Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-02-23
.,'onG"y, fb ~, 1913.


Mr. WALKER offered resolution the consideration
of which objected 10 at this time, calling upon the
Secretary of War 10 report at the session Of Con-
10 the cxpediency Of improving The navigation
OF the Ohio river by river improvements, either
the Portland and Louisville canal, in the removal of
the distractions in the river, nr by new canal.
The design of the resolution have report
upon the whole subject at The session Of Congress
ASSUMPTION OF STATE Di33IS.
Mr.. CRlTTENDEN. oil Kentucky, wished 10 pro-
coed 10 the consideration of private bills while
others insisted upon continuing the regular morning
business, being the consideration of The following
buttons Of Mir McDulie, viz
R6scirtd, That The Government of Inc IT, States has
no constitutional power the debts contracted
~ the States for their own proper purposes by the is
sue OF stock, whatever fund may be pledged for the
payment Of the interest or principal.
Resoi1ed, That it is inexpedient for this Govern
inent thus to assume the aforesaid debts.
| The resolutions having been read,
| Mr.. McDUFFlE addressed the Senate at length
upon the subject, arguing throughout TO show the
constitutionalty of the project 10 the debts of
The States, and as strongly TO show The utter rutess
ness OF the measure IL there should be attempt 10
execute it. There was, was said not only no power
the Constitution To pay the debts Of the States, but
the Constitution prohibited the measure, and il adopt,
ed by the any Congress, nobody would be bound by
Tie He should consider that stock thus issued
o. more value than forged paper lie made
upon the issue Of such paper, and would oppose lie pay
I!eni.
| Mr.. WALKER continued the debate in strong op
position 10 the assumption of State debts, and concluded
by Offering resolutions expressing his views as the
enormity Of the proposition.
Mr.. MERRlCk replied to the Senators from South
Carolina and Mississippi He argued that nobody had
proposed the assumption Of State debts. He held the
proposition TO be unequal and unjust.
| Mr.. WALKER asked if there were not memorials
for that object before the Committee of Finance.
| MIR. EVANS Uhe Chairman of the Committee on
Finance SAID there was proposition TO assume the
debts of the STATES before the Committee, that he had
seen. There memorials stating that States and
Individuals are greatly embarrassed, and asking for
lie issue OF two hundred millions Of stock for tie i'm
provement Of the cure ncy.
! Mr.. MERRICK continued, and argued that the
States asked nothing than for the distribution of
the proceeds Of the sales of the public domain They
had right 10 this and the General Government had
no warrant TO keep from them. He concluded with
the remark that he had enlisted for the war in the
sisance Of this effort made BY certain gentlemen
TO contest the will and discretion Of the people He
then submitted series Of resolutions embodyng, in
principle, the opinions before expressed in his resolu
tons of last week.
Mr.. ALLEN made some remarks in reply TO MIR
nerrick, when
Nj. TALLMADGE moved to lay the whole subject
on the table
Mr. WALKER called FOR the yeas and nays, uhca
"r'e orsF!ed and the motion prevailed By vote o:
u to p, as follows
ieas-Messss- Barrow, Bates, Bayard, Berren,
Chon,e, Clayton, Conrad, Cr,enden, Crafts, Dayton,
Evans, Graham, Henderson, Huntington, Mnngum,
M'llrr Merrek, Motehead, Phelps Smith Of Indiana,
Sprague, Taima,se. White, Woodbridge
.ays-hlcssrs. Allen, Archer, Bagby, Benton Bnch.
anan, Calhoun, Cuthber,, Fulton King, Linn Nc Duf,
fl, Mclt"osrts, Rives Sturgeon, Smith of Conn Tap
prn, Walker Williams, Wilcox, Woodbury., Wright,
Young-23
MIR. WALKER then renewed his resolutions as an
independent proposition.
These resolutions will be taken UP Tomorrow
Several bills from the House Of Representatives and
which were upon The table, were read and appropri-
ately referred
On melton OF Mr. Evans s the Senate took IN the
Army till, and insisted on the anendmen, (non con
Cured in BY the louse) allowing the Cadets TO be ap
pointed without regard TO congressional territorial
districts; ana asked a committee Of conference.
THE BANKRUPT LAW.
Mr. LINN moved that the Senate proceed to the
consideration of The unfinished business of Saturday,
beng the bill for the payment of General Jackson s
fine.
Mr.. BERRlEN said that this was the day set apart
for The consideration of The Bankrupt law And he
therefore moved 10 postpone the previous orders, and
take up The bull
The yeas and nays were ordered, and the motion of
Mr.. beTr'en was ios.--yeas 81, nays 90, as follows:
feas-Aiessrs. Archer. Barrow, B.yasd Berrien,
Clayton, Crafts, Cruenden, Dayton, Graham, HUM.
i"g'on, h!erT'ck Miller, Mcrehead Phelps, Smith oil
Indiana, SPrague, White, Wilcox, Williams and Young
go
Ways Mess.s Allen, Bagby, Benton, Buchanan,
Calhoun, Choate, Conrad, Cuthbert, Evans, Fulton,
Henderson, King, Linn Rrves, Sewer, Smith of Co.,
Sturgeon, Tal!madge, Toppnn, Walker, Woodbridge
and Woodhpry-22
The senas then proceeded 10 the unfinished business.