Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-04-24
TwENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
WEDNESDAY. AER,L %.
crAY rrr

Mr.. Webster said he received daily so many
Inquiries as to The probable progress OF The Sub
Treasury bill, thai he desired 70 ask OF The Com
mi,lee on Finance, and hoped The Chairman
would rol find it Inconsistent with his duty 10 an
swer, when the ComIiitee would probably report
the bill ana further, whether they proposed any
and what amendments to the bill and lastly, at
about what period they thought action would De
had upon in Mr.. Webster said he was no pa.
mic maker, and his only object was TO allay pa
mic. The country was now eminenlly prosper
Gus, and he desired that il should remain SO.
Mr.. Lewis, 10 reply, said he was unable TO an
swer the FIRST inquiry Of the Senator. The COM
mi,ee had determined 10 give precedence 10 The
bill establishing a warehousns system, which
had been made the special order for the second
Monday in May, and had further determined TO
propose the establishment Of branch minis al
Charleston and New York, in order that any EVIL
effect that might be anticipated from the eslao-
lishment Of the Sub Treasury should be ayerled.
In view, 100, Of The heavy amount OF public mo-
MES on depo.i,e in the banks and the slate OF e1-
pansion now existing, it had been agreed upon,
that the specie clause should not go into effect
until The LIST of January.
MIR. Webster thanked the honorable Chairman
Tor the Information.
Mr. Speishl, from the Committee on Finance.
reporteda bill for the establishment OF branch
mint a, Charleston, S. c., which was read twice.
Mr. Lewis, from the same Committee, repcr.
led bill for establishing branch mint at New
York
MIR. Allen offered resolution, which wa:
adopted, limiting and defining the Information ana
correspondence on the subject OF the right OF
search, called for under resolutions OF lUtn anu
llth instant.
After some unimpor,ant business on motion
of Mr.. Jarnagin the Senate proceeded 10 the con-
sideration OF The resolution offered by him on The
10Th ms, calling for the expenditures Of The Sc
cret service fund.
Mr.. Webster said he had lew and very few
remarks 10 make in reference 10 The answer OF The
Presidrr, 10 a somewhat similar resolution in the
other House.
In the frs, place, he was happy to say that he
entirely approved ofhe refusal Of the President TO
communicate the information asked for, as he
could not have given il without violation Of his
duty.
tir. w. said that knowing that no money had
been paid out of the secret service fund without
the express authority oil the President, il might oe
though, that he would desire 10 have the items
made public, for the purpose OF MS own vIndica-
,ion-but the personal considerations were too
Iiaing 10 allow them 10 interfere with great pub
lie principle.
MIR. w. said that all declarations, statements,
or insinuations made anyHhere or by any per-
sons, that he had msused or misapplied the
public funds while Secretary Of State, were
wholly unfoupded and false. If any one who
had made such charges had any Information
from The archives OF the State Department,
there was no injunction of secrecy on him,
and he could make them public. In reference
10 the author Of these SANDERS said Mr.. W.,
leave him where he is--in the very worst CON-
pauv 10 The world that know of-wilh himself.
Mr. Jarnagn asked the unanimous consent OF
The Senate 10 withdraw The resolution
MIR. Wesco,t oijecei, and said he wished a
direct vote upon the resolution to show the Opt
MON OF the Senate upon the Improperly OF calling
Tor such information.
Mr.. Mangum concurred in the riewS OF the
Senator from Florida, and asked the ayes and
noes on The resolution.
MIR. Jarnasin said he had introduced The reso-
LUTON and permitted il to PASS over from day 10
,'ay, for reasons satisfactory to himself, aud which
must be obvious to others, and that 10 one would
ro,e agans, i, with more pleasure than himself.
MIR. Breese moved 10 lay the resolution on the
table. Lost.
After some remarks BY Mr.. Allen, The ques-
ton was taken by ayes and noes, and the resoiu-
ton was rejected. Mr. Tnrney was the only one
who voled in The affirmative.
The Senate then, on motion of Mr. J. NJ. Clay
ton, took up he bill for French spoiaions prior
10 1890, and made it The special order OF the day.
MIR. j. NJ. Clayton then explained The pro-
visions OF The bill, and some amendments which
he offered, and entered al length ino history o
the origin and progress Of these claims. With
oot concluding, Mr.. c. gave way for motion 10
adjourn.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House went into Commune OF the w hoe
Ibis morning Immediately upon line realizing OF
the Journal, upon the bill TO establish The Smith
sonian Institution, Tor the increase ana oiuusioh
Of knowledge among men," The consioefatioh
OF the bill was special order, and took prefer
ence OF all other business.
Mr.. Burt Of South Carolina was called 10 the
Chair and The bill having been read,
MIR. Owen Of la. defended j. Al length. lis
provisions were succincly defended, and partcu-
iarly that which arpropriaies large sum ioI
normal school professorship. He regarded COM
mon schools as an object more worthy of aueD-
,on'than any other, and spoke against the bill
which had passed the Senate some years since,
as much toe magnifcen, for Government like
this. MIR. Owen eomplimented Mr Adams Tor
his warm and uniform defence Of the proper uses
Of the splendid donation which had been made
for The mos, noble and praiseworthy Object
Congress, however, was justly denounced for its
delay. The money wac received into the Tfea-
sury ten years since, and yet nothing thad been
done towards carving out the objects Of the
will. 1, was a disgrace TO the Government that
i, was so, and positively dishonest longer to de-
lay 10 do justice in behalf Of fund which We
had solemnly received, end were bound 10 appro-
pirate.
Mr.. Jones' OF Tennessee, moved 10 strike out
the whole bill, and insert as substitute provl-
sion TO return to the heirs OF James SmiihsoD all
the money which had been received in The form Of
stocks in ,cAich TIE money had been inueasa!!
Mr.. j. denied the power Of The General Go
vernment to receive the Nancy; aud therefore was
for returning the stale bonds 10 the heirs at law
il they could not, he would vote 10 pay over these
bonds TO the managers OF This Institution.
MIR j. R. Ingersoll opposed The amendment,
and defended the bill in lis main provisions. He
spoke in strong opposition tothe amendment, and
held that The Government was bound by The mosi
solemn obligations TO expend the money for The
purposes designed.
Mr. Stanton. OF Tennessee, also defended the
bill, and thought that al this peculiar jnnc,ure OF
our affairs, We were bound to expend the money !
The extraordinary opposition of his colleague
met with his decided dsapprobaticn, and he
trusted that the money would be ct once arpro-
priatsd.