The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-01-10


currency IN addition TO that afforded by the specie
IN the country The resolution Of the Committee Of
Ways and Means was not merely negative report
as the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Johnson) sug-
gested, and as the gentleman from New York Mr..
fIlmore) admitted but IL was particular kind of
negative report. What did il say Why, that the
plan ought not TO be adopted" But bad the Com
miltee Of Ways and Means discharged the duty inl-
posed on them by the House had they Investigated
this broad subject? ID they underworld TO meet the
eXigene es Of the country Had they endeayored to
meet the exgencies of the country they must have
touched nearly the limited financial question of how
the revenue shall be kept But in order TO consider
The question, he would merely compare the re
port oil The majority wlh that Of the minority
The minority saw that there was duty TO be per-
formed ~ relation to the recommendation ofthe Pre-
sldent-a duty not merely To bring before them
special bill TO be adopted by the House, but 10 look
INTO the question OF which the bill in committee
part, aud to inquire whether Congress had a duty
10 perform not only TO the country but to the Govern
ment. Every gentleman knew that the deposes Of
lhe reasury, aud ITS business all stood on the act oil
| 1853 What was that act II was simply proyi-
SION OF law that the Treasurer shall keep the
moneys of the United States. How the re-
venue should be kept, in what form of deposites
in banks or in the hands of private indi-
yduals-was not prescribed by this law
This, however was not the during the existence
oil the Bank OF the United States and the Sub Trea-
sury--each prescribed the mode and manner of keep
ing the public revenues. The first of these measures
expired by Limitation, and The second was repealed
by Congress- aud now the money of the Government
was at he discretion of the Treasurer under the act
OF Congress OF 1853 The gentleman from New
YORK MI fillmore) objected 10 going into Commit
tee oil the Whole on this resolution Wby? Because
II they should go into committee it, as negative
proposition 1t would be overlooked How Over.
looked by legislation on the part Of this House
AND were they not bound to legislale was it not
their DUTY Were they TO spend their time in dis
! he If
| he gentleman from New York He would ask the
House and the country, what to be gained by
keeping tins negative resolution which declared that
The bill ought not to pass, before the House, "A con
uary course ought TO be pursued. They should take
up me question for legislation consider and discuss
II. they were not to inquire whether merely par
tcuar DILL IN SO many words, ought ought not 10
pass but they were required go further and look
INTO The entire scope of the subject and inquire whe-
ther there was not form Of bill which might
be passed conformably to the public Interests and of
which the House might approve. lie hoped that the
question would be put IN some form for discussion,
ana that 1t would end ia legslaon-and that no par
" or any other issue would be made this particu-
lar subject. So, therefore, il seemed TO him that not
only the course OF wisdom and cxpediency but the
course oil duty, required that they shou refer the
whole matter to the Committee of the Whole on the
state oil the Union, where bill-he did not say any
particular bill-may be framed. The gentleman
from New York had said that his object of having
Vote OF The House on the precise plan of the Secre
iary oil The lreaiury would be defeated by the reso-
luton going TO Committee of the Whole NOT so;
1t would be competent, in that event, for the
gentleman TO move the bill of the Secretary
OF lhe Treasury as amendment TO the bill
which he (hlr Cushing had already reported
TO the House And thus they could take the question
IN practicable form. The only conceivable object
OF the gentleman was to prevent legislation and was
IL, men, the object oil The gentleman, and the ma o
rity OF the Committee Of Ways and Means to prohi-
bit legsl ton on this great subject during the pre-
sent session. Was he ready TO go to the country
as chairman oil That committeeman say that he
fused TO make an attempt 10 egislate the subject
OF The currency He tru ted that, instead sane
uoning Tins course OF proceeding instead of the con.
tinued posponement of the general question: instead
OF getting up fancy discussion on q fancy resolu-
uon, instead OF adopting This reso uon, the Hose
would at least permit 1t 10 90 into committee and
they would mature bill for the purpose of passing it
during the present session Of Congress
Mr.. ARNOLD inquired of the Chair what would
be The effect OF motion for the previous question
should II be sustained by the House OH the resolution
and amendment.
The SPEAKER replied that the House would
thereby be brought TO a direct vote
Mr.. ARNOLD remarked that thew had had the re- |
port OF he gentleman from Massachusetts before |
them and the country for twelve mouths They had !
two additional reports-one from the majority and
The othei from The minority ofthe Committee of Ways
and Means, Now before they entered into discus
sion, these two reports should be printed and laid
before The House for information. He hoped, there
lore, that the House would postpone the further con-
sheraton OF the resolution until honorable gentlemen
should have time TO read the reports If there were
any surplus copies, they could he distributed to the
country. And he moved the previous question.
Mr.. PiCkENS asked the gentleman from Iennes-
see to withdraw he motion for a few moments TO
enable him to make a few remarks
Mr.. ARNOLD replied that he would do So if the
gentleman would renew the motion
MIR. PlChENS acquiesced and the mo ion was
Withdrawn. lie would say to the gentleman from
let the resolution take the couse
suggested by the gentleman from New York,
so that the yeas and nays may be taken
upon II, and some specific action be obtained.
MIR. WISE inquired whether the gentleman would
permit him TO PROFOUND question
Mr. PlCkENS replied, Certainly
Mr.. WISE then asked him whether il was the in
tenton OF the CommIttee of WaNs and Means 20 re-
port measure Of their own, and not merely mega
tive proposition
Mr.. PlCkENS responded that he did not know
whether the majority would bring forward any thing
except their present report
Mr. WISE requested the gentleman to inform him
whether the committee had any measure under dis
cussion;
Mr. PICKENS remarked that his present impress
sion was that the committee had not. lie did not
believe that the House could be brought to sanction
the negative proposition of tie gentleman from New
York and he hoped that the bill of the gentleman
from Massachusetts, when il came up in Committee
Of the Whole, would have full investigation lie
agreed that the resolution was negative proposition
against The bill Of The Secretary Of the Treasury be
tween which and that Of the gentleman from Massa-
cbusetts there was a material difference. lie was
willing that both Of them should be fully discussed in
but on the particular report Of The Com
mittee Of Ways and Means, he wished the House to
act in specific form, and desired that the yeas and
nays should be called and taken on the resolution #
was for this that he preferred the motion of
he gentleman rom New York TO that of the gentle
man from Massachusetts lie then, according TO I
promise renewed the call for the prev Gus question
Mr.. JOHNSON Of Maryland, asked the gentle )
nan to Withdraw II. 4
MIR. PlCKENS said that he could not il was in {
he hands Of the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr.
Amod)
MIR. ARNOLD remarked That be womb Withdraw 1