The daily union., 1846-06-30

uePosis, OF uIecVy 10 the place where the goods
were produced; and very little advantage
would accrue to the American domestic commerce
He repeated, and enforced by additional remarks
the objection that the system would be a virtual
repeal of the system Of cash duties which had
operated so benefeisly He enumerated the sslu.
tary sbjects sought and attained by that system Of
cash duties Excessive importations, he further
contended, would be produced by this system to the
serious arrangement of the business of the country
The market had been kept steady and the currency
good by the present system. He argued that by
this bill the currency OF the country would be iniu-
riously affected. Again, he contended that the sys
TEN would be expensive one. Public buildings
would be demanded. He not in such health
as permitted him to prolong his remarks. He had
expressed as briefly possible his honest convie
uons II had been with reference TO the business
and currency of the country generally that he had
confined his remarks; and on both he contended
that the operation Of the system would be high-
y doleterious. Ii would be more expsdient At pre-
sent to let the bill lie quietly and if they could send
for persons and papers, and he was convinced thai
the result would be that not five members of the
Senate would be in favor Of the system, so uniyer-
sally against 1t was the opinion of those classes of
the community most interested in the measure
MIR. ARCHER then rose and remarked, that a.
no gentleman on the opposite side seemed disposed
TO proceed at present with the debate he would
move that the bill be passed informally ill to-
morrow, in order that the Senate might now proceed
to the consideration Of the bill for the reroce ssion
Of the town and county Of Alexandra To the State
Of Virginia.
Mr.. DIX expressed his readiness to concur in
this suggestion, on condition that the warehousne
bill be made the order Of the day for tomorrow.
GRADUATION AND REDUCTION OF rHE PRICE oY TIM
PUBLIC LANDS.
Mr. CALHOUN arose and submitted an amend
menl 10 the bill to graduate and reduce the price Of
the public lands, [of which the reporter could not
get copy, but which will be given when it comes
up IN order.
NEW LAND OFFICE MINERAL LANDS.
Mr.. BREESE, from the Committee on the Pub
lie Lands reported bill TO establish land Office in
the northern part of Michigan, and to provide for
the sale Of mineral lands in the State Of Michigan
and Territory Of Wisconsin; which was read, and
passed TO the second reading.
RETRocEssIoE or ALEXANDRIA.
Mr.. ARCHER moved that the bill for the retro
cesson Of Alexandria be taken up for consideration;
which motion was agreed TO.
The bill was considered as ia committee Of the
whole the Committee on the District Of Columbia,
to whom the bill was referred, having submitted an
adverse report thereon.
Mr.. ARCHER stated that, without any discus.
sion the part of the friends Of the BILL unless drv-
en- into it, he was willing to trust ii to the vote Of the
Senate.
Mr.. BENTON remarked that he was willing 10
vote for the bill, if its passage was desired hy ma
jority of the inhabitants of Alexandra. He wished
to know II the majority Of the inhabitants had ex-
pressed that desire.
Mr.. ARCHER replied in the affirmative; and ad-
ded, that by one of the sections of the bill il was
not to be operative until after the vote Of ma ory
of the Inhabitants had been given in its favor. The
bill was not TO 60 into operation at all unless ma
oriy Of all white residents for six months and long
| er had declared expressly their appreciation Of the
measure which it was intended to effect.
Mr.. HAYWOOD made a few remarks adverse
to the bill. Without entering on the discussion Of
the constitutional question, he would state few
points in which, in his judgment, the bill was OBJ
jectionable. Under the solemn pledge OF Congress-
that the District, now located and limited, should
be perpetualy the seat Of the federal government
| individual citizens Of the country had purchased
property in the town and county ofAlexandria, and
become residents there. He would ask f it was
just to them to violate the pledge alluded tor They
might be a minority Of the people Of the town and
county of Alexandra, but the rights Of minorities
were to be equally regarded those Of majorities
1t obviously unjust to transfer those opposed
this retrocession to another jurisdiction un-
der which burdens would be imposed upon them,
which they had never contemplated. The
| application had been protested against by the
mnorites to whom he had referred. Again
they had been unable to find any satisfactory evil
dence to settle the point whether at the time Of the
| cesson the Potomac river was owned by Virginia
or by Maryland. IL the town and county Of Alex
andra reeeded to Virginia. the contest respect
ing the ownership Of that river would be revived
and then it would be between the United States and
Virginia. If gentlemen inspected the map, they
| would find that the possession of the river was a
matter Of very considerable practical importance to
the seat of government. If the bill were passed
| without being amended, that contest would arise
and that result he deprecated. He had heard Of
no good reason for the rstrocession. No evil was
mentioned as resulting from the present state of
things, and good and iustifabc end was described
as likely to result from the measure. 1t was
he was inclined to believe, change sought merely
from the love of change in these time of
and it did appear to him that it ought not to be ef
fected unless some practical evil was to be obvated
| or remedied
| Mr.. MILLER, as a member of the committee
which had reported adversely to the bill, stated at
| some length the views which had induced him TO
oppose the retrocesson. He gave an interesting
historical sketch of the proceedings with regard TO
the original formation of the District Of Columbia,
and contended that, on constitutional grounds Con-
gress could not pass the bill
| Mr.. PENNYBACKER followed in favor of tho
bill He stated that the town and county of Alex
| andra not included in the original grant, but
was subsequently included by the commissioners ap-.
pointed extend the limits of fthe District when that
measure deemed advisable He hoped the
senator from New Jersey would excuse him, but he
had really forgotten almost every word he had said
but he would endeavor to reply to him. Mr. P.
then proceeded at great length to defend the bill,
but not being heard very distinctly and our col
| umns being very much crowded, we are unable to
give a full report of the honorable genteman's 3 re-
marks.
| Mr.. JOHNSON, of Maryland, moved that the
Senate adjourn; which motion was disagreed to.
| Mr.. BENTON moved that the Senate proceed to
the consideration of executive business; which mo.
ton was decided in the affirmative.
| The Senate then went into executive session; and
after time spent therein, the doors were opened
and the Senate adjourned.
uOJTsE OF pEpREsCNrA ATIvps
The journal Of yesterday read and approved.
VOLUNTEERS.
| Mr.. WICK asked leave to offer the following
resolution; which read for information:
Rssolred, That the Committee Military Affairs be in
structed inquire into the expediency Of granting land
the officers and priyaes of the volunteer forces raised
der laws passed at the present session. and also of stmu
stng enstmens in the regular forces by granting lands
to such may enlist between the of
of November in the present year.