The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-23
Gwgmtp- <gOemth G0mgress.
THIRD SESSION
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY,, February %, iS4s.

furs may be imported. free OF duty.
Mr. EVANS, from the Committee on Finance,
asked TO be discharged from Il consideration Of q
memorial for the increase of the drawb back dis
titled spirits
Also, from the further consideration Of memorial
from the Western Railroad Company, asking for The
admission of railroad iron free from duty submitted
iu consequence of the report OF general bill upon
the subject
The motion was agreed 10.
ASSUMPTION OF STATE DEBTS
The following resolutions of Mr.. Walker submit
ted on Monday, were called up as part Of the morn
ing business, viz
Resolved, That the assumption Of the debts OF tho
States, contracted by them separately and for local
purposes, would be palpabe violation Of the Con.
stituton Of the United States consolidation Of AL
power 10 the Federal Government aud hnal and
total overthrow of the safety Of the States.
Resolved, That Congress, having no power TO as
sumo such debts any act attempting such assumption
would be utterly null and void; that 1t would not be
obligatory upon the States nor could the people Of
the States be lawfully required by Congress to pay
the debts so assumed nor could any taxes imposed
by them for such purposes be collected and II
would be the duty OF succeeding Congress to re-
the supremacy Of the Constitution by the entire
repeal Of the act oil assumption
Mr.. MOREHEAD suggested that the resolutions
lie upon the table until tomorrow, he wished to
address the Senate upon the subject.
Mr. BAYARD proposed modification, to the ef-
feet that Congress has constitutional power to as
sumo debts contracted by more of the States,
and that it is inexpedien to debts contracted
for mere State purposes and not for the general wei
fare.
Mr.. WALKER refused TO accept the modification,
as he wanted to show that any assumption was un-
constitutional and therefore null and void, and that
foreign bondholders had nothing TO expect at the
hands of Congress-.
Messrs BARROW, ARCHER, and MERRICK
submitted few remarks, when
MIR. TALLMADGE said that the time Of the Sc
nate was too important to be engaged in debating
these resolutions In order to get rid Of the subject,
and proceed to other business he moved 10 lay the
resolutions upon the table,
Mr. WALKER remarked that he should cons der
this test vote.
The question was taken, and decided in the afil-
mative-yeas IS, nays Is, as follows:
YEAS-Messrs Archer, Barrow, Bates, Bayard,
Berrien Choae, Clayton, Conrad Crafts Crittenden,
Dayton, Evans, Graham, Henderson, Huntington,
Smith, of Indiana, Sprague, Tallmadge, Woodbridge
-25.
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Bagby, Benton, Buchanan,
Calhoun, Cuthbert, Fulton, King, Linn, McRoberts,
Smith, of Connecticut, Sturgeon, Tappan, Walker,
Williams, Woodbury., Wright Young-ls.
Sothe resolutionswere laid upon the table.
THE BANKRUPT LAW.
Mr. YOUNG moved that the previous orders be
postponed and that the bill to repeal the Bankrupt
law be now considered.
Mr.. EVANS hoped that the Navy Appropriation
bill would be first considered. He thought hour
two would be sufficient finish the discussion up
on the bill
Mr. BATES said that, as il had been some day.
since the Senate had considered the regular calendar
Of business, he hoped the morning hour would be de-
voted 10 the consideration Of private bills.
Mr. YOUNG withdrew his motion with the under
standing that the Bankrupt bill would be taken up
immediately after the Navy Appropriation bill wa,
Disposed Of.
THE NAVY APPROPRIATION BILL
Was taken up; and, after being amended it wa.
ordered to be read third time.
Several bills from the House read twice and
appropriately referred, (among which was the bill
authorizing the reissue Of Treasury notes. and al.
the bill to establish commercial relations with China
Dir. BERRlEN moved that all the previous order
be postponed for the purpose Of taking up to-mor
row. alter the expiration of the morning hour, thu
bill to repeal the Bankrupt law. The motion wa
agreed 10.
THE ExpUSGINo RESOLUTIONS.
Nlr.BaYARD remarked that he had heretofore
submitted resolutions to expunge the Expunging re
solution, to which the Senator from Missouri (Nlr
Benton) had offered amendment. lie did no
wish to discuss the subject; but il the Senator de
sired II, he would consent that the vote should b.
taken without debate IL however the Senate
wished TO make speech be II So but let some da
be designated for the question
Mr.. BENTON understood TO say that h
would have objection to the resolutions bein
taken up after the Bankrupt bill sbl al have bee
disposed Of
Mr. BAYARD remarked that he was prepared
vote at any time.
Mr. BUCHANAN observed il could not be e.
pected that the question should be taken without d..
cussion. The Senator would please to remembe
that they had but eight days in which 10 complete al
their business, both Executive and Legislative,
lie would have been glad il the subjec
had been taken up at at early period and h
was sorry that the Senator had slumbered 80 man
months, and was now about TO wake up Just befor
the adjournment of Congress. lie would not agre
10 take a vote, without SAY ing something himself.
Mr. BAYARD assured the Senator that he ha
not been sumbering but he had had no opportunit
TO urge the consideration Of the subject. Ten iday
ago IT was resolved to take up the navy appropriate
bills, but they were not yet approached. Bushes
had pressed upon them. lie had introduced thcs
resolutions in compliance with the instructions Of III
Legislature Of Delaware but If the Senate did Nc
choose TO discuss the matter, and take the vote, b
would feel that he had discharged his duty
MIR ARCHER said that the Senator from Penn
syyania ought not TO place distractions in the way
the resolutions Of the Senator from Delaware
the Wings succeed in eHpunging the Expungng res,
luions this session, they would only give the honc
and glory TO their opponents to reinstate them
the next session, If they should have the power to
SO both sides would have equal chance
Mr. BUCHANAN was much obliged to the Ser
ator from Virginia for the suggestion This Co
gress was about to expire, and the Senator look,
with prophetic eye TO the future. lie (Mr. Buch
nam presumed il would be long time before anot
er Senate would assemble here who would vote r
resolutions similar to those Of the Senator from De