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difference in the matter. The same checks and control exist in the one case as the other. And the banks are as much bound to answer the drafts of the public Treasury, as the public officers could be, and would as readily answer them. Human nature is essentially the same under equal circumstances, and the officers of banks would be quite as likely to act under the influence of temptation to execute a corrupt Executive will, sufficient inducements being ofered, as would the collecting officers of the Government. I come now to the only remaining question-the question of the safety of the public revenue under the system proposed. And in discussing this question, I must be permitted to inquire, what magic is imparted by an act of incorporation, by which the honesty of men becomes sɩ purified and refined, that they are placed above the ordinary level of their race? If the homely proverb of an English lawyer of former days be true, corporation morality has nothing to boast of when compared with that of individuals. But it is said that allowing that public collecting officers are generally as honest as the officers of banks, yet the stock of the latter furnishes better security than an individual can offer. On this point I am at issue with the objector, and say that the public officer will be able to make the Government as secure as the banks.

But if it were allowed that occasional default might be the consequence of confiding the custody of the public money to the collecting officers, how long would it be before it would amount to the loss and inconvenience already experienced by employing the banks, and receiving bank paper in payment for public lands before the system of cash payments was adopted, or the inconvenience already experienced within the last five months, not to say-for yet it cannot be said-what losses may in the end be sustained in the debts now due by the late deposite banks.

NOTE. In making the hasty report of the foregoing remarks, I gave more consequence to the redemption of the public debt than the course those remarks, as delivered in debate, gave to it. I have no doubt that it was one of the most efficient cause of that increase was the pernicious principle of establishing and conducting banks upon credit, and not money. C. E. H.

Mr. CALHOUN of Massachusetts spoke at some length in reply to Mr. HAYNES, and against the bill. prob 48 4

Mr. POPE followed on the same side, and continued till half-past two o'clock, when his remarks were arrested by the hour, and the House took its usual recess till four o'ciock.

[EVENING SESSION.] DIVORCE BILL.

The House went into Committee of the Whole, and resumed the consideration of the Senate bill “imposing additional duties on public officers as depositories in certain cases," the question being on the amendinent offered by Mr. GARLAND.

Before Mr. POPE resumed, he gave way, at that gentleman's request, to Mr. CUSHMAN, who adressed the committee as follows:

Mr. CUSHMAN observed, that as the gentleman from Kentucky had made a personal allusion to him, he would with that gentleman's leave say a word or two, by way of explanation. It is true, as that gentleman says, that while the report of the Committee of Ways and Means was under disenssion, and after it had been debated during the morning hour for several days, he moved the previous question. It is true also, that the honorable gentleman from Kentucky asked him to withdraw the motion, that he might make a few remarks upon that subject, and he now complains that he was then prevented from so doing by the above mentioned motion.

Mr. C. said there were two reasons why he did not comply with that request. The first was, that there was around him a general desire that it should not be granted; and if he had withdrawn it, the same motion would have been renewed by some other gentleman. Secondly, that the subject of a United States Bank had, for the last five or six years, been the common theme of discusion in every city, town, village, and hamlet in the coun try. It is true, he said, that several gentlemen, during this debate, had declared thit the subject of a bunk has not been before the people for their discussion, but it was the bank.

Mr. C. said if gentlemen would only go back to the re-election of the late venerable President of the United States, they would find that that Presidential canvass was put upon the question of bank or no bank. A bank, the bank, or any bank, were all de nounced by the people at that time, as appears by the result of that election. It was the pivot upon which that election turned. But if the subject of establishing a bank was not before the peo ple for consideration at that time, the whole subject was before them during the election of the present Chief Magistrate of the United States

Mr. Van Buren, before the late Presidential election, in pursuance of a call which was made upon him for that purpose, declared, in the most unequivocal manner, that he could not sanction an institution of that character; and this was the pivot, also, upon which that distinguished individual was elevated to

the Presidency. Twice, therefore, have the people declared that a United States Bank ought not to be established.

Mr. C. observed that from the course which he had thought proper to pursue, some gentlemen may have supposed that he was disposed to check unnecessarily the freedom of debate. But he would assure gentlemen that they mistook his character altogether. He would go with him who would go furthest to protect the great vital principles of civil and religious liberty, the freedom of speech, the liberty of the press, and the right of petition. These sacred rights he never would yield, but with the last breath of life.

But there is a very wide difference between the rightful exercise of these invaluable privileges, and a wilful abuse of them. To correct this evil, this abuse, the rule regulating a call for the previous question, was adopted as a part of the by-laws of this House. A rule which has existed ever since the formation of the General Government. A similar rule has been adopted by several State Legislatures to correct the abuses which are the subject of so much complaint in this House In fact, nothing of any importance could be accomplished in this House with out such a law.

On the east side of the Atlantic, in the Spanish Cortes, the question asked is, "Has has not this subject been sufficiently debated?" If this question is responded to by a majority of that body, an end is put to the discussion, and a vote taken upon the main question. This is the operation of the rule for the previous question in this House; the design of the motion is to ask the House if the subject under consideration has not been sufficiently debated, and can not be enforced without a majority of the members present. As the gentleman from Kentucky states that he merely alluded to him as stating a fact, and not for the purpose of impugning the purity of his motives, Mr. C. observed that he would close his remarks by stating, that so long as his fellow-citizens of New Hampshire should provide him a seat upon this floor, he would faithfully and independently execute his political trust; and should any gentlemen here or elsewhere dare to question the purity of his motives, he would pronounce him a base calumniator.

Mr. POPE concluded his remarks.

Mr. W. C. JOHNSON of Maryland was in favor of postponing a subject of so much importance for discussion at the regular session. He deprecated the idea of hurrying through the House such weighty matters. He went on at considerable length to endeavor to prove that the present distress of the country was caused by the war of General Jackson on the United States Bank, and the issue of the Specie circular.

On concluding his remarks,

Mr. CAMBRELENG moved that the eommittee rise and report the bill.

On this motion a division was called and tellers appointed, when the motion was negatived; ayes 75, nocs 93.

The question was then taken on Mr. GARLAND'S amendment, and, tellers being ordered, it was rejected; ayes 73, noes 90. Mr. DAWSON then offered another substitute.

Mr. CUSHING then obtained the floor, and stated that he was prepared now to go on with an argument he intended to make; or he would, if it was the desire of gentlemen, move that the committee rise.

Mr. C. therefore moved that the committee rise; which motion was agreed to-ayes 97, nces 89.

The SPEAKER having resumed the chair,

Mr. WHITTLESEY, from the Committee of Claims, by the general consent of the House, reported a bill to amend an act entitled "An act to provide for the payment of horses lost or destroyed in the military service of the United States," approved January 20, 1837; which was twice read, and committed to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.

On motion of Mr. WILLIAMS of North Carolina, the amend. ment of Mr. DAWSON of Georgia to the bill imposing additional duties as depositories on public officers, was ordered to be printed.

Mr. PATTON then moved that the House adjourn. Mr. CAMBRELENG called for the yeas and nays; which were ordered, and were-yeas 102, nays 85

So the House adjourned at 9 o'clock, p. m.

IN SENATE,

FRIDAY, October 13, 1837.

The VICE PRESIDENT being absent, the Senate proceeded to ballot for Chairman pro tem. when the Hon. WILLIAM R. KING was duly elected.

Mr. KENT presented a memorial from J. H. Causten, praying a revocation of the charter of the Bank of the Metropolis: ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. TIPTON presented a memorial from certain citizens of Cass county, Indiana, praving, that the pre-emption law of 1830 may be revived: ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. SOUTHARD presented a petition of H. R. Lee and others, praying the incorporation of a national bank: ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. SOUTHARD also presented petitions against the annexation of Texas; which were ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. YOUNG presented a preamble and resolutions from the Illinois Board of Public Works, in favor of aid from the General Government for completing certain internal improvements: ordered to lie on the table, and be printed.

A resolution was passed giving to the several officers of the Senate two months' additional pay. The following resolution, submitted by Mr. WHITE, was taken up and agreed to:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, requested to inform the Senate, at the commencement of the next session of Congress, whether a board of commissioners has

been organized under the provisions of the act of Congress, approved the 3d day of March, 1837, entitled "An act for the appointment of commissioners to adjust the claim to reservations of land under the 14th article of the treaty of 1830 with the Choctaw Indians;" when said board was organized, and what progress the commissioners have made in the discharge of their duties; and that he cause to be laid before the Senate, at as early a day of the next session as practicable, a copy of the report of the said commissioners, together with a copy of such instructions as may have been given them, and also the amount of expenses incurred under said act.

On motion of Mr. CLAY, it was

Resolved, That the President be requested to communicate, at an early period of the next session, what progress has been made in securing from the Mexican Government any acknowledgment of, or provision for, the payment of the claims due to American citizens, if not incompatible with the public interests,

Mr. WILLIAMS submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to submit to the Senate, at as early a day as practicable, a plan for the protection of the northern and eastern frontiers of the United States, desig nating the points to be permanently occupied by garrisons, the auxiliary stations for reserves and deposites of munitions and other supplies, the routes to be established for the purpose of maintaining a safe and prompt intercourse between the several stations, and from these with the depots in the interior; and, finally, the minimum force which, in his opinion, will be required to maintain the peace of the country.

The following resolution, submitted by Mr. SOUTHARD, was taken up and agreed to.

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to furnish to this House, at the commencement of the ensuing session, copies of all the correspondence between the War Department or any officer thereof, with any commissioner, agent or other person, not heretofore communicated, leading to and connected with the treaty of December, 1835, or the supplemental articles thereof, between the United States and the Cherokee Indians, and also such correspondence as grew out of said treaty and communications received from the Cherokees, or any portion of them in relation to the same; as also a statement of the amount of money which has been drawn from the Treasury under any appropriation connected with said treaty; how the same has been disbursed; how much remains in the hands of any and what disbursing officer or agent, and what agents, and for what particular objects such disbursements have been inade; copies of the instructions to such disbursing agents in relation to the same; copies of their accounts and corrcspondence with them, and the present situation of the appropriations and objects of expenditure; showing also how much of said expenditure is charged or chargeable to the fund appropriated to carry into effect said treaty.

On motion of Mr. SOUTHARD, it was Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be directed to report to the Senate at the commencement of the next session of Congress

1st. The state, condition and amount of the navy pension fund.

21. The state, condition and amount of the said fund on the 1st December next.

3d. The operation and effect upor, said fund of the act entitled an act for the more equitable administration of the navy pension fund, passed 3d March, 1837.

4th. The number and names of persons placed on the pension list, the times when pensions were granted to them, and the amount of money paid to each under said act.

The bill from the House of Representatives to provide for the payment of horses destroyed in the military service of the United States, was taken up and passed; also the bill for the relief of Mrs. D. P. Madison.

On motion of Mr. WHITE, the Senate went into Executive business, and soon after adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

FRIDAY, October 13, 1837.

On motion of Mr. WHITTLESEY, the House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole, Mr. BRIGGS in the Chair, and took up the bill to amend the act entitled "An act to provide for the payment of horses and other property lost in the military service of the United States."

[This bill was to provide for a class of cases of horses lost in the service in Florida and Alabama, which was not provided for in the bill passed in January last.]

Mr. CARTER said he was not opposed to the bill now under consideration, except that its provisions were not sufliciently extensive. It did not embrace a class of cases of real hardship that he believed existed. He said he would take this occasion to bring to the notice of the Committee, and at the same time suggest to the honorable chairman of the Committee of Claims, that there were among the volunteers some cases of real and peculiar hardships, that were not yet provided for by law, although great exertions were made at the last Congress in their behalf; and he would now tender to the honorable chairman of the Committee of Claims his acknowledgments of gratitude for his assiduity and exertions favorable to the relief of those patriotic young men he had the honor to represent, and who had sustained losses in the service of their country.

Mr. Chairman, in my opinion, the Government should always be scrupulously careful never to permit the patriotism of her citizens to be rewarded with ingratitude and with losses, and, consequently, with embarrassments that may render their do mestic peace and tranquillity precarious for years. Sir, it is not the aristocracy or the wealthy that most usually embark in the toils and dangers attendant on a campaign in time of troubles and of war; but, sir, real patriotisin and love of country, in its most disinterested form, is always found with those whose circusstances are more humble-not humble in the common acceptation of the term, but only humble so far as wealth is concerned. These are the men who are always first in the field in defence of the country's rights and honor. In the late campaigns in the West, many of such men were volunteers; and many were they who had not the means of equipping themselves, furnishing their horses, &c. only upon time, and by the aid and endorsements of their friends. Now, I submit it to this House-I submit it particularly to the Committee of Claims, and to the Country-whether such men as these are to be permitted to be the sufferers, on account of their manifested patriotism and risks in the service? If so, I say to all that such conduct, such ingratitude, will deter all men in humble circumstances, or who are poor, from engaging in the country's defence.

The provisions of the laws now in force, for the payment for lost property, are limited, and do not cover the cases of hardship to which I have allusion. Those laws merely provide payment for property lost in battle, or lost on account of the Government failing to furnish the necessary supplies of provender. But, sir, there are other cases that Congress is in honor I know some and in duty bound to make ample remuneration. volunteers, that involved themselves, and their friends with them, to purchase horses and o her necessary equipage for the campaign, and who lost their horses in the service; but perhaps not in battle, nor for the want of forage. Therefore, by the laws now in force, their claims can not be recognised and paid by the Third Auditor, who is charged with the settlement of these claims. But, sir, these horses were lost by casualty or unavoidable accidents, and were lost in the service of the United States; and being so lost, the Government is as much bound, in honor and justice, to remunerate the soldier hus circumstanced, as though the loss had occurred in battle, or by the default of the United States in furnishing forage. Sir, some of these praiseworthy volunteers are now doomed to labor by the day, or the month, or by the year, to procure the money they owe for horses purchased and taken into the public service, and there lost by casualty; and thus far the Congress of the United States, who directed the Executive to invite them into service, having wholly failed to meet their distresses, by ordering their relief, and indemnifying them against these liabilities and these losses. 13 this right, sir? I say most unequivocally it is not; and I say, further, let the Government continue to refuse payment, and you cast a damp upon the patriotism of the West, and upon the whole country, which will in all time to come deter, in a great degree, men in moderate circumstances from incurring monetary liabilities, to go to the field at the call of the Government, for her defence. And whenever you cut off that class, by your parsimony and rigid policy, you cut off that portion of the defence of the country that have never deceived you, and have never lent a deaf ear to your calls, and the distresses of the country. Sir, I will take occasion here to say that, in my opinion, (if the reports be true that have reached my ears,) the Govern ment have not dealt as kindly and as liberally as she should have done towards the volunteers of Tennessee.

We provided by law at the last Congress, that the soldiers or volunteers who had rendezvoused, were mustered, and immediately dis charged, should be paid one month's full pay; and, by the esti mates furnished the Committee of Claims by the War Department, one month's full pay was made to amount to between $65 and $70, I think, perhaps $68 and some cents; and, by the decision of the Attorney General under the old law, another class of those volunteers, that were indefinitely furloughed, and required to return to service if they should be ordered to do so, were to be considered in service until absolutely discharged, and consequently were entitled to their full pay. I have heard some hints, sir, that the War Department has not carried into effect this law, and this decision, as was contemplated by Congress and those representatives who were looked to guard and sustain the rights of those particular individuals. I do not know, sir, how far the War Department have failed in a com pliance with the law; nor have I any idea to what extent those volunteers have been injured by the defalcations of the Go. vernment. But 1 hope, and I have no doubt, I will be able to obtain the information; and, if my fears are realized, and they have been defrauded out of any portion of the amount that Congress intended they should have, and I can not obtain redress by an application to the Secretary of War. I will feel myself bound to bring the subject again to the consideration of this House, believing that the representatives of the people are ready up in all occasions to do justice to the people. And I am glad now to have the assurance of the honorable chairman of the Committee of Chims that he will a Tool all the aid in his power to render to the volunteers of my State ample compen sation for their services and their losses at the next meeting of Congress. I have also a right to complain, on behalf of these I am informed our vo men, in another point of view. lunteers were paid off in the depreciated bank paper If this be that was perhaps ten or fifteen per cent. below par.

true, and my former suggestions be tree, that they have not been paid as much as Congress intended them to have, why, sir, your volunteer soldiery of Tennessee have been cheated and defrauded out of half, or at least a large portion, of their just dues. And if so, we must ask Congress hereafter, whenever the true state of facts can be ascertained, to grant such relief as the merits of those claimants may justly and honestly demand. And I have no doubt, from the disposition heretofore manifested by this House, and by the Committee of Claims, in relation to this deserving and meritorious class of claimants, that ample relief will be awarded them.

Mr. WHITTLESEY explained the grounds on which the Committee of Claims ha reported the bill; and after a few remarks by Mr. CHAPMAN,

Mr. EWING offered an amendment, extending the provisions of the bill to all persons engaged in the service at the battle of Tippecanoe, and prior to the late war with Great Britain.

After some few remarks by Mr. CARTER, the amendment was rejected

Mr. THOMPSON of South Carolina moved to add a section to the bill providing payment for all horses impressed into the service in Florida.

After a few remarks by Messrs. THOMPSON, WHITTLESEY, and CLARKE, the amendment was rejected.

On motion of Mr. WHITTLESEY, the committee then rose and reported the bill to the House.

The SPEAKER having resumed the Chair, and the question being on the engrossment of the bill,

Mr. EWING of Ohio, after some remarke, renewed the amendment he had submitted in Committee of the Whole, and called for the yeas and nays on the question; which were not ordered,

After a few words by Messrs. PETRIKEN, WHITTLESEY, and EWING, the amendment was rejected.

Mr. EWING then varied his amendment somewhat, and moved it again; but the CHAIR ruled it to be out of order. Mr. THOMPSON then renewed his amendment made in Committee of the Whole.

Mr. CARTER called for the yeas and nays, but the House refused to order them, and the amendment was rejected.

Mr. PETRIKEN moved that the further consideration of the bill be postponed until the first Monday in December next:

lost.

The bill then having been ordered to be engrossed, was read a third time and passed.

Mr. MCKENNAN then, on leave, presented a memorial on the subject of the currency: laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

On motion of Mr. CAMBRELENG, the House proceeded to the orders of the day.

The SPEAKER laid before the House a communication from the Secretary of the Navy, in answer to a resolution of the 4th instant, calling upon him to lay before the House the causes of detention in the sailing of the exploriag expedition, and the correspondence between the department and the officers of that squadron; which, on motion of Mr. PATTON, was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

The bill from the Senate to authorize the deposite of merchandize in the public stores, and for other purposes, was read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.

The bill from the Senate for the relief of Mrs. Dolly P. Madison, was read a third time, and passed.

The bill from the Senate to restrain the circulation of small notes in the District of Columbia, having been twice readMr. CAMBRELENG, at the suggestion of Mr. PATTON, moved to commit it to the Committee for the Dis rict of Columbia.

Mr. THOMPSON moved to postpone the further consideratron of the bill until the first Monday in December.

Mr. THOMAS thought the bill ought to go to the Committee on the Judiciary; and if there was time to take it up in the House, he thought it might be trusted to the House.

Mr. THOMPSON did not wish to leave the interests of the District of Columbia in the bands of a bare quorum, or a lide over a quorum, of members of this House; and he was satisfied, that when this Sub-Treasury bill was disposed of, a great many of the members of the House would leave the city.

Mr. BOULDIN sail, so far as he was concerne, the insinua. tion was groundless, that the interests of the District would not be protected by the District Committee and the House.

Mr. ADAMS thought if Congress restrained the issue of small notes in the District of Columbia, members would have a diffi culty frequently in getting their dinners. He alluded to the laws for the prevention of the circulating of small notes in the State of New York, and said that there were more small notes in circulation in the city of New York from other States than any other city in the Union.

Mr. HARLAN then moved to lay the bill on the table, which was agreed to withent a division.

DIVORCE BANK BILL.

On motion of Mr. CAMBRELENG. the House then went in o Committee of the Whole-Mr. SMITH in the Chair, and took up the "bill imposing additional duties as depositories in certain cases on public officers." The question pending was the substitute proposed by Mr. DAWSON.

Mr. LEGARE addressed the committee at length in opposi tion to the bill.

Mr. NAYLOR followed on the same side, and continued up to the hour for taking a recess, when the House adjourned until four o'clock.

[EVENING SESSION.]

The House went into Committee of the Whole on the Senate bill "imposing additional duties as depositories, en public offi cers, in certain cases." The question pending being the substi tute to the bill offered by Mr DAWSON

Mr. NAYLOR resumed his remarks, in opposition to the He bill, and entered into a long defence of the credit system. contended it was a fact. that in proportion as a well regulated credit system prevailed in any country, so the happiness of the human family would increase.

Mr. ELY MOORE said it was with great reluctance that he ventured to trespass on the time of the House at this advanced stage of the assion. Since he had been honored with a seat on this floor, he had troubled the House but seldom. He had hitherto refrained, because he did not consider it right for members to occupy the time in speech making, unless they could But of late throw some new ligh' on the subjects before them. it had become a practice for members to be estimated at home by the length of their speeches; and if a man did not fill so many

columns of a newspaper by a lusty harangue, however destitute of ideas it might be, according to the present fashion, he would lose favor with his constituents, and on returning, would not be greeted with "well done, good and faithful servant" He de precated the system as obnoxious; but, at the same time, he regretted that there were but too many who acted upon it, and sacrificed the time and money of the country to their own interest. He then replied at some length to the arguments of Mr. NAYLOR, in relation to the working classes of the North. He (Mr M.) would tell that gentleman and the House that he was in daily correspondence with all the working classes of the North, and as God lived, he believed what he said, when he told the House that, ninety-nine out of a hundred, the working. men of the North were in favor of the bill: they knew their rights, and knowing, they dared to maintain them. Mr. M. said it would take him several hours to go through with what he intended to say; but sudden indisposition compelled him to close his remarks. Ile intimated that he would publish the remainder.

Mr. CUSHING said that all he proposed to do was merely to throw up a rocket to cast light on the subject at this advanced period of the debate, and to show gentlemen the relative position in which they stood. He denied that the banking institutions of the North were calculated to bring into vassalage the working classes, as had been alleged. He contended that if the whole of the banks of Massachusetts were destroyed, it would not in the least affect the prosperity of that State.

Mr. CAMBRELENG addressed the House at some length in upport of the bill.

Mr. WISE followed, and spoke at great length in opposition to the bill; and, having concluded,

The amendment of Mr. DAWSON was rejected; when,

On motion of Mr. CAMBRELENG.

The committee rose, and reported the bill to the House.
On motion of Mr. PATTON,

The House adjourned, at 12 o'clock.

IN SENATE,

SATURDAY, October 14, 1837.

Mr. BUCHANAN presented petitions from citizens of Philadelphia city and county, praying that no new State that permits slavery may be admitted into the Union. Also, memorials from citizens of Pennsylvania, remonstrating against the annеxаtion of Texas to the United States; which were ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. McKEAN presented memorials from citizens of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, remonstrating against the annexation of Texas; which were ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. WRIGHT presented a memorial from sundry citizens, traders of Brooklyn, New York, in relation to the currency.

On motion of Mr. LINN, it was

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to submit to the Senate, as soon after the meeting of the next Congress as practicable, a plan for the protection of the western frontier of the United States against Indian aggression; designating the points to be permanently occupied by garrisons; the auxiliary stations for reserves and deposites of munitions, arms, and other supplies; the routes to be established, for the purpose of maintaining a safe and prompt intercourse between the several stations, and from these with the depots in the interior; and finally, the minimum force which, in his opinion, will be required to maintain peace among the several tribes, and cause our border settlements to be respected. Also, to report, as far as the same can be ascertained, the number of Indians who will be in the occupancy of the country west and north of the States of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri, and the number of warriors they may collectively be able to bring into the field, and such other plans as he may think proper, and what progress has been made in the locations of the military road.

The several resolutions submitted yesterday, were taken up and agreed to.

Mr. HUBBARD introduced a resolution to compensate the Chaplain; but afterwards waived it to examine the act in relation to the appointment of that officer.

Mr. WRIGHT moved to take up the bill amended by the House of Representatives, to postpone the time of payment of the merchants' bonds. The amendment was concurred in. [The time given is to 1st January, 1839.]

Mr. WALKER introduced a joint resolution to suspend the 16th and 17th joint rules; which was passed.

On motion of Mr. WHITE,

The Senate went into Executive business, and, after a few minutes spent therein, the doors were again opened.

Mr. GRUNDY then introduced a resolution giving to the Chaplain $300 for his services during the present session: which was read three several times by unanimous consent, and passed. On motion of Mr. NILES,

The Senate took a recess till half past 4 o'clock.

[EVENING SESSION.]

Mr. HUBBARD presented the petition of an individnal, praying that provision may be made for the widows and children of the non-commissioned officers and privates who may die or be killed whilst in service; which petition was ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. RIVES moved that the Committee on Naval Affairs be discharged from the consideration of the petition of Eli Ridgeway, and the memorial of John C. Long.

On motion of Mr. HUBBARD,
Ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. WRIGHT moved that the Committee on Finance be discharged from the further consideration of the report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the state of the finances, and the memorial of Littleton Denis Teakle, with that of the citizens of Columbiana county; which motion was concurred in.

Mr. WALL submitted the following resolution: Resolved, That the members of the Senate who have not received a copy of the American State Papers, printed by Gales and Seaton, be supplied with the same.

Mr. NORVELL moved to amend the resolution by adding after the words "State Papers," "and the Register of Debates."

Mr. WRIGHT said, while he had no objection to the original resolution, (the papers in question not being under the control of the publishers,) he would feel himself bound to object if the amendment was urged on the consideration of the Senate.

Mr. LYNN thought the resolution ought to pass. He was clear that all the members of the Senate should be placed on the same equitable footing, and saw no reasons why those who had received these books should fare better in that respect than other Senators.

Mr. RIVES agreed that there ought to be no discrimination; but he thought, when the present edition of these papers should have been exhausted, it would be time to stop.

Mr. WRIGHT said he had received many books since his entrance into the Senate. They had been sent to him always without his consent; and he ever had been, and still was, opposed to the practice.

Mr. CLAY of Alabama concurred entirely with the views of the Senator from New York, (Mr. Wright) in regard to the motion. He thought the proceeding objectionable in the extreme, and ought not to be encouraged, and he hoped the Senate would persevere in rejecting it. He had, it was true, also received books, but without his vote, for he had never given his consent for an appropriation of the kind. As the State Papers were not within the control of the publishers, he would not oppose the resolution as erigiually introduced; but if the Register of Debates were added, which were within the control of the publishers, he would most unquestionably protest against it.

The amendments being withdrawn, the original resolution was, by unanimous consent, read three several times and passed.

On motion of Mr. HUBBARD, it was resolved that the Senate take a recess until half past seven o'clock.

[HALF-PAST SEVEN O'CLOCK.]

A message was received from the President, announcing the signature of the bill for the relief of Mrs. D. P. Madison.

On motion of Mr. NORVELL, the Senate next went into Executive business, and after a few moments spent therein, the doors were re-opened.

A message was received from the House of Representatives, announcing the passage of the joint resolution to suspend the joint rules 16 and 17, with an amendment; [these rules relate to the passing of bills and the signature of the President within the three last days of the session-the amendment of the House of Representatives was to exclude bill No. 6, in relation to the sub-Treasury system;] which was concurred in by the Se

nate.

A message was received from the House of Representatives, announcing the passage of a bill making appropriations for the year 1837. The bill having been read a first and second time, was,

on motion of Mr. WRIGHT, referred to the Committee on Finance; and after about half an hour,

Mr. WRIGHT reported the bill to the Senate with three several amendments. Mr. W. briefly explained to the Senate the nature of the amendments, which was to grant the sum of $20,000 for the printing of Senate documents, which were already in course of publication, and $2,000 increase of clerk hire for the office of the Solicitor of the Treasury, the duties of which had been greatly increased within a short period of time; the other was to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to receive the unpaid drafts in favor of the State Government issued by the Treasury under the deposite law.

The several amendments were passed, and the bill, as amended, sent to the House of Representatives. The bill, as amended, was afterwards received from the House of Representatives, which body had concurred in the first and third amendments, and dissented from the second.

Mr. WRIGHT moved that the Senate concur in the amendments of the House; he would not press the other amendment at this time; which was agreed to, and the bill passed.

A message was received from the House of Representatives, announcing the passage of a bill making appropriations for the suppression of Indian hostilities in Florida.

On the first reading of the bill,

Mr. WRIGHT pledged himself that it was a literal copy of the bill introduced by the Scnate; and hoped, therefore, it would be read a second and third time, by unanimous consent, and passed.

Mr. WEBSTER thought the proceeding very extraordinary, and, he would say, unparliamentary. A fortnight ago the Senate passed a bill to the same effect, and sent it to the House. Nothing is heard of that bill; and now, at a late hour of the night, and that the last of the session, we have a bill sent for approval. It was to his mind, to say the least, a very extraordinary business, and one which ought not to meet the sanction of the Senate. Suppose the other bill were passed by the House, did not gentlemen see what such irregularity might subject them to?

Mr. CLAY of Alabama was glad to hear the remark of the gentleman; he understood we had been taken to task in the House for usurping there prerogative in originating these bills; that relating to the time of fixing the adjournment, was made the subject of particular remark. At this time, and on this subject, he was not disposed, however, to be ceremonious. He wished the bill wassed at once; Florida had been bleeding at every pore for the last two years; we received news of her distress through every channel of information; and he, therefore, hoped the bill would be permitted to pass. He thought the objections should have been urged before.

Mr. BUCHANAN said he was not disposed at this time of night, and with the present thin state of the Senate, to stand upon its dignity; if he did, in his opinion, the business would be poorly attended to.

Mr. NORVELL read the joint resolution in which the 16th and 17th rules of the Senate had been dispensed with, for which the Senator from Massachusetts had voted, and now how could he oppose the bill on the ground of the objection urged by him.

Mr. WEBSTER saw no analogy, no connection, real or imaginary, between the cases cited by the Senator last up. The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Buchanan) said he was not disposed to stand upon the dignity of the Senate; but it was not a matter of dignity at all, but of regularity of business; and he was sure gentlemen, when they came to look into the matter, would agree with him that it would be letter to go back to the ancient usage, and let the different Houses keep each other informed of their business. Mr. W. admitted that the bill before them was important, very important, and should not be delayed. Gentlemen might see, from the condition of things, how dangerous the present practice would be, if permitted to prevail. He, as an individual, might be the means of stopping a bill indispensable to the interests of the Go

vernment.

If, said Mr. W. we give up regulating, where shall we get to? He would not object now to the proceeding; but he gave notice, if he were present at the next session, under the same circumstances, he would feel it his duty to oppose all such proceedings.

Some further discussion took plaee, in which Messrs. BUCHANAN, WHITE, CLAY, of Alabama, and LINN took part, acknowledging the general justice of the remark of the Senator, but urging with much zeal the passage of the bill.

The bill was then read a second and third time, by unanimous consent, and finally passed.

The bill for adjusting the remaining claims of the Government on the late deposite banks was received from the House, with two amendments, extending the time of the first payment to the 1st day of July next; and the second to the 1st day of January, 1839; and the third to the 1st day of July, 1839.

Mr. WRIGHT said that the time granted was more than was contemplated by the committee, or, he believed, by the Senate; but under the circumstances, he moved that the amendment be concurred in.

Mr. SMITH of Indiana said he did not rise at that late hour of the night, and period of the session, to make a speech. He begged, however, to detain the Senate for a single moment, while he read a letter which he had received from the cashier of the State Bank of Indiana, subsequent to his (Mr. S's) addressing the Senate on this subject. It would be perceived (said Mr. S.) that the letter refers to the time allowed the banks by the bill as originally reported from the Commitice on Finance in the Senate. The bill was amended, it was true, but still the time allowed was not, in his opinion, sufficient to enable the banks to close this matter, without producing too much distress among the people.

He very sincerely hoped that these amendments of the House giving longer time, would be concur. red in by the Senate. He agreed fully with the writer of the letter, (who he know to be well acquainted with the concerns of the banks,) that whatever might be the policy of the Government, so far as the banks were concerned, that the question was one of relief to the people. The corporations will not suffer, but the people would, and must if the banks were pressed. Mr. S. said he wished to be distinctly understood; he did not stand there as the advocate of any bank, not even of those of his own State, further than would benefit the people; and the moment he became satisfied that their interests required the suspension of the corporate power of these institutions, he would say unhesitatingly, "let them expire!" He was satisfied, however, that a course of policy requiring at this time the banks to oppress their debtors, would be productive of the most disastrous consequences to the people of his State.

Mr. S here read a letter from the cashier of the State bank of Indiana, inclosing the letter of instruction from Mr. Woodbury to the bank.

The letter of the cashier states that if they lose the fourth instalment, and have to comply with the terms of settlement required by the bill, the destruction of the people would be inevitable. This letter was dated the 23d Septmber, 1837.

Mr. S. said he would make only one further remark, that whatever justification the Senator from Missouri (Mr. Benton) might find for his remarks against the banks, he (Mr. S.) felt satisfied that the banks of Indiana were perfectly and entirely solvent; and that they, at least, should have been exempted from the indiscriminate denunciations of that gentleman,

The people of Indiana had the fullest confidence in their moneyed institutions; and he had no doubt but they would finally redeem every dollar of their paper. Time, however, was necessary to enable the debtors to the banks to pay up. The relief and time were for the benefit of the people, and not exclusively for the banks, as some Senators seemed disposed to think.

Mr. BUCHANAN did not know that he would support the amendments of the House. The banks had the money of the Government, and were to be ready, at all times when called on, to return it.

And now we were asked to extend the time still further for their indulgence. Mr. B. also found fault with the wording of the bill, as not being sufficiently comprehensive in relation to the time when the interest should commence to be paid by those banks.

Mr. WRIGHT thought the wording of the bill sufficiently clear, and read the first section to show the meaning and spirit of the act.

Mr. CLAY of Alabama thought it best to concur with the House in extending the time for the banks, and that the indulgence given in the bill would be the best relief to the people, and urged its immediate concurrence.

Some further discussion took place on the snggestions of Mr. BUCHANAN, as to the meaning of time of default, in which he was opposed by Messrs. WALKER, WRIGHT, CLAY of Alabama, and others.

Mr. WEBSTER then suggested an amendment, to be appended to the end of the bill, in this shape: "And the default mentioned in this act, on which interest is to commence at the rate of six per cen'. per annum, shall be understood to be the neglect or omission of said banks to answer drafts made on them, according to the provisione of the first section."

The question being taken on this amendment. it was found there was no quorum present, when absent members were called in; and, the question being further debated, the amendment was adopted, and the bill sent to the House of Representatives. Mr. CLAY of Alabama, on learning that the other House had adjourned, moved the adjournment of the Senate at about ten minutes before two; when

The Senate adjourned until half past eight o'clock, a. m. on Monday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SATURDAY, October 14, 1837. Petitions and memorials were presented, on leave, by

Mr. DAVIS of Pennsylvania.

Mr. LOOMIS of Ohio.

Mr. JOHNSON of Maryland, on leave, submitted the following resolution; which was considered and adopted:

Resolved, That the Committee on the Public Buildings inquire into the propriety of making such alterations in this Hall as will promote the comfort and convenience of its members, and report to this House.

Mr. BRIGGS, on leave, submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Clerk of this House be directed to pay to the Chaplain of the House the usual compensation for his services during the present session.

Mr. EVERETT, on leave, submitted the following resolution, which was considered and adopted:

Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to lay before this House, at the next session of Congress, a plan of the Treasury buildings now being erected, showing its location in reference to the adjacent street and public square, on which it is located-its elevation-the number and size of the rooms it will afford suitable for office business; and the number and size of those suitable only for the deposite of records, with a statement of the sum then expended on said building, and an estimate of the further sum that will be required to complete the same; and to state whether it is contemplated in the completion of said building to take down the building of the Department of State, or so to repair it, as to render it fireproof, and to make its outside conform to the other parts of the Treasury building; and what will be the difference of expense between those two mode of completing said building; and whether the public interest requires any change in the location or plan of said building; and also to state whether it is contemplated to appropriate any part of said Treasury building to the use of any other Department; and further, that he be requested to cause to be prepared by the heads of each of the Departments statements of the number and size of the rooms that are necessary for their respective departments, for office business,

and for the deposite of records: and that the same be communicated to this House at the next session of Congress.

Mr. PATTON, on leave, submitted the following resolution, which was considered and adopted: Resolved, That the Clerk be directed to cause a ninth volume of the laws to be compiled and printed, and distributed, after the manner of the eighth volume, printed and distributed under the order of the House of Representatives of the 30th of June, 1834, and 26th of June, 1836.

Mr. LEGARE, on leave, submitted the following resolution, which was considered and adopted:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be requested to report to the House, at its next session. his opinion as to the expediency of establishing a Navy Yard for sloops of war, and other ships of similar class, at Charleston, South Carolina, or some other port on the southern coast, together with any information he may possess on that subject.

Mr. CAMBRELENG, on leave, submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Clerk of the House and his Assistants, the Sergeant-at-Arms, the Principal Door-keeper and Assistant Door-keeper, the Post Master, and the Messengers and other attendants on and about the House, be allowed, each, two months' pay, for services during the extra session : And that the Police and Lamplighter of the capitol and capitol square, be allowed one months' pay each.

Mr. WHITTLESEY moved to refer the resolution to the Committee of Accounts.

Mr. BRIGGS then moved to amend the resolu tion by embracing the Librarian, the Assistant Librarian, and Messenger of the Library

After a few remarks by Mr. THOMPSON in favor of the resolution, Mr. WHITTLESEY withdrew the motion, but gave notice that he should introduce a resolution at the next session of Congress, requiring all these matters of extra services to go to committees, so that the House might know what these extra services would amount to before they were voted.

Mr. McKAY renewed the motion to refer the subject to the Committee of Accounts.

After some remarks by Mr. JOHNSON of Virginia, and Mr. THOMPSON,

Mr. EWING moved to lay the resolution on the table: lost.

The amendment was then agreed to; and after some remarks by Messrs. RENCHER and A. H. Messrs. SHEPHERD in opposition to, and BRIGGS, CAMBRELENG, and THOMPSON in favor of, the resolution was adopted.

INQUIRY IN RELATION TO THE FLORIDA WAR. The House then proceeded to the unfinished business of the morning hour, which was the consideration of the following resolution, submitted by Mr. WISE on the 19th of September:

Resolved, That a select committee be appointed by ballot to inquire into the causes of the Florida war, and into the causes of the delays and failures, and the expenditures which have attended the prosecution of that war, and into the manner of its conduct, and the facts of its history generally; that the said committee have power to send for persons and papers, and that it have power to sit in the recess, and that it make report to the next session of Congress.

Mr. GLASCOCK had moved to amend the foregoing resolution, by striking out all after the word "Resolved," and insert the following:

"That a select committee be appointed to inquire into the cause of the Florida war, and the causes of the extraordinary delays and failures, and the expenditures which have attended the prosecution of the same, and all the facts connected with its history generally; and that said committee have power to send for persons and papers."

Mr. HOWARD had submitted a motion to strike ont "a select committee," and insert "the Committee on Military Affairs."

The question pending was the motion of Mr. MCKAY to postpone the further consideration of the resolution until the first Monday in December.

Mr. UNDERWOOD addressed the House briefly, and brought to its notice a letter which he had

received from General Jesup, in answer to a communication from himself on the subject, in which the General denied having entered into any treaty with the Indian chief Apothleoyohola, which was broken on his part.

Mr. WISE made a few remarks in explanation; when,

On motion of Mr. CAMBRELENG, the House proceeded to the orders of the day.

DIVORCE BANK BILL.

The first business in order was the "bill imposing additional duties as depositories, in certain cases, upon public officers."

The bill had been reported from the Committee of the Whole about half past 12 o'clock last night, without amendment, and the question was on concurring therein by the House.

Mr. WILLIAMS of Tennessee, moved to lay the bill on the table, but at the request of Mr. CLARK of New York, withdrew it, for the purpose of affording Mr. C. an opportunity of submitting some remarks.

Mr. CLARK then addressed the Chair as follows:

Mr. SPEAKER: I do not rise to discuss the merits of the bill, or to express any opinion in relation to to them. I should have preferred that motion had been made to postpone its further consideration until the first day of the next session. The subject matter of the bill is one on which there is, among the friends of the administration, a difference of opinion, and, I have no doubt, an honest difference. The gentleman from South Carolina, a friend of the administration, in his remarks of yesterday, regretted that he should be called upon at this time for final action on the bill. He preferred to wait until an opportunity should be afforded to him to ascertain the wishes of his constituents. In these views I concur. In voting for the present motion, I shall do so for the same reasons which would influence me to vote for a postponement until the next session, considering the effects the same, neither of which determines the ultimate fate of the bill. The vote I am about to give will furnish no evidence of my opinion as to the merits of the bill, or of my action on the question of its final passage. The Sub-Treasury scheme, considered as an administration measure, is novel. In 1835, it was proposed by the whigs in Congress, and received the unanimous and vigorous epposition of the democratic members. Whether it is possible for the opposition to originate a good measure, I will not inquire. They, have, however, been unfortunate in presenting at this session any measure, good, bad, or indifferent, always saving and excepting their sovereign remedy, their universal panacea for all our fiscal maladies, the United States Bank.

I repeat that this measure, as a democratic on e is new. Public opinion has not been sufficiently enlightened to draw any correct conclusion of its disposition. It has not been to any considerable extent, the subject of discussion, either in the social circle, or in the primary assemblies of the people. And the same remark is true as regards the newspaper press. I doubt whether five country papers in the State of New York, previous to the session of Congress, had canvassed this project, or given any opinions thereon. The Albany Argus, the leading democratic journal in that State, a journal which possesses great influence over the country press, had not, up to that period, taken ground on this subject. Under these cir cumstances, it can hardly be expected that resolutions emanating from county conventions could be considered as furnishing that evidence of the popular will as they otherwise would. All the republican conventions have expressed their approbation of the general principles set forth in the Message; few of them, however, have given any expression of opinion as regards this specific meaNo one is more ready, on all occasions, to bow with deference to the will of his constituents, when formed upon reflection and deliberation, and fairly and fully expressed, than myself; and it will ever be my pleasure to carry that will into execution. Were I opposed to this bill, (and I repeat that I give no opinion in regard to it,) I

sure.

would, with alacrity, surrender my own opinion at the feet of my constituents.

Sir, there is no pressing necessity for the immediate passage of this bill. The Government is now going on receiving and disbursing its revenue in the same manner as provided in the bill. Should it now pass, it will produce no change. Since the suspension of specie payments, the Government has met with no difficulty in the management of its fiscal operations, neither can it for six short weeks, at which time the bill can be acted on, under the influence of a well informed and plainly expressed public opinion. It has been my misfortune not to have enjoyed an interchange of sentiment with my constituents, as have most of the gentlemen of this House. Business of a private, but pressing nature, has entirely separated me from them since April last. I wish to obey their will, and for this purpose I should be glad, by a personal interview, to ascertain that will; and when ascertained, I shall not fail to execute it.

Mr. CLARK then, according to the pledge he had given, renewed the motion to lay the bill on the table.

Mr. CONNOR then moved a call of the House, and upon the motion asked for the yeas and nays, which were ordered, and were-yeas 186, nays 5. The call being ordered, was proceeded in, through several stages, till 222 members had responded to their names, when, on motion of Mr. CHAMBERS of Kentucky, it was suspended-171 to 30. The question then recurring to lay the bill theon table, thereupon,

Mr. GRENNELL asked for the yeas and nays, which were ordered.

Mr. LEWIS asked the gentleman who made the motion, to withdraw it, so as to permit an amendment to be submitted, which would put the bill in a form less objectionable to a number of members.

Mr. WILLIAMS should like, he said, very much 10 accommodate the gentlemen, but there were a dozen others who would also wish to be accommodated in the same way; and he, therefore, could not assent to the request.

Several gentlemen wished to have the amendment read, but it was ruled to be out of order pending the motion to lay on the table.

The question was then taken, and decided in the affirmative-yeas 120, nays 107, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Adams, Alexander, Heman Allen, John W. Allen, Ayerigg, Bell, Biddle, Bond, Borden, Briggs, William B Calhoun, John Calhoon, William B. Campbell, John Campbell, William B Carter, Casey, Chambers, Cheatham, Childs, Clark, Clowney, Corwin, Cranston, Crockett, Curtis, Cushing, Darling. ton, Dawson, Davies, Doberry, Dennis, Dunn, Elmore, Everett, Ewing, Richard Fletcher, Filmore, James Garland, Rice Gar land, Coode, James Graham, William Graham, Graves, Grennell, Griffin, Halstea I, Harlan, Harper, Hastings, Hawes, Henry, Herod. Hoffman, Hopkins, Henry Johnson, William Cost Johnson, Kilgore, Lawler, Legare, Lincoln, Andrew W. Loomis, Lyon, Mallory, Marvin, James M. Mason, Sanison Mason, Maury, May, Maxwell, Menefee, Mercer, Milligan, Mathias Morris, Calvary Morris, Naylor, Noyes, Ozle, Patterson, Pat ton, Pearce, Peck, Phillips, Pope, Pous, Rariden, Randolph, Reed, Rencher, Richardson, Ridgway, Rumsey, Russell, Sawyer, Sergeant, Augustine II Shepperd. Charles Shepard, Shields, Sibley, Slade, Smith, Snyder, Southgate, Stanley, Stewart. Stone, Stratton, Taliaferro, Thompson, Tillinghast, Toland, Underwood, Albert S. White, John White, Elisha Whit resey, Lewis Williams, Sherrod Williams, Joseph Williams, Christopher H. Williams, Wise, and Yorke-120.

NAYS-Messrs. Messrs. Anderson, Andrews, Atherton, Beatty, Bere, Bicknell, Birdsall, Boon, Bouldin. Brodhead, Bronson. Bruyn, Bynum, Cambreteng, Timothy J. Carter, Chaney, Chapman, Cilley, Claiborne, Cleveland, Coles, Connor, Craig, Cushman, Daver, DeGraff, Duncan, Edwards. Farrington, Fair. field, Isaac Fletcher, Poster, Fry, Gallup, Gholson, Glascock, Grant, Gray, Haley, Hammond, Hamer, Harrison, Hawkins, Haynes, Holsey, Howard, Hubley. William H. Hunter, Robert M. T. Hunter, Ingham, Thomas B. Jackson, Jabez Jackson, Joseph Johnson, Nathaniel Jones, John W. Jones, Kemble, Klingensmith, Leadbetter, Lewis, Logan, Arphaxed Loomis, Mar in, McKay, Robert McClellan, Abraham McClellan, Me. Clure, McKim, Miller, Montgomery, Moore, Morgan, Samuel W. Morris, Muhlenberg, Noble, Owens, Palmer, Parker, Parmenter, Paynter, Pennybacker, Petriken, Pickens, Plumer, Potter, Pratt, Prentiss, Reily, Rives, Robertson. Sheffer, Ship ler. Spencer, Taylor, Thomas, Trus, Toucey, Towns, Turney, Vail, Vanderveer. Wagener. Webster, Weeks. Thomas T. Whittlesey, Jared W. Williams, Worthington, and Yell-107. So the bill was laid on the table.

Some conversation then arose as to whether a motion would be in order, and when, to take up the bill again-Mr. LEWIS wishing to make that motion, but it was ruled to be out of order, and that there was no other way of reaching the subject then but by a motion to reconsider; whereupon

Mr. RENCHER made that motion.
Mr. BORDEN moved to lay the motion to re-

consider on the table, and called for the yeas and nays, which were ordered, and were-yeas 119, nays 106.

So the motion to reconsider was laid on the table. DEPOSITE BANKS.

On motion of Mr. CAMBRELENG, the House then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, Mr. HOWARD in the Chair.

The subject was discussed at some length by Messrs. ELISHA WHITTLESEY, of Louisiana, CAMBRELENG, LYON, GARLAND of Louisiana, and LINCOLN; when the hour of half past 2 having arrived, the House took its usual recess till 4 o'clock.

[EVENING SESSION.]

The House went into Committee of the Whole on the Senate bill for adjusting the remaining claims against the late

DEPOSITE BANKS.

The question being on the amendment proposing the payment of six per cent. interest per annum to be required on all sums so deposited, and not paid over,

Mr. LINCOLN resume his remarks. He said the House should judge the banks as they would in the case of individuals. If an individual deposited a thousand dollars at a bank, and on demanding it again were told that he could not be paid, as his money had been lent out, it would be but poor satisfaction. Yet so it was with the Government money. He considered that they were entitled to no indulgence, and that the proposed interest should be required.

Mr. MARTIN did not contend that the banks should be exempt from paying interest, but he objected to the amount required. He referred to the banks in the State of Alabama, and did not think it was necessary to call on the State for security for the payment of such interest as provided in the bill.

Mr. CHAMBERS said the banks stood in the same relation to Government as the Devil did to the human race; he first tempted them to disobedience, and then rained them. So the Government had encouraged the banks to extend their circulation, and now was seeking their run.

Mr. ADAMS occupied considerable time in a critical examination of the first section of the bill, which he contended had no meaning whatever. He gave his views at some length against the bill, when

Mr. CAMBRELENG hoped the gentleman from Massachusetts would have some mercy on the House, and not speak all night, as it was very desirable that one or two appropriation bills should be sent to the Senate, which could not be done if so much time were consumed in useless debate. Mr. ADAMS proceeded, until,

On motion of Mr. CAMBRELENG, the present bill was laid aside, and the bill "making additional appropriations for the year 1837" taken up in its stead.

After some remarks from Mr. CAMBRELENG, in explanation of some additional items at the end of the bill,

Mr. WISE then took the floor. He said that had been the most important day of the session, for it had just been ascertained that the grand experiment had failed; the gold was all gone, and many of the members would be compelled to take their pay in shin-plasteis, or the notes of the District. He wished it proclaimed to the country, that such had been the result of the great humbug gold currency, and that at eight o'clock on the last night of the session, the bubble had burst. As for himself, he had been so fortunate as to get gold and silver; and in order to commemorate the event, he intended to mark one of the half dollars, to be kept by his children, and his children's children, for genera tions to come. Yes, it had come to this at last. Besides, he would ask them if the man Levi, of what tribe he would not say, was fit to be a Secretary, when it was found that he could not even calculate how much gold he should require to carry his measure into execution? He hoped that some loco foco would now get up, and offer a resolution demanding equal rights, and that one man should

not have all gold, while another was paid in shinplasters.

He then alluded to an item in the bill then before the committee, in which $10,000 was appropriated for expenses attending the foreign agency at London in relation to the Smithsonian bequest. He contended that there was no necessity for Dr. Rush to remain at London at such an extravagant outlay, and moved to strike out that item from the bill. He adverted to the present distress of the country, and asked how the Committee of Ways and Means could think of smuggling in such an item at this time. He considered it a most prodigal expendi

ture.

Mr. CAMBRELENG said the gentleman had applied the word "humbuggery" to the administration, and had charged them with attempting to smuggle the item in question through the House. But he would tell the gentleman he was inistaken, and it was not the first time he had missed his mark. A paper had been lying on their tables for more than four weeks, in reference to this subject, which certainly showed any thing but a desire to smuggle it through the House. And as regarded the charge of extravagance, they were merely carrying into effect the act of 1836, which expressly provided for such appropriations to be made annualy, for the object already stated.

Mr. WISE'S motion was disagreed to, taken by teller-yeas 65, noes 74.

Mr. CAMBRELENG then moved an additional item of $500 for the contingent expenses in the office of the Treasurer of the United States.

Mr. W. COST JOHNSON then addressed the House for an hour in a discursive speech, in which he complained, in very strong terms, of the breach of faith of the Secretary of the Treasury, in his public promise to pay the members in gold, if they desired it. Members had applied to the Sergeantat-arms for gold, and had been told that there was no more of it, but that they could have silver, or notes of State banks, or of the District banks. He adverted to a number of other topics; but this was the principal theme of remark.

Mr. BYNUM said a very serious charge had been brought against the Secretary of the Treasury; for which, if guilty, he certainly deserved not only the censure of that House, but also of the whole people of the country. That gentleman had no seat upon that floor, and was thereby debarred from all opportunity of defending himself. Mr. B. did not rise at that time to defend the Secretary, but simply to ascertain the facts upon which this serious charge had been made against that distinguished individual. He would, then, premise that his honorable friend who had just taken his seat, would find that the Secretary of the Treasury had not imposed upon him or other members, but that others had. He begged permission to have read the letter of that officer to the Clerk of the House; which was done. The letter was as follows:

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, August 16, 1837. SIR: The near approach of the session of Congress makes it proper for me to apprize you, in order that the information may be used for the benefit and accommodation of the members of the House of Representatives, that this Departinent will be prepared to furnish funds for their payment in notes of the city banks or specie, or to give drafts upon several of the Collecois of the customs and Receivers of the public moncy, or the former deposite banks, in suitable sums, as may be most convenient to any of them.

I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
LEVI WOODEURY,
Secretary of the Treasury.

W. S. FRANKLIN, Esq.

Clerk of the House of Reps. of the U. S. Now, sir, (continued Mr. B.) the House would perceive that the honorable gentleman who had made this serious charge against the Secretary of the Treasury, had presumed too much upon that kind of information which often led to error, and involved him who relied upon it, likewise, in error. It had been stated there that the Secretary of the Treasury had proposed to pay the members of that body in "gold alone." The House had heard

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