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of their masters, their 'indignant frowns' will provement appropriation bill, upon which it give place to the most courtly smiles, which continued until 6 o'clock.

will then overspread their countenances as they

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FRIDAY, MAY 4.

now do those of your would-be representa- In the Senate, yesterday, Mr. CHAMBERS, on tives.' Office, (and its powers and emolumenls,) leave, introduced a bill granting certain lots is their object. They will get and obtain them and parts of lots of ground in said city to the on their own terms if they can: but if they can- Washington City Orphan Asylum; which was not obtain or hold them on those terms, they read, and ordered to a second reading. The will take them on your's, rather than not pos- bill from the House of Representatives in addisess them." tion to the act granting pensions to certain perIs it well that we should quote his language sons engaged in the land and naval service of now? Have circumstances changed the charac- the United States during the revolutionary war, ter of the issue? Or time weakened the force was read, and ordered to a second reading. of his arguments? Or, is the cause of the re- On motion of Mr. GRUNDY, the Senate resumed public, and of human liberty, giving way to the the consideration of the bill from the House, selfish demands of a blind and bigotted idolatry, establishing certain post routes, and discontiwhich at once clouds human reason and per-nuing others, together with the amendments verts civil truth? We re-echo the apostrophe: reported by the Committee on the Post Office and "Oh, Virginia! whither has thy unconquera- Post Roads; and all of the amendments having ble spirit fled, which was once the admiration been disposed of, Mr. BIBB moved further to of the world?" Shall we answer the invoca- amend the bill by the addition of another section of the dead patriot, and tell him that we tion, as follows: And be it further enacted, are engaged in the inglorious business of ma- That, from and after the first day of July next, king Presidents and Vice Presidents? Scuffling no postage shall be charged on newspapers, for money and office? Squandering the pre- and that so much of any act or acts of the Con. cious stock of our national character, and

Selling the mighty space of all our honors,
For so much trash as may he grasped-thus?

gress of the United States as imposes a tax of postage on newspapers shall be, and the same is hereby, repealed from and after the day aforesaid. After some remarks from Mr. BIBB and Mr. CLAYTON, in support of the amendment, and from Mr. GRUNDY against i', Mr. Foor moved to amend the amendment by adding, as follows: And that the following rates of postage shall be charged upon a single letter 8 cents. or sheet not exceeding 40 miles

10

CONGRESSIONAL. THURSDAY, MAY 3, In the Senate, yesterday, a message was re ceived from the President of the United States by Mr. Donelson, his secretary, transmitting copies of two treaties lately concluded between the United States and Mexico. The resolution Over 40, not exceeding 90 submitted yesterday by Mr. CHAMBERS for the appointment of a joint committee to prepare, during the recess, a civil and criminal code of laws for the District of Columbia, was considered and agreed to. The General Post Office In lieu of the present rates of postage. bill, (for establishing certain post routes and the same rates of postage as existed by law priMr. GRUNDY then rose discontinuing others,) was taken up on the mo- or to the year 1816. tion of Mr. GRUNDY, together with the amend and addressed the Senate in opposition to the ments reported by the Committee on the Post amendment, and continued his remarks until Office and Post Roads, and several of the half past three o'clock, when he gave way to a amendments having been disposed of, the bill, motion to adjourn.

90,

150,

300,

500,

150

124

300

17

500

20

25

Being

at the hour of one, was laid on the table, and In the House of Representatives, Mr. WICKthe pension bill was taken up. Mr. HAYNE, LIFFE, by consent of the House, presented adwho had the floor, then resumed his remarks, ditional documents to the report of the Comand addressed the Senate in opposition to the mittee on Public Lands, and the same were orbill, until the hour of adjournment. dered to be printed. Mr. POLK, from the se

In the House of Representatives, a message lect committee on the apportionment bill, prewas received from the President of the United sented a report, and moved that it be printed, States, on the subject of the imprisonment of and that the bill be made the special order for Dr. Howe in Prussia, transmitting a letter from Monday. Mr. EVERETT, of Mass., on the part the Secretary of State, to the effect that no in- of the minority of the committee, stated that formation had been received at the Department certain calculations, with a report, would be further than that contained in the public news presented to-morrow. The motion of Mr. POLE papers. The discussion on the case of the was agreed to. Mr. DICKERSON, from the Com. Wiscasset collector was resumed, and Mr.mittee on Enrolled Bills, reported various bills. PLUMMER Concluded his remarks in favor of its The rule having been suspended for the pur. reference to the Treasury Department. The pose, Mr. CLAY, of Alabama, moved that 10,000 revolutionary pensions bill was read a third copies of the report of the Committee on the time and passed. Mr. VANCE moved The House was afterwards, Public Lands be printed. in a Committee of the Whole on the state of the to amend, so that 10,000 copies, also, of the Union, Mr. EVERETT, of Mass. in the chair, en- Senate, report on the same subject be printed. gaged in the consideration of the internal im. After sonie remarks from Mr. WICKLIFFE and

SATURDAY MAX, 5.

Mr. DODDRIDGE, Mr. CLAY assented to the mo. from the Seeretary of the Treasury, with furdification. Mr. A. H. SHEPPERD moved to prin: her information on the subject of the Tariff. 6,000 only. Mr. Davis, of Mass, hoped the It was referred to the Committee on Manufaclarger number would be printed. The subject tures, and ordered to be printed. The House was one of the first importance, and it was then went into a Committee of the Whole on desirable that information concerning it should the state of the Union, Mr. TAYLOR in the be disseminated as generally as possible. At Chair, and took up the Internal Improvement the suggestion of Mr. LETCHER, Mr. SHEPPERD Bill. The Committee continued in the discuswithdrew his amendment; and the motion to sion of the details of the bill until five o'clock, print 10,000 copies of each of the reports was when the bill, as amended, was reported to agreed to. Mr. MERCER Submitted a resolution the House. The bill and amendments were providing for an adjournment of the House then, on the motion of Mr. POLK, ordered to from Friday until Monday, in order that the be printed, and the House adjourned. carpet of the Hall may be taken up and replaced with a matting, the floor being first The Senate, yesterday, transacted a considsprinkled with a solution of chloride of lime erable portion of the usual morning's business Mr. MERCER briefly addressed the House in before the recommencement of the debate on explanation of the object of the resolution, Mr. BIBB's amendment to the Post Office bill. which was the purification of the Hall. He al-The bill providing for taking certain observaluded to the deleterious nature of the atmos- tions preparatory to the adjustment of the northphere, and the necessity of adopting the mea-ern boundary line of the State of Ohio; the bill sure he had proposed, for the preservation of to extend the patent right of Jethro Woods, health in this warm season of the year. A short the bill for the removal of certain land offices discussion ensued on the proprosition, in the in Mississippi and Missouri; the bill for the re course of which Mr. SEMMES, of Maryland, and lief of Prosper Marigny; the bill for the reMr. BATES, of Maine-both of the gentlemen lief of Ransom Mix; and the bill for the relief of the medical profession-bore testimony to the of C. Brooks; were severally ordered to a third injurious effects to be apprehended, unless the reading. The following bills were passed: the proposed measure, or some other one equally ef. bill authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury ficacious for restoring and preserving the purity to compromise with the trustees of the firm of of the atmosphere in the Hall should be adopted. the late Thomas H. Smith & Son; the bill auMr. TAYLOR Suggested that the Superintend thorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to setent of the Public Buildings should be directed to tle the accounts between the U. S. and the Farcause windows to be openned on the east and mers' and Mechanics' Bank of Indiana; and the west sides of the Hall. Mr. MERCER assented bill to revive and continue in force the act for the to the modification, and further suggested that relief of J. Donnell & S. Heard, and others. the curtains should be taken down and cleaned The bill granting certain lots and parts of lots from the dust with which they were loaded. of ground in the city of Washington, to the Mr. SPRIGHT moved to lay the resolution on Orphan Asylum in said city, and the bill in adthe table, but the motion was negatived. Mr. dition to the act to provide for certain persons ALEXANDER moved to amend the resolution, by engaged in the land and naval service of the providing that the southern windows be so con United States during the revolutionary war, structed as to admit air by letting them down were severally read the second time and refrom the upper part. The proposition was ne-ferred. At one o'clock, the bill establishing gatived. The resolution, as modified, was certain post routes, and discontinuing others, agreed to. Mr. PoLK moved to suspend the was taken up as the unfinished business, when rule for the purpose of printing 10,000 addition. Mr. Foor withdrew his amendment proposing al copies of the report of the Bank Committee. the reduction of postage on letters. Mr. GRUNMr. FOSTER asked for the yeas and nays on Dr then resumed his remarks in opposition to this question, which were ordered and taken; Mr. BIBB's amendment abolishing the postage when it was negatived, ayes 110, noes 67; the on newspapers, and when he had concluded, motion to suspend requiring a vote of twothirds. Mr. SEVIER, by consent, presented a petition, which was ordered to be printed. The House then proceeded to the trial of Governor HOUSTON, who was conducted to the bar, at. In the House of Representatives, the time of tended by the Sergeant-at-Arms, and accom- the adjournment of one day for the purpose of panied by his counsel, FRANCIS S. KEY, Esq. carrying into effect the arrangements for the Mr. KEY having been accommodated with a better ventilation of the Hall, was postponed more commodious place in the Hall, resumed until Friday next. The House afterwards his argument in defence of the accused. At went into the consideration of the bills appernearly 3 o'clock, Mr. KEY concluded. Mr. taining to the District of Columbia; and took HOUSTON then requested permission to address up the bill for the construction of an aqueduct the House, which being granted, he expressed across the Potomac river, above Georgetown, a wish to defer his remarks until this day. On in, connection with the canal to Alexandria, ocmotion of Mr. DODDRIDGE, the further proceed-cupie ! the whole day. It was proposed in the ings were suspended till Monday. The Spea- two different shapes, of first a grant of $120,ker laid before the House a communication 000, and secondly a subscription, on the part of

Mr. HOLMES took the floor in support of the measure, and spoke till the hour of adjourn→ ment, without concluding his remarks. The Senate adjourned over to Monday next.

the United States of $125,000, to the stock of berland River, Tennessee, and the subject was the Canal Company. The former proposition postponed till Wednesday. Mr. CAMBRELENG, was REJECTED, ayes 64, noes 87; the latter was from the Committee on Commerce, reported a REJECTED by a vote of ayes 61, noes 76.

MONDAY, MAY 7.

bill making an appropriation for a Marine Hospital at Portland, in Maine, which was read. twice and committed to a Committee of the In the House of Representatives, the discus- Whole House on the state of the Union. The sion was resumed of the report in the case of Committee of the Whole was, on the motion of the Wiscasset collector; and, Mr. SLADE, of Mr. WHITTLESEY, of Ohio, discharged from the Vermost, commenced an argument in favor of bill for the relief of the representatives of Niman investigation by the House. At the expira-rod Farrow and Richard Harris, and the bill tion of the morning hour, the House, on the is accordingly brought into the House. Mr. motion of Mr. SUTHERLAND, Suspended the rule EVERETT, of Massachusetts, presented a report assigning Saturdays for private business, and for the minority of the Select Committee on took up the internal improvement appropria- the apportionment bill, which was referred and tion bill, comprising within its provisions ap-ordered to be printed. The further considerapropriations for harbors, the improvement of tion of the Wiscasset case was postponed till navigable rivers, roads, &c. The amendment this day; and the resolution of Mr. WILDE, on appropriating $275,000 for the continuance of the subject of the currency, was, after some the works of the Delaware break water, was, on remarks, from Mr. WILDE, and Mr. Invix, the motion of Mr. SUTHERLAND, concurred in adopted. The resolution submitted on a preby the House. The different amendments of ceding day by Mr. DRAYTON, directing the Sethe Committee of the Whole on the state of the cretary of War to revise and combine into one, Union, reported to the House on Thursday, the various acts in relation to the army, and to were considered, and the greater portion of report thereon at an early period of the next them rejected, were renewed.

TUESDAY, MAY 8.

session of Congress, was agreed to likewise. A resolution of inquiry into the affairs of the Post Office Department, was proposed by Mr. In the Senate, yesterday, Mr. MARCY pre- WHITTLESEY, of Ohio, but was not disposed of sented the petition of Judge Jaines D ty, of when, at 12 o'clock, (the morning hour having Michigan, praying for extra compensation for expired,) the House proceeded to the order of judicial services, which was referred to the the day. The trial of General Houston was Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. BBNTON's then proceeded in, and the accused having resolution for the printing of a sblank number been conducted to the bar by the Sergeant-atof copies of the report of the committee of the Arms, commenced a vindicatory address to the House of Representatives, on the affairs of the House. Bank of the United States, was called up; but meeting with some opposition, was laid on the The principal line of defence taken was, that table. The following bills were read the third the assault was not premeditated: that it resulttime and passed: The bill to provide for tak-ed from the impulse of the moment only, arising certain observations preparatory to the ad-ing from a keen sense of injury and insult; justment of the northern boundary line of the that it was not for words spoken in debate, but State of Ohio; the bill for the relief of Ran- for the after publication of a calumnious libel. som Mix; the bill for the relief of Christopher He took, also, the ground that breach of priBrooks; the bill for the relief of Stephen Plea-vilege, even where committed, was totally unsanton, which was passed by yeas and nays, defined. Mr. HOUSTON concluded his reyeas 24, nays 11, after an animated debrie; the marks at 2 o'clock, when he was conducted bill for the relief of Prosper Marigny; the bill from the bar attended in the usual form by the to extend the patent of Jethro Wood; and the Sergeant-at-Arms. Mr. HARPER, of N. Hamp. bill for the removal of the Post Office from shire, then submitted a resolution that the ac. Mr. Mount Salus, in the State of Mississippi, and cused be discharged from custody. for the removal of the Land Office from Frank HUNTINGTON submitted an amendment to the lin to Fayette, in the State of Missouri. At resolution, declaring that Samuel Houston has one o'clock, the General Post Office bill was been guilty of a contempt of this House. taken up as the unfinished business; the ques support of the proposition, he observed, that tion being on Mr. BIBB's motion to amend the the case resolved itself into three points, two bill by abolishing the postage on newspapers; of them matters of fact, and one a question of and Mr. HOLMES, who was entitled to the floor, law. The first two was the assault committed, continued his speech in favor of the amend and was it an assault for words spoken in debate. The other was, whether it was ment, until the Senate adjourned.

In

In the House of Representatives, a variety of in the power of the House to punish it petitions and memorials were presented, and as a breach of their constitutional privileges. among them one by Mr. ADAMS, from manu. Upon these different points, Mr. HUNTINGTON facturers of musical instruments, praying for argued at at great length, and with his usual additional duties upon those articles. Mr. force and ability. Mr. INGERSOLL moved that SPRIGHT moved a reconsideration of the vote the further proceedings be postponed till 11 of the House on Saturday, on the motion for an o'clock this day, which was agreed to. appropriation for the improvement of the Cum-House, then, at 4 o'clock, adjourned.

The

i

DEBATE ON THE TARIFF.
DEBATE ON MR. CLAY'S RESOLUTION.

SPEECH OF MR. BENTON,
MR. PRESIDENT: The present session of Con-
gress was looked to with great anxiety by the
people of this Union, as the one which was to
effect a large reduction in the public revenue, and
an equitable modification in the existing tariff.
The people expected these things from us; but
up to this moment they seem to be in a fair
to be disappointed; for no bill is even yet been
brought in to accomplish their just expecta
tions; and we are now well advanced in the

fourth month of the session.

way

take care to establish it by proof; and for that purpose will have recourse to the legislative history of the proceedings of the Congress of the confederation which led to the adoption of the present constitution, contained in the first volume of the laws of the United States. I read from the Rhode Island objections to the application of Congress for power to levy duties on, and regulate foreign commerce.

abuse it, and levy too much; they refused to vest the Congress of the confederation with power to levy duties upon imports, and to regulate the foreign commerce of the States, because they saw that in granting these powers, they yielded the unlimited and responsible power of taxation, and left themselves without defence against the exactions of the General Government. They resisted, they refused. To all the solicitations of Congress, they turned a deaf ear, and were inexorable. For ten years they held out; but the convention of 1787 inserted these two powers in the new constitu tion, and the States, with infinite difficulty, were induced to acquiesce; but that acquiescThe President of the United States has cer-ence was the effect, not of arguments, but of tainly performed his part. His annual message, pledges!-pledges of that high and solemn nareceived by us in the first week of December, ture which no man, of that day, was permitted contained a strong recommendation to this to believe could ever be violated. As I consiCongress, to reduce the revenue to the wants of der this pledge as a corner stone, lying at the the Government, and to adjust the duties on fo. foundation of the present constitution, I will reign imports so as to favor our national interests at home, and counteract adverse policy from abroad; and he showed us, in the same message, that the state of the finances, and the state of the country, required these things to be done, and to be done now! These recommen dations will shield the President from censure for neglect in failing to bring the subject of the tariff before us; and it ought to shield him from the imputation of double dealing on that sub- Here is the objection. Listen to it. ject. It ought to shield him from that imputa- "That by grunting to Congress a power TO tion! For his sentiments are plainly expressed, COLLECT MONEYS from the commerce of and are, therefore, intelligible. They are pub. these States, INDEFINITELY AS TO licly delivered, and are, thereby, universally TIME AND QUANTITY, and for the EXPEN known. They are in accordance with all his DITURE of which they are NOT to be ACprevious acts and words upon the tariff, and COUNTABLE to the STATES, they would beare, therefore, entitled to credit for candor and come INDEPENDENT of their constituenst, sincerity. I might go further, and say that his and so, the proposed impost is REPUGNANT to sentiments are in accordance with the public the LIBERTY of the UNITED STATES." wishes, and the public interests; but I will not assume to speak for a nation! I will speak for myself alone, and will say that the President Admitting the PRINCIPLE of this objection has well expressed my sentiments in this to be TRUE, still it ought to have no weight in recommendation, such as I have often de- the present case, because there is no ANALOGY clared them to the Senate here, and to my con-between the PRINCIPLE and the FACT. The stituents at home; and, this being the case, it fund proposed is sufficiently DEFINITE as to is my duty, still more than my inclination, to TIME, because it is only COEXTENSIVE defend these sentiments, at this time, and in with the EXISTENCE of the DEBT, contractthis place, arraigned as they have been on this ed, and to be contracted, in the course of the war. floor, and stigmatized as ruinous to the country. Congress are persuaded that it is as remote from I am in favor of reducing the revenue to the the intention of their constituents to PERPE. wants of the Government, not only for the rea-TUATE that ĎEBT, as to extinguish it at once sons which have been mentioned by the Presi- by a faithless neglect of providing the means to dent and by several Senators, but for another fulfil the public engagements. Their ability to reason in addition, and which presents itself to my mind as a compact between the States and the Federal Government. We all know that the present form of government grew out of the weakness of the government of the confe- Mark, I beseech you, Mr. President, the lan. deration, and that the taxing power was the guage of this objection, and of this answer. hinge upon which the change turned. The The objection is to the revenue rai-ing power, Congress of the confederation had no power to and is three-fold in its nature. 1. Because the tax the people of the States. It had no power exercise of the power was to be indefinite as to over the purse. It could only ask for money; time. 2. Because the revenue to be raised and this being found a slow way to obtain it, was to be unlimited as to quantity. 3. Because the power of taxing was appied for. The States the Federal Congress was to be una countable refused this power, because the Congress might to the States for the expenditure of this reve

And here is the answer to that objection. Listen to it also.

66

discharge it in a moderate time, can be as little doubted as their inclination; and the MOMENT that DEBT CEASES, the DUTY, as far as it respects the present provision, CEASES WITH IT.”

nue.

This was the three-fold nature of the ob- and the abolition of these sixteen millions is jection; and the conclusion, or inference, from now demanded; demanded as a right; and that the whole, was, that such a grant of power was by nearly one half the States of this Union. incompatible with the liberty of the States. The demand is resisted, and resisted on the Now, mark the answer: It admits the conclu- ground that the reduction will destroy the prosion which the objection draws, but denies the tection due to domestic manufactures, and will premises. It admits the incompatibility be- cover the country with desolation, and lead to tween the liberty of the States, and the grant the dissolution of the Union. Sir, I pass over of unlimited and irresponsible power of taxation the first, and most obvious answer to this obin the Federal Government; but takes a dis-jection; the answer which tells us that the pri tinction between the principle and the fact-vate interests of the manufacturers cannot be between the possession and the exercise,-of set up to vacate a fundamental compact beunlimited power;-and, while admitting the ty-tween the States and the Federal Government. ranny of the principle, denies the analogy of I pass over that answer which is in the nature the fact; and solemnly pledges the whole faith of a demurrer, admitting the fact, and denying of Congress against the exercise of the power. its sufficency. I pass over that answer, because The pledge is contained in the solemn declara I do not admit, but deny the truth of the answer. tion that the duties imposed for the payment of 1 take jissue upon its truth; and mean to go to the public debt, shall cease to EXIST, the MOMENT trial upon the fact before the American people. that debt is paid!

I maintain, Sir, that the federal revenue may Such was the objection, and such the an- be reduced to the wants of the Government, as swer: and such they continued to be, in every recommended in the President's message, not stage of the process, till the Convention of 1787 only without destroying domestic manufactures, was assembled, and afterwards, until the new but without hurting or injuring them in the Constitution was ratified by the States. I do slightest degree. This is my assertion! The not quote from each of these periods, because proof and the demonstration shall follow; for I itwould consume time, and present innumera- know how insignificant it is to make bold asserble repetitions of the same thing. But I will tions without adequate proofs at hand to sup remark, that the answer of the Congress of port them. And here, Sir, permit me to pre1781, to the Rhode Island objections, was drawn sume that I am a friend to domestic industry, by the men who were the fathers of the present and voted for the tariff of 1824, with the appro Constitution. It was drawn by General Habation of my judgment, and for that of 1828, MILTON, Mr. MADISON, and Mr. FITZSIMONS, with repugnance and misgivings. I am a friend adopted by Congress unanimously, and promul to domestic industry, and mean to protect it, gated to the States as a public official act. It according to what I believe to be the true poliwas the manifesto of Congress! and constantly cy of the country, sanctioned by the constitureferred to, and relied upon, until the Constitution and by the practice of the framers of the tion was produced by the Convention of '87, constitution. I will give protection, as an inciand ratified by the States. HAMILTON, MADI-dent to revenue; and this is the kind of protec SON, and FITZSIMONS were present at every tion which is coeval with the foundation of our scene-the Federal Convention-the State Con-government, and under which manufactures atventions-the public press-repeating their tained a high degree of importance under the pledge, and going security for the new Govern- first twenty years of its existence; and that ment never to violate it. And thus, I consider without giving the least dissatisfaction to any a pledge, to abolish the duties levied on ac- part of the Union. As far back as the year count of the public debt, the moment that debt 1810, our manufactures had attained the annual was to be paid, to be a compact between the value of one hundred and twenty millions of States and the Federal Government; and a con-dollars, (as we learn from Mr. Gallatin's redition precedent, agreed upon between the par-port-a report which ought to have shielded ties, and without which, the unlimited and irre-him from the reproach which has been cast upon sponsible power of taxation, would never have him here!) and that under a low rate of revenue been given to this Congress. duties, ranging from five to fifteen per centum. Forty years have passed by-the event has The same rate of protection would now produce been delayed far beyond the expectations of two hundred and forty millions of manufactures the year '87-but the event has at last arrived; annually-for our population is doubled since THE PUBLIC DEBT IS PAID! for all legislative 1810. But it is not desired or intended, by purposes it is now considered as paid; and, any Senators with whom I am acquainted, to States, not one, but many; not the new only, reduce manufactures to the degree of protecbut the old ones, who were party to the estab-tion possessed at that time. The lowest rate lishment of the Federal Government-who re-proposed by the anti-tariff gentlemen is double ceived from the old Congress the solemn pledge and treble what it then was; and, for myself, to abolish duties at the payment of the public I shall not go so low as they do. debt-these States now stand before you, and I now proceed to the proof of my assertion demand the redemption of that pledge. Six- that the revenue may be reduced to the wants teen millions of revenue were raised for the of the Government, without affecting, or impublic debt last year; the same amount is now pairing the successful progress of any manufac levying for the debt this year; but next year it ture. And here I would ask, how many, and will not be wanted; nor in any year thereafter, which are the articles which require the pre

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