Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-03-07
mi,,ee on Public Lands was, by assent, reeced-and

Mr. SMITH of Indiana moved, simply, TO sIfiAe
out the third section.
MIR. WALKER called for the yeas and nays on this
question-which were ordered
Mr.. ALLEN opposed the proposition 10 s'''ke on.
the third section and pointed out the pecu!ia cHcuW
stances which called for it's adoption.
Mr.. SMITH of Indiana, stated the views OF tue
Committee on Public Lands, upon which tney had
come 10 the conclusion that this section shouio DO
stricken out.
The subject was further discussed by Alessrs SMITH
and ALLEN-when
Mr.. EVANS gave notice, that if the question was
TO lead further debate lie should move to lay on
the table.
The question was then taken on striking out the
third section aud decided in the afirmative-yeas q,
nays II.
Mr.. SMITH now moved to insert the substitute Of
the Committee of Public Lands. He proposed that
the question should be taken without debate.
The proposition was to dispense with the office OF
Secretary 10 the President Of the u S for signing
patents by transferring The duties 10 The Office Of Recor
der of Land Patents.
Mr. KING thought the Chairman of the Committee
Public Lands ought TO he satisfied with the amend.
already made. He conceived it would be far more
reasonable abolish the Office of Recorder IN the Land
Office, than that of Secretary TO the President lie
suggested that the present state of things be left to
continue ill next session, and then let examination
be made so as ascertain what Office can be best ds.
pensed with lie opposed to this mode OF egIslat.
ing against individual.
Mr.. SMITH sad this not proposition O! the
Committee Public Lands alone, but had come from
the House, which had recommended the provision IN
another BILL but il had been stricken out and his OBJ
ect put il in this bill, TO which IL more ap
propriale lie thought the mere mechanical duty OF
signing patents of labor, better suited to Ia
boring than 10 gentleman at large; Tor, OF 52,OUO
patents sent for signature last year, 2o0OO only were
signed; and although the dutts not performed,
nobody could expect that the President would remove
ms a charge of neglect of duty.
Mr.. MERRICk opposed this proposition at the Pre-
sent time, and entrcaed his friend Mr.. Smith TO with
draw it.
Sir. BENTON was entirely opposed to the PROPOSE.
ton. He stated the circumstances under which Con
mress had come TO the determination that The President
should have a member OF his own household to sign
patents. And to the patents not being all signed
during the last year, it should be recolected that other
duties to be performed; for Congress had been
nearly two years in session.
Messrs. WALKER. BERRlEN, BUCHANAN and
others declared their opposition 10 the amendment.
The question then taken, and the substitute was
rejected, without division.
The bill was reported 10 the Senate the amendments
made in committee were adopted, and the bill was read
third time and passed
GEORGIA RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. CUTilBERT presented certain resolutions
passed b. the Legislature of Georgia the l9h OF De.
cember last; but which, in consequence Of his long
his healthy he had not received when they were hrs
transmitted to him; and which, consequently, 1t was not
in his power to present Till 1t would be seen, BY
the resolutions themselves, that he instructed by
his Legislature to lay them before the Senate OF the
States.
The resolutions were then read; being the same
heretofore published through the newspapers, condem
natory of the political of the Hon. John Nj.
Berren one of the Senators Of the United States from
Georgia.
Mr. BERRIEN presented certain counter -resolu.
TONS passed by opposite portion OF the Legislature,
and other persons.
These resolutions also read; being laudatory
of Mr.. BeIriens political course.
aIr CUTHBERT spoke, at considerable length, in
justification of the general principles OF the resolutions
he had presented.
Mr. BERRlEN replied at equal length.
The motion to print, although not formally made on
the presentation of the resoutions was understood TO
be The pending question.
On inquiry by the CHAIR, as to that understand.
Mr. CUTHBERT said that such was his purpose;
and he requested that it would be considered as IT
that motion had accompanied the presentation of the
resolutions.
On the question of printing,
Mr.. LINN called for the yeas and nays; which were
ordered
The vote was then taken, and resulted-yeas 81
nays "a, follows
Ysas-Alessrs Allen, BaGby, Benton, Buchanan,
Calhoun, Cuthbcr; Fulton, Henderson, King, Linn,
McDuliie, NcRoberts, Sewer, Smith of Connecticut,
Sturgeon, Tappan, Walker, Wilcox, Williams, Wood
bury, and Wrisht-2l.
.lans-Messrs Archer, Barrow, Bates, Bayard,
Choate, Clayton, Conrad, Crafts, Dayton, Evans,
Graham Huntington, Kerr, Merick, Miller, More.
head, Phelps, Porter, Simmons, Smith OF Indiana,
Sprague, Tallmadge, White, and Woodbridge-A.
So the resolutions were not ordered TO De printed
THE TREATY OF WASHINGTON.
Linup
Treaty of Washington lately made with Great BRITAIN
was then taken mp, as in Committee OF the whole.
Mr. BENTON said this scheme Of the African squa-
dron became worse and worse. Every step lhEeh W
!, 10 a new biunder Commenced in violation OF The
Constitutions as he beleved-in violation of the policy
Of the in its essential meaning
by Sir Robert Peel already pregnant with The seeds OF
war; here in addition to al! this, is an indefinite ap'
preparation for its support Specific appropriations arc
the policy of our Government-one of the great re-
forms introduced by Mr. Jefferson. Before Mr. Jear
son time appropriations made in mass for differ
eut branches of service; and the administration applied,
more or less to different branches. This was source
of abuse which the change oil parties ls00 corrected
Specific appropriations then introduced, and haze
been adhered to since until now, when great cepaT-
tnre from it is attempted The naval appropriation
for the wear large eight millions were asked by the
Secretary | do not know exactly how much has been
granted.
N,r. WILLIAMS of Me. said six millions.
MIR BENTON. very we'll DIX miii'ons. anu uu'
Of this the Secretary of the Navy is to take what lie
peases for the African squadron. To this object
want spe cfc sum named according to the safe prac-
tice and audabIe reform introduced by Mr. Jefferson
We have three services for our navy-a home service
for home squadron; African squadron for suppress
ing the slave trade and the protection Of commerce ny
the navy generally Here three different services,
and each should have its appropration-so much Tor
the home squadron, much for the African ana so uch
for the rest of The navy. The present indefinite ap
preparation violates this rule and enables the secretary
10 conound expenditures, and to hide the real
of the African squadron lie is 10 take what ne peases
out Of six millions and there is no way TO ascertain
how much he takes. In fact, he may send the whole
navy there and make this business OF negro hnn,ing
on the coast of Africa six millions OF dollars
per annum. 1t is ex;ravagan supPosition hal ne
will do so but it will be bad enough II he takes any
large part of it, and, with policy which cond originate
such squadron, there is no knowing what extrava
gance will ensue.
Mr.. 3 was more and more opposed TO this squadron
He considered il unconstitutional lie oeiieVed the
treaty making power had righto dispose OF our ma
w by treaty with foreign nation; that the army
and navy were in the hands Of Congress-the two
Houses Of Congressional could not be taken out OF
their hands by the treaty making power; Upon the
principles of this treaty, the President ana ana
A. hnln n n