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GALES & SEATON'S

REGISTER OF DEBATES IN CONGRESS.

TWENTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.... SECOND SESSION.

FROM DECEMBER 5, 1836, TO MARCH 3, 1837.

DEBATES IN THE SENATE.

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MONDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1836.

The Senate assembled at 12 o'clock, M.
The VICE PRESIDENT took the chair, and the fol-
lowing Senators appeared in their seats, viz:
Mr. RUGGLES, from Maine; Messrs. HUBBARD and
PAGE, from New Hampshire; Messrs. Piss and
SWIFT, from Vermont; Mr. DAVIS, from Massachusetts;
Messrs. KNIGHT and ROBBINS, from Rhode Island;
Messrs. NILES and TOMLINSON, from Connecticut; Mr.
romsar, from New York; Messrs. SOUTHAND and WALL,
Pemytw Jersey; Messrs. BUCHANAN and McKay, from
Pennsylvania; Mr. BAYARD, from Delaware; Mr. Kunr,

VOL. XIII.-1

from Maryland; Mr. RIVES, from Virginia, Mr. KING, from Georgia; Messrs. EWING and MORRIS, from Ohio; Messrs. CLAT and CRITTENDEN, from Kentucky; Messrs. GRUNDY and WHITE, from Tennessee; Messrs. HENDRICKS and TIPTON, from Indiana; Messrs. ROBINSON and EWING, from Illinois; Messrs. KING and MOORE, from Alabama; Mr. WALKER, from Mississippi; Messrs. BENTON and LINN, from Missouri.

Mr. BENTON presented the credentials of Messrs. of Arkansas. FULTON and SEVIER, Senators elect from the new State

Messrs. FULTON and SEVIER were qualified and took their seats.

The following resolution was offered by Mr. BENTON, and adopted:

classes in which the Senators of the State of Arkansas Resolved, That the Senate proceed to ascertain the shall be inserted, in conformity with the resolution of the 14th of May, 1789, and as the constitution requires.

On motion of Mr. BENTON, it was then

Ordered, That the Secretary put into the ballot box three papers, of equal size, numbered 1, 2, 3. Each of the Senators from the State of Arkansas shall draw out one paper. Number 1, if drawn, shall entitle the member to be placed in the class of Senators whose term of service will expire the 3d day of March, 1837; number 2 in the class whose term will expire the 3d day of March, 1839; and number 3 in the class whose term will expire the 3d day of March, 1841.

It was accordingly so determined, by lot, that Mr. SEin 1841. VIER'S term should expire in 1837, and Mr. FULTON'S

On motion of Mr. GRUNDY, the Secretary of the Sen

ate was directed to inform the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate was present, and ready to proceed to business.

On motion of Mr. GRUNDY, a committee was ordered Committee of both Houses, to wait on the President of to be appointed on the part of the Senate, on a joint the United States, and inform him that a quorum of both Houses of Congress are assembled, and ready to receive

SENATE.]

Death of Mr. Goldsborough—Madison's Writings, &c.

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Mr. LINN offered the usual resolution to supply the members of the Senate with newspapers during the session. Adopted.

The CHAIR presented the following letter of resignation from the Secretary of the Senate:

WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 5, 1836. SIR: I herewith resign the office of Secretary of the Senate of the United States.

Having so long possessed the confidence of the Senate, and enjoyed such continued and friendly intercourse with its members, it is with feelings of deep and painful sensibility I now separate from them; and these feelings are greatly increased, when I reflect on the courtesy and kindness I have received from yourself, as the presiding officer of the Senate, and on the uniform and unbroken confidence and friendship which have for so many years subsisted between us. No length of time or change of circumstances will ever efface from my mind the recollections growing out of these associations; and I shall always rejoice to hear of your prosperity and happiness, and of that of every member of the Senate.

WALTER LOWRIE.

Hon. MARTIN VAN BUREN,
Vice President of the United States

and President of the Senate.

On motion of Mr. BENTON, it was Ordered, That the Chief Clerk of the Senate perform the duties of Secretary till a Secretary shall be appointed. Mr. MACHEN accordingly took the usual requisite oath. The Senate then adjourned till 12 o'clock to-morrow.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6.

The annual message from the President of the United States was received, and read by the acting Secretary, and five thousand copies of the message and the accompanying documents were erdered to be printed. (See appendix.)

DEATH OF Mr. GOLDSBOrough.

Mr. KENT rose, and addressed the Chair as follows: Mr. President: Yonder vacant seat, heretofore so ably and so faithfully filled, but too significantly indicates the object of my addressing you at this time.

I rise, sir, for the purpose of announcing to you and to the Senate the melancholy intelligence of the death of my very worthy and excellent colleague, the late ROBERT H. GOLDSBOROUGH. He departed this life during the late recess, after a short illness, in the midst of his usefulness, and at a period when we should have been justifiable in alloting to him many years of vigorous health.

But few individuals have occupied a greater space in public estimation in his native State than Mr. GOLDSBOROUGH. He filled, from an early period of his life, with no inconsiderable degree of reputation, various public stations, and was twice elected to a seat in this body. Possessing the advantages of a liberal education, which had been well improved, with the most polished address, he was ever found a ready and efficient debater, remarkable for his courtesy and politeness. He was truly said to have been "a man of manners and of letters too."

Mr. GOLDSBOROUGH's exertions for the benefit of his fellow men were not confined to public life. He was prominent as an agriculturist, making frequent and judicious experiments, enforcing his views by very able

[DEC. 6, 7, 1836.

essays, thereby directing the attention of the agriculturists to such objects as were calculated to ameliorate and improve the condition of his exhausted lands. Truly exemplary in all the relations of private life, as a friend, neighbor, and in the domestic circle, he was unrivalled. To me, personally, his loss is truly afflicting. A severe hoarseness, under which I have labored for some time, obliges me to be thus brief. I beg leave to offer the following resolution:

"Resolved, That the members of the Senate, from a sincere desire of showing every mark of respect due to the memory of the Honorable ROBERT H. GOLDSBOROUGH, deceased, late a member thereof, will go into mourning for him one month, by the usual mode of wearing crape round the left arm.

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The resolution was unanimously adopted-
On motion of Mr. KENT, the Senate then adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7.

Mr. BROWN, Senator from North Carolina, and Mr. NICHOLAS, Senator from Louisiana, were present to-day in the Senate chamber.

Sundry communications were laid before the Senate, from the beads of Departments, by the Vice President.

MADISON'S WRITINGS.

The following message was received from the President of the United States, by the hands of ANDREW JACKSON, Jr. Esq. his private secretary:

10 tne Senate and House of Representatives:

I transmit, herewith, copies of my correspondence with Mrs. Madison, produced by the resolution adopted at the last session by the Senate and House of Representatives, on the decease of her venerated husband. The occasion seems to be appropriate to present a letter from her on the subject of the publication of a work of great political interest and ability, carefully prepared by Mr. Madison's own hand, under circumstances that give it claims to be considered as little less than official.

Congress has already, at considerable expense, published, in a variety of forms, the naked journals of the revolutionary Congress, and of the conventions that formed the constitution of the United States. I am persuaded that the work of Mr. Madison, considering the author, the subject-matter of it, and the circumstances under which it was prepared--long withheld from the public as it has been by those motives of personal kindness and delicacy that gave tone to his intercourse with his fellow men, until he and all who had been participators with him in the scenes he describes, have passed away-well deserves to become the property of the nation; and cannot fail if published and disseminated at the public charge, to confer the most important of all benefits on the present and every succeeding generation-accurate knowledge of the prin ciples of their Government, and the circumstances under which they were recommended, and embodied in the constitution for adoption.

December 6, 1836.

ANDREW JACKSON.

On motion of Mr. RIVES, the reading of the correspondence was dispensed with, and it was ordered to be printed.

EXPUNGING THE JOURNAL.

Mr. BENTON gave notice that on the first day on which there was a Senate sufficiently full, he should ask leave to introduce a resolution to expunge from the journal certain sentences thereon. He would state, al the same time, that the resolution he should introduce would be in the same words as the one introduced by him at the last session, and it was his wish that the reso

DEC. 8, 12, 1836.]

Statements of Commerce and Navigation, &c.

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The following resolution, moved by Mr. BENTON, of Missouri, being under consideration

"Resolved, That the annual statement of the commerce and navigation of the United States be hereafter printed under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, and be communicated in a printed form as soon as possible after the commencement of each stated session of Congress."

In supporting the resolution, Mr. B. observed that this document being always a very extensive one, consisting almost entirely of figures, great delay was unavoidably incurred in the printing of it, insomuch that, under the existing practice, it was seldom obtained in time, and the Senate was usually a year in arrear in its reception. To remedy this inconvenience an order had been passed some sessions since requiring its earlier preparation; but this had not answered the end. The measure proposed in the resolution would, he believed, be the only effectual means of putting Congress in possession of this important document as early as was desirable.

Mr. KNIGHT said it was not his design to make an objection to the resolution, but to inquire whether any extra copies are to be printed under it? This document, said he, is an important one, and an extra number of cop. ies are always ordered to be printed by the Senate. It is one of the most profitable to the printer among all the documents printed-containing mostly rule work and figures. If the usual extra copies are printed by order of the Secretary of the Treasury, distributed in the usual manner, and at the same price, I do not know as I have any objection; but the number of copies and the price of printing should be stated in the resolution.

Mr. BENTON called for the reading of the original order under which the document was prepared; but some delay occurring in turning to it, the subject was for the present laid upon the table.

Several bills were introduced on leave and passed to the second reading.

After fixing upon next Monday for the appointment of the standing committees and the election of a Secretary of the Senate, the Senate adjourned over to Monday.

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Mr. BENTON called up the resolution he had offered on Thursday last, respecting an alteration in the mode of printing the annual report from the Treasury on commerce and navigation.

Mr. KNIGHT moved to amend the resolution by striking out all after the word "resolved," and insertingResolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, That the annual statement of the commerce and naviga tion of the United States be hereafter printed under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, and communicated as soon as possible after the commencement of each stated session of Congress, and that said statement be printed in the same form and at the same price as the

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ordinary printing of the two Houses of Congress; that the same number of copies as are usually printed be furnished for the purpose of binding and distribution, and that five thousand additional copies be equally distributed to the members of the Senate and House of Representatives.

Mr. BENTON said that, on looking further into the existing law providing for the printing of this document,

he had become convinced that some such modification of the resolution was necessary as had now been proposed. The only objection he had to it related to the five thou sand additional copies to be printed for the Senate; he thought this number larger than necessary, and proposed that it be reduced to three thousand.

Mr. KNIGHT assenting, the resolution was so modified accordingly, and in this form it was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

SECRETARY OF THE SENATE.

On motion of Mr. KING, and in accordance with the

Senate order of Thursday last, the Senate proceeded to ballot for a Secretary of the Senate, in place of WALTER LOWRIE, Esq. resigned.

On the first ballot, Mr. ASBURY DICKINS received 20 votes; Hon. ARNOLD NAUDAIN, late of the Senate, 18; scattering 3; 21 being necessary to a choice.

On the second ballot, Mr. DICKINS received 21; Mr. NAUDAIN 18; Mr. BRYAN 1; 21 being necessary to a

choice.

Mr. DICKINS was accordingly declared to be duly elected Secretary of the Senate.

STANDING COMMITTEES.

The Senate proceeded to ballot for the chairmen of their several standing committees.

The several elections resulted as follows:

Mr. BUCHANAN, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, by 21 votes.

Mr. WRIGHT, chairman of the Committee on Finance, by 20 votes.

Mr. KING, of Alabama, chairman of the Committee on Commerce, by 20 votes.

Mr. NILES, chairman of the Committee on Manufactures, by 22 votes.

Mr. PAGE, chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, by 21 votes.

Mr. BENTON, chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, by 26 votes.

Mr. WALL, chairman of the Committee on the Militia, by 19 votes.

Mr. RIVES, chairman of the Committee on Naval Affairs, by 20 votes.

Mr. WALKER, chairman of the Committee on Public Lands, by 21 votes.

Mr. LINN, chairman of the Committee on Private Land Claims, by 21 votes.

Mr. WHITE, chairman of the Committee on Indian Affairs, by 29 votes.

Mr. HUBBARD, chairman of the Committee of Claims, by 19 votes.

Mr. BROWN, chairman of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims, by 18 votes.

Mr. GRUNDY, chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, by 21 votes.

Mr. ROBINSON, chairman of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, by 22 votes.

Mr. HENDRICKS, chairman of the Committee on Roads and Canals, by 21 votes.

Mr. TOMLINSON, chairman of the Committtee on Pensions, by 31 votes.

Mr. KENT, chairman of the Committee for the District of Columbia, by 19 votes.

Mr. MORRIS, chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills, by 25 votes.

SENATE.]

Memory of Mr. Kinnard-The Treasury Circular.

The election of the remaining members of the committees was deferred until to morrow.

MEMORY OF Mr. KINNARD.

On motion of Mr. TIPTON, of Indiana, it was Resolved, That, in memory of the late Hon. Mr. KINNARD, a member of the House of Representatives from the State of Indiana, the members of the Senate wear crape on the left arm for the space of thirty days. And then the Senate adjourned.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13.

ASBURY DICKINS, Esq., elected Secretary of the Senate, appeared to day, was qualified, by taking the prescribed oath, and took his seat.

After transacting the usual morning business, The Senate proceeded by ballot to choose the remaining members of the respective standing committees, whose chairmen had been appointed yesterday. The result was as follows:

On Foreign Affairs.-Messrs. Buchanan, Tallmadge, King, of Georgia, Clay, Rives.

On Finance.--Messrs. Wright, Webster, Cuthbert, Nicholas, Benton.

On Commerce.-Messrs. King, Davis, Linn, Brown, Ruggles.

On Manufactures.--Messrs. Niles, Morris, Black, Hubbard, Preston.

On Agriculture.--Messrs. Page, Morris, Kent, McKean, Clay.

On Military Affairs.--Messrs. Benton, Preston, Tipton, Wall, Ewing, of Illinois.

On Militia.--Messrs. Wall, Hendricks, Swift, Ewing, of Illinois, Moore.

On Naval Affairs.--Messrs. Rives, Southard, Tallmadge, Cuthbert, Nicholas.

On Public Lands.--Messrs. Walker, Ewing, of Ohio, King, of Alabama, Ruggles, Fulton.

On Private Land Claims.--Messrs. Linn, Porter, Bay ard, Preston, Sevier.

On Indian Affairs.-Messrs. White, Swift, Tipton, Linn, Sevier.

Of Claims.--Messrs. Hubbard, Tipton, Prentiss, Crittenden, Ewing, of Illinois.

On Revolutionary Claims.--Messrs. Brown, White, Hubbard, Crittenden, Niles.

On the Judiciary.-Messrs. Grundy, Crittenden, Mor. ris, King, of Georgia, Wall.

Having proceeded thus far, the Senate adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14.

Mr. CALHOUN, Senator from South Carolina, appeared to-day in his seat.

On motion of Mr. RIVES, the message of the Presi dent on the subject of the proposed publication of Mr. Madison's History of the Convention, was, with the accompanying documents, referred to the Committee on the Library.

When the morning business had been disposed of— The Senate resumed the balloting for the remaining members of standing committees not yet filled up, and the result was as follows:

Committee on the Post Office and Post Road.--Messrs. Robinson, (chairman,) Knight, Grundy, Brown, Niles. Committee on Roads and Canals.--Messrs. Hendricks, (chairman,) McKean, Robinson, Nicholas, Page.

Committee on Pensions.-Messrs. Tomlinson, (chairman,) Prentiss, Hubbard, Morris, Sevier.

[DEC. 13, 14, 1836.

Committee on Engrossed Bills.--Messrs. Morris, (chairman,) Page, Fulton.

Joint Committee on the Library. --Messrs. Robbins, Preston, Wall.

THE TREASURY CIRCULAR.

The following resolutions, introduced by Mr. EWING, of Ohio, being at their second reading:

"Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, &c., That the Treasury order of the eleventh day of July, Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, designating the funds which should be receivable in payment for public lands, be, and the same is hereby, rescinded.

"Resolved, also, That it shall not be lawful for the Secretary of the Treasury to delegate to any person, or to any corporation, the power of directing what funds shall be receivable for customs, or for the public lands; nor shall he make any discrimination in the funds so receivable, between different individuals, or between the different branches of the public revenue."

The resolutions having been read-

Mr. EWING, of Ohio, spoke as follows:

Mr. President: When 1 presented these resolutions, a few days since, it was suggested by the Senator from Missouri, over the way, [Mr. BENTON,] that he would oppose them at their second reading, for the purpose of being early heard in support of the order which it is their principal office to rescind. With this I am entirely satisfied. I also wish to be heard on a subject which is of vital interest to the State which I represent, and to the whole West; and I concur with him most heartily in this expedient to avoid delay in bringing before the Senate, and sending abroad to the nation, the opinions of members of this body on this important subject. I, therefore, in accordance with that suggestion, which seemed to meet the sanction of the Senate, will now proceed to give my views upon the order which these resolutions propose to rescind.

of the Treasury on the 11th of July last, in the form of This extraordinary paper was issued by the Secretary a circular to the receivers of public money in the several land offices in the United States, directing them, after the 15th of August then next, to receive in payment for public lands nothing but gold and silver and certificates of deposites, signed by the Treasurer of the United States, with a saving in favor of actual settlers, and bonafide residents in the State in which the land happened to lie. This saving was for a limited time, and expires, I think, to-morrow. The professed object of this order was to check the speculations in public lands; to check excessive issues of bank paper in the West, and to increase the specie currency of the country; and the necessity of the measure was supported, or pretended to be supported, by the opinions of members of this body and the other branch of Congress. But, before I proceed to examine in detail this paper, its character, and its consequences, I will briefly advert to the state of things out of which it grew.

I am confident, and I believe I can make the thing manifest, that the avowed objects were not the only, nor even the leading objects for which this order was framed; they may have influenced the minds of some who advised it, but those who planned, and those who at last virtually executed it, were governed by other and different motives, which I shall proceed to explain.

It was foreseen, prior to the commencement of the last session of Congress, that there would be a very large surplus of money in the public Treasury beyond the wants of the country for all their reasonable expendiIt was also well understood that the land bill, or some other measure for the distribution of this fund, would be again presented to Congress; and, if the true

Committee on the District of Columbia.--Messrs. Kent,tures. (chairman,) King of Alabama, King, of Georgia, Buchanan, Nicholas.

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