The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-02-20
3Y THE SOUTHERN MAIH.
Washington.

tS"iiesponoence oil the HERALD
WASHINGTON, Saturday Nioht,1
Feb. 18th, I843
Bill for Relief OF Robert rulton,s Heirs.
Jonathan Hobcrts-Mr. Rives and Anti
AssumptIon-Hon. Daniel webster.
The business in Congress to-day was not very
important Mr.. RIvRs' resolution relative IN the
assumption Of State Debts, were discussed in the
Senate and bill to relieve the heirs of Robert
Fulton has al last passed the House.
BY the bye, this question of State Debts and As.
sumption seems to be growing into great importance
here.
In SENATE to-day, Mr.. RvEs's Anti-Assumption
resolutions were taken up, after some unimportant
morning business.
Mr.. BAnRow moved to lay the resolutions and
amendments on the table. Negatived-Yeas %;
Nays ~.
Mr.. BARROW said he could neither vote for the
resolutions of the Senator from Va. (Mr. Rives),
nor OF the Senator from Md. (Mr. Merrick). He
considered all discussion or action upon the subject
at the present session as useess-as amounting to
nothing This Congress was just closing; it
could not bind the action of the next, and
tant regular business demanding their attention.
re declared that he was always ready to vote for
distribution OF the proceeds of the public lands
emong the States In that way which would most et-
sary 10 anticipate the sales of the public lands and
for to issue its bonds to be used the
naies oT the purpose Of paying their debts stood
ton his support. But it might not and he believed
ltwould not, be necessary to do this.
Mr.. hives said he had offered these resolutions
with no disposition in the least to obstruc the regu-
merits but simply that he considered them so plain
pretracted discussion at all He had prepared SUBJ
Ohio (Mr Alen) to his resolutions declaring the I'm.
propriety of the issue OF government stock, which
he submitted for that gentleman's concurrence.
MIR. ALLEN expressed his concurrence, and the
Mr.. BUCHANAN said that from the number of me.
morals presented by him on this subject and from
the appeals made 20 him by Senators, he might be
expected to speak on this question. and he rose to
make an apology for no. doing at the present time
Assoon as his friend from Missouri (Mr. Linn) had
carried through his bill for relief of Gen. Jackson,
and probably not till after the Senator from Geor,
gia, (Mr Berien,) had finished the bankrupt
law, he would then present several petitions
on the subject from his State and would ask
the Senate to indulge him tor half an hour
or an hour, (and he was sure that as he had beena
silent member during the session it would be grant
ed to hum on all sldes,) to express his sentiments or
this subject. He should not, therefore, go into the
discussion now, but would wait the time proposed
discussion of the question. The primary object
the resolutions of the Senator from Virginia, (Mr
Rlves,) was oprocure an expression Of the Senate
as to the power Of the General Government to as
were not so expressed as to leave open somerhin
besides the mere affirmation or denial, he shoul
have. no difficulty in voting on them. But Will
denying the power OF the General Government I
assume the debts of the States, they leave il ope
for inference that the Senate denies the power O
another and different subect-he meant the distrt
button of the proceeds Of the public lands. He de
sired to exclude that inference from these resor
lions. He was prepared to affirm that there was
constitutional power on the part of the General &c
vernmeent to assume the debts of the States cor
tracted tor their own purposes, but he was not pre-
pared to say that it had power to distribute anon
them the proceeds Of the sales of the public land
He offered the following amendment 10 the secen
resolution
Provided that nothing in this resolution shall be COZ
sdered to affirm or deny the right duty of the FEEDER
Government to surrender the public lands or to distrbu
the proceeds ofthe same among the States"
Mr.. BAYARD proposed further amendment, sim
lar to Mr. Berriens, but under the rules the Pres
dent decided it could not be received.
Mr. CRIrTENDEN thought il must now be mantle .
to every Senator, that they could not discuss III
question at the present session, and give the reso
days ago, when there was full Senate they ht
voted not TO consider the subject The resolutiel
of the Senator from Virginia, (Mr. Rives) we
then supposed to be out of their reach. But no OF
could doubt that these resolutions were virtual
embraced in that decision Virtually they were
postponed, but by some bubble they were aga
forced upon them, and had become the subject
multiplied amendments. And the resolutions of Il
Senator from South Carolina, (Mr McDuffie) mig
just as well be renewed, and made the subject
parliamentary order. When were they to end thu
Resolution habit limits, it had its appointed cours
but resolutions were nothing but mere abstract pl
positions, calculated TO exhaust the wisdom of Co
gress upon the general propositions. The Senat
from Virginia, (Mr: Rives) in offering these reso
most vital Importance, and yet he wished the
acted upon without debate. The very gent
men whe waived discussion on this subject, we
those who admitted to be of the greatest com
tho -. -. Al
They might expect from the gentleman from Vir
MIA, who had devoted 80 much attention to the ST
lect, some instruction, some explanation; but VIII
he waived the discussion, it seemed to impose
silence, and vote on the question Immediately. T
resolutions embraced questions which had be
discussed by the American people, and by be
Houses of Congress, since he had had the honor
representation here, at least and there was i to
mind something very useless in this attempt to
tablish public opinion upon the subject, by means
legislative , sction ai, What was their efect'
permanent political effect whatever-they were
the Idle winds. Were they a society OF propae,
di, TO manufacture creeds and opinions for the p
pie! He could see no other object in this moveme
But was it !awful--was it practicable Did Sc
tors expect BY their votes to govern the sentime
of the country and the world? He knew no OF
effect that could be expected from this course
G. said he did not propose to enter into the disc
sion of these resolutions now, but he was prepa
to investigate, and vote upon them, wheney
in the course Of his duty, it should beco
right and proper for him to do so. But he
not intend that any gentleman or set of 8en
men should make a guard for him or M
out his course of conduct. He had no opn
that he was not willing any gentleman sho
know, none whatever, and he never had had O
And as fer his opinion on this subject, he belle
that this government was under no obgat
whatever to assume the State debts. He belle
that the faith OF this government was not pied
with them in the slightest degree. He hoped
the day was far distant when such a case VIC
arise "a to make it necessary to determine whel
they had the constitutional power to do 1t or
He would not say that case might not arise
exigency of which would not call upon then
save the Union by paying the obligations OF
States, or assisting to relieve them from their
barrassments, Was any gentleman prepared
say that! Did these resolutions declare
Il was enough for him to act for the present.
decide when the case arises. He had not that