1605 MAY 2, 1834.] OF DEBATES IN CONGRESS. Proceeds of Public Lands. [SENATE Mr. CLAY said, that, with respect to the vote alluded man examine the votes of those who voted in the negative, and he (Mr. F.) thought he would find it exceed- to by the Senator from Georgia, he would observe that ingly difficult to discover one among them who was ca- there were several absentees on that occasion, some of pable of change. No; they were made of "sterner stuff." whom, he believed, would have voted had they been pres[Here Mr. F. read the names of those Senators who had ent; but he did not choose to go into all the particulars voted in the negative on that occasion.] He should have attending that vote, he rose for another purpose, which much liked to have seen the honorable member pick out was to make one single observation in reply to what the five, which number would be necessary to obtain a con-gentleman had said about the constitutional ten days. stitutional majority, and so pass the bill. The gentleman Now, let us, said he, take those ten days; the consequence had told them further, (though without evidence which then to be drawn from the argument of the gentleman he could produce in a court of justice, if called upon to was, if the ten days run on, notwithstanding the terminaprove the fact,) that the President had come here on the tion of the session, the bill had become a law; or if the 3d of March with a veto message in his pocket. Now successor of the President could approve a bill on the had that been the case, it would only have proved how fourth of March that was passed on the third, he might desirous he was to return the bill. Still the honorable do the same thing on the fifth, and so on to the end of Senator believed that such was the fact, and against such the ten days. He did not, however, concur with the evidence as this on the Journal. Now supposing the case gentleman, and therefore thought the conclusion into be as stated by the honorable member-what did it correct. prove? Why, merely that the President had taken pre The gentleman tells us, said Mr. C., that if a majority of cisely the course which the gentleman had thought he two-thirds could have been got at the end of the last session, The President was desirous to re- in consequence of the President's returning the bill, that ought to have taken. turn the bill in the form in which it was presented to him: surely the same majority could be had now. He (Mr. C.) it was unsatisfactory, and he sent back the bill, accompa-wished the Senator could make that good. There had nied by a message, giving his reasons why he had vetoed been two or three changes in the Senate since the last He (Mr. F.) thought it was very obvious that the session, unfavorable to the measure. it. There was the Sen Mr. SHEPLEY moved to amend the motion to print, by adding a clause providing for the printing of 5,000 copies of the second report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the subject of the removal of the deposites, of December 30, 1833. Mr. CLAY said this motion was not in order. If the Mr. CLAY. Had the gentleman forgotten the message Mr. CALHOUN said that he should vote for the printing of the extra number as a matter of courtesy. But his opinions concerning the bill itself were expressed at The question on printing of 5,000 copies was then the last session, and they remained without change. President wished to do himself and the country justice. ator from Maine, [Mr. SHEPLEY,] whose predecessor voIt was well known that he had a great number of bills to ted for the bill of the last session, and he felt confident read as the session drew to a close, and it was impossible that that gentleman could not by any means be induced to that he could have had sufficient time to prepare a new vote for the bill of this. There was, also, the Senator message on the subject. The Senate ought to have sent from New York, [Mr. TALLMADGE,] and others perhaps, the bill to him sooner than they did, then he might have neither of whom, he feared, would vote for it. returned it with his message before the rising of Congress. Now, he (Mr. F.) would say a word or two in regard to the injustice which it had been said the Chief Magistrate had done the country, in the exercise of his power, in withholding that bill. It was alleged to be an encroachment on the powers of Congress. But whose fault was it? It was their own; it was their duty to have sent it to him at an earlier day. What was the act of the President? Why he had postponed returning the bill for seven or eight months. Congress had still power over the subject, and if, as the gentleman from Kentucky had averred, the Senate could have passed the measure in 1833 by a majority of two-thirds, why then they could do it now. But how was it with the other House? There had been an important change in that body, for the present Congress had been appointed under the new census, and it at present represents a great majority of the people. He would ask if gentlemen would have had Congress to pursue that course which would have prevented a fair expression of taken, and decided in the affirmative: ayes 32, nays 9. the opinions of the people on this subject? Surely not. Supposing, by casualty, a constitutional majority could have been procured in both Houses, was there any man who looked to the great foundation upon which our GovOr. taking the question, it was decided in the negative: ernment stood, disposed to deny the right of the majority to govern according to their will? Was there any man Mr. WEBSTER then said it would be necessary to who would not have regretted the passing of this act un-ayes 17, noes 21. der any other circumstances? Now, if the bill had been passed at the last session of Congress, what would it have adopt an order for the purpose of giving effect to what been? The act, although condemned by a large portion he presumed was the wish of the Senate, when the inof the people, could not have been repealed, without the junction of secrecy was yesterday removed from the Exconsent of a majority of the Senate, constituted as it now ecutive proceeding. He thought this might as well be And he would ask, if there was any honorable done in public session, and he had prepared a resolution relative to the publication of the proceedings in Execumember who wished such had been the case? Mr. FORSYTH said there was other Executive busitive session, which he had sent to the Secretary. On motion of Mr. WEBSTER, ness, which required the action of the Senate. was. Mr. PRESTON rose merely to state, that he was not willing to meet the issue proposed by the Senator from Georgia. The gentleman had called for the yeas and nays with regard to the printing of a report which he had not heard. He, Mr. P., declined expressing any opinion on the report; and he rose for the purpose of disclaiming any inference that might be drawn from his vote in favor of the printing of the report, with regard to his opinions as to the land bill. Mr. CHAMBERS moved, that when the Senate adMr. POINDEXTER hoped not. journ, it adjourn to meet on Monday next. The Senate, he said, was under protest, and the sooner they got out of it the better. The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of Executive business, and after remaining for some time in secret session, The Senate adjourned. SATURDAY, MAY 3. NEW BEDFORD MEMORIAL. [MAY 3, 1834. ford. The fishing business was almost the sole business of New Bedford and Nantucket, and the time was, when, with no other trade, they had from 70 to 80 ships engaMr. SILSBEE said he desired to present a memorial ged in it beyond the capes of Good Hope and Horn--they from that section of New England which was extensively must, therefore, deal on credit, and their cry was not engaged in the fishing business. They complained of false clamor. But we were told by honorable gentlemen great pecuniary distress, and pressure, and injury to their that when this question was settled, prosperity would recommerce, owing to the removal of the deposites. He vive. Well, a decision had been made a month ago, by moved the usual reference of the memorial; and, after a majority of half a hundred votes, that the bank should being read, not be re-chartered, and yet the country is not settled, but is farther from it than ever. Mr. FORSYTH said he thought he understond that this memorial came from a district of country engaged in the Mr. FORSYTH replied, that he had not said that there business of fishing, complaining of the destruction of their was no cause of distress in the country, and that all the commerce. We had heard much of distress in the complaints sent here were false clamor. He admitted country, and we had memorials presented on the subject there was distress in some portions of the country, arising every day, and honorable gentlemen here proclaimed that from the abridgment of banking accommodations, and great distress, and reductions in the prices of various the derangement of the exchanges of the country. products, were produced by the late measures of the Pres- believed that distress did exist among business-men whose ident. As to the other great objects of industry, the accommodations had stopped, and where runs had been prices current showed how correct they were. He would made upon banks having no metallic basis to support ask the gentleman who presented this memorial, what the them. What he said, was this, that there was no foundaprice of oil was? tion for the cry of distress, when we looked to the prices He Mr. SILSBEE replied, that he had not taken much of the products of labor upon the forest, the ocean, or time to inform himself. He believed that oil was from the earth. And what were they? All the prices showed 70 to 75 cents a gallon; what the ordinary price was, he them to be as high now as they were at this time last could not say. It sold at from 90 to 100 cents by the year, or higher than they were at the time when, accordsmall quantity, and he would tell the gentleman that ing to the statements of honorable gentlemen, the country ships employed in the whale fishing had depreciated 25 was overflowing with prosperity. The prices current per cent. He also hoped the gentleman from Georgia were so over the whole United States. In Boston, on the did not mean to say that he (Mr. S.) had occupied much 28th April, in the article of coffee, the prices were rising. time in discussions upon presenting memorials. [Mr. F. here read from the newspaper report of prices Mr. FORSYTH did not intend charging the honorable current.] Now, as to the article of cotton, in Boston gentleman with having occupied the time of the Senate four thousand bales were sold on manufacturers' account. by speaking upon memorials. He would do him no such So that all the manufactories were not stopped yet. New injustice, but he alluded to all the gentlemen on that side Orleans cotton, 13 to 15; flour in demand and scarce, of the House. As regarded the distress of the people of and he hoped when this news of the flour market reachNew Bedford, he thought the memorial said that ten ed New Orleans, it would rise there. Fish and molasses, thousand seamen were affected by the act of the Execu- as high as last year; sugar, prices firm and supplies limtive, and the honorable member told us that the object ited. Now, gentlemen said that the great necessaries of for which the sailors were employed bore the ordinary life were high, because the people must eat; but here all price. Mr. F. said that, from his experience and obser- the prices were given. The lumber trade, too, stood in vation, 70 to 76 cents was a very living price for fish oil; the same condition as it did this time last year, when we and while it stood at that, the sailors would be engaged were enjoying the most unbounded prosperity. But the in the business. But it was said that the equipments of gentleman from Massachusetts said that he (Mr. F.) was vessels were much reduced in price, and that a deficiency mistaken in regard to the New Bedford people. What in the value of ships of 25 per cent. had taken place. he (Mr. F.) stated, was, that the persons engaged in the But, Mr. F. thought that, upon examination, it would be whale fishing, if it be admitted that the article of their seen that this was not founded in fact. The cries of dis-pursuit in business is as high as usual, cannot be suffering tress were got up, not in the sections from which these distress. But the gentleman from Massachusetts tells us memorials came, but elsewhere. The heaviest cry came of great rivalry existing in the New Bedford and Nanfrom Baltimore, and there the pressure was extreme. He tucket fisheries. And what were the elements of this riheld in his hand the prices current in Baltimore, and from valry? Let us examine the subject a little. The people that it would seem that the prices were good. Fish, shad of New Bedford and Nantucket are, beyond all doubt, were $6 50 and herring $3 50 per barrel-flour, sales of unrivalled by the world in nautical skill and enterprise. Howard street at $5 per barrel. The article of sugar, But the case is different in other parts of the world, he would advert to for the benefit of the gentleman from where the expenses of an outfit, &c. are very great. Louisiana, [Mr. PORTER,] was $7 to $8 50, and he had There they are much cheaper. But the gentleman from heard a very large crop was sold lately in Philadelphia Massachusetts said that their business was deranged beat 8 cents. Tobacco $3 50, cotton 123 to 13-holders cause they purchased on a credit. The materials were firm and expecting better prices. He hoped gentlemen all there; and the only difference was, that those who would look at the prices current from the various parts had not capital could not get it. Mr. F. said his remarks of the country from which these memorials come. He applied to the sailors in that service, as the memorial rebelieved that persons doing business on credit, might be ferred to ten thousand sailors who were injuriously afsuffering embarrassments, but he denied that there was fected by the measures of the administration. any distress pressing on the great objects of the country.lieved that the sailors engaged in those voyages for a Mr. WEBSTER said, that the theory of the honorable share in the profits of the voyage. Well, how were they member from Georgia was factitious, and not real. But affected? The returns of the former voyages were here, he thought the slightest reference to the great interests of and the object of their enterprise was at the same price. the whale fisheries, would convince any man that it must Was there any difficulty in making investments, when the be most affected by causes disturbing the general credit materials were 25 per cent. less in price than formerly? of the country, owing to the long credits which the busi-But the honorable gentleman had referred to our predicness required; and, therefore, the gentleman was mista- tions, that when this agitating question was settled, relief ken, in applying his remarks to the people of New Bed-and tranquillity would be restored to the country. And He be MAY 3, 1834.] New Bedford Memorial. he told us that it was settled by the other branch of Con- When the quantity of flour now ready in the West, should gress. Did that gentleman so consider it? Could he cal- be shipped and brought to the East, there would be a glut culate that it was settled? What was the object of these in the market, in consequence of the want of money to Mr. SILSBEE said, he had thought the Senator from memorials, and the speeches delivered upon them? Why, purchase. This result was natural, and must take place. that it should be unsettled until it could be settled in a He had set out with a promparticular way. If honorable members had been satisfied Georgia would find it a hard task to prove that prices with the judgment of the House of Representatives, and were as high as last year. turned their attention to the adoption of measures for the ise to show this. Had he done so? No! he had failed in If the general good, it would have been settled; but they have every instance-in the products of agriculture, manufac entered into the drama before the people with the House ture, and navigation. He had said that the price of oil of Representatives, and none with more force and elo-had not fallen. He (Mr. S.) affirmed that it had. quence than the honorable gentleman from Massachusetts, honorable Senator could prove the truth of what he had that the country must and should be agitated. But as far asserted, he (Mr. S.) would never again hazard an opinion as it could be settled under the circumstances, it had been on that floor. Mr. SPRAGUE would be glad to hear the Senator from produced. Had not a manifest change for the better, in the money market, taken place? Had not stocks risen? Georgia prove that the lumber trade was as good now as Had not exchange risen? Were there complaints in the it was last lear. He (Mr. S.) would be most grateful for city market? No. And this was owing, in part, to the intelligence of this kind if it came from a correct source. fulfilment of the prophecy by us; and when the people He had received recent information of a different kind saw that the wishes of the gentleman could not be accom- from two of the principal rivers of Maine on which this plished, gentlemen would cease to agitate the public trade was followed; and a gentleman was now sitting bemind, which would not have been agitated by the meas-hind him from the capital of the State, who had informed ures of the Executive, but for the interposition of extra-him, both before and since the honorable Senator from Georgia spoke, that a few days since there was no sale for (Some further remarks were made by Messrs. CHAM- the article of lumber. Those who had a stock of it could BERS, KNIGHT, and PORTER, which were not re- not sell a single cargo. ported.] neous causes. There was now a general voice from Maine, and parThe Mr. EWING said, that the evidence brought forward ticularly the towns on the Kennebec; and he had it directby the Senator from Georgia, to show that there was no ly from a person well acquainted with the trade of that distress in the country, was of such a nature as would country, that there was no sale for the article. lead all men of business to conclusions the very reverse stocks of lumber lie dead on the hands of the holders; it He (Mr. É.) would had, indeed, become lumber on their hands. At Bangor Four vessels had sailed from that of those of the honorable Senator. show the gentleman the erroneous nature of his reason- there was no demand. It had port a few days ago with (as it was described by the party ing, by reference to one article-that of flour. been said that articles of necessity could always command by whom he had been made acquainted with the fact) a price. This might be true in some cases, but was not nothing on board, but glory in the hold, and experiment on always so. Flour was an article of prime necessity, and deck. The honorable Senator from Georgia had said, that During the winter and spring, the fall of twenty-five per cent. in the value of shipping, yet it had fallen in price. the Eastern markets were supplied from their immediate was beneficial to the place. Many of his (Mr. S.'s) conneighborhood; the adjacent farmers brought in their stituents were ship-builders, and he could hardly imagine flour, which was generally consumed before the Western that they would look upon it as a benefit to them, that The ship-building and lumber supply came in; there was, therefore, no decrease in the value of their labor had fallen in the market twentyprice under these circumstances, in the cities; the price five or thirty per cent. there kept up, because the supply was only equal to the trade had stopped; and, if that would not produce disdemand; but when great quantities were brought in from tress, he would like to know how distress could be inMr. FORSYTH had not looked into the price of lumthe West, the quantity of money in circulation regulated flicted on the community. the price. If there was plenty of money to buy up the flour and lay it up till wanted, the sale was good; if there ber; but he understood that lumber had suffered exceswas little or no money, the sale was bad. The honorable sively. This was not owing to the removal of the depos Senator from Georgia had shown them a price current ites; but, it was cut high up the river, with a view of The river has not risen during the present from the Eastern cities, for the purpose of proving that being brought off the ground when the river was so high flour was fetching a good price; it might do so there, for as to float it. the causes he (Mr. E.) had mentioned; but they had ad-season, and therefore the owners had not been able to get He did not make the ridiculous assertion, that a fall in vices from the West of a very different character. The it to market. price was not there so good as in the Eastern cities. held in his hand a letter dated the 25th ultimo, which the price of shipping was beneficial to ship-builders; but, stated the price of flour at New Orleans to be $2 87, and this would induce corresponding depression in Cincinnati. The Senator from Georgia had said, that when the high price of flour in the Eastern cities reached the West, it would raise the price there. It would not do so. The people of the West knew as well as the honorable Senator what The gentleman had said that he (Mr. F.) had asserted the price of flour was in the Eastern cities; but they knew, also, the effect which would be produced by sending their Were they to do so, the price what he had not proved. He did not say that all products flour to those markets. would instantly fall. There were great quantities of flour bore the same price as last year, but that certain producA great portion of the tions were of the same price. The gentleman had acin the West ready to be sent. Western supply was bought up by capitalists for ex- knowledged that the price of cotton, the great staple of portation, and another great portion was bought to the country, was good. Here Mr. F. stated, from the be laid up. Now, if there was not money to purchase price current, the prices of several commodities, which in this way, he (Mr. E.) would ask whether, when the prices, he observed, were good. The article of wheat, flour came in from the West, it would command as high for which formerly from ninety cents to a dollar was esa price in the Eastern cities as it now commanded? teemed a good price, was now quoted at one dollar and He that the cost being lower was beneficial to the sailors, He was not conversant in the prices of oil; but he under the supposition of their profits continuing as usual. bought sperm oil in Georgia at about a dollar per gallon, by retail; and he took it for granted that the wholesale prices in Boston could not be above seventy or seventyfive cents. SENATE.] New Bedford Memorial. [MAY 5, 1834. eighty cents. The price of sugar was as great now as it SPRAGUE had not said so; he repeated what he had said was last year. But the Senator had said it was not so on the subject: that the vessels had gone out loaded, and high as it ought to be, when the crops are taken into con- found no market. sideration. The Senator was a sugar-grower, and thought Now, as to the sailors, with whom Mr. S. had some ache ought to have higher prices for a small crop than for quaintance, the Senator [Mr. FORSYTH] had said that the a large one. The price of sugar in Louisiana was regu- depreciated price of the ships would benefit the sailors. lated by that of Cuba. And what was the price in Cuba? Mr. S. would be glad if he would explain how such a Allowing all the expenses of shipping, transit, &c., Cuba result would follow. There were two classes of sailors, sugar would cost about seven cents and a half, and eight one of whom went out on shares. [Mr. FORSYTH said cents was the price of Louisiana sugar. And yet the gen- there was another part, to whom the profits were unditleman said, that the removal of the deposites caused a minished.] To be sure, Mr. SPRAGUE said, by putting depression in the price of this article; while it was a mat-things contrary to fact, and, together with his poetry, the ter which was regulated by foreign competition, and par- gentleman had introduced what was not matter of factticularly by Cuba. it was all mere poetry. Mr. S. could not understand how the sailors could be benefited by the value of vessels being less. Mr. S. thought that, if the value of vessels was depressed twenty-five per cent., the value of labor must be necessarily depressed. The depression of the value of labor with one class, could not increase the value of labor in another class. There was a general sympa price of the ship was diminished, as well as the wages of the shipwright and all concerned in shipping. The honorable Senator from Louisiana and the honorable Senator from Maryland had spoken of agitation. He knew there was agitation; and he had no doubt that the agitation was increased by personal distress. The hopes of many of acquiring fortunes by the bank had vanished, and the feeling created by the disappointment was intense. But the Senator would not deny the right of concluding thy-and the wages of the sailor must diminish as the that it was not this alone that had produced the distress. Convictions no doubt existed that the President of the United States had done wrong, particularly amongst those And how could those sailors who went on shares, be who were disposed to find fault with every thing which benefited by a diminution of the value of the ship? The was done by the President: all their efforts had not been ship-owner, whatever was the value of the ship, received wanting to prove to the people, that their estimation was a certain proportion of profits-one-sixteenth, by the correct; that they saw through good spectacles, and not usual arrangement-and the rest was divided among the through glorification spectacles. That there should be sailors. How, then, could a decrease in the value of the agitation was expected and looked for. The result was ship increase the profits of the sailor? in the womb of time; but he was convinced of the cor- But Mr. S. had received authentic information yesterrectness of his own judgment, and looked for a fair judg-day and to-day, that in fact the profits did not remain the ment on the part of the people of the United States. same to this class of sailors, in the voyages which had What could the agony of suffering produce, but convic-been recently settled. The settling price of the voyages tion on the public mind? Was violence of any kind to between the sailors and ship owners, had been such, that be used to overthrow the administration? Surely not. the sailors had not received enough to meet the demands We have seen, said Mr. F., an attempt made to convert on the charges of their outfits, and for their own personthis assembly into a sort of theatre. Senators have been al services they had received nothing. Was that a benecheered from the gallery, as if they were players, for the fit to the sailors? If a new enterprise was to be entered gratification of the public; and we have seen, from one upon, men who had money might now buy ships cheap; side of the House, plaudits and hisses in the Senate cham- but would this prove that those now concerned in this ber of the United States. kind of property had not suffered by the disastrous blow Associations, Mr. F. said, were now forming in of the Executive? Certainly not. Baltimore, whig associations-and for what purpose? Were their operations to be at home or abroad? While at the spirit of those associations no man could look but with abhorrence and detestation, the spirit itself, Mr. F. said, was harmless. They might agitate as they pleased; the mischief would be local, the crime would be local, and the punishment would be local. They could not Mr. POINDEXTER then offered the following resoluoperate on the Government without a change in its char-lution, which lies one day on the table. acter; that change could and would be made, when the Resolved, That, until the special order of the day on people chose to exert their power; but we were not like the protest of the President of the United States shall be the people of Europe; it was not here that a watch-word finally disposed of, the Chair shall announce the order on such as "religion" or "freedom," could raise men to each day immediately after the Journal shall have been fight; no cunning word could raise them; here the institutions of the country were on a sound and firm basis, and gentlemen might agitate, they might drive the public sentiment so far, that man would be opposed to man, and the indignation of the community would fall on that man who would thus agitate, and dreadful vengeance would fall upon them all; but the crime would be local, the mischief local, and the punishment would be local. Mr. POINDEXTER made some remarks, which were not reported. The memorial was then referred to the Committee on Finance, and ordered to be printed. Mr. POINDEXTER moved to postpone the special order until Monday; which was agreed to. read. Mr. HENDRICKS moved the consideration of the resolution offered by him last week, appropriating Friday and Saturday in each week to the consideration of bills. The motion was negatived: Ayes 15, noes 18. The Senate then adjourned. MONDAY, MAY 5. Mr. SPRAGUE, after a few remarks in reply to The resolution offered on Saturday, by Mr. POINDEXMr. FORSYTH's remarks, said that there was a great TER, to take up the protest immediately after the quantity of the products of the country on hand, which reading of the Journal, till it should be disposed of, was could not be disposed of at any rate; and the en- taken up. hanced price which had been noticed, only showed that Mr. HENDRICKS moved to amend the resolution by the derangement of the currency in the community had excepting Fridays and Saturdays, to be devoted to the been greater even there, (Maine,) than had been ima- passage of bills. gined. Those who had articles on hand, could not dispose Mr. EWING did not think the amendment at all calcuof them there at any rate. [Mr. FORSYTH thought Mr.lated to hasten the business of the Senate. S. had said that all the vessels had gone out empty.] Mr. | The CHAIR expressed a doubt whether it was in order. T MAY 5, 1834.] President's Protest.-Deposite Banks. [SENATE. Mr. WEBSTER thought the amendment could not be sequences might ensue from it, but it might prove injuriimportant: if the debate on the protest should terminate ous in a public point of view. The design, too, which in two days, as had been suggested, the rule of the amend- had been drawn by these gentlemen, who followed the exment would terminate with it. Mr. HENDRICKS thought this difficulty did not exist; he designed his amendment to be indefinite; if not so considered, he would alter it so as to extend to the remainder of the session. ample of the most aristocratic body in the world, (the Parliament of England,) was marred and broken. They had infringed upon their determination to perform no business until the protest was disposed of: they had recently passed a bill. As a matter of time he did not think the Mr. CLAY was opposed to the amendment, on the question of any importance; as much time would be ocground of a sentiment which had been expressed, and in cupied if the debate upon the protest proceeded irreguwhich he concurred, that till this question on the pro-larly, as if the Senate determined upon doing nothing test should be decided, the Senate should proceed to no until it was disposed of. But the dignity of the Senate legislative business. He thought, too, that the amend-was censured! In his whole life he had never heard so ment contradicted the original resolution; and for these much about "dignity" as he had during the last few days two reasons he was opposed to it. Mr. TIPTON was aware of the sentiment to which the honorable Senator had alluded; but after so long a time spent in debate on the subject of memorials, he thought that there should still be a small portion of the time devoted to ordinary business. He called for the yeas and nays, and the call was sustained. Mr. KNIGHT would suggest a modification to the amendment, that the first hour on Fridays and Saturdays should still be open, as heretofore, to memorials and reports of committees. Mr. HENDRICKS accepted this modification. Mr. CLAYTON made a few remarks against the amendment, part only of which were heard. Mr. KING, of Alabama, thought the whole time ought not to be taken up with the protest, after, for so long a time, so little business had been done, except to debate on memorials. listened to on that floor. Senators had been, recently, bursting with indignation, and now they were literally broken down by the weight of their own dignity. He submitted whether it was becoming the real dignity of Senators to sacrifice the interest of their country to a feeling of false pride. The Senate was in no danger; it had never been so strong or so saucy as it was at the present moment: why, then, was it, like the Italian beggar, continually wounding itself, for the purpose of exciting the commiseration and benevolence of the public. He repeated, that this resolution of the honorable Senator from Mississippi, might produce inconvenience. What would they have done the other day under such a resolution if gentlemen had lately been losing from $15 to $20 a day upon a cargo, and might have been bankrupt, but for the passing of the bill to which he had before alluded? He was surprised, at the time, to see any opposition made to the consideration of the bill, under such circumstances, and Mr. CLAYTON said the gentleman from Alabama on the ground that the Senate ought, first, to dispose of thought to convey to the public the idea that the Senate the protest. He hoped that Senators would not tie up had not discharged its duty relative to bills, &c., and that their hands, and prevent themselves from acting in cases it was behind the House in that respect. He (Mr. C.) similar to that which he had just mentioned. denied that this was the case; the committees of the Senate had been as diligent as those of the House. The Senator from Alabama had said nothing to show the Senate that it would be better to occupy two days in the presentation of bills than, to proceed with and conclude the debate upon the protest. He (Mr. C.) should vote against the amendment, because he believed the Senate would get through its business much earlier by adopting the resolution of the Senator from Mississippi than by pursuing any other course. The question was then taken by yeas and nays, upon the amendment offered by the honorable Senator from Indiana, when there appeared: YEAS.-Messrs. Brown, Forsyth, Frelinghuysen, Grundy, Hendricks, Hill, Kane, King of Alabama, King of Georgia, Knight, Linn, McKean, Prentiss, Shepley, Swift, Tallmadge, Tipton, White, Wilkins, Wright.-20. NAYS.-Messrs. Bell, Benton, Black, Clay, Clayton, Mr. POINDEXTER moved to withdraw his resolution. Mr. HENDRICKS said the Senator who had just resumed his seat had certainly committed an error in saying that the Senate was not behind the House in the performance of its duties. Mr. H. referred to the book of general orders, to prove that the Senate was not so far ad-upon the table. vanced as the House. The yeas and nays were taken upon the latter motion, and were as follows: Mr. POINDEXTER bore testimony to the diligent manner in which the Senate committees executed their duties. YEAS.-Messrs. Bell, Benton, Black, Clay, Clayton, He was understood to say that the committee to which he Ewing, Frelinghuysen, King of Alabama, King of Georbelonged had reported 12 or 15 bills. The Senate, Mr.gia, Knight, Leigh, Moore, Naudain, Poindexter, Porter, P. said, had passed a great number of bills from the Preston, Robbins, Silsbee, Smith, Sprague, Swift, TomHouse, while of those sent from the Senate to the House linson, Tyler, Waggaman, Webster, White.-26. only two or three had been acted upon. Two weeks NAYS.-Messrs. Brown, Forsyth, Grundy, Hendricks, would be sufficient to transact all the business of this kind Hill, Kane, Linn, McKean, Prentiss, Shepley, Tallmadge, which was before the Senate. Tipton, Wilkins, Wright.-14. Mr. HENDRICKS said the list of general orders showed that 200 bills had come from the other House. Mr. KING said he did hope that the amendment of the Senator from Indiana would prevail; or, at all events, that some modification of the resolution presented by the Senator from Mississippi would be effected. The resolution was consequently laid on the table. The following resolutions, submitted by Mr. SOUTHARD on Friday, were taken up: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directThis protest was no great favorite of his, (Mr. K.'s;) ed to communicate to the Senate the weekly and monthhe did not, however, feel the alarm respecting it which ly reports and statements of the Bank of the United seemed to disturb the peace and quiet of other gentle- States, and also those of the banks which have been semen. It did appear to him that the Senator from Missis- lected as places of deposite for the public moneys, which sippi had not sufficiently considered the possible effects have been received at the Treasury Department since of his resolution. It was true that no practical evil con- the first day of February last; and that he be further di |