Columbia telescope. (Columbia, S.C.) 1828-1839, January 21, 1837, Image 2
(OINCRESS.
? ? '
^ISp^aATE. Monday Jany. 2d.
A Bill to admit the St at ?* of .Michigan into
. theUnioy npon^in equal foot: n g with the
Jjinal States.
Iierras, in pursuance of the act of ton
of June the fifteenth, oi^-ht^eri hundred
.tod thirty -six, entitled, "An act to establish
the northern boundary of 'lie State of Ohio,
and to provide for the admission of the State
of Michigan into the Union, upon the conditio: s
therein expressed," a convention of de-leg:: t; s,^
vlec'ed by the peoples of the said State of
Michigan, for the so!e purpose of giving their
assent to the boundaries of the said State of
Michigan as described, dec'arc-d, and establish
ed, in and by the saidai, d:d on the fifteenth
of December, eighteen hutai red and th;rty-six,
assent to the provisions of said act : therefore,
Be ii enacted, dfrc. Tlu?t tbe Sratn of Mi
chigan sha 1 be one. and is - hereby declared
- to be one, of t-he United States of America,
snd admitted into the Union on a^i equa. toot
ing with the original States, in ah respects
whatever.
Sec. 2. And be it further enacted That
the Secretary of the Treasury, in carrying in?o
effect the thirteenth and fourteenth Kt; ons
of the act of -he twenty-third of Jtfrws' eigh
teen hundred and thirty-six, entitled *?An act
to regulate the deposites of the public money,"
shall consider the State of Michigan as being
one of the United States.
Mr. CiLHor^addressed the Senate as fol
lows :
1 have bestowed on this subject all the at
tention that was in my power, and*, although
actuated by a most anxious desfa^fcr the
admission of Michigan into the Union, K find
it impooseible to give my assent to thi* ?
i an satisfied the Judiciary Committee lias
not bestowed upon tlie subject all tliat atten
tion which its magnitude requires ; and I can
explain it on no other supposition why they
should place the admission on the grounds
they have. One of the committee, the Sen
ator from Ohio on my left, (Mr. Morris,)
fees pronounced the grounds as dangerous and
revolutionary. He might have gone farther,
and with truth pronouueed them utterly re
Tiant to the principles of the constitution,
have not ventured tliis assejtion, as strong
as it is, without due reflection, and weighing
the lull force of the terms I liave used, and
do not fear, with an impartial hearing, to es
tablish its truth beyond the power of contro
versy.
C.To understand fully the objection to this
WI,it is neccessiry that we should have a
correct conception of tlie fac's. They are few,
and may be briefly told.
Some time previous to the last session of
Congress, the Territory of Michigan, through
it# Legislature, authorized the people to meet
in convention, for the purpose of forming a
State Government. They met accordingly,
and agreed upon a constitution, which they
forthwith transmitted to Congress. It was
fully discussed in this Chamber, and, objection
able as the instrument was, an act was final
ly passed, which accepted the constitution, &
deda red M'chigan to be a State, and admitted
iBto the Union, on tlie single condition, that
ahe- should, by a convention of the people,
assent to the boundaries prescribed by the act.
Soon after our adjournment the Legislature
of the State of Michigan (for she had been
raised by o*;r assent to the dignity of a State,)
?called a convention of the people of the State,
tnconfbrmity to the act, which met at the time
appointed, at Ano Arbor. After full discussion,
the convention withheld its assent, and for
mally transmitted the result to the President
of the United states. This is the first part
of the story. 1 will now give the sequel.?
Since then, daring the last month, a selfccotK
stituted assembly met, professedly as a con
vention of the people of ths State ; hut with
out the authority of the State. -This unau
anthorized and lawless assemblage assumed the
high function of giving the assent of the State
l^hekfia to the condition of admission, as
prescribed in the act of Congress. They com
mtsnicated their assent to the Executive of the
lilted States, and he to the Senate. The
Oeatte referred his message to the Committee
an the Judiciarr, and that committee reported
tins -Mi for the admission of the State.
Sachara the facts out of which grows the
feapertant question, had this self constituted
wmetMj the authority to assent fbrthe Stite 1
Had they the authority to do what is implied
in gvriagassent to the condition of admission ?
d^HhgBsent introduces the State into the
^nan, and pledges it in the most solemn man
ner M the constitutional compact which binds
theae States in one confederated body; imposes
qnfceraUit* obligations, and confers on her
att its benefits. Had this irregular, self-con^
tinted assemblage the authority to perform
these high and solemn acts of sovereignty in
the name or the State of Michigan ? She
conhi only come in as a State, and none could
actor speak for hsr without her express au
thority ; and to assume the authority without
her sanction is nothing short of treason against
the State.
Again; the assent to the conditions prescri
bed by Congress implies an authority in those
who gave it to supersede in part the constitu
tion of the State of Michigan ; for her con
stitution fixes tlie boundaries of the State as
part of that instrument, which the condition of
admission entirely alters, & to that extent the
aeaent would supersede the constitution ; and
tfcne the question is presented, whether this
aetf-conatituted assembly, styling itselfa con
vention,. bad the authority to do an act which
neeeeaarily implies the right to supersede in
part the constitution.
But further: The State of Michigan,
through its .Legislature, authorized a con
vention of the people, in order to determine
whether the condition of admission shoukLj
h* assented to or not. The convention met ;
and* after mature deliberation, 4t dissented
to the condition of admission ; and thus
again the question is presented, whether
this self-constituted assemblage, this caucus ?
for it is entitled to no higher nsme ? -had the
authority to annul the dissent of the State,
solemnly given by a convention of the peo
ple, regularly convoked ander the express
authorityof the constituted authorities of the
State.
If all or any of these questions be an
swered in the negative ? if the self-created
assemblage of December had no author.ty
to speak in the namo of the State of Micln^
gan ? if none to supersede any portion of
her constitutwn ? if none to annul her
dissent to the coodition of admission r gu
larly given by a convention of the people
of the State, convoked by the authority of
the State ? to introduce her on its authority
wooldbe not only revolutionary ai d danger
ous, bat utterly repugnant to "the principles
of ot?r constitution. The question then sub
mitted to the Senate is, hud that assetnbi age
the authority to perform these high and
solemn acts ?
The chairman ,of the Committee on the
Judiciary holds that this self- constituted as^
semblage had the authority ; and what is his
reason? Why, truiy, because a greater
timber of votes were given for those who
constituted that assemblage, than for those
who constituted the convention of the peo
I p!e of the Stnte, convened under its constitu
| ted authorities. This argument resolves
| itsi If into two questions ?the first of fact,
and the second of principle, i shall not dis
cuss the first. It is not nrcescary to do so.
But if it were, it would be easy to show that
never was so important a fact so loosely
testified. There is not one particle of official
evidence before us. We had nothing but the
private letters of individuals, wf o do not
know, 'even the numbers that voted on either
occasion; they know nothing of the qualifica
tions of voters, nor how their votes were
received, nor by whom counted. Now, none
knows better than the honorable chairman
himself that, such testimony as is subletted to
ns to establish a fact of th s moment, would
not b?? p ceived in the lowest magistrate's
court in the land. But I waive this. I come
to the question of the principle involved ; and
what is it ? The argument is, that a greater
number of persons voted for the last convene
tion than for the first, and therefore the acts
of the last, of right abrogated those of the
f% ? o
first; in oth?r wjrds, that mere numbers ,
without regard to the forms of law, or the
principles of the constitution, give authority.
The aythori'v of numbers , according to this
argument, sets asi'le the authority of lau> and
the constitution Need 1 show that such a
prii ciple goes to the entire overthrow of our
co s* itution xl Government, and would subveit
a 1 social order 1 It is the identical principle
wiiich prompted the late revolutionary and
anarchical movement in Maryland, and which
has done more to shake confidence in our
rystem of government than any event since
the adoption of our constitution, but which
happily has been frowned down by the patriot
ism and intelligence of the people of that
St*fK
What was the grounds of this insurrcc>
tionary measure, but that the Government of
Maryland did not represent the voice of the
numerical majority of the people of Mary
land and that the authority of law and con
stitution was nothing against that of numbers.
Here we find on this floor, and from the
head of the Judiciary Committee, the same
princ pie revived, and if possible, in a worse
form ; for in Maryland, the anarchists as
sumed that they were sustained by the nu
merical majority of the people of the State in
their revolutionary movement ; but ths ut
most the chairman can pretend to have is a
mere plurality. The largest number of votes
claimed for the self created assemblage is
8,000; and no man will undertake to say that,
this constitutes any thing like a majority of
the voters of Michigan ; and he claims the
high authority which he doos for it, not be
cause it is a majority of the people of Michi
gan, but because it is a greater number than
voted for the authorized convention of the j
people that refused to agree -to the condition
of admission. It may be shown by his own
witness, that a majority of the voters of
Michigan greatly exceeded 8,000. Mr. Wil- !
liam?, the President of the self-created as
semblage, stated that the population of that
State, amounted to nearly 200,000 persons.
If so, there cannot be less than from *20,000
to 30,000 voters, considering how nearly
universal the right of suffrage is under its
constitution ; and it thus appears that this
irreguiar, self-constituted meeting did not
represent the vote of one-third of the State :
and yet on a mere principle of plurality we
are to supersede the constitution of Michigan,
and annul the act of a convention of the
people regularly convened under the authority
of the G->v"rnment of the State.
But, says the Senator from Pennsylvania,
(Mr. Buchanan,) this assembly was not self
constituted. It met under the authority of
an act of Congress , and that had no refer**
ence to the State, but only to the people ; and
that the assemblage in December was just
such a meeting as that act contemplated. It
is not my intention to discuss the question
whether tin honorable Senator has given
the true interpretation of the act, but, if it
were, I could very easily show his interpreta
tion to be erroneous ; for, if such had been
the intention of Congress, the act surely
would have specified the time when the con
vention was to be held, who were to be the
managers, who the voters, and would not
have left it to individuals, who might choose
to assume the authority to determine all these
important points. I might also readily show
that the wo>-d 4i convention" of the people, as
used in law or the constitution, always means
a meeting of the people regularly convened
by the constituted authority of the State, in
their high sovereign capacity, and that it
never means such an assemblage as the one
in question. But I waive this ; 1 take high
er ground. If the act be, indeed, fcuch as
the Senator says it is, then I maintain thdt
it is utterly oppos-d to the fundamental
principles of our Federal Union. Congress
has no right whatever to call a convention in
a Stale. It can call but one convention, and
that is a convention of the people of the
United Slates to amend the Federal Consti
tution ; nor can it call that, except authorized
by two-thirds of the States.
Ours is a Federal Republic ? a Union of
States. Michigan is a State ; a State in the
course of admission, and differing only from
the ether States in her federal relations.
She is declared to be a State in the most
solemn manner by your own act. She can
come into the Union only as a State ; and
by her voluntary assent, given by the people
of the State in convention, called by the cons
stituted autho-ity of the State. To admit
the State of Michigan on the authority of a
self-cr.ated meeting, or one called by the
d rect anfhoriiy of Congress, passing by the
authority of the State, would Jae the most
monstrous proceeding under our constitut.on
that can be conceived; the most repugnant
j^4aeipJes,-ecntf"TfaTFgef6us in its con
sequences. It would establish a direct rela
tion J'oetween the individual citizens of a State
and the General Government, in utter subver
sion of the federal character of our system.
The relation of the citizens to this Government
is through ihe States exclusively. They are
subject to its authority and laws only because
the State has assented they should be. If she
dissents , their assent is nothing ; on the other
hand, if she assents, their dissent is nothing.
It is through the State alone, that the United
O
States Government can have any connexion
with the people of a Slate ; and does not, then,
the Senator from Pennsylvania see, that if
Congress can authorize a convention of the
people in the State of Michigan, without the
authority of the State, it matters not what is
the object, it may in like manner authorize
conventions in any other State for whatever
purpose it may think proper.
Michigan is as much a sovereign State as
any other, differing only, as I have said, as to
her federal relations. If we give our sanction
to the assemblage of December, on the princis
pie laid down by the Senator from Pennsylva
nia, then we establish the doctrine that Con
gress has power to call at pleasure conventions
within the States. Is there a Senator op this
floor who will assent to such a doctrine/ Is
there one, especially, who represents the smal
ler States of this Union, or the weaker section?
Admit the power, and every vestage of State
rights would be distroyed. Our system would
be subverted, and instead of a federacy of fr?e
an<l covering States, we \vould have all power
concentrated here, and this would become the
most odious despotism. He, indeed, must be
blind, who does not see that such a power
would give the Federal Government t com
plete control of all the States. 1 call upon
Senators now to arrest a doctrine so danger
ous. Let it be re membered, that under our
system, bad precedents live forever ; good ones
only perish. We may not feel all the evil
consequences at once, but this precident, once
set, will surel) b*? received, and will become
the instrument of infinite evil.
It will be asked, what shall be done? Will
you refuse to admit Michigan into the Union 1
f answer no ; I desire to admit her ; and if the
Senators from Indiana and Ohio will agree, I
am ready now to admit her as she stood at the
beginning of last session, without giving sanc
tion to the unauthorized assemblage of De.
ceuiber.
But if that does not meel their wishes, there
is still another by which she may be admitted.
We are told two thirds of the legislature and
people of Michigan are in favor of accepting
the conditions of the act of last session. If
that be the fact, then all that is necessary is,
that the Legislature should call another con
vention. All d fficulty will thus be removed,
and there will be still abund ant lime for her
admission at this session. And shall we, for
the sake of gaining a few months, give our
assent to a bill fraught with principles so mon
strous as this ?
We have been told, that unless she is admit
ted immediately it will be too late for her to
receive her proportion of the surplus revenue
under the deposite bill. I trust that on so great
a question a difficulty like this will l^ve no
weight. Give her at once her full share. I
h m ready to do so at once, without waiting
her admission. 1 was mortified to hear on so
grave a question such motives assigned for her
admission, contrary to the luvv and constitu*.
tion. Such considerations ought not to bc<!
presented when we are settling great constit
utional principles. I trust that we shall pass
by all such frivolous motives on this occasion,
and take ground on the great and fundamental
principle that an informal, irregular, self-con
stituted assembly, a mere caucus, has no au
thority to speak for a sovereign State in any
case whatever ; to supersede its constitution,
or to reverse its dissent deliberately given by
a convention of the people of the State, regu
larly convened under its constituted authority.
CONGRESSIONAL ABSTRACT.
Tuesday, January 10th, 1837.
SENATE.
A message was received from the Presi
dent, communicating certain information in
reference to the proposed negotiation with
foreign powers, to construct a rail road or
canal across the Isthmus of Darien.for the pur
pose of connecting the waters of the Pacific
and Atlantic Oceans. The message is unfa
vorable to the project at present. '
A communication was received from the
Secretary of the Treasury, in reference to the
present condition of the deposite banks.
Various petitions of a private character
were presented, and referred to the appropri
ate committees.
Mr. Buchanan presented the petition of va
rious persons engaged in the coal trade, pro
testing against the reduction of the duty on
coal. Mr. B. accompanied the petition with
some remarks, and motioned that it be printed
and referred. Agreed to.
After passing some other ordinary business
the Senate took up the resolutions of Mr.
Ewing, of Ohio, to rescind the circular of the
Secretary of the Treasury, with the amend*
ment of Mr. Rives. 1
Mr. Rives addressed the Senate in support
of his amendment, and had not conehided
Ivs remarks when our paper was put to press.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
A message was received from the Presi
O
dent.
Mr. Davis, of- Indiana, asked the consent of
the House to submit* a resolution, that all
petitions and memorials on the subject of
abolition be laid on the table, and no further
action be had on them.
A motion to suspend the rules to allcw of
the introduction of the resolution was nega
tived.
The speaker communicated a Message from
the President containing a communication re
lative to the carrying into effect a treaty with
Spain.
Also a report from the Secretary of War
relatjve to the clearing out of the mouth of
Black river in the State of New York.
Mr. Hamer had the floor, and continued
his remarks upon Mr. Wise's resolution.
Wednesday, January, 11, 1837.
SENATE.
The credentials of the Hon. John Spencer,
Senator elect from the State of Maryland,
were presented by Mr Kent.
Mr Preston presented the petition of the
citizens of Charleston, South Carolina, pray
ing the establishment of a naval depot and
navy yard in that city. Read and referred to
the committee on Naval Affairs.
Reports were received from standing com
mittees. From the committee on Foreign
Affairs, unfavorable to the petition of Thomas
Vowell. From the committee on Pensions,
unfavorable to sundry petitions. A bill was
reported by the committee on Public Lands
relating to the surveyor of the State of Lou,
isiann*. The salaries of these two officers
are fixed at ?2000 per annum, with other
perquisites. A Bill from the same committee,
for the relief of Thomas Conqor. A bill from
the committee on Military Affairs, for the
relief of the corporate authorities of the city
of Mobile, Alabama.
TEXAS.
Mr. Walker offered a resolution proposing
to recognize the independence of Tex#?s.
He accompanied the resolution with a few
remarks, in which he expressed himself deci*
dedly in favor of the immediate recognition
of the independence of Texas, ile said that
he had full information, which warranted him
in saying that the threatened invasion of
Mexico had failed entirely. He moreover
said that his resolution expressed the views
and opinions of the President.
After some fur; her business, the Senate
took up the order of the day. The question
being on the amendment of Mr. Rives to the
resolutions of Mr. Ewing, of Ohio, proposing
to rescind
THE TREASURY CIRCULAR.
Mr. Clay rose and addressed the Senate in
support of the resolutions. He was still
speaking when our paper was put. to press.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Cambreleng, from the committee on
Ways and Means, made a report on the sur~
plus revenue, accompanied with a bill for the
reduction of the revenue to the wants of the
Government. The bill and the accompany
ing report wereread,and ordered to be printed.
On motion of Mr. Cambreleng, the bill was
o '
referred to the committee on the Whole.
Mr. Lawrence addressed the House. He
stated that its object was toreducc in eighteen
months that redaction of the revenue which
by (he law cf 1833 would be reduced in four
and a half years. This bill he said would
come on the country like a clap of thunder.
It would, Ke said, but add to the pressure al
ready existing in the commercial transactions
of the country. He asked if this was to be
considered a f*rty question. He appealed to
the members fr?*i Pennsylvania, Ohio, New
York, Connecticut^ to the whole of New
England? if they w*vwilling to adopt the
principles of this bill V<] tjJC rcport j .g
effect, he said, would be the credit
and confidence existing betvS^n t|je i
classes of the country.
Mr. Lawrence was addressings^ Houso
when our paper was put to press.
Thursday, January 12th, 1837S.
SENATE:
A bill from the committee on Military AP
fairs was reported, providing for the relief of
the Vermont militia, at the battle of Platts
burg. Read a first time, and ordered to a
second reading.
On motion of Mr. Walker, the resolutions
proposing to recognize the Independence of
Texas was postponed, and made the order of
the day for Wednesday next.
Mr. Calhoun moved to postpone the orders
of the day, in order to take up the bill to ex-*
tend certain sections of the deposite bill of
the last session, with the view of making it
t he special order of the day.
After some remarks from Mr. Grundy, the
Senate adopted ihe motion.
Mr. Calhoun then said that in fixing the
day, he should be governed by the Finance
committee. He wished to make the order
subsequent to the report of the committee, if
he could ascertain at what time that report
might be expected. He said that he preferred
to see a reduction of the revenue, rather
than a deDOsite, if Ruch a reduction could be
made. He, therefore, desired to await the
report of the committee, as that would enable
?*iim to form an opinion upon the probable
state of things hereafter in regard to the re
venue.'
Mr. Wright, Chairman of the committee,
could not say with certainty when the report
would be made. The committee were going
on as fast as it could, and were anxious to
make a report as early as possible ; but he
could not say on what day the report might be
expected.
Mr. Calhoun then moved that the bill be
made the order of the day for Thursday next ?
agreed to.
On motion of Mr. Walker, the Senate pro*
coeded to the consideration of the gencial
land bill.
Mr. Clay hoped that so important a bill
would not be acted on now. He referred to
the absence of members, and especially of
Mr. Ewing, of Ohio, who was deeply inter,
ested in the result, and who had been called
home by the sickness of his family. He
therefore moved a postponement of the order
to this day week.
Mr. Walker was opposed to any further
postponement.
Mr. Calhoun hoped that the Senate would
postpone the subject, at least, until Monday
next. The bill was highly important in its
results, and he wished for time to make him
self acquainted with it thoroughly. He had
not read the documents. It was too import
ant to be acted on hastily.
Mr. JJuchanan was willing to postpone the
order tfll Monday, but to allow the chairman
of the committee to express his views now.
After some further remarks from Messrs.
Benton, Calhoun, Buchanan, King, of Ala.
Clay and Walker, an amendment was offered
by the last named gentleman, and the subject
postponed until to morrow, with the under
standing that it will then be postponed and
made the special orde?* for Monday next.
EXPUNGING RESOLUTIONS.
The special order being the expunging Yeso*
lulions , was taken up.
Mr. Benton addressed the Senate, aiid had
the floor when our paper was put to press.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. M'Kean asUed leave of the House to
introduce a resolution directing the committee
on Commerce to inquire into the expediency
of building life-boats.
The resolution was agreed to.
Mr. Whittlesey moved that the House take
up the bill from the Senate providing for the
payment of losses sustained in the last war.
The bill was taken up, and referred to the com
mittee on Claims.
The House then went into the consideras
tion of the bill for the reduction of the reve
nue. Mr. Course addressed the House in
opposition to the bill, and in favor of its inde
finite postponement. ? Mr. Corwin argued
that it was a subject of too much importance
to be taken up at this time, when there was
but twenty two days to be occupied by the
House in general legislation. He character
ized it as unwise, even it be not the intention
of the majority of the committee to mature it
into a law at this session, to throw it abroad
on the community, and thus injuriously affect
the manufacturing and commercial interests
of the country.
Mr. Corwin addressed the House at length,
and was speaking when our paper went to
press.
Senate, Triday, January 13/A, 1837.
The Vice President presented the cre
dentials of the Hon. Thomas Clayton, Sena
tor elect from the State of Delaware, in
place of the Hon. John M. Clayton, resign
ed.
Reports from the standing comittees. On Na
val Affairs, a bill for the relief of Commodore
R;.dgely ; Committee on Claims, a bill for the
releif of Geo. K. Kreight: Commerce, afciHto
extend the limits of the Port of New Orleans;
a bill for the relief of Capt Allen, for expenses
of bringing Gen. /Fayette to this country.
These bills were read a first time and order
ed to a second reading.
A resolution was offered by Mr. Davis,
calling on the President for certain information
in reference to Mexico and Texas, and such
correspondence, if any, at may have passed
between Gen. Santa Ana and the Executive*
and between the Government of the U. Slates
and foreign powers in relation to Texas.
Various resolutions were presented and read
a first time.
SPECIAL ORDER ? EXPUNGING RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. Davis resumed his remarks, in favor
of the resolutions. He had the floor when
our paper went to press.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES^
Mr. Whittlesey reported the bill from
the Senate, with an amendment, for payment
for horses and other Josses. The amendment
from the Senate, was concurred in.
Mr. Smith, from the committee on Ways
and Means, introduced a resolution for the
printing of 10,000 extra copies of the repo-t
of the Committee on the'reduction of the reve
nue.
Mr. Thomas, from the Comittee on the jus
diciaiy, introduced a resolution for an inquiry
into the expediency of increasing the sallaries
of the Judges of the United States District
Courts.
Mr. Howard, from the Committee of For
eign Affairs, reported a bill relative to the
i payment of the salaried foreign ministers,
I and for other purposed Read, and ordered
; to be printed.
I Mr. Whitlksey, < Ohio, moved that the
House go into Commil e of the Whole, and
lake up such bills as w not produce debate.
Rule suspended and m on carried.
Mr. Bell gave noticthat he should each
day renew his motion Ir leave to introduce
his bill to secure the ri? of election.
SENATE, Salaray , January 14//i. J
Mr. Tallmadge printed the petition of
the Board of Trade of ihe citizens of New
York, praying the establihment of a National
Bank, after the plan propscd by the President
of the United {States innis annua! message
of 1830 ? to be located n the city of New
Vork. Mr. T. accompnied the petition
rks in wiich he expressed
distinctly to the prayer of
?referred to the committee
Sjth some remi
th^vf ?FPosed
cejVed?B\f standing Committees were rc
construclioiN&e ?Pi>~Pri?i,on8.for th?
Wisrnnsin fnr^8 ,n the Terrl,ory ol
Wisconsin? tor-IK fi fJo|m H Ha?_
to amend the chaTR" F k|jn |n6u.
r^nce Comp?ny_to jit , abatement
of suits in the courts ?^VUrliled states,
and for other PuT^ses-*Ng?verally read
a first time and ordered to a 8%*^, readini?
Various resolutions were read a^Lnonted
The resolution of Mr. Davis, can^** f0i
informatian in regard to Texas, wasVj
Mr. Grundy expressed a hope that it migli
lie on the table until Monday, for reasons
which he did not fully express: but we
gathered from his remarks that a communi
cation from the President plight be expected
in a short time. Mr. DaTis yielded to the
motion.
Sundry bills on the table were taken up,
read, and ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading1.
The Senate then postponed, on the motion
of Mr. Kino of Ga., the expunging resolu
tions , and took up the bill in relation to
PUBLIC LANDS.
Mr. Walker addressed the Senate in
support of the bill, and was speaking- when
our paper went to press.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Pickens wished to know of the
Chairman of the committee on Foreign Re
lations, if there was any likelihood of the
committee soon making a report relative to
the recognition of Texas. It was he said,
an important subject, and great intsrest was
felt in relation to it throughout the country.
Mr. Howard said that the committee
had been industriously, engaged in the con
sideration of the subject, but had not as yet,
come to any conclusion.
The House then took up the resolution of
Mr. Allen, for the appropriation of a por
tion of the public lands for the purposes of
education in the old Stages.
Mr. Lane addressed the House in opposi
tion to the resolution.
Mr. Bell said, that at one time he had
been in favor of something of the kind cons
templated in the resolution. But he did now
think them sufficiently broad. Mr. Bell
then dwelt with much force and earnestness
on the great importance of settling the va
rious questions arising from our land systenf.
The final settlement of these questions was
of more importance than any difference that
would arise in the manner in which the set
tlement would be made. He alluded to the
great importance both tb the new States
and the old ones, of settl'ug finally the quea^
tion of granting pre-omption rights. He was
willing to reduce the price of the lands.
Mr. Sell then moved a postponement of
the resolution. A motion was also made to
them on the table, but the hour appropria
ted toths discussion having expired, the House
proceeded to the consideration of sundry
engrossed bills, which were lead a tfeird time,
and passed.
DOINGS IN CONGRESS.
In the Senate. ? Expunging Resolutions.
It is impossible for us to give any thing like
a synopsis of what was dooe yesterday on
the expunging- process. The debate was so
animated in its character, and so absorbing
in its interest, that it required a much more
practised hand, and more disciplined feelings
than we possess, to have sketched even its
outlines. The hand forgot its office, while
the eye and the ear were engrossed with
theirs. Nor are we ambitious of the honor
of chronicling this funeral of the constitu
tion ? this last and lowest act of dngradation.
The time must come when the actors in this,
shall we call it farce or tragedy ? shall re
ceive from an honest and intelligent people
that measure of recompense which the act
and the motive deserve at their hands.' The
present may bestow rewards proportioned to
the demerits of prostitution ; but the future
will apportion its recompense, by a far more
hononble and equitable standard. Men in
toxicated with power, emulous of the honors
and hopeful of the rewards of excessive
servility, urged on by the ignoble ambition
of being foremost in the work of abasement,
may trample the constitution of the country
under foot; plant an indelible stain on the
national character ? and stamp the records of
a mighty people with the foul blot of false
hood and perjnry ; but the end is not yet ?
a day of reckoning will come, and when the
rancor of party contests has passed away,
and the turbulence of popular feeling subsi
ded, the names of these men will stand out
before the eyes of the whole world as sys
uonymous with infamy ? scorned* detested,
and accursed, by every noble, virtuous, ?nd
patriotic spirit.
We have said we could not give an outline
of the speeches delivered. Notes were taken
by others, and the whole debate will, of
course, be publishsd. We must content our
selves with Raminor the speakers and the
order in which they addressed the Senate.
I Mr. Dana, expunger , had the floor, and
concluded the remarks he commenced on
Thursday. He was followed by Mr. Pres.
toil, whose torturing eloquence drew out Mr.
Rives in reply. He started from his seat in
the utmost conceivable wrath. His whole
frame quivered with anger, which seemed :o
i struggle in vain for a vent. In the tempest
I of his feelings his prudence forsook him en<*
I tirely, and with a face as pale as that of a
[ corpse, and tongue faltenno out wild incohe
rent clamors, he poured forth what his an
tagonist called " a rabble of ideas " in ad
mirable confusion. It had been better for his
feelings and his fame had he remained silent.
The reply of his well poised and collected
adversary he , at least, will never forget,
though his years should embrace the remnant
of the time that is to come*
When Mr. Preston again took his seat,
Mr. Rives attempted a second time to disen
gage himself from the shirt of Nessus which
enveloped him, but the effort was more feeble
than the first, and he sat down with a coun
tenance which pictured the deep agony
within. Mr. Niles then came to his rescue ?
talked for a half hour; but we heard not ft
sentence he uttered. The whole audience* i
filled with the deepest emotions^ ^eeraed |
he should not now ask the favor. Mr. Moore
then urged him to give way to the motion,
which lie finally consented lo ; and the motion
was carried by a majority of two. JSo that he
has the floor to-day.
With this brief outline, the reader must be
content for the present. The debate w&a one
of greater interest than we have ever wit
nessed, and we shall t?ke jhe earliest op
portunity of laying it before the public. ? U.
S. Telegraph.
Monday, January 16, 1837.
L SENATE.
totally disinclined to listen to balderdash.
Air. Moore then made a few just and perti
nent remarks in explanation of the vote he
should give ; Judge Southard followed, and
after expressing his wishes to speak upon the
subject, moved an adjournment, as the hour
was late. The party refused to accord this
privilege to him. Mr. Moore again renewed
the motion. It was again lost. Mr. Cal
houn then arose and spoke about ten minutes*
in a strain of solemn and indignant eloquence.
He seemed to be overcome by his own emo
tions, and sat down, as it appeared to us at s
distance, unable to give full utterance to the
strong feelings which the occasion excited*
Mr. Clay then rose and said, that he bad
intended to address the Senate in defence of
the original resolution sought to be expung
ed ; but from what had passed, be supposed
that the privilege would be denied, unless he
spoke at that late hour. Mr. Moore again
rose to move an adjournment. Mr. Clay said
communication was received from the
^?Sary of the Treasury covering m state*
ment <J^ue undrawn appropriations, on the
lst]nst.>^ ^ rr r 7V.
Mr. Prestob%? committee o n. Mili
tary Affairs, repoS*j a resolution authori
zing the Secretary of>Vrto examine, by a
board of officers the improKcqents roafo in>
fire-arms. _ X
The resolution ?f Mr. Davis calling npob
the President for certain information in regard
to Texas, was taken up and adopted.
EXPUNGING RESOLUTIONS.
The Senate then took up the Expunging
Resolutions. k
. Mr. Clay addressed the Senate, and was
speaking when our paper was put to press.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The order of the day was the reception of
the abolition petition presented by Mr. Adams.
Mr. Bynum had the floor, but he eave way to
Mr. Howard, who expressed a wish to offer
a resolution that the Speaker should call for
petitions, beginning in a reverse order. Mr.
Howard moved a suspension of the rules to
allow the introJuction of the resolution.
On motion of Mr. Adams, the yeas and
nays were ordered on the suspension of the
rules.
The rules were suspended, and the resolu
tion adopted, and petitions were'prescnted by
Messrs. Jones, of Wisconsin, White, of Flo-,
rida, Yell, Ashley, of Missouri, l*?wis. ?
Mr. Lewis presented a memorial from tho
Legislature of Alabama, praying remunera
tion for iosses sustained by citizens of that
State from the Creek Indians.
Mr. Lewis presented other petitioos fram
citizens of the same State, praying the same*
Mr. Jones, of Ohio, presented a memorial
from the Colonization Society, requesting aid
from Congress for the furtherance of the
objects of the Society.
Mr. Pinckney moved (hat the memorial 15a
on the table.
Mr. Adams asked for tie reading of the
memorial
Qa molion of Mr. Piacfcney* the yes* and
nays were ordered.
The memorial was laid oo the taUe by vote
of 130 to 49.
Mr. Wise stated that he was in his seat at
the time bis name was called, aod be felt i*
his duty to state thai he declined voting.
Other petitions were presented by Messrr.
Storer, M'Lcne, Webster, Hamer.
The Speaker communicated to the Housc
a memorial from the Grand Jury of Washing
ton county, in the Distriot of Columbia, on
, the subject of the petitions aeqt to Congress
relative to the abolition of slavery to the
District.
Mr. Pinckney moved the memorial be Jaid
on the table.
The yeas and nays were demanded, bat not
ordered.
1 The memorial was then ordered to lie oo
the table.
Mr. Jenifer moved that the memorial be
printed. *
The Speaker said it would not be in order
for the gentleman from Maryland to make the
motion.! It might be made when the State
(of Maryland) was called on.
Mr. Hawes presented a petition from the
non-commissioned officers of the army of the
United States, praying the attention of Con
gress to their situtatrbn.
From the Columbus Inquirer.
ABOLITION.
_The Elections being now over, we take the
opportunity of calling op this important sub
ject before the minds of our readers. Hitherto
all that we have said upon it, has been set
down by the Van Biiren presses particularly
and the party generally, as the result of an ef
fort to ccniftre up some raw head to frighten
their adherent from the support of the successor .
We are no longer liable to that charger^ Van
Buren is elected. We cannot undo the deed.
Were we half as anxious for the favors, or aa '
fearful of the frowns of power, as some folk*
are, it would now be our wisest policy to bush!
up the clamor, heal the wounds we may pos^
sibly have inflicted, and court the forbearaocst'*
of those who hold the reins and the pujgp
strings. But, we humbly believe it entei?aot
into our moral composition toso&en a tone of
merited harshness, or withhold a word of that
which our country demands to be said, for the
sake of securing the smiles or aYerting^.the
frowns of the highest or the lowest in the tern*
pie of earthly fame or honor. We have said>
during party excitement,. that the South was
in imminent danger from the / bolitiouists?an4
that Van Buren was their friend. That excite
ment is now past, and we reiterate the asser
tion. The South is in danger* and we have
nothing to expect from the power and influ*
ence ofthe Chief Magistrate, toward checking
the madness and folly of that unholy crew.
We deeply regret that the minds of the
people have been so occupied that they have
not before this, investigated the nature and
extent of our dangers. The time his now
come when action must be had ; and it must
be had speedily, or it will be too late to savo
the Republic. Every mail from the North
confirms our fears that the evil is becoming
rapidly incunble, and almost every Southern
traveller throud^that region, brings us conftf*
mation of our wRst fears. A concent ratkn?oT
'all their fonJtsjssoon to bo hadj and an ener
getic effort 1810 bo mad.et taseeure the first
steppinu^tone to our ruin-r4he abo&ion
Slavery in the District, . The doctr?*e# of the
fonatic* are rapidly 8preading--la*?e numbers.
oTtke common people at the North
bracing them daily-aod we nave alinoj
indubitable eroof that; tbei$ mtopoefi ? -