Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-02-04
CoNGREss--sd Session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
,, Monday, January 30.

ihiee 81 Ways and Means, 10 which had been referred
several memorials asking Tor the creation Of two hun
c'ed millions of National Stock, 10 be distributed
among The States and Territories, and the District of
Io'umoia by general consent made report thereon,
concluding with resolution that il not expedent
10 grant The prayer OF the menoriasls and that the
COMMITTEE be discharged from the further consideration
oil The subject
Mr. SAID that there also repn.t from The mi.
hoFy oil The committee on the same subject and his
oto was that both these reports be printed together
WIN lu,UU0 extra copies OF them. In order that the
mouse might have an opportunity of understanding the
saeci OF these reports, before taking the question
printing the extra copies, he would propose lint tia,
question be laid over informally for the present; by se
neral consent
Mr. El ERETT observed that, as this subject has
becu heretofore referred TO n select committee raised
Tor that purpose on the resolution OF the gentleman from
Maryland, Mr. VIM. Cost Johnson he would move
To refer these reports 10 the same committee
MIR. JOSEPH X. INGERSOLL would merely say,
mat though the reference Of this subject to the Com
m't!ee oil Ways and Means ard the Select Committee
were oil The same character, yet they not denti
cal These reports were based on memorials, which
were referred 10 the Committee of WAYS and Means
prior 10 the reference Of the same subject to the Select
Committee
Mr. PlCkENS hoped that, before the question was
put on The gentleman notion the minority would be
allowed TO make their report Great confusion in the
Hail, and dozen members on the floor.
MIR. CUSHING inquired what the question was
Was II on printing the extra copies'
MIR. Pick EMS sud- No. The proposition was TO
pass that question over informally.
The SPEAKER said that the motion Of the gentle.
man from Vermont was 10 refer lie reports to the Sc
lect COMMITTEE; but the first question would be on
printing the ordinary number ofccpes.
Mr.. BRIGGS called for the previous question
Mr.. CUSHING and several others 10 ask quss.
ton Repeated calls to order.l If his colleague (Mr
G. said,) persisted in holding the previous ques
ton before he knew what it was, he would insist on
the reading Of the reports.
The question seconding the previous question
was Fn, and carried and the main question was also
ordered
The SPEAKER was about putting the main qies-
tion when
Nj CUSHING insisted on his right 10 haze the re-
ports read He had No idea OF hala dozen gentlemen
calling Tie previous question him, before he knew
what tho question was.
Mr. TOLASD called for the orders OF the day.
The SPEAKER SAID that tie reports received
By general consent End must override The orders OF The
day.
Mr. READ appealed from the decision of The Chair
but, upon explanation, withdrew the appeal.
Mr. SAUNDERS moved 10 lay the whole subject
the table.
The SPEAKER said that. If the gentleman from
Massachusetts insisted on the reading O! the reports
they mus, be read before taking any question.
Mr. CUSHING said that, if tie House would allow
the reading. [Cries of "Order order.
The Clerk then read The report Of the majority
when
Mir READ called for the order: of The day.
The SPEAKER said that the motion 10 print was
pending, and must have the preference.
Mir. EVERETT moved TO lay the question Of print.
ing on the table, which motion WIS put, and mega
lived.
The question printing The ordinary number Of
copies was then put, and carried.
Mr. EVERETT again moved 70 refer the reports to
the Ssec: Committee raised or the resolution Of VIM.
Cost Johnson
The SPEAKER reminded the gentleman from Yer.
mont tia. his motion had been off By the previous
question.
Mr.. EVERETT said that that was on the question of
printing only thai being decided, his motion was now
renewed, and in order
MIR. TOLAND said that he had called for The orders
of,he da previous 10 the motion Of the gentleman from
Vernon.
After some conversation between the SPEAKER
and ilcssrs. TOLAND and EVERETT,
The SPEAK Err said that the gentleman from Penn.
sylvania Nr Ioland) was right, and that the motion
Of the gentleman from New York must lie over for the
present.
[rhe majority repor, being TOO long to be copied
for this evenings paper the reporter contents himself
for the present with giving the report of.he minority, as
foilows;]
Report of The .uinority Of The Committee Of Ways ard
.Heans, on The assumption.
The minority of the Committee Of Ways and Means,
asserting To most of the and TO the conclusions
presented IN the report OF the orlty against the prayer
Of the memornl,ss, asking the Federal Government to
issue S2O000o GOO of public stock in aid Of the debts oil
the States, would also urge, in addition, (Shoul pre-
tending 10 90 into anything Ike full development Of
their reasons,) that they deem the exercise Of such a
power the part Of the General Government unauho
rt.fd by the Constitution.
The mjnority have aluavs been induced 10 believe
that the Federal Constitution compact TO winch
the States acceGed, and became parties and lhnt the
powers Of the Government accrued from that compact
and were defined in IT, Before Congress IS authorized
10 act upon any subject matter, II must first he such
subject over which power specifically granted in that
instrument, or clearly 10 be inferred as absolutely ne
cessarv 20 carry out some granted power Ihey can
see no positive grant Of power 10 Congress 10 authorize
hem 10 do what the memorialists desire.
To assume such debt, and 10 create such stock
binding upon posterity, is very high exercise OF soVe
reign power and is, III itself, independent and substan
live and caDno, be inferred incidental to grant over
inferior subjects
There is clause in The Constitution, which Declares
that "Congress shall have power to lay and collect
ares duties imposs and excuses, and provide for the
common defence and general welfare of the United
States" (Sec 5) This power was not given 10 pay
the debts Of the several States Of this Union, but to pay
the debts of the Omitted States" These words define
the Cunfederacy of States as WHOLE and as contra
To assume that this power given to authorize the
Government pay the debts of the separate STATES,
contracted solely for their benefit and for their local
purposes is 10 allow the different States 10 contract
debts and through the Federal Government, to bind
others 10 pay them which would make this Government
subseryien 10 local interests and 10 State authority and
absorb "hc general welfare Of the United States. II
this should be the established principle Of the Govern
men i, would be directly stimulating each State into
wild career of reckless speculation, which would in
evi,ably end in their separate existence, IN conso
dated despo,ism, where their boundaries would
be forgotten amid the universal despair that would FOL
low the overthrow oil constitutional liberty.
The TERMS "general welfare, in the Constitution,
were designed as declaration OF extreme caution;
ana The true intent and meaning OF those who Used
them was, that they should BE- limitation 10 The appa'
rentiy absolute and uncontrolled power given in The
snme c!qu.e-",c lay and collect lakes, "to pay lie
debts, SC /, was intended, that this power should
NJ, be used wantcn!y unjusy; but that Congrt IS
should strictly consult the general welfare OF The
United So,es, and carry out the only by conf
ming It's full exercise objects specially enumerated IN
that instrument, and which thereby declared TO be
national These powers were not intended TO be up
piled to LEGAL interests TO State debts but to those
great national objects which were specifically declared
By grants of COVER TO be within the jurisdiction OF The
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