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FRIDAY, MAY 11.

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course of his remarks, he took a lucid and in-pealing a part of the fifth section of an act es teresting view of the origin, progress, and ex tablishing ports of delivery at Pontchartrain ercise of the privilege of the British Parlia- and Delaware city, and for other purposes. It ment, and of the power to punish for an infrac-was read twice, and, on motion of Mr. JARVIS, tion of that privilege. ordered to be read a third time to-day. MASON, of Virginia, reported, from the Commit. tee on Indian Affairs, a bill for the relief of In the Senate, yesterday, a message of a John W. Flowers, Nicholas Miller, William confidential nature was received from the Presi- Drew, and Joseph Rogers, which was read dent of the United States, by Mr. Donelson, twice and committed. The House then rehis Secretary. A report was received from the sumed the debate on the trial of Gen. Houston Commissioner of the General Land Office, con for breach of privilege. Mr. BEARDSLEY, Of taining the information called for by the reso- New York, proceeded with his argument, which Jution of the Senate of the 20th ult., relative to he had commenced on the preceding day, and donations of public lands to States, Territories, having gone through the constitutional points and bodies corporate, which, on motion of Mr. as to the privileges and power of the British HENDRICKS, was ordered to be printed. The Parliament and the United States Congress, bill for the relief of John H. Thomas was pass took a review of the testimony which has been ed; and the bills for the relief of the admini-given in the present case, and concluded_with strators of the estate of Andrew Nelson, deceas-expressing his conviction that the offence ed, and for the legal representatives of Arnold charged does not, under the circumstances, Henry Dorman, were ordered to a third read-amount to a contempt. Mr. SUTHERLAND next ing. The bill for the relief of John Braham addressed the House in vindication of its powand John Read, after a debate, in which it was er, as the embodied representation of the peosupported by Mr. KING, and opposed by Mrple, to protect its citizens, and thereby to proMOORE, was postponed to Monday next, on tect also the freedom of debate and the liberty the motion of the last named gentleman, At the of the press. Mr. MITCHELL, of South Carobour of one, the debate on Mr. BIBB's amend-lina, contended that this charge did not amount ment to the Post Office bill was continued by to a breach of privilege. Mr. CRANE, of Ohio, Mr CLAYTON, Mr GRUNDY, and Mr. HOLMES. maintained that the accused had committed On the conclusion of the debate, the question high breach of privilege, and argued for the was taken on the amendment, and it was er-right of a member, in the discharge of his pub jected by the following vote: Yeas-Messrs lic duty, to refer, in the House, to the conduct Bell, Bibb, Clay, Clayton, Ewing, Foot, Fre- of private individuals. Mr. BURGES then oblinghuysen, Hayne, Holmes, Johnston, Knight, tained the floor. Mr. NEWTON, on account of Miller, Moore, Naudain, Poindexter, Prentiss, the lateness of the hou (after 4 o'clock) movRobbins, Ruggles, Seymour, Silsbee, Sprague, ed a postponement of further proceedings till and Tomlinson-22. Nays-Messrs. Benton, to-day. Mr. HAWKINS, of North Carolina, askBrown, Buckner, Dallas, Dickerson, Dudley, ed for the yeas and nays on the proposition, Ellis, Forsyth, Grundy, Hendricks, Hill, Kan which, having been ordered and taken, it was King, Mangum, Marcy, Robinson, Smith, Taze-negatived, ayes 67, noes 86. Mr. SPEIGHT well, Tipton, Troup, Tyler, White, and Wil-moved a call of the House, which was ordered kins-23. The bill was then reported to the and continued for some time, until, on motion Senate as amended, and the amer dments agreed of Mr. WHITTLESEY, of Ohio, it was suspended. to in Committee of the Whole were concurred Mr. REED, of Massachusetts, afterwards moved in. The question then was on ordering the a postponement of the case until to-day, and amendments to be engrossed and the bill to be the motion was earnestly supported by Mr. read a third time, when Mr. HOLMES moved an KERR as a matter of courtesy due to Mr. adjournment, which was carried-ayes 19, BURGES, who had expressed his inability, from indisposition to proceed at present.

noes 18.

In the House of Representatives, Mr. MARDIS, Mr. WATNE said that he understood at least by consent offered a memorial. Mr. DICKER- four gentlemen, who had not yet spoken on SON, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, re- the subject, were prepared to enter extensiveported various bills. The SPEAKER presented ly into the debate, and it would therefore be a letter from Peter S. Duponceau, Esq. On impossible to determine the question that evenmotion of Mr. JEN.FER, it was referred and or-ing. He should vote, he observed, upon the dered to be printed. Reports were, by con- decision for the discharge of Governor Houston. sent, presented by Mr. CAVE JORNSoxand Mr. Some further discussion took place, and the ELLSWORTH. Upon the motion of the latter, the rule, having been suspended for the purpose, bill authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury an order was made that the House meet at 10 to compromise with the late firm of Thomas o'clock this day. The further proceedings in H. Smith & Co. was ordered for a third read-the trial was then postponed till that time, and ing this day. Mr. ELLSWORTH reported a bill at 5 o'clock the House adjourned. rendering penal the making and transporting counterfeit foreign coin. It was read twice and committed to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. Mr. JARVIS, from the Committee on Commerce, reported a bill re

REVOLUTIONARY PENSIONS BILL. The following is a copy of the act in addition to an act, entitled "An act to provide fur certain persons engaged in the land and na

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That if any person embraced in the provisions of this act shall, after the commencement of, and during his term of service in the war of the revolution, had been taken captive, the time such person may have been so detained in captivity shall be computed in determining the length of his said service.

val service of the United States in the revo-service of the United States, or of the respeclutionary war," approved March eighteen, tive States, during the revolutionary war, shall one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, as be entitled to the benefits of this act, in the passed by the House of Representatives on same manner, and subject to all the provisions the 2d of May, 1832. which are herein respectively contained in reBe it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep-lation to the officers, non-commissioned offiresentatives of the United States of America in cers, musicians, and privates of the army. Congress assembled, That each of the surviving officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, and persons who belonged to the Ordnance, Quartermaster's, Wagonmaster's, Paymaster's, Commissary's or Hospital Departments, or Medical Staff, who served in the war of the revolution on the continental establishment, or in the Vermont line, or military forces of Vermont, or those who were engaged in defending the frontiers in the Indian wars, from seventeen hundred and seventy-five up to the ratification of the treaty of peace of eighty-of the Secretary of War, be paid to the person three, or in the militia or State troops, or as vo lunteers: and who continued therein at one or more terms of service, for a period of nine months or more, upon proof thereof to be made to the Secretary of War as hereinafter provided, shall be entitled to receive, during his natural life, a pension, according to the provisions of the act mentioned in the title of this act.

Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the pensions which may hereafter be granted and allowed by this act, shall, under the direction

entitled thereto or his or their authorized atterney, at such places and times as the Secretary of War may direct; no person shall be entitled to the benefit of this act unless he be a citizen of the United States; and the pension granted by this act shall not be in any way transferable or liable to attachment, levy, or seizure, by any legal process whatever, but shall inure wholly to the benefit of the person entitled to the

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That each of the persons provided for, respectively, in the same. preceding section of this act, who shall have Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That in served, as therein mentioned, for any term less case of the death of any person embraced in the than nine months, under one or more enlist-provisions of this act, after the same shall have ments, and not less than three months, upon been approved, and before the first term of proof thereof to be made to the Secretary of payment shall have arrived, the amount of pay War, as hereinafter provided, shall be entitled which shall be due to such person shall be paid to receive, during his natural life, a pension, to his widow, and if he leave no widow, to his according to the provisions of the act of Con children, and if he leave no widow or children, gress mentioned in the title of this act, in such then to his legal representative; and in case of proportion only as the term of his service bears the death of any person embraced by the provi to the term of nine months. And that so much sions of this act during the period intervening of the act to which this is an addition, which between the semi-annual payments, the proporprovides that the applicant, by reason of his re. tionate amount of pay which shall have accrued duced circumstances, shall be in need of assist between the last preceding semi-annaual payance from his country, for support, and the act ment and the death of such person, shall be approved May one, one thousand eight hun paid to his widow, and if he leave no widow, to dred and twenty, entitled "An act in addition his children, and if he leave no widow or chilto an act, entitled An act to provide for cer-dren, to his legal representative, in the same tain persons engaged in the land and naval ser- manner, and under the same regulations, as are vice of the United States in the revolutionary now practised in paying pensions under the act war," passed the eighteenth day of March, to which this is an addition. one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, be, and the same are hereby, repealed.

Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That the pensions which may be hereafter granted by Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That each virtue of this act shall commence on the fourth of the surviving officers of the army of the re day of March, one thousand eight hundred and volution, who shall have served in the conti-thirty-two: Provided, That no person or pernental line, State troops, volunteers, or militia, sons other than invalid pensioners now receiv at one or more terms, a period of three years orng a pension under any law of the United more, during the war of the revolution, upon States, shall be entitled to the benefit of this proof thereof to be made to the Secretary of act, unless he or they shall first relinquish his War, as herein after provided, shall be entitled or their further claim to any such pension: And to receive, during his natural life, a pension provided, further, That, in all payments under equal to the amount of his full pay in the said line, according to his rank, but not to exceed, in any case, the pay of a captain in the said line.

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, mariners, or marines, who served in the naval

this ac, the amount which may have been received by any pensioner other than an invalid pensioner, under any other pension act as aforeaid, since the date at which the payments under this act shall commence, shall first bedsducted from said payments.

Sec. 9. And be it further enacted, That to en

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the day last aforesaid, all articles, ex: cept such as are hereinafter provided for, imported into the United States, now subject to

title any person, except as is hereafter mention-housand eight hundred and thirty-three, in tioned, to a pension by virtue of this act, he calculating the rates of duties, the pound stershall make a declaration, under oath or affirma- ling shall be considered and taken as of the tion, before the district judge of the United value of four dollars and eighty cen:s. States in the district, or before a court of record of the county, State, or Territory, in which he shall reside, setting forth, if he belonged to the army, the company, regiment, and line to which he belonged, together with the time of his en-duties at a higher rate than twenty five per tering and leaving the service, and if he belong. ed to the navy, a like declaration, setting forth the name of the vessel in which he was employ. ed, with the time of entering and leaving the service, and shall offer such other evidence as he may be able to produce; and if it shall ap. pear to the satisfaction of the said judge or Court, by the said testimony, that the facts set forth in the said declaration are true, a certificate to that effect, together with a certified copy of the testimony under the seal of the court, shall be transmitted to the Secretary of War, and the same shall be taken and deemed to be conclusive evidence of the truth of the facts set forth in the said declaration : Provided always, That no person shall be entitled to a pension by virtue of this act unless the evidence of SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That all the applicant's service shall be established by articles imported into the United States, manuwritten evidence, or by the testimony of one factured in whole of sheet, rod, hoop, bolt, or credible witness, at least in addition to the de-bar iron, or of irễn wire; or of which sheet, claration of the applicant himself, nor where rod, hoop, bolt, or bar iron, or iron wire, shail the records of the War Department shall con- constitute the material of greatest value, shall tradict the statement contained in the said de- be rated as sheet, rod, hoop, bolt, or bar iron, claration. or iron wire, as the case may be, and pay a du

centum ad valorem, or if the duties are speci fic, higher than they would be at twenty-five per centum ad valorem, or if in part ad valorem and in part specific, at a rate higher than they would be at twenty-five per centum ad valorem, there shall be a reduction of ten per centum upon the rates or amounts of such duties, respectively; which reduced rates, or amounts of duties, shall be levied and collected until the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four; from and after which day there shall be a further reduction of ten per centum on such reduced rates or amounts of duties as aforesaid: Provided, That such duties shall, in no case, be lass than twenty-five per centum ad valorem.

Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That all ty accordingly; except such articles as by law persons who were placed on the list of revoluare, or may be, subject to a greater amount of tionary pensions under the act of May eighteen, duty: And provided, That manufactures of eighteen hundred and eighteen, and who have such sheet, rod, hoop, bar, or bult iron, or iron been stricken from said list under the provisions wire, shal, in no case, be less than twenty five of the act of May first, eighteen hundred and per centum ad valorem; all parts of anchors twenty, on application to the Secretary of War, and parts of other manufactures of iron, shall and on proof of their identity, shall be restor-be subject to the same rates of duty as such ed by the said Secretary to said list, without anchors or other manufactures are subject to said persons being required to comply with the ninth section of this act; the payment of all such cases to commence on the fourth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.

IN SENATE--Mar 1, 1832.

when complete. All pieces of bar, bolt, rod, or hoop iron, imported as scrap iron, more than six inches in length, shall be rated as bar, bolt, rod, or hoop iron, as the case may be, and pay a duty accordingly. All old iron shall be subject to the same duty as scrap iron; and nothing shall be considered as old iron except ar

Mr. DICKERSON, from the Committee on Manu-ticles manufactured of iron, and so worn or infactures, reported the following bill.

posing Duties on Imports.

jured by rust as to be of no use, except for the A BILL further to amend the several acts im- purpose of being remanufactured. All vessels of cast iron, and all casungs of iron, with hanBe it enacted by the Senate and House of Re-dles, rings, hoops, or other additions of wrought presentatives of the United States of America in iron, shall be subject to the same rate of duty Congress assembled, That, from and after the 43 such cast iron vessels or other castings, refirst day of January, one thousand eight hun- spectively, are subject to. All iron in pigs, dred and thirty-three, the credit on bonds to cast iron, and castings of iron, and anchors, and be given for duties on articles imported into the United States, shall be limited to four calander months; and that, from and af ter the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, the duties upon all articles imported into the United States shall be paid on the entry of the same at the custom houses where they shall be entered.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the said first day of January, one

chain cables, shall remain at their present rates of duty; and no iron, or manufactures of iron, shall be admitted at a less duty than twentyfive per centum ad valorem.

SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That brown sugar shall remain at the present rate of duty; and that all syrups, or other p eparations, liquid or dry, imported into the United States for the purpose of being converted into loaf, lump, or brown sugar, or of which loaf, lump, or brown

sugar are usually made, shall be rated by the duties on all manufactures of wool, or of weight, as loaf, lump, or brown sugar, as the which wool shall be a component part, (excase may be, and pay a duty accordingly. cept carpetings, blankets, worsted stuff goods, SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That, from bombasins, hosiery, mits, gloves, caps, and and after the said first day of January, one bindings,) the actual value of which, at the thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, the place from whence imported, shall not exceed duties on bombasins, and all worsted Stuff fifty cents the square yard, there shall be a regoods, shall be fifteen per centum ad valorem; duction on the present rate of duty of ten peon linens, bleached and unbleached, fiteen per centum, for one year, and thereafter a further centum ad valorem ; on all silks from India,

reduction of ten per centum upon such reducper centum ad valorem; and on all other ed rate of duty. And all such manufactures, silks per centum ad valorem; and all except as aforesaid, the actual value of which, apothecaries' vials and bottles exceeding the at the place from whence imported, shall be capacity of six, and not exceeding the capacity more than fifty cents the square yard, and shall of sixteen ounces each, shall be subject to a not exceed two dollars and fifty cents the square duty of two dollars and twenty-five cents the yard, shall be deemed to have cost two dollars grace; all perfumery and fancy vials and bot- ad fifty cents the square yard, and be chargetles, not exceeding the capacity of four ounces able thereon with the same duty now chargeeach, shall be subject to a duty of two dollars able upon such manufactures of the value of and fifty cents the groce; and those exceeding two dollars and fifty cents the square yard, for four ounces, and not exceeding sixteen ounces and until the first day of January, one thousand each, shall be subject to a duty of three dol-eight hundred and thirty-three; from and after lars and twenty five cents the groce. which there shall be a reduction of ten per Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That all centum upon such rate of duty, for one year, wines from France, which shall hereafter be and thereafter to a further reduction of ten per imported into the United States, or which have centum on such reduced rate of duty. And all been so imported since the second day of Feb. such manufactures, except as aforesaid, the ac ruary last, shall be subject to the following dutual value of which, at the place whence im. ties, to wit: red wines to six cents the gallon, ported, shall exceed two dollars and fifty cents in casks; white wines to ten cents the gallon, the square yard, shall be subject to a duty of in casks; and all other sorts twenty-two cents forty five per centum ad valorem until the first the gallon, in bottles; until the first day of day of January, one thousand eight hundred January, one thousand eight hundred and thir- and thirty-three; from and after which,' there ty-three; and from and after that day, to half shall be a reduction on such rate of duty of ten those rates of duty, respectively. And from per centum, for one year, and thereafter a furand after the day last aforesaid, the duties upon ther reduction of ten per centum upon such reall wines, except those of France, shall be re-duced rate of duty: Provided, That, from and duced to one half their present rates of duty, after the said first day of January, one thousand respectively. eight hundred and thirty-three, the duties upon SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That, all milled or fulled cloths and kerseys, of which from and after the passing of this act, the duty wool is the only material, the actual value of upon unwrought flax shall be five per centum which, at the place whence impor ed, shall not ad valorem; and from and after the first day of exceed thirty-three and one-third cents the January, one thousand eight hundred and thir- square yard, shall be five per centum ad valoty-three, the duty upon sail duck shall be ten rem, and no more.

cents the square yard.

SEC. 12. And be it further enacted, That,

SEC. 9. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the passing of this act, all artifrom and after the day last aforesaid, the duty cles of manufacture imported into the United on cotton bagging shall be four cents the square States, upon which drawbacks or bounties may yard, whatever may be the weight of it, and be allowed by the Government of the country whether imported under the denominations of in which such articles shall be manufactured, burlaps, Hessians, or any other name. and from which the same shall be imported, SEC. 10. And be it further enacted, That, shall be subject to duties over and above those from and after the day last aforesaid, the duty otherwise imposed by law, to the amount of upon unwrought hemp shall be such drawbacks or bounties, respectively; to be ascertained and levied under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury shall, from time to time, prescribe.

and from and after the passing of this act, there shall be allowed a drawback on hemp manufactured into tarred cordage, of three-fourths of the duty to which imported hemp is liable, whenever such cordage shall be used in the rig- We observed, on the 11th, that Mr. BRANCH ging of vessels of the United States; and the of North Carolina, and Mr. John S. Barbour, Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized, of Virginia, have resumed their seats in the from time to time, to prescribe such regula- House of Representatives. Mr. BRANCH had tions as may be necessary to carry this provi- recently obtained leave of absence to proceed sion into effect. to his own State; and Mr. BARBOUR, as we SEC. 11. And be it further enacted, That, stated a few days since, was absent during the from and after the said first day of January, one early part of the week, on account of sickness thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, upon in his family.

DEBATE ON THE TARIFF.

IN SENATE-MARCH 2, 1832. SPEECH OF ASHER ROBBINS,

OF RHODE ISLAND.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the following resolution submitted by Mr. CLAY: Resolved, That the existing duties upon articles imported from foreign countries, and not coming into competition with similar articles made or produced within the United States, ought to be forthwith abolished, except the duties on Wines and Silks, and that they ought to be reduced.

gress, and given without limitation, as to the amount of revenue to be raised by it. That amount is left to the discretion of Congress.

Again: the regulation of commerce with foreign nations is expressly given to Congress and given without restriction. Now, a tariff of duties on imports is strictly and literally a regulation of commerce with foreign nations, and whether that tariff shall be higher, or lower, or what it shall be, must be a question of expediency, and cannot be a question of constitutional right.

Besides, this power, as has been well stated, and ably argued by the honorable gentleman from Tennessee, is essential to national sovereignty; and to deny it to our Government Resolved, That the 'Committee on Finance would be, so far, to lay our country prostrate report a bill accordingly. at the feet of every other sovereignty in the The fllowing modification of the resolution, world. If all other sovereignties could wield proposed by Mr. HAYNE, being the question this power against us, (as, undoubtedly, they immediately before the Senate: can, and do,) and we could not yield it against Strike out all after the word "countries," them in self defence-but the supposition is and insert as follows: "be so reduced that the intolerable, and I will not carry out the idea, amount of the public revenue shall be sufficient and depict the consequences. to defray the expenses of Government, accor For what American, justly proud of his nading to their present scale, after the payment tion, could brook, for a moment, the idea of a of the public debt; and that, allowing a rea- crippled and subordinate sovereignty, that sonable time for the gradual reduction of the could not meet any other, and every other napresent high duties on the articles coming into tional sovereignty, with power against power, competition with similar articles made or pro- with prerogative agains prerogative, as an equal. duced within the United States, the duties be National sovereignties, whatever may be the ultimately equalized, so that the duties on no form of the national government, have all the article shall, as compared with the value of same attributes; otherwise, they would not be that article, vary, materially, from the general equal, and independent sovereignties. God average. forbid that this Government should ever admit the idea, or act upon the idea, of being an inferior, and, therefore, a degraded sovereignty! The question before us, as I take it, is one If, then, you admit (and who will deny it?) that of expediency. Is it expedient to give to the our Goverument may exert this power against industry of the country the market of the coun other governments, to vindicate our equal and try, by means of protecting duties, in prefer- just rights, you give up the whole controversy; ence to leaving that market open to the equal for then you admit the existence of the power competition of foreign industry without restric. in the Government. The power being admittion? ted, its exercise, in all cases, must be regulated

Mr. ROBBINS, of Rhode Island, addressed the Senate as follows:

I know it has been urged here, and much by the discretion of Congress. insisted on elsewhere, that the expediency is How, then, I ask, can it be contended that, not the only question; that a prior and para, in exercising this power, Congress has usurpmount question is, has Congress the power, the ed undelegated power? constitutional power, to do this?

If, instead of saying this, you vary your lanIt is not denied that Congress has claimed guage, and say, that Congress, in fixing a tariff", and exercised this power, from the commence of duties on imports, with a view to protection, ment of the Government to this hour; that it is has abused discretionary power, it brings the now in practical operation, and that never, till inquiry precisely to what I stated it to be-an since 1828, has it been seriously, if at all, ques-inquiry as to the expediency of the protecting tioned, by any party, at any time. policy.

There are two or three reflections, which, And let it be recollected that the question is if duly weighed, I should think would satisfy not, whether a new policy, and hitherto unevery reflecting mind that Congress, in exer-known to the Government, shall now be adopcising this power, has not usurped undelegated ted; but whether a police, coeval with the Gopower. vernment itself, which has now been pursued If the power of taxation ad libitum in amount, for forty years and upwards, and with a gradu be in Congress, the exercise of that power must ally increasing intensity; which is now in the be discretionary with Congress; and whether, full tide of experiment; with which interests, in any given instance, it shall be exercised, or almost too vast to be calculated, and hardly to to what extent it shall be exercised, must al- be conceived, have grown up and are interwoways be a question of exped ency, and never ven, and on which they are dependent-the can be a question of constitutional right. Now, question now is, whether this policy shall be the power of taxation is expressly given to Con-continued, or shall be abandoned? Though

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