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trict, and for other purposes, reported it without amendment.

Mr. C. also, from the same committee, to which was referred House bill for the relief of Sutton Stephens, reported the same without amendment.

Mr. WALKER, from the Committee on the Public Lands, to whic was referred the bills from the House

For the relief of James Alexander;
For the relief of James Brewer;

For the relief of the representatives of William Williams, sen.;

A bill granting two townships of land to the Territory of Iowa, for the purposes of a univer

rsity;

A bill granting a section of land for schools in St. Clair county, Ill.;

A bill to allow further time to Centre College, Ky. to sell certain lands; and

A bill to amend an act entitled an act to autho rize the State of Tennessee to issue grants, and perfect titles, to certain lands therein described, and to pse tle the claims to the vacant and unappropriated lands within the same, passed the 18th of April, 1806;

be reported them severally without amendment.

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2 Mr. PRENTISS, from the Committee on the Public Lands, to which was referred House bill granting the right of pre-emption to certain lots in the town of Perrysburg, in the State of Ohio, reported it without amendment.

Mr. HUBBARD, from the Committee on Claims, to which was referred the following bills from the House:

An act for the relief of Josias Thompson, superintendent of the Cumberland Road between Brownsville and Wheeling;

An act for the relief of Benjamin C. Roberts; reported them severally without amendment, and that they ought not to pass.

Mr. H. also, from the same committee, to which was referred House bill for the relief of Garret Vliet, reported it without amendment, with a report thereon, which wars ordered to be printed.

Mr. H. also, from the same committee, to which was referred the House bill for the relief of W. Bailey, survivor of Bailey and Delord, made an adverse report thereon; which was ordered to be printed.

Mr. H. also, from the same committee, to which was referred the bill for the relief of John T. Addoms, reported the same with an amendment, and a report; which was ordered to be printed.

Mr. NICHOLAS, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which was referred the bill for the settlement of the claims of New Hampshire against the United States, reported the same without amendment.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. ALLEN asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill to expose to sale all the public lands in the State of Ohio, hitherto reserved from sale; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

Mr. PIERCE, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported back to the Senate the memorial from certain officers of the engineer corps, remonstrating against the passage of the bill for the equalization of the pay and allowances of the officers of the line and staff of the army, and moved that it be printed; which was agreed to.

Mr. P. also, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which was recommitted the bill authorizing the President to raise 1500 men to serve in the Florida war, reported the same with an amendment, (to strike out" marine corps" wherever it occurred in the bill;) which was agreed to; and the bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third read

ing.

The bill was then read a third time, and passed. The bill to revive the act entitled "An act to enable claimants of land within the limits of Missouri and the Territory of Arkansas to institute proceed. ings to try the validity of their claims," approved the twenty-sixth day of May, eighten hundred and twenty-four, and an act amending the same, and extending the provisions of said acts to claimants to land within the State of Louisiana and Mississippi, being taken rp as in Committee of the Whole, was discussed at length by Messrs. GRUN

DY, BENTON, HENDERSON, LINN, and CLAY of Kentucky, when, on motion by Mr. BENTON, it was postponed until Monday next. On motion,

The Senate adjourned until Monday next.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
FRIDAY, April 10th, 1840.

The SPEAKER announced that the first business in order was the resolution reported from the Committee on Public Expenditures by the gentleman from Massachusetts, [Mr. BRIGGS;] and it was read as follows, viz:

Resolved, That the duties originally assigned to the Committee of Public Expenditures, by the rules of the House, having since been transferred to other committees, and the said Committee of Public Expenditures having no duties to perform, that the rule for its appointment be abolished.

Mr. CUSHING argued at some length in oppo. sition to the resolution. He adverted to the political character of the committees at previous sessions of Congress; the peculiar construction of which had rendered them powerless. The SPEAKER of the two last Congresses' had been elected on party grounds; and the committees had been organized to the same end. But now the case was different-the present SPEAKER, when he was installed into office, in his remarks made upon that occasion, said that the committees to investigate the various departments of the Government should be appointed without regard to personal or party considerations; and in the appointment of these committees, Mr. C. was otopinion that the SPEAKER had removed the objections of party organ zation.

He has entirely removed that difficulty, and has appointed gentlemen conspicuous for their talent, and who are industrious and well acquainted with the manner of pursuing investigations. A majority on the committees are decided opponents of the Administration; and there was the power to investigate ad libitum. Now, when we have this power, it is proposed to abolish the committee. Because there had been neglect heretofore, or that the commitee had been rendered powerless by its peculiar organization, was no argument that this committee should now be abolished. As the committee on the Departments are now organized, there was the power to investigate; and the investigation could be made effective. He contended that the general powers of this committee had not been transferred or annulled, and went into an argument to prove that fact. The committees, as he before said, consisted of gentlemen who had the habit and taste, and could make efficient investigation, and denied that they could be excused before the country, unless their powers had been ab idged by transfer to other committees. He denied that there was any transfer of the general powers of this commi tee by the appointment of special committees He argued to show that if the principle should be once settled, on the ground claimed, as good cause for the abrogation of this committee, all the standing committees would be for shifting the responsibility of investigation.

He denied not only the premises of the resolu tion, but the conclusion to be drawn from these premises, even if true; and denied, therefore, the entire proposition contained in it, and was opposed to its adoption. If the committee was to be abolished at all, he thought it ought to be done under a general revision of the rules of the .House at the commencement of the session, and not at a time when there were objects requiring its investigation, and when the country needed the light which it would be in the power of that committee to bestow.

Mr. BOND, as a member of the Committee on Public Expenditures, wished that the proposition contained in the resolution might be decided upon at once-instanter; for he desired either to be relieved from his obligations as a member of the committee, or else to go on with the matters of which it had cognizance.

Mr. BRIGGS rep'ied at some length to Mr. CUSHING, and went into a statement of the history, powers, and duties of the committee. The committee, he said, had come to the conclusion, after a full examination of the rule under which it was ap pointed, taken in connection with the other rules of

the House, that they had no duties to performthat their appointment was a mere matter of formality; and, being so, they wished, as the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. BOND] had stated, to have the maiter decided at once. They had wished it to have been decided long ago, and it was not their fault that it had not been. They had, as soon as possible after their appointment, and as soon as they could find a place in which to meet, instructed him to report the resolution now before the House. Mr. B. went into some amusing statements to show the perfect oblivion to which every thing connected with this committee, save its name alone, had been consigned.

Mr. WISE obtained the floor, to make some remarks on the above question; but the morning hour having expired, he yielded to

Mr. JONES of Virginia, who called for the special orders of the day.

Mr. BELL, by general consent, submitted a motion that the Committee on Indian Affairs have leave to send for persons and papers in the matters referred to them as to the execution of the treaty with the Winnebago Indians; which motion was unanimously agreed to.

GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.

The House then resolved itself into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr. CASEY of Illinois in the chair,) on the bill making ap. propriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of the Government for the year 1840.

Mr. DUNCAN, who was entitled to the floor on the above bill, went into a review, at great length, of the causes which had contributed to sweli the appropriations beyond the estimates of the Departments. He contended that not much more than one half of the appropria ions passed by the recommendation or approbation of the President; and he asked those who had denounced him so much, whether he was to be held responsible. Mr. D. also referred to the past history of the proceedings of Congress in relation to the Cumberland rod. In relation to that road, he beli ved a majority of the Democratic party had opposed it on the general ground that they were opposed to internal improvements not expressly authorized by the Constitution, or demanded for the purposes of carrying out the principles on which the Federal Government was formed. The Federal party had generally sustained appropriations to that road on the ground that they have been, and now are, in favor of internal improvements of every character, and however extravagant. More than the usual number of the Democratic party had this year voted for the Cumberland road, whilst a less number of the Whigs have voted in favor of that road. He asserted that the approp iations this session for that read have been defeated by the Whigs, and the journals would sustain him in that assertion.

He then adverted to the abuse which was daily heaped on the Administration party. It had been denounced as profligate; that cry had been rung upon every change, from the first day that he had entered the hall: and yet those declaiming could not point out in what particular. If gentlemen believed that proff gacy and extravagance had existed to such an extent, it was their duty to point it out; and he would go as far as any of them to correct it. If they believed that there were too many officers, and their salaries were too large, they were required by their oaths to point them out, and move to reduce them. Why not, in accordance with their belief, bring forward their measure of reform. He would, and he was confident the Democratic party would, do what was right and proper. We now hear much noise about the public printing-it costs too much, &c. If it costs too much now, it must have cost too much at the last session, because the prices were the same; and the cost of printing ordered at the last short session was four tin.es as great as it will be at this sess on, of more than double the length. Why did rot these honorable Whigs reform it, and reduce the prices at the last session Conof gress. They had then a decided majority. They had the remedy in their own hands and could have applied it, but they would not. The Democratic party would then have gone with

them, heart and hand, in making this now wished for reform. No, it would not suit theit party purposes then. They elected a man to do the printing; and permitted him to transfer and barter it away to another-both receiving large profits according to their own showing. They permitted the public to be fleeced and robbed of some $20,000. Way, he again asked, did they not come forward with their corrective? Why, their political friends had it then. So soon as the Democratic party obtained the power, they took this reform in hand. They went about it, and appointed a committee; and if he recollected right, this committee had reported a reported a reduction of fifteen per cent.; which, if the report is well grounded, proves that the Federal printers of the last session had received some fifteen thousand dollars on every hundred too much; and yet we heard nothing said by these declaiming Whigs then about the prices of printing being too high, or that too much was ordered; nor do we hear any wish expressed that the excess paid them should be refunded, as the same party now propose to do towards the Democratic pinter. This was perfectly understood by the country. Mr. D. then commented on the cont nned cry about the office holders. The whole ground of the opposition by the Whig party to the Administration, growing out of a desire to turn them out, to put in the many lean, lank, hungry expectants for four years, which would be as long as could possibly be expected, under any circumstances, that such a party could maintain power. Mr. D. then referred to the Presidential questions, which periodi cally deranged the affairs of the country. By reference to the public journals of the nation, it would be seen that this cry of ruin, run, and panic, was enacted the year previous to such election; and that it was the effect of a species of political monomania. The cry of ruin, exuavagance, was perfectly understood by the people.

Mr. D. then went into a full examination of the political and military character of General Harrison, and commented with much force on the effor.s the Whig party were making to draw the attention of the people from the odiousness of the principles of their candidate for the Presi ency, by palming him off as the "log cabin and hard cider candidate." He showed conclusively that he neither drank "hard cider nor lived in a log cabin;" but that he lived on a princely estate, and enjo; ed the emoluments of an office which netted him more than five thousand dollars annually. He also proved from the records of proceedings in the Ohio Legislature, and speeches on that occasion, that General Harrison, instead of being the poor man's friend, was in favor of selling them into slaveryeven to become the slaves of free negroes, if they should think proper to purchase them. Mr. D's remarks will be published in full hereafter.

Mr. GIDDINGS ob:ained the floor; and, on his motion, the committee rose and reported progress, and asked leave to sit again; which was granted.

The SPEAKER laid before the Hou-e a com munication from the Secretary of War, enclosing a communication from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, giving information in relation to the assemblage of Indians on the Northeastern frontier, and the countenance the British had given them; made in compliance with a resolution of the House of the 9th ultimo. On motion of Mr. CUSHING, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Also, laid before the House a communication from the Navy Department in compliance with a resolution of the 23d ultimo, giving a statement of all the sums of money which have been invested in State stocks. On motion of Mr. ADAMS, laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

Also, laid before the House sundry depositions in relation to the New Jersey contested elections; which were referred to the Committee on Elections. On motion of Mr. ANDREWS,

The House adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SATURDAY, April 11, 1840.

The business before the House during the morning hour, was the resolution submitted by Mr. BRIGOS, chairman of the Committee on Public Expenditures, providing that, as the duties originally

assigned to that committee have been transferred to other committees, leaving the said committee no duties to perform, it therefore be abolished.

Mr. WISE addressed the House with ruch earnestness in opposition to the resolution, in a speech in which he animadver ed with great seve. rity on the neglect to investigate the abuses which he said were great and numerous in the Departments, and on the reasons which had been urged in support of the resolution. The morning hour expired before Mr. W. had concluded his remarks; but, by consent of the House, he was permitted to finish.

A number of Senate bills on the Speaker's table were taken up, read, and referred; after which, the House again went into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr. CASEY of Illinois in the chair, and resumed the consideration of the

GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL. After some discussion on a question of order, Mr. GIDDINGS of Ohio moved to strike out the enacting clause of the bill, and thereupon proceeded to address the committee at considerable length in a speech, in which he adverted to many items of expenditure in the Departments, on which he commented as extravagant, and in contrast with the economical professions of the Administration; and, in the close, took occasion to reply to several charges which had been advanced against the character of General Harrison.

Mr. DROMGOOLE insisted on the rule prescribing that a bill in committee shall be debated in order of its sections, and contended that the motion to strike out the enacting clause was not in order.

The CHAIR overruled the objection; whereupon

Mr. DROMGOOLE took an appeal, but subsequently withdrew it.

The question was then put on Mr. GIDDINGS'S motion, and it was negatived, without a count.

The first item of the bill having been read,

Mr. WISE went at large into a speech, in which he compared the amount to be appropriated to the civil list by this bill with the amount of similar appropriations in former years, especially with those of the administration of Mr. Adams, which had been so much reprobated by its opponents.

Mr. JONES, chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, addressed the committee in reply, vindicating the bill, and challenging Mr. W. to a detailed examination of i's items.

Mr. WISE rose in rejoinder, and having accepted the challenge, and produced a portfolio of papers as preparatory to his speech,

Loud cries were made to rise, and Mr. W. yielding, moved for the rising of the committee.

The committee then rose, and the House adjourned-Mr. WISE holding the floor for Monday.

IN SENATE,

MONDAY, April 13, 1840.

The CHAIR submitted a communication from the Treasury Department, in reply to a resolution of the Senate on the 9th inst. communicating papers in relation to the claim of James Allen to a pre-emption right.

Mr. LINN presented the petition of James Allen, praying a special law, gran ing him the right of pre-emption to a certain tract of land; which, with the papers from the Treasury Department, were referred to the Committee on the Public Lands.

Mr. WHITE presented a petition of citizens of Carroll county, Indiana, praying for the establishment of a post road; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. CUTHBERT presented the memorial of Susan Murphy, widow and administrator of James Cashen; which was referred to the Committee on Claims.

Mr. YOUNG presented the petition of citizens of Galena, and the petition of citizens of Green county, Illinois, praying for the passage of a general bankrupt law; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. SEVIER presented a communication, made by the Secretary of War to the House of Repre

sentatives, on the subject of a plan of defence for the Western frontier; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. BUCHANAN presented the petition of Elizabeth Johnson and Ann Hughes, children and heirs at law of James Van Osten; which, with the accompanying documents, were referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. CLAY of Kentucky presented a memorial numerously signed by citizens of Prince Georges county, Md. praying for the imposition of a duty on foreign silk; which was referred to the Committee on Finance, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. HENDERSON presented the memorial of citizens of Claiborne county, Mississippi, praying for the passage of a general bankrupt law; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. CRITTENDEN submitted the following resolution, which was considered and agreed to:

Resolved, by the Senate, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructel to inquire into the propriety and justice of providing for the satisfaction of a claim of the State of Kentucky for arms furnished to the General Government for the pub. lic service in the year 1814, and that said committee report by bill or otherwise.

Mr. WALL, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to which was referred the petition of Thomas Haskins and Ralph Haskins, made a report thereon, which was ordered to be printed; accompanied by a bill, which was read, and ordered to a second reading.

Mr. W. by unanimous consent, asked and ob. tained leave to introduce a bill relative to the iron steamer, the New Jersey; which was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. WRIGHT, from the Committee on Fi nance, to which was referred House bills For the relief of Samuel D. Walker; For the relief of Zachariah Jellison; For the relief of James W. Osborne; and For the re ief of Chastellain and Ponvert; Reported them severally without amendment, and with a recommendation against their passage.

Mr. KING, from the Committee on Commerce, to which was referred the House bill for the relief of the owners of the schooner Three Sisters, made an adverse report thereon.

Mr. K. also, from the same committee, to which was referred the nemorial of Daniel Vanpet, made a report thereon, accompanied by a bill mak ing provision for the adjus'ment of the title to a sie for a light-house on Roanoke marshes, in North Carolina; which was read, and ordered a second reading.

Mr. BUCHANAN, from the Committee on Fo reign Relations, to which was referied certain resolutions on the subject of the brig Enterprise, reported the same with amendments, which were read; and the the resolutions as amended,

On motion by Mr. CALHOUN, were ordered to be printed, and made the order of the day for Wednesday next.

Mr. LINN gave notice that to-morrow he would ask leave to introduce

A bill for the marking and defining the southern boundary of the Territory of Iowa; and

A bill to extend the laws of the United States over the Territory of Oregon.

The joint resolution directing the Committee on the Library to take measures for the inportation and erection of the statue of Washington by Greenhough;

The bill for the relief of Clements, Bryan and Company;

The bill for the relief of George W. Paschall;

and

The bill for the relief of Margaret Barnes; were severally considered as in Committee of the Whole, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

The bill for the relief of Peter Warner, of Indi ana, was taken up, and after being discussed by Messrs. WHITE, KING, and SEVIER, was, on motion of the later, postponed until to-morrow. SPECIAL ORDER.

The bill to revive the act entitled "An act to

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26TH CONG.......... 1ST SESS.

BY BLAIR & RIVES.

Continued frem No. 20.

enable claimants of land within the limits of Missouri and the Territory of Arkansas to institute proceedings to try the validity of their claims," approved the twenty-sixth day of May, eighteen hundred and twenty-four, and an act amending the same, and extending the provisions of said acts to claimants to land within the State of Louisiana and Mississippi, being taken up as in Committee of the Whole, was discussed at length by Messrs. Bar BENTON, GRUNDY, CLAY of Kentucky, SEVIER, LINN, HENDERSON, ANDERSON, CALHOUN, CLAY of Alabama, and BUCHANAN, the question coming up on the following amendment proposed by Mr. BENTON, viz:

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"And be it further enacted, That this act shall not apply to any claim in the State of Missouri for more than twenty thousand arpens, or to any claim exceeding that amount, which lies partly in that State, and partly in Arkansas."

The question being taken on the amendment, it was negatived-ayes 16, nays 19, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Anderson, Benton, Brown, Calhoun, Clay of Alabama, Habbard, Knight, Lumpkin, Norvell, Smith of Indiana, Strange, Sturgeon, Tappan, Walker, and Wright -16.

NAYS-Mes rs. Buchanan, Clay of Kentucky, Clayton, Crittenden, Davis, Dixon, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, King, Linn, Merrick, Nicholas, Porter, Prentiss, Preston, Roane, Robinson, and Sevief-19.

The question was then taken on the engross. ment of the bill for a third reading, and decided in the affirmative-ayes 21, nays 11, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Buchanan, Clayton, Crittenden, Dixon, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, King, Kaight, Linn, Merrick, Nicholas, Norvell, Porter, Preston, Roane, Robinson, Sevier, Smith of Indiara, Walker, and White-21.

NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Anderson, Benton, Brown, Calhoun, Clay of Alabama, Davis, Lumpkin, Strange, Sturgeon, and Tappan-11.

The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of Executive business, and afterwards Adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 1840.

The SPEAKER laid before the House further testimony in relation to the New Jersey contested election; which was referred to the Committee of Elections.

The presentation of petitions being the first thing in order, the roll by States was called over for that purpose; when they were presented.

By Mr. J. W. WILLIAMS, of New Hampshire.

[Mr. WILLIAM® presented petitions to protect the revenue from fraud; which, on his motion, was referred to the Committee of the Whole, having the subject under consideration. Also the petition of Mr. Snow and others for rescinding the rule in relation to Abolition petitions; which was not received under the rule.]

By Messrs. ADAMS, CUSHING, and LINCOLN, of Massachusetts.

Mr. ADAMS presented certain resolutions of the Legislature of Massachusetts, concerning certain laws of other States, which affect the rights of the citizens of Massachusett; [this is supposed to relate to free negroes of Massachusetts, who, by the laws of other States, when taken up on suspicion of being slaves, are imprisoned and sold out for jail fees;] which he moved to have printed and referred to a Select Committee.

Mr. ANDREWS of Kentucky moved that it do lie upon the table.

Mr. CALHOUN of Massachusetts demanded the yeas and nays; which were ordered, and were -yeas 102, nays 49.

So it was laid on the table.

Mr. ADAMS also presented certain joint resolutions of the Legislature of Massachusetts, de

TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1840.

WEEKLY

nouncing to resolutions adopted by the House of Representatives on the subject of Abolition petitions, as a denial of the right of petition and as unconstitutional, and asking that the same may be rescinded; which Mr. A. moved to refer to a Select Committee, and have printed.

Mr. CHAPMAN of Alabama moved that they do lie on the table.

Mr. ADAMS demanded the yeas and nays on that motion; which were ordered, and were-yeas 105, nays 64.

YEAS-Messrs. Judson Allen, Hugh J. Anderson, Andrews, Atherton, Banks, Beatty, Beirne, Black, Blackwell, Boyd, Aaron V. Brown, Albert G. Brown, Burke, S. H. Butler, Jesse A. Bynum, William B. Campbell, John Carr, Carter, Casey, Chapman, Chinn, Clifford, Coles, Colquitt, Conner, Mark A. Cooper, Crabb, Craig, Crary, Cross, John Davis, John W. Davis, Garret Davis, Dawson, Deberry, Dennis, Doig, Dromgoole, Earl, Eastman, Fisher, Fletcher, Floyd, Galbraith, James Garland, Rice Garland, Gentry, Gerry, Goggin, Graham, Graves, Griffin, Hastings, Hawes, fill of North Carolina, Hook, George W. Hopkins, Thomas B. Jackson, John Jameson, Joseph Johnson, Nathaniel Jones, John W. Jones, Kemble, King, Leonard, Lucas, McCarty, McCulloch, McKay, Mallory, Marchand, Medill, Miller, Montgomery, Newhard, Nisbet, Parish, Petrikin, Pope, Ramsey, Reynolds, Rives, James Ro gers, Samuels, Shaw, Shepard, Stanly, Steenrod, Strong, Sumter, Sweney, Taliaferro, Philip F. Thomas, W. Thomp. son, Turney, Vanderpoel, David D. Wagener, Warren, Watterson, Edward D. White, Wick, Jared W. Williams, Lewis Williams, Joseph L. Williams, and Christopher H. Williams -105.

NAYS-Messrs. Adams, Baker, Barnard, Bell, Bond, Briggs, Anson Brown, Calhoun, James, Cooper, Corwin Cranston, Cushing, Thomas Davee, Edward Davies, Edwards, Evans, Everett, Fillmore, Giddings, Goode, Grang r, Grinnell, Hall, William S. Hastings, Henry, Hoffman, Howard, Hunt, James, Kempshall, Leet, Lincoln, Lowell, Marvin, Morgan, Calvary Morris, Ogle, Palen, Parmenter, Randall, Rariden, Reed, Ridgway, Russell, Saltonstall, Simonton, Slade, John Smith, Storrs, Tillinghast, Toland, Trumbull, Underwood, and P. J. Wagner-61

So they were laid on the table.

Mr. LINCOLN presented resolves of the Legis lature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, declaring the sense of the Legislature, that the people of that Commonwealth have just cause of complaint on account of the treatment, by the General Government, in withholding the payment of the claims for militia disbursements and expenses incur. red by the State in the late war with Great Britain, after the same had been examined and allowed by the officer duly appointed to make such examination: and further declaring, that the course pursued by Congress in this matter toward Massachusetts, is a manifest violation of justice, and that she would not be true to herself if she would consent to remain contented and silent, while she is deprived of her acknowledged rights. Mr. L. moved the printing of the resolves, and their reference to the Committee on Military Affairs; which was ordered accordingly.

Mr. L also offered the petition of Chales White and numerous other citizens of Holden, in the Fifth Congressional District of Massachusetts, remonstrating against the rule of the House of Representatives, excluding from reception petitions on the subject of slavery, and asking its immediate repeal; which petition Mr. L. moved to have referred to a Select Committee, with instructions to report a rescindment of the obnoxious rule: ordered to be laid on the table.

Mr. JONES of Virginia called for the orders of the day.

Mr. RANDOLPH moved to postpone the orders of the day, for the purpose of continuing the call of the roll for petitions; which was decided in the negative.

Mr. R. GARLAND, from the Select Committee on Printing, asked leave to present the report of the mu ority of that committee in relation of separating the printing from the political press of the country.

Mr. BLACK objected to the reception of the report of the minority, until the majority were prepared to present their views. The House sometime ago granted the committee further time to prepare their report, and the time had not yet expired; and he intended to avail himself of the full time to report. He was now preparing it, and hoped the House would not authorize the printing of the views of the minority until the majority were

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PRICE $1 PER SESSION.

ready to report, that both might be printed at the same time.

Mr. R. GARLAND movel to suspend the rules to enable him to present the report.

Mr. GRAVES demanded the yeas and nays; which were ordered, and were-yeas 74, nays 89. So the House refused to suspend the rules. Mr. J. W. JONES moved that the House pass to the orders of the day, by resolving itself into Committee of the Whole.

Mr. GRAVES asked leave to present a resolution to compel the Committee on Public Printing to make a report.

Mr. BLACK objected to the reception of the resolution, on the ground that it would not be in order for the House to compel the committee to report without rescinding the resolution granting the committee further time to report. The committee would report at the proper time.

Mr. GRAVES moved to suspend the rules to enable him to present the resolution; which was, however, negatived without a count.

The House then resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union (Mr. CASEY in the chair,) and took up the civil and diplomatic appropriation bill.

Mr. WISE, who was entitled to the floor on the above bill, spoke at some length in relation to the increase in the expenditures. He was followed in reply by Messrs. J. W. JONES and SAMUELS of Virginia.

Mr. STANLY obtained the floor, and made an effort to prove that General Harrison was not an Abolitionist; and quoted from the Emarcipator, Philantrophist,and other Abolition papers,to sustain him in the ground he assumed, but was interrupted by Mr. HOPKINS of Virginia, who furnished him with some extracts from Emancipators, of a date prior to those from which he was quoting, as a proof that the editor of that paper advanced the opinion that Gen. Harrison's opinions were favorable to the cause of Abolition."

A debate here arose, in which Messrs. WISE and HOPKINS participate 1; when the latter gentleman, by the permission of the gentleman of North Carolina, [Mr. STANLY,] who was still entitled to the floor, moved that the committee rise, which was agreed to; and the committee ruse, and the chairman reported progress on the bill, and asked leave to sit again: leave was granted; then, On motion of Mr. DROMGOOLE, The House, at 6 o'clock, adjourned.

IN SENATE,

TUESDAY, April 14, 1840.

Mr. SMITH of Indiana presented the petition of a number of citizens of the State of Indiana, remonstrating against the employment of bloodhounds against the Florida Indians. Mr. S. said that, believing from the late accounts, that these animals were not so dangerous as they were supposed to be, he would not trouble any of the com= mittees with a consideration of the petition; and he would therefore move to lay it on the table. This motion was agreed to.

Mr. WRIGHT presented the petition of 1735 citizens of the city of New York, praying for the enactment of a general bankrupt law: referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. W. also presented the memorial of a large number of citizens of the city of New York, publishers of periodicals, magazines, &c. praying a reduction of the postage on such publications, so as to bring them down to the same rate of postage as is collected on newspapers: referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Reads.

Mr. NORVELL, from the Committee on the Public Lands, reported a bill for the relief of Charles McKinsey; which was read, and ordered to a second reading.

Mr. N. also, from the same committee, reported a bill granting to the county of Kent, in the State of Michigan, the right of pre-emption to a quarter

section of the public lands; which was read, and ordered to a second reading.

Mr. N. also, from the same committee, to which were referred

Resolutions of the Legislature of the State of Vermont, in favor of a distribution of the proceeds of the sales of the publ c lands among the Sta es; Resolutions of the Legislature of Kentucky, adverse to the cess on of the public lands to the S ates in which they lie, and in favor of a distribution of the proceeds of the public lands among the States; and

The memorial of citizens of Ohio in favor of a distribution of the proceeds of the public lands among the States; asked to be discharged from their further consideration; which was agreed to. NORTHEASTERN BOUNDARY.

Mr. BUCHANAN, from the Committee on Fo. reign Relations, made the following report:

The Committee on Foreign Relations, to which was referred the several messages of the President of the United States, communicating to Cogress, at its present session, certain official correspondence in relation to the question of the territory in dispute with Great Britain on our Northeastern frontier; and also certain resolutions of the Legislature of Maine on the same subject,

REPORT:

That they have had the same under consideration, and now deem it expedient to communicate to the Senate their reasons for not making, at the present moment, a general report upon the whole subject. They feel that they will best perform this duty, by placing clearly and d sinctly before the Senate the existing state and condition of the pending negotiation between the two Govern.

meats.

The President of the United States, in bis annual message of Decen ber last, informed Congress that, "for the settlement of our Northeastern boundary, the proposition promised by Great Britain for a commission of exploration and survey, has ben received, and a counter project, including also a provision for the certain and final adjustment of the limits in dispute, is now before the British Government for its consideration." The President has not thought it advisable to communicate this counter project to Congress; yet we have his assurance, on which the most confident reliance may be placed, that it is of such a character as will, should it be accepted, finally settle the question. This proposition was officia ly communicated to that Government during the last sum

mer.

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Mr. Fox, the British Minister, in his note of the 24th January last, doubtless with a perfect knowledge of the nature of the project which had been submitted by the American Government to that of Great Britain, assures Mr. Forsyth, "that he not only preserves the hope, but he entertains the firm belief, that if the duty of negotiating the boundary question be left in the hands of the two National Governments, to whom alone of right it belongs, the difficulty of conducting the negotiation to an amicable issue will not be found so great as has been by many persons apprehended." And in his subsequent note of March 13, 1840, he states that he has been instructed to declare, "that her Majesty's Government are only waiting for the detailed report of the British commissioners recently employed to survey the disputed territory, which report, it was believed, would be comple ed and delivered to her Majesty's Government by the end of the pre ent month, (March.) in order to transmit to the Government of the United States a reply to their last proposal upon the subject of the boundary negotiation" Thus we may reasonably expect that this reply will be received by the President during the present month, (of April,) or early in May.

Whilst such is the condition of the principal negotiation, the committee have deemed it inexpe dient, at this time, to report upon the subordinate though important question in relation to the temporary occupation of the disputed territory. They trust that the answer of the British Government may be of such a character as to render a report upon this latter subject unnecessary. In any event, hey have every reason to believe that the state of suspense will be but of brief duration.

The committee, ever since this e mbarrassing and exciting question has been first pres nted for their consideration, have been anxious that the Government of the United States should constantly preserve itself in the rght; and hitherto his desire has been fully accomplished. The territorial rights of Maine have been uniformly asserted, and a firm determination to maintain them has been invariably evinced; though this has been done in an amicable spirit. So far as the committee can exercise any influence over the subject, they are resolved, that if war shou'd be the result, which they confidently hope may not be the case, this war shall be rendered inevitable, by the conduct of the British Government. They have believed this to be the surest mode of uniting every Amer can heart and every American arm in defence of the just rights of the country.

It is but justice to remark, that the Executive branch of the Government has, from the beginning, been uniformly guided by the same spirit, and has tous far pursued a firm, consis'ent, and prudent course, throughout the whole negotiation with Great Britain.

Whilst the committee can perceive no adequate cause, at the present moment, for anticipating hostilities between the two countries, they would not be understood as expressing the opinion that this country should not be prepared to meet any emergency. The question of peace or war may, in a great degree, depend upon the answer of the British Government now speedily expected.

Mr. WRIGHT called for the reading of the report, and it was read accordingly; after which

Mr. W. observed that in calling for the reading of the report. his only object was to hear the views of the committee, and to give himself an opportu nity to move for the printing of an extra number number of copies. He would make that motion for the reason, that within the last few weels, he believed he might say within the last two weeks, his correspondents, a great many of whom were on the frontiers, seemed to entertain alarming apprehensions of immediate hostilities between this country and England. From what cause he knew

not.

He had seen nothing himself to authorize such apprehensions, and he was gratified to find that the Committee on Foreign Relations entertained the same opinion.

Mr W. then moved for the printing of ten thou-
sand extra copies of the report.

Mr. BUCHANAN observed that the committee
had no intention of moving the printing of an ex-
tra number of copies of this report, though certain-
ly, as a member of it, he should not oppose the mo-
tion. The report was very short, and from the in-
terest generally taken in the subject, it might, and
probably would, be copied into all the country pa-
pers. He did not believe that it would occupy
more than one column in the ordinary sized news-
papers, and therefore there was little doubt but it
would be extensively circulated Still, if the Sena-
tor from New York [Mr. WRIGHT] wished an ex-
tra number printed, he should not oppose it.
had only made these suggestions for the informa-
He
tion of the gentleman himself, and would be con-
tent with any decision that might be made.

Mr. CLAY of Kentucky concurred entirely in
what had been said by the chairman of the com-
mittee, and thought the Senator from New York
would hardly deem it necessary to go to the ex-
pense of printing ten thousand copies of a docu-
ment, which, as the chairman said, was so short
that it could be copied into all the papers of the
country. He thought that it would at once take a
general circulation, without being sent out in
pamphlet form; and he hoped that if the Senator in-
sisted on the printing, that he wou'd modify his
motion so as to print a smaller number.

Mr. CLAY of Ala. recollected that we had had the correspondence between the Secretary of State and the British Minister, on several occasions communicated to the Senate during the present session, and on each occasion ten thousand copies were printed. At all events this was a subject of exciting interest from one end of the Union to the other. If the document was so very small, as alleged by the chairman, it would cost the Government very little to print the extra number of copies.

Mr. WRIGHT observed that his residence was on the frouuer, where the people felt a giet anxiey on the subject. There was no doubt that the military preparations on the British frontiers had been very briskly carr ed on during the winter and spring; but his own belief was that these pr parations related entirely to the internal condition of the provinces which furnished sufficient grounds fr them. In addigon to the late distu bances there, it was known that the British Government was about to attempt a most important change in the government of their colonies on our borders, and this might reasonably be supposed to furnish another reason for the military preparations they have been making. But with the excitement existing on our frontiers, every change on the part of our neighbors was watched by our citizens with an intense interest, which we here at a distance cannot Jeel, and it was with a desire to allay this excitement that he wished the report to be sent out. He would not persist in the motion if it should be against the pleasure of the Senate, and he was willing to modify it so as to meet the views of all. But be would, at the same time, observe that, if there had been a document which the public would be more anxious to see than any other-if there was one which would be likely to allay the excitement existing on the subject, it was th s. He knew that it was very short, and that the cost of printing could not be very great; he knew, too, that notwithstanding the immerse circuculation of the newspapers of the country, there were many, very many, whom these newspapers did not reach, and that the circulation of a document of this kind, coming immediately from the Senate, would have effect in al'aying the ap prehensions of our citizens, which a circulation through the newspapers would not.

Mr. CLAY of Alabama rose to say, on the 10formation of the Secretary, that ten thousand copies of all the documents that had been communicated on this subject, during the present session, had been printed.

Mr. RUGGLES said he did not rise to object to the printing of the extra number proposed, nor indeed to advocate the printing of so large a number. It was a very short report, and would be read in the newspapers by every citizen of Maine, and perhaps by every citizen of the count:y, long be fore the extra number would be likely to be fur nished to the Senate. He had no wish to inc ease our expenditures for printing, yet he should not oppose any extra number gentlemen thought proper to recommend.

He said he certainly felt less anxiety for print ing a large number, from the belief he entertained! that the report might have the effect of ds appointing many citizens of the State he, in p r represented, in affording them some possible appre hension that the spirit manifested in the late cor respondence between the two Governments, is felt less strongly now than at the time that correspon dence took place. He was well aware that there was a portion of the people whose minds were fully prepared for the most prompt and energetic

measures.

Another portion doubtless contem plated a resort to war with serious apprehension. It was not to be questioned that the expecta ions, if not the hopes, of the former class, would be re pressed and disappointed; and that the latter would as certainly derive encouragement to their desire for the long continuance of peace. He observed that Maine felt strongly and deeply on this subject. She had entertained hopes that this controversy was now about to be brought to a close. She expecting strong, decisive and energetic action on the part of this Government. He dd not mean to be understood as intimating that the tone and spirit of the report of the committee afforded any sufficient evidence that she would be disappointed in the character of the measures she has been anti cipating. Nevertheless, the report, he believed, would by many be looked upon as a peace document, and as calculated to relieve the country from all apprehension of a rupture with Great Britain, at least for some time to come. The bonorable Senaton from New York [Mr. WRIGHT] appeared to have s understood its purport and effect, and assigned that as a reason for wishing a large number of the report printed. He would say again that he should no

oppose the printing of any number gentlemen wished; but it would be recollected that the Senate had ordered the printing of ten thousand extra copies of a correspondence on this subject, early in Match, which were not furnished to the Senate for several weeks afterwards; and not till after the recent correspondence on the same subject, wascommunicated to the Senate. Should there be as much delay on this occasion, the extra copies would be of but little use to the Senate or to the public.

Mr. BUCHANAN observed that the remarks of the Senator from Maine [Mr. RUGGLES] seemed to render it necessary that he should say a very ery few words on the subject before the Senate. Those who had attended to the reading of the report, **would perceive that, throughout, it was intended

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for the sole purpose of presenting to the Senate the feasons why the commit'ee did not think it necesCary, at this time, to make a detailed report on the whole correspondence. That was the single object of the report. If it should become necessary to fa inake a report in regard to the temporary occupaation of the disputed territory, the committee would ot shrink from their duty. They were prepared ther perform it to the Senate and to the country. But at this moment, when we have the solemn assharance of the British Minister that in a very short ime we should have an answer from his Government to the counter projet presented by our Government; and when he not only expresses the hope, at "entertains the firm belief," that the "difficulty of conducting the negotiation to an amicable issue fill not be found so great as has been by many ersons apprehended," it is wondeful that the Senaor from Maine should denounce this report, made der such circumstances, in such strong language. The report, Mr. B. continued, reasserted the ights of Maine in the most solemn manner; and was extraordinary that any citizen of Maine hould expect a detailed report, or one different om that which had been made, unless, indeed, he ould believe that the committee ought to have asamed a hostile position, and gone into all the corespondence that had taken place, and into the abject of the preparations that had been made by e British Government, in the very face of the ssurance that we should have an answer to our roposition in the course of this month or the next; hich, judging from the language of the British Inister, we had reason to believe would prove tisfactory. The committee thought it was their aty to place before the Senate the precise state of e negotiation between the two countries; and hat that was might be summed up in twenty ords. A proposition for an exploration and sury of the disputed territory had been made by e British Government; and this Government rot seming it satisfactory, because it did mbrace a provision for the final settlement of e question, had sent to the British Governent a counter projet, to which no as yet been received. This counter prct was communicated to the British Government aring the last summer, and the British Minister ere, several months afterwards, with a perfect owledge of its character, assures us that a speey answer will be given to it, and expresses his onfident belief that if this controversy is left to the O national Governments, it does not present the fficulties which had been by many persons aprehended. He also declares that the commisjoners who had been sent out from England to ake a survey of the disputed territory, were prearing their report that this report would be ready ithin the month of March-and that then his Goernment would transmit an answer to the proposion we had submitted to them. Now in this state f the case, unless you suppose the British Goernment to be entirely faithless, which he had no eason to believe, we may reasonably expect, in is or the coming month, to receive an anwer that may enable us to settle this uestion in conformity with the stipulations of the eaty of 1783, and in accordance with the just ghts of Maine. Under such circumstances, how uld it be expected that the committee would make belligerant report? Mr. B. differed with the Senar from Maine in the opinion that the people of s State either would or could so construe this re

not

answer

port, as to imagine that the committee or the Senate were prepared to surrender any portion of their rights. The past conduct of this body should shield them from such a suspicion, and their future conduct, should it become necessary, would show that they were as ready now as they have been in former times, to sustain the honor of the nation as well as the rights of a sovereign member of the Confederacy. From the correspondence which had taken place between the two Governments, the committee hoped that this might never become necessary. Sufficient for the day was the evil thereof; and the committee thought the subject was already sufficiently embarrassing in itself, with out unnecessarily adding to it other causes of irritation.

Mr. ALLEN wished to ask of the Senator from Maine one or two questions. He wished to know if the gentleman expected the committee to report to the Senate an opinion in favor of war, or what kind of report he expected from the Committee in the present state of the negotiations between the two countries. When the gentleman should state what kind of a report he expected the committee to make, he would then thank him to state what kind of a report he himself would make, and then the people might judge of the correctness of his views on this subject. Whilst up, Mr. A. said he would make one or two additional remarks. The only question which the Committee on Foreign Relations had to decide, (and he believed that since he had been here he had given as much evidence of a devotion to the interest of the State of Maine, as any other Senator,) the only question before the committee was not whether they would recommend measures leading to war, but whether they would recommend any thing at all-whether they should not remain silent till the expected answer to our proposition to the British Government should be received. That was the only question before the committee. Under these circumstances the committee concluded, after full reflection, that it would be better, in order to avoid any misunderstanding in the country-in order to avoid the people putting any false construction on the late correspondence, to make a report to explain not what was the course it was our duty to pursue at the present moment, but the reasons why we should suspend any action till the British Government should return an answer to the counter projet we bad made to them. The committee made this report in pursuance of that opinion, to explain why they did not, at this time, go into a thorough investigation of the subject, and propose some definite action in regard to it; and the reasons which governed them were, that the British Minister here had declared that he would very soon be able to present to this Government an answer to the proposition which had been submitted to his. Mr. A. deemed it proper to make these few remarks, because the State from which he came, ever patriotic, had passed resolutions in relation to this subject, and he knew that the people of that State would stand ready, to the last man, and to the last dollar of their resources, to see that the rights of the whole county were maintained at all hazards. He would now ask the Senator from Maine to state what kind of a report this committee ought, in his opinion, to have made-what kind of proposition ought to have been submitted to the nation in the present state of the negotiations between the two countries.

Mr. RUGGLES said he had been referred to as denouncing the report of the committee. He had not intended to be so understood. He had spoken of the impression he believed it would make on different classes in the community. He had expressed the opinion that those who were looking for prompt and energetic measures-who were, in fact, looking with impatience for an immediate rupture between the two countries, would have these hopes repressed; and that others, who felt alarmed at the tone of the correspondence lately communicated to the Senate, would be relieved from their ap-prehensions; and he repeated that the Senator from New York, who had just taken his seat, appeared to entertain the same opinion of the effect the report was calculated to have on the people of the fron

tier of that State, who were excited with the prospect of an immediate declaration of war.

In answer to the question put to him by the Senator from Ohio, [Mr. ALLEN] whether he would have the committee make a report in favor of an immediate declaration of war, he would say that he had no such wish, nor had he intimated any such desire. In answer to the Senator's further inquiry what sort of a report he would have the committee make, he would not undertake to dictate to the intelligent and patriotic Committee on Foreign Relations, what sort of a report hey should make on this or any other subject. He would not undertake to say that they ought to make any other report than they had made, if they were to make any report at all at this time. He believed that nothing new had transpired to render any report necessary at this particular time. The report com. municated no new facts. The Senate well knew, and the country well knew, that the President had caused to be made to the British Government a counter proposition, and that we were expecting a response to that proposition in all this month, or early in the next. This information had been communicated by the President, and was contained in the last correspondence, which was before the country. He understood that the further consideration of the Maine question was postponed till that response should be received. A report from the committee on Foreign Relations had not been looked for till it should appear whether we have, at the time indicated, the promised reply of the British Government. He had acquiesced in that, and had expressed no wish for a report at this time, in favor of ultra measures. So far from that, he said he did not believe, nor had he at any time believed, that war with Great Britain would necessarily grow out of this controversy. He founded his opinion parily on the fact, that on her part she had no cause for war. Her claim to the disputed territory was wholly without foundation, and would not afford her the slightest justification for pursuing it to that extremity. She would not dare go to war with this country, without some better cause for it. She had too much respect for the opinion of mankind to enter into such a contest with us without some better pretence than the groundles claim she has set up.

But, sir, said Mr. R. can Great Britain be greatly blamed for pushing her claims, as baseless as uey are, whilst she has heretofore seen so little to create a belief that this Government would resist them to the last extremity? He remembered to have urged at the last, and at previous sessions, the fortification of some exposed points on the ma- ' ritime frontier of Maine. He proposed it as an amendment to an appropriation bill then before the Senate, and had the silent vote, in support of it, of the chairman on Military Affairs; but it was voted down by a large majority. He had not forgotten it; and could not forget the exposed condition of the whole country. His opinion that war would not ensue, was necessarily subject to the condition, that preparation should be immediately made to meet any possible contingency.

We could never expect a submission to our rights till we give substantial indications of a determination to vindicate them. We must prepare for war to avoid war. Sir, said Mr. R. without finding any fault with the report, he would say that he had much rather have seen a report from the Committee on Military Affairs, and another from the Committee on Naval Affairs, affording on the part of this Government an earnest of its determination to vindicate the rights of Maine and the honor of the nation.

Mr. CLAY of Kentucky begged leave to say a few words on the subject, not so much in reference to the particular question of printing the report, as on the general and more important one involving the relations between this country and Great Britain. He was happy to hear the Senatǝr from Maine [Mr. RUGGLES] say he was not for war, though he did remark when he first rose that this report would be unsatisfactory to a portion of the people of his State who were for war. He would say that if there was any party in this country for war with Great Britain, it was a criminal

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