in doubt to the end TO be at
tanned. The proposition was, al the present nome nt
before the other branch OF Congress- in direct form
10 grant TO the State Governments scrip based on the
public lands for the avowed purpose Of relic wing them
from their indebtedness The Senator from Name in
his resolutions offered amendatory Of the resolutions
OF the Senator from South Carolina, had in this chum
her, bot day or two since, promulg gated the doctrine
that it is the duty of Congress, by every conslu.
tional and proper means in lis power, by the adop
ton OF measures TO restore and preserve currency
of uniform value throughout the United States BY
the collection and disbursement of the public re gc-
nue. and The regulation Of the administration Of the
public finances, and in such way as shall be least
burdeEsome 10 the people, &C., 10 render every pract
cable aid and 10 the people Of he several
States in their efforts 10 meet their engagements and
TO discharge the obligations into which they have en-
tered What did all this mean if it did not mean that
it was the duty Of the General Government to assist
the indebted Stnes in The payment of their debts'-
Mr. r. here entered at large into the history of the
origin OF this suggestion, and alluded TO the recent
action Of the Legislatures of two Of the indebted
States renouncing this idea He argued that now
was the time TO extingush all deusve hopes OF aid
from the General Government. Let Congress con.
StQtes. n nd ata
that nothing OF the kind will be entertained, and they
will at once apply themselves 10 their for
iqudating their Indebtedness. 1t was not his intention
to enter Of large into discussion of the various topics
bearing upon this subject. He had merely risen to
explain his motives in Offering these resolutions as
distinct measure, and would conclude by recommend
ing that the vote be taken them, end such anne nd
ments as might be offered, with desire TO avoid dis
cusson much possible and 10 express the Of
the Senate at the same time, promptly and unequivo
cay, without further interruption 10 the business Of
the session.
MIR. ALLEN begged the Senator from Virginia
would accept an amendment which he would send TO
the Chair 10 in after the word Estates in the
eighth line of the second resolution.
The amendment was read, as follows
BY the appropriation pledge Of any part Of its re-
venue or other ncome-or by the issue, transfer,
pledge of any stock other securles-or by The
pledge Of any part of the public doman-or by the
pledge, appropriation, diversion, or deposte OF any
part of the proceeds arising from the sales of the pub
lie domain, TO such Staes 10 the holders Of the OBJ
legations of such States, or by any other means, direct
or indirect.
Mr.. MERRICK did not see why the Senator from
Virginia, after having stated his views, should expect
other gentlemen would refrain from making such ex.
plantations might be necessary in relation 10 their
votes He would not himself for one, yield the right
of the Senate to he cstechised by simple yes or no
upon each of the Senator'S propositions All knew
his anxiety 10 lay aside Improbable discussion mere
absractons leading to practical result that the leg
innate business OF legislation might be disposed of
within The few days yet remaining of the aession. But,
if the gentlemen the other side determined to
introduce and renroduce their distractions, and force
gentlemen, who preferred going with regular bu-
siness enter into discussion. the responsibility must
rest them-not on him (MY. NJ and his friends. He
had no vote avowa The subject brought up
shrink from He could not why there such
oVerweenng anxiety at this time of general embar
rassment-why there was such constant efort-such
relentless zealon the part the General Government
join in the outdoor and foreign denunciatons of the
indebted States-States which had incurred their re-
sponsbtes for the public good; which had not invoked
The interference of the General Government and into
whose domestic arrangements the General Government
had had no invitation to obtrude itself MIR. NJ. pro-
ceedsd at considerable length and with much excite
mpnt TO deprecate The hue and cry raised against the
indebted States. While he dsclaimed and denounced
as impolitic and unwse, the assumption Of the State
debts by the General Government, he claimed Tor his
State, he would for each oihe Suites, its right
to IFS distrbutive share OF the public domain, which,
having subserved the purposes for which it was 10
trusted to the General Government, he contended,
should be restored to the States; that they, in
their turn, mi ht be relieved from their embarassments
when they most needed them. He concluded by offer
ing amendment, 10 come in its proper order, after
the pending question on the motion to amend should be
disposed Of
The amendment having been read by Mr. Merrick
HIMSELF was, at the request of AR CALHOUN, again
read by the Secretary of the Senate.
Mr.. WOODBURY. said he did not rise to debate.
these resolutions, but to earnest wish that
direct vote would be taken by the Senate on both the
material propositions. An evasion, or go by, by post
ponement, or laying them the table, was derogatory
to the deep importance of the questions involved =
This need no. lead any prorac'ed discussion
delay Of the public business. The first question, re-
latng the assumption of State debts had bee fully
argued in this body former OCCASION HIS mind
had been long made up upon it. The State he partly
represented had no doubts in respect to II. IL was
his belief that such assumption was as fatal a
in it's effects formally TO dissolve
the Union. 1t destroyed all the limitations between
the powers and duties of the Federal Government, and
those of the separate States consolidation, and
Of the rankest and worst character, because it was