Columbia telescope. (Columbia, S.C.) 1828-1839, February 18, 1837, Image 2
* CfKnmittee o* inquire
into the Executive Departm^s, &c. Jan.
-23d, JgTT :
<= Tke^^onowin^ resolutions were adopted, and
the Chairman directed to furnish the President
of the United States with a copy of the same :
Reso!ved,^Fhat the President of the United
States be requested, and the heads of the
several Executive Departments be directed, t->
furni>h this committee with a list or lists of
all officers, <^r agents, or deputies, who have
been appointed or employed, and paid, since
the 4th of March, 1829. to the 1st December
Lst, if any, without authority of law, or whose
names are not contained in the last printed
register ef public officers-, commonly called the J
Blue Book, by the President or either of the |
said heads of department respectively, and i
without nomination to, or the advice and con- !
sent of the Senate of the United States; show- ;
tng the names of such officers, agents or de- j
Duties ; the sums paid to each; the services
rendered, and by what authority appointed
and paid, and what reasons for such appoints
m?nts. . I
Resolved, That the various Executive offi- I
ce:s in replying to the foregoing resolution, be
requested at the same time to furnish a state
mentofthe period at which any innovations
not authorized by law, if such exist, had their
origin; their causes,' and the necessity which
has required their continuance.
Attest, B. F. HALLETT, Clerk.
T5JEP RESIDENTS LETTER TO THE COM- !
MITTEE.
W ashisotoh City, Jan. 26, 133/ .
Sik : I received, jon the evening of the
24th instant your Ietir covering a" copyol
certain resolutions purporting to have ?*n
adopted by a committee of the Houge o p
reserrtatives, of which von are the chairman,
ami request that yoa will lay tefore '^at c0?"
raittee this my reply,1 I hasten to make.
h appear* bv the ppi&ed proceedings of
the House of R.. JJ-dW comm.ttee of which
vou are chaip?an was appointed on your
motion T*e resolution offered by you, and
finally adopted by the House, raised a direct
issue with that part of my annual mess^e
in which I held the following language : "Be
fore concluding this paper, I think it due to
the various Executive Departments to bear
testimony to their prosperous condition, and to
the ability and integrity with which they have
bern conducted. It has been my aim to en
force in all of them a vigilant and faithful dis
charge of the public bus:ness ; and it is
gratifying to me to believe that there is no
just cause of complaint, from any quarter, at
the manner in which they have fulfilled the
object of their creation." Your resolution is
i a the following words : " Resolved, That so
much of the President's message as relates to i
the condition of the various Executive De- j
partments, the ability and integrity with which
they have been conducted* the vigilant and |
faithful discharge of the publie business in all
ot them, and the causes- of complaint, from
any quarter, at the manner in which they
have fulfilled the objects of their creation,' be
referred to a select committee, to consist of
Binejneoibers, with power to send for persons
and papers, and with instructions to enquire
into the condition of the various Executive
Departments, 'the ability and integrity with
which tbey feeen couducted, into tne
manner in winch the public business has been
discharged in all of them, and into all causes
of complaint, from any quarter, at the manner
in which said Departments, or their bureaus
or offices, or any of their officers, or agents
of every description whatever, directly or
indirectly connected with them in any manner,
officially or unofficially, in duties pertaining to
the nubfe interest, have, fulfilled or failed to
accomplish the objects of their creation, or
hate violated their duties; or have injured and
impaired the. public service and interest, and
?hatsaid committee, ia its inquiries may refer
to such periods of time as $ them may seem
expedient and proper." It ako appears, from
the published proceedings of the House, that
tiiis resolution was accompanied and supported
by a speech of considerable length, m which
yoa preferred many severe but vague charges
of corruption and abuse in the Executive
Departments. The resolutions ad opted by the
committee, as well as that adopted by the
House itself, must be taken in connection
with your introductory speech, which gives a
character to the whole proceeding. W hen
thus regarded, it is obvious that, by the reso
lution of the House, an issue is made with the
President of tbe United States, as be had
alleged, in his annual message, that the heaus
of the Executive Departments had performed
their official duties with ability and integrity,
in your soeech vou denied this ; you charged
them with manifold corruptions and abuses ot
tmst as you bad done in former speeches, to
which vou referred ; and you demanded an
investigation through the medium of a com
mittee. Certain other members of Congress,
as appears bv the public debates, united* with
you in these accusations ; and for the purpose
of ascertaining their truth or falsehood, the
committee vou demanded was ordered to be
raised, and yon were placed at its head. 1 he
Srst proceeding of the investigating committee
is to pass a series of resolutions which, thoug
amended in their passage, were, as understood,
introduced by you, calling on the President
an4 the heads of Departments; not to answer
to any specific charge ; not f o explain any
attest abuse ; not to give information as to
ww particular transaction ; but, assuming
that tftev have been guilty of the charges
alleged, calls upon tuarn^o furnish evidence
against themselves I
After the reiterated charges you ha\ e made,
it was to have been expected that you would
have been prepared to reduce them to specifi.
cations, and that the. committee would thai
proceed to investigate the matters aileged.
But, instead of this you resort to generalities
even more vague than your original accusa
tions, and in open violation of the Constitu
tion ; and of that well-established and wise
maxim "that all men are presumed to be inno
cent until proven guilty, according to the esta
blished rules of law," you request myself and
the heads of ihe Departments to become our
own accusers, and to furnish tne evidence to
convict ourselves; and this call purports to be
founded on the authority of that body in which
alone, by the Constitution, the power ot im
peaching us is vested ! The heads of depart
ments may answer such a request ai they
pHise, provided they d> not withdraw their
owa time, aad that of the officers under their
jjrectian, frmn me public business to the
ininry thereof. To that, I shall direct them
U devote themselves, in preference to any
Illegal and unconstitutional calls, tor infor- ;
tnaSon, no matter from what source it |
com-, or however anxiovs they may bo
S Let it For mvselt, I shall repel all such
St^Dts as an invasion of the principles o I
fcStSSTas well as of the Constitution; and I
ihaTestae* it my sacred duty to the peope
ofthe Carted States to resist them as I would
t_i* l. .t (af n Soanish inouisition.
^IfSeralUh'1' severe accusations contained
| ciates, and every other mrmber of Congress
who has made the g neral charge of corrup
rupiion, to testify before God and our country
whether you or they know of any specific
corruption or abuse of trust, in tiie Executive
Departments ; and if so, what it is. It you
; are able to point to any case where there is
j the slightest reason to expect corruption or
i abuse of trust, no obstacle which I can re
j move shall be interposed to preuent the ful
lest scrutiny by all legal means. The offices
j of all the Departments will be opened to you,
! and every proper facility furnished for this
i purpose.
I hope, sir, we shall at Inst have your
charges, and that you will proceed to investi
1 gate them, not I ke an inquisitor but in the
accustomed mode. If you either will not
make specific accusations, or if, when made,
you attempt to establish them by making
freeman their own accusers, you will not
| exp: ct me to countenance your proceedings.
: in the short period which remains of my
j official duty, I shall endeavor, as I have here
! tofore endeavored, to fulfil the obligations of
: that oath of office, by which I engaged, "to
I the best of my ability, to preserve, protect,
; and defend the Constitution of the United
| States and for this, and other reasons of
I the most solemn character, I shall, on the one
; hand, cause every possible facility, consistent
j with law and justice, to be given to the inves
I tigaiion of specific, tangible charges; and,
: on the other, shall repudiate all attempts to
! invade the just rights of the Executive De
' partments, and of the iifilividuals composing
the same. If, after all your clamor, you will
i make no specific charges, or bring no proof of
such as shall be made, you and your associ
ates must be regarded by the good People of
the United States as the authors of unfound
ed calumnies; aed the public servants whom
you have assailed will, in the estimation of all
honorable men, stand fully acquitted.
In the mran time, I cannot but express my
astonishment that members ofCongre.-sshould
call for information as to the names of persons
to whom contingent moneys are paid, and the
object of those payments, when there are six
standing committees under the seventy,
seventh rule of the House of Representatives,
whose special duties are to examine annually
into all the details of those expenditures in
each of the Executive Departments. The
like remark is applicable to some other branch
es of the information sought f>y you, ample
details in respect to which are to "be found in
the reports laid before Congress, and now on
your files; and to which I recommend you to
have recourse.
I am, respectfully, &c.
ANDREW JACKSON.
To the Hon. Henry A. Wise,
Chairman of the Investigating Committee
of the abuses and corruptions charged
against the Executive Departments.
I certify that this is a true copy from the
original sent.
Test : A. JACKSON, Jr.
Private Secretary, &c.
SENATE. ? Tuesday January 31, 1837.
Petitions and memorials were presented,
chiefly of a private nature, by Messrs. Linn,
Tipton, Walker, Wright, and Toualinson, and
referred.
Mr. Davis, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, recommended, in a written report, the
postponement of the bill for the employment of
boys in the Navy, and the report was ordered
to be printed.
Mr. Grundy moved the postponement of the
order of the day to take up the Land Bill,which
was carried. Ayes 20 noes 16.
A communication was received from the
Department of War, containing a statement of
the appropriations and expenditures on ac
count of that Department for the year 1836.
The Senate then proceeded to the consider
ation of the bill te limit the sales of the
PUBLIC LANDS.
Mr King, of Georgia, addressed the Senate
in opposition to the bill ) and had not conclu
ded his remarks when our paper went to
press.
HOUSE OF REPRESONTATIVES.
Mr. Alford, member elect from the State
of Georgia, was qualified and took his seet.
As soon as the journal was read, Mr. Adams
questioned a decision of the Speaker yester
day in reference to a memorial from the Ken
tucky Colonization Society, which had been
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Adams contended that it should have
come under the order of the 18th instant, and
be laid on the table, on the ground that colo
nization and abolition were identical in their
ulterior objects.
A number of bills were reported, of which
the following only were of a public character.
By Mr. Connor ? to provide for the erec
tion of a building for the Post Office Depart
ment.
By Mr. Coles ? for an increase of the
United States Army, for its re-organization,
&c.
By Mr. Smith? the "harbor bill."
By Mr. Howard ? the bill from the Senate
to carry into effect the Convention with Spain,
with amendments. All of wh.ch bills were
twice read, and committed.
Mr. Bell's motion for leave to introduce a
bill to szcure the freedom of elections, then
came up in its order, and Mr. B. addressed the
House at length on the subject.
SENATE. ? Wednesday February 1. 1837.
Petitions were presented by Messrs. Kent,
Tomlinson, Wall, and Linn and referred.
A res lution of the Legislatnre of Illinois
was presented by Mr. Robinson, asking au*
thority to exchange the school fund lands.
A communication was received from the
Secretary of the Navy, with a statement' of
the appropriations made for and expended by
that Department during the year 1836, and
the amount of unexpended balances on the
31st of December last.
B lis for the relief of Samuel White ? set
tling the compensation of the judges of the
district courts of the United States ? appoint
ing certain persons as a tribunal to test im
provements made to prevent the bursting of
steam-boilers.
A memorial was presented by the chair from
Win. Brent, jr., complaining of the election of
fourelectors of President in Virginia, who were
disqualified by the constitution. Also, a me
morial from sundry persons complaining of the
mode of appointing electors in the State of
South Carolina as unconstitutional. Laid on
the table on the motion of Mr. Grundy.
A resolu'ion was offered by Mr. Hubbard
fixing the hour of the meeting of the Senate
at 11, instead of 12 o'clock, after Saturday
j next.
The resolution presented some days since
by Mr. Nicholas, calling upon the Secretary
of the Treasury to communicate to the Senate
any information in his possession going to ex
pose the frauds committed in the sales of the
| public lands in Louisiana, was, on the motion
; of Mr. Clay, amended so as to embrace the
abuses practiced in other sections of the coun
try. The resolution as amended was adopt
ed.
The Senate then proceeded to the consider
ation of the bill to limit tbc sales of the
PUBLIC LANDS.
The bill being in committee of the whole is
open amendment ; and various amendments
were proposed. When the bill shall have
been reported, we shall give its leading1 provi
sions. At presents it is impos^ibleto say with
accuracy what will be its ultimate form.
HOUSE OE REPRESENTATIVES.
Several reports and bills of a private nature
were made from the standing cemmittees.
Mr. Everett, from the Committee on In
dian Affairs, reported a bill for the protection
and security ofthe Indians to the west of Ark.
ansas, and in other places.
The unfinished business of yesterday then
ca me up, which was the bill of Mr. Bell for se
curing the freedom of elections.
Mr. Graves addressed the House in favor of
| the principles of the bill.
A message from the Senate was received
requiting the appointment of a committee to
unite with a committee ofthe Sena'e, and to
inquire whether any electoral votes for the
President have been given contrary to the pro
visionj of the constitution, and to provide a
remedy against such abuses for the future.
The appropriations for the Indian Depart
ment then came^ up, and Mr. Cushing ad
dressed the House at length on the subject of
our Indian relations. Mr. Cushing was fol
lowed by Mr. Everett.
Mr* Parker addressed the House in oppo*?
sition to the bill, and moved to recommit the
bill to the Committee ot Ways and Means that
it might be reported, and the appropriation!
assume a more specific shape.
Mr. Lawler was opposed to the recommit
ment. There could bo no mistake as to the
objects to which the appropriations were to be
applied.
SENATE. ? Thursday Feb. 2, 1887.
The Hon. Mr. Mouton, Senator elect from
the State of Louisiana, appeared, was qualifi
ed, and took his seat.
Mr. Clay presented an address of certain
authors in Great Britain, praying for the pas
sage of a law securing to them copy-rights
for* their works. The list of signer.-?, embraced
very many of the distinguished authors in
Great Britain.
Mr. Clay mnde some remarks explanatory
and in favor of the address, and moved that
it be printed and referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary.
Mr. Preston seemed to have some doubt
as to the expediency and constitutionality of
the proposed measure. He threw out some
suf^estions, reserving to himself the right of
going more fully into the subject hereafter. ?
He stated that the American publishers were
opposed to the proposition, and that he had
received various communications upon the
subject, from some of them, expressive of their
hostility to the measure.
Mr. Grundy, without expressing an opin
ion on the merits of the memorial, hoped that
the address would not be referred to the Com
mittee on the Judiciary, which was already
charged with as much business as they could
attend to. He suggested a select committee.
Mr. Clay made some remarks m reply to
Mr. Preston, and said he was willing that
the address might take any direction, as to
the committee, which the Senate thought pro
per.
Mr. Buchanan thought that the subject
was full of difficulty. He spoke a short time
in regard to the probable effect of the proposed
measure.
Mr. Clay then withdrew his motion to re
fer the address to the Committee on the Judi
ciarv ; and on the motion of Mr. Grundy, it
was referred to a select committee, compos
ed of Messrs, Clay, Preston, Buchanan,
E wing, of Ohio, and Webster.
Mr. Kent presen ed sundry resolutions from
the Legislature of Maryland, praying that the
Federal Government would interest itself in
procuring a reduction of the duties on tobac
co in the ports of foreign nations, and other
pu -poses. The resolutions were read and
ordered to be printed.
Mr. Hendricks presented a memorial from
the Legislature of Indiana, asking for appro
priations for the improvement of the ports and
harbors on the southern coast of Lake Mich*K
can. Ordered to be printed, and referred to
the Committee on Commerce.
Bills reported. ? To establish navy rations
and other purposes, with amendments ; and
for the relief of Ann S. Hieleman, widow of
Major Hieleman, were read a first time and
ordered to a second reading.
Mr. Calhoun presented a resolution call
ing on the Secretary of the Treasury to report
tolhe Senate the aggregate amount of expen
sed ncurred in collecting the revenues on the
lakes, including the expenses for light houses,
revenue cutters, appropriations for harbors,
&c. &c. ? Agreed to.
The Senate then proceeded to the consider
ation of the bill to limit the sale of the
PUBLIC LANDS.
The bill being still open to amendments, va- ]
rious propositions were proposed to amend,
which were under consideration when our
paper went to press.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Several reports of committees, and some
bills of a private nature'were presented to the
House and acted on.
Mr.1 Sutherland, from the Committee of
Commerce, reported a resolution requiring
that the Secretary ofthe Navy to report to the
next Congress a system of telegraphs.
Mr. Reed, of Massachusetts, asked leave
to introduce a resolution authorizing the con
struction of six sloops of war; objected to?
motk>n to suspend the rules not carried.
Mr. M'Keon, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, reported a bill to abolish the protection
given to American seamen; committed to a
Committee of the whole House.
Mr. Cambrbleng moved that the House
take up the appropriation bill; objection was
made, and Mr. Cambreleng then moved that
the rules be suspended, and on this the yeas
and nays were called.
Mr. Sutherland moved to amend the mo*
tion by including the harbor bill, and the light
house bill. .
Messrs. Mercer and Jarvis both moved
amendments, which were rejected.
Mr. Claiborne moved to add the land bill.
Mr. Owens moved the previous question,
which was seconded, and on the main question
being put, it was decided in the negative, there
not being two thirds in favor of it 113 to 74.
Bv general consent, on motion of Mr. Cam
breleng, the two engrossed bills containing
the appropriation for the Indian Department
were taken up, and Mr. Grennell and Mr.
Alford addressed the House. The latter
gentleman was on the floor when our paper
weut to press.
Senate. ? Friday, Ftb. 3, 1837.
Bills were reported for the appropriation of
certain sums of money to improve thb port
of Pensacola ; to exempt from duty iron im
ported for rail roads under certain conditions ;
to sanction sundry acts o? the Legislative
Council of Wisconsin Territory ; incorpora
ting certain banks, under certain conditions ;
to suspend the navy hospital tax for one year,
with amendments ; for the relief of the heirs
of Henry Eckford i for the rdief of Andrew
Forrest ; for the relief of Hannah Smith ;
were severally read a first time and ordered
to a second reading.
Mr. Davis from the committee on Com
merce, reported a bill and resolutions propo^
sing to substitute the navy hospital tax, by
charging the amount of tax, $150,000, upon
the Treasury of the United States.
Mr. Calhoun, after hearing the resolutions
read, said that he was decidedly opposed to
the whole subject. Its tendency was to in
crease the prevailing disease of the Govern
ment, the accumulation of patronage and pow
er in the hands of the Central Government.
This was the commencement of a system
which would lead no one knew to what ex
cess of patronage. He was solemnly im
pressed with the necessity of curtailing
patronage, to arrest the tendency of all mea
sures to increase the central power. This
Government was already surcharged with
patronage, and it must be diminished ; and he
now entered his solemn protest against the
system proposed bv the bill. It is a propo
sition to change the old system, and tends
directly to the increase of the corrupting pa
tronage and power of this Government. Why
should the Government pay the expenses of
one class of men rather than another ?
Shall commerce and navigation be taken in
favor, while other interests are left to their
own resources? Why not pay the dociors
bills for the rice-growers, and cotton planters,
as well as the class engaged in navigation ?
He was opposed to all such schemes. It was
lime to halt. The patronage and corruptions
of the Government were rapidly undermining
our liberties and it is time to provide for our
security, by cutting off the fdtal causes of
corruption *nd despotism.
After some remarks by Mr. Davis in reply,
the bill and resolutions were ordered to be
printed.
A bill from the House making appropria
tions for expenses of the Indian department
for the current year, was read a fiist and
second time, and referred to the committee on
Indian affairs. Also, a bill making appropri
ations for the support of the army for the ycir
1887, referred to the committee on Finance.
The Senate then proceeded to the conside
ration of the special order of the da v ? the
amendment proposed by Mr. Whiie, of Ten*?
nessce, being under consideration.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Reports from several committees were re
ceived and disposed of.
Mr. Reed asked leave to introduce a reso
lution from the committee on Naval Affairs
authorising the construction of six sloops of
war.
Mr. Philips asked leave of the House to
offer a resolution requesting of tne Executive
information relating to the exploring expe
dition.
The rule was suspended.
Mr. Robertson moved an amendment as a
substitute, which Mr. Philips accepted. Mr.
Robertson's resolution embraced a request for
information, as to the conveyance of Santa
Anna to Mexico in a public vessel. Not car
ried.
The resolution was then adoptpd.
The Speaker laid before the House a com
munication from the Secretary of War, con
taining a survey of James River ; referred to
the committee on Commerce.
The House then proceeded to the private
orders of the day.
The House took up the joint resolution
granting a pension to the widow of Commo- J
dore Decatur.
Mr. Washington moved an amendment, al
lowing her the arrearage of the pension.
Mr. Hardin made a mo'.ion to strike out,
so as to render the pension liable to the debts
of Commodore Decatur.
Mr. Washington addressed the House in
favor of the amendmeut proposed by him, and
in opposition to that of Mr. Hardin. Mr.
Washington modified his amendment, so as
to invest the arrearage of half pay in the
Secretary of the Treasury for the use of Mrs.
Decatur.
Mr. Whittlesey moved that the whole sub
ject be committed to the committee on Naval
Affairs.
A debate took pl^ce, which was going on
when our paper went to pres?.
SENATE. ? Feb. 6th 1837.
*
Abolition Petitions. ? Yesterday may
be regarded as a kind of jubilee of the abo
litionists, both Houses of Congress being
engaged nearly the whole of the day in the
discussion of the questions growing out of the
incendiary petitions. We shall confir.e our
selves to a brief outline of the proceedings,
for it would require more space than we
can spare to go fully into the detail. ?
The subject is one of the deepest interest
to the South, and its attention is direct
ed with much solicitude to the currents of
events, both in aud ont of Congress, in
relation to it. We regret, much regret, that
we cannot give all that was said on both sid?>s,
for we feel assured that both sections would
be benefitted by a perusal of the whole pro
ceedings as they occurred. The tone, the
temper, the spirit of what was said and done,
are, of course, lost to the reader ? we can
only present the less interesting, because
merely argumentative p 'ints of difference in
volved in the debate. The discussion from
the beginning to the end was of the most
animated character ? and we have never lis
tened to a debate in Congress with more ab
sorbing solicitude.
The subject u as introduced in the Senate
early in the day, by the presentation of a
petition from sundry citizens of Indiana, by
Mr. Tipton, one of the Senators from that
State. He expressed himself decidedly op
posed to the prayer of the petitioners ; and
farther declared that he did not believe that
Congress had the right to interfere with sla
very, either in the States or the District of
Columbia. He felt himself, however, bound
to present the petition, and moved its refer
ence to the Committee on the District of
Columbia.
Mr. Calhoun read one of the rules of the
Senate, which required that all petitions,
before the reception, should be moved and
seconded by those who presented them. He,
therefore, objected to the leception but upon
a compliance with the rule. In this he was
sustained by the Chair ; and in order to save
time, Senators who held petitions were called
upon to present them together. This was
done, and they came in 4 fast and furious "
The question then arose as to the right of
petition on this subject, and the obligation to
receive them on the part of Congress.
Messrs. Ewing, of Ohio, Morris, Tipton, and
others maintained that the refusal to receive
them encroached on the right of petition, and
at the same time tended to increase the
excitement about abolition in the free States,
by uniting the advocates of the right of peti
tion and the abolitionists, on grounds of ex
pediency and constitutionality ; therefore they
urged the reception and reference of the pe
titions.
Mr. Calhoun denied that any body of men
had the right to force their petitions on this
subject on Congress ? and proved, from the
very Ianguageof the rule of the Senate, which
he had read, as well a? from the nature of the 1
subject, and the character of the body, that
it had the right to reject the petitions. He
was followed by
Mr. Bayard, a Senator worthy of his own
great and fearless and irrejrroachable name, in
an argument at once clear and conclusive, that
the refusal to receive did, by 110 means, con
flict with the right of petition. The constitu
tion had provded that Congress should pass no
law to ,4 prohibit the people from peaceably
assembling together to petition for a redress of
grievances ." This was all that the constitu
tion said upon the subject. And did any man
propose to pass such a law ? No. The peo
ple had a right to petition ? arising not from
the constitution, but from the very nature of
the Government. But it was for Congress to
say whether it would receive, entertain, dis
cuss, grant or reject the prayer of these peti*
tions. This did by no means conflict with the
right of petition. He was anxious to see all
discussion on these dangerous and exciting
topics cut off. For that reason he moved to
lay the motion to receive on the table. After
some further observations, this motion was
carried ?Ayes 31 ? noes 13.
Mr. Davis of Massachusetts, who was not
in his seat when the petitions had been pre
sented, ofleied those in his possession, which
were disposed of as the otiiers had been ; and
here we hoped tho matter would have
stopped. But it was otherwise decreed.
Mr. Morris, of Ohio, rose and offered an- j
ether petition, which had been overlooked in !
the first instance ; and upon this the whole
question came up again, and was discussed
with great warmth, until 5 o'clock, P. M.
Mr. Morris took the grounds that Congress
was bound to receive the petitions ; and was
sustained by Messrs. Tiplon, Wall, Webster.
Ewing, of Ohio, and Southard, and opposed
by Messrs. Calhoun, Preston, Bayard, and
Cuthbert. Mr. Rives also spoke several times
with great warmth against Mr. Calhoun, but
we could not understand distinctly whether in
favor of reception or against it. ?A conflict of
opinion between him and Mr. Calhoun oc
curred, which we shall notice hereafter.
Mr. Calhoun several times addressed the
Senate with more than his usual force, perspi
cuity and power. He avowed his determina
tion to act. upon the principle that corruption
was not the mode in which aggressions was
to be met. He would mee0the enemy on
the frontiers, and dispute every inch of ground
with him. He called for the read-ng of two
petitions as samples of the whole, and dwelt
wirh great ?'arneslness on the insulting man
ner in which the southern people were treat
ed in them. Their whole sociaWsystem was
held u > as abominable in the sight of God and
man, an outrage^on all laws, human and divine.
He all ided, in tones of the deepest and most
solemn pathos, to the ^-reat change which
had taken place in the character of the coun
try, and es|?ecially of the South. He drew a
picture of the pursuits of a people, utterly
absorbed in the accumulation of rrumey, pros
tituting the noblest faculties of the soul to
the ignoble aims of filthy lucre, while their
rights, liberties and honor were left without
defence, to the mercy of their enemies. He
held up the ho_rid demon of Avarice, and de
voted him to the infernal Gods. He took a
view of the domestic institutions of the South,
contrasted them with those of the North, and
of all other free States on the globe ? defended
their moral, social and political tendencies ?
and declared his willingness to shed the last
drop of his blood in defence of them.
Mr. Preston also mingled in the debate,
with that fervor of feeling, and power of elo
quence, which all who have heard must feel, |
but none faithfully describe, He levelled h.s
remarks particularly at the principles avowed
by Judge Southard, who had expressed a de^
sire to separate the question of abolition from
that of the power of Congress to suppress the
slave trade in the District and between the
States. He showed conclusively, that the
effect of both was the same, and that either
must inevitably lead to the dissolution .of the
Union, and other unnamed and unnumbered
horrors.
Messfs. Cutbbert and Bayard followed ;
the former in defence of the institutions and
character of the southern States, which he
vindicated with great warmth, the latter hi
support of the views he had already taken
upon the right of petition, and the power of
Congress in regard to the subject. He depre
cated the discussion of such exciting topics ?
showed its dangerous ter.dency, and trusted
that this petition would tak<> the same direc
tion with the others. For his spirited and
patriotic course, he deserves the gratitude of
evciy southern bosom ? of every man in the
Union.
The questiou was finally taken, and the
petition was doomed to follow the course of
its predecessors ? yeas 32, nays 15. We have
but given a sketch of what passed. There
were episodes which we have not noticed, in
which Messrs. Rives, Calhoun, and Webster*
bore aprominent part. Mr.Rives's course must
condemn him for ever in the estimation of the
people whom he represents.
We cannot dsmiss this subject without a
gain warning the slaveholding States against
the apathy which has taken possession of them.
The future is full of danger, and their united
ceaseless exertions are nece^ary to arrest the
tide that is setting in against them. Could
they have th s day heard the spirit-stirring ap
peals, the profound less <ns of wisdom, as they
fell from the lips of Mr. Calhoun they would
furgct their miserable speculaiions%\.hc'\T engros
sing pursuit of gain, and app'y themselves to
the only means of securing themselves against
the impending evils. They would no longer
fold their hands as idle spectators of the scene, I
but would ri.-e in every part, on mountain, hill,
and plain, to assert their rights, and to tell
these invaders to stand back at the peril of
their own lives. They would strengthen the
hands of those who, almost alone, as.>a led, ca
lumniated and denounced, have, under every
disheartening circumstance nobly and honora
bly devoted themselves to the maintainance of
their honor, their liberties, and their lives. ?
Telegraph.
SENATE. ? Wednesday February 8, 1837.
Mr. Webster presented a petition signed
by fifteen hundred merchants of the city of
New York, praying for the establishment of a
national bank in that city. Mr. Webster
stated .he signers were among the most res
pectable in the country, and included person?
of ail political parties, and accompanied the
petition with some remarks in favor of the
prayer of the petitioners.
The Senate then adjourned to the Hall of
Representatives, to hear the votes for Presi
dent and Vice President counted.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
On motion of Mr. Anthony a message was
sent to the Senate.
The members of the Senate entered the
! Hall, preceded bv the Sergeant^at- Arms of the
two Houses, and took seats at the right of the
Speaker's chair which had been assigned them.
The President of the Senate, who presided
over the two Houses when acting in conjunc
tion, then rose and said, that the two Houaes
now being assembled, they would proceed to
the discharge of the duty for which they had
met together.
Mr. Grundy, on the part of the Senate, tad
Messrs. Lincoln and Thomas, were appoint*
ed Tellers, and proceeded lo read the returns.
After the returns had been read by the Tel?
lers the President of the Senate announced tb*
result, which was as follows :
FOR PRE8IDENT.
For Martin Van Buren, 170 votes, including
the three votes of Michigan; ILL. White#
26 votes ; Daniel Webster, 14 votea ; Willi#
P. Mangum, 11 votes.
The President of the Senate then declared '
Martin Van Buren to be duly elec.'ed Preaident
of the United States, for the four years subse
quent to the 4th of March next.
FOR VICE PRESIDENT.
For R. M. Johnson, 147 votrs ? without
the votes of Michigan, 144 ; Francis Granger,
77; John Tyler, 47 ; William Smith, of Ala
bama, 23.
_ There not beii.g a majority of the whole
number of votes, the President declared that
there had been no election by the Electoral
Colleges of a Vice President, and that coote*
quently the duty ot electing that officer would
! devolve on the Senate of the United State**
SENATE. ? Thursday , February 9, 1837.
. On motion of Mr. Grundy, the Senate
adopted a resolution ordered the Secretary lo
inform the House of Representative* that, in
obedience tj the provisions of the constitution,
the Senate had elected Mr. Richard
Johnson Vice President of the United Stst*
es, for four years, from and after the 4th of
March next.
I
MESSAGE IN RELATION TO MEXICO
In Senate, February 7, 1837*
The following message was received from
the President of the United States, through
Mr. Jackson, his private Secretary:
To Ike Senate of the United States:
At the beginning of this session, Congress
was informed that our claims upon Mexico
had not been adjusted, but that, not withstands
<hig the irritating effect upon her councils of
the movements in Texas, I hoped, by great
forbearance, to avoid the necessity of again
bringing the subject of them to your notice.
That hope has b.-en d ia p pointed. Having in
vain urged upon that government the justice of
those claims, and my indespensable obligation
to insist that there should be ?? no further delay
in the acknowledgment, if not in the redress
of the injures complained of," my duty re
quires that the whole subject should be pre*
sented, as it now is, for the action ofCongrest,.
whose exclusive right it is to decide on the
further measures of redress to be employed
The length of time since some of the injuries'
have been committed, the repeated and una
vailing application for redress, the * wanton*
character of some of the outrages upoo the
property and persons of our citizens, upon the
officers and flag of tfie Unired States, indepen
dent of recent insnlts to this Government an4
people by the iate Extraordinary Mexican*
Minister, would jusr.ify, in the eyes of sll
nations, immediate war. That remedy, how
ever, should not be used by just and generous
nations, confiding in their strength for inju
ries committed, if it can be honorably avoided;*
and it has occurred to me that considering
the present embarrassed condition of that
country, we shoul I act with both wisdom and
moderation, by giving to Mexico one more op?
portunity to atone for the past, before we take
redress inio our own hands.
To avoid all misconception on the part, of
Mexico, as well as to protect our own nation**
al character from reproach, this, opportunity
should be given, with the avowed design and
full preparation to take immediate satisfaction
if.it should not be obtained on a repetition of
the demand for it. To thisend 1 recommend
tnat an act be passed authorising reprisals, and
the use of the naval fores of the United States
by the Executive against Mexico, to enforce
them, in the event of a refusal by the Mexican
Government, to come to an amicablo adjust
ment of the mattersin controversy between us,
upon another demand thereof made from on
board one of our vessels of war on the coast
of Mexico,
The documents herewith transmitted, with,
those accompanying my message in answer
to a call of the of Represeutativet of
the 17lh ultimo, will enable Congress to judge*
of the property of the course heretofore pursu
ed, and 10 deciie upon the necessity of that
now recommended.
If these views should fail to meet the con^
currence of Congress, and that body be able
to find in the condition of the affairs between
the two countries, as disclosed by the accom~
panying documents with those raferred to, any
wdl-groonded reasons to hope that an adjufU
ment of the controversy between them can be
effected without a resort to the measures 1
have felt it my duty to recommend, they may
be assured of my co operation in any other
course that shall be deemed honorable and pro*
per. ANDREW JACKSON
IN SENATE. ? February 9th, 1837.
Mr. Calhoun said : I have received, within the
last forty-eight hours, a communication from the
Chief Magistrate, connected with the bill now before
the Seriate, of such a nature that duty to myself, as
well as o this body, renders it necessary that I
should lav it before the Senate.
[Here Mr. C sent to the Secretary the let Mr,
which was read as follows : ]
Washington, Feb. 7th, 1837.
Sir: In the Globe of < he 6th inst. I find the fepoit
of a speech made by you on the 4th upon the land
bill, which contains the following passages, vi* ;
"Was it not notorious that the President of the
United Slates himself had been connected with the
purchase of ihe public lands ? Yes, the "experiment"
(Mr. Calhoun delighted in the word) was the cause
of speculation in public lands, and if this bill sboold
not be passed, speculations could not go on, and the
price of the public lands must consequently be re
duced. He contended that every man cotiid not bat
see that it wonld be utter ruin to those who bad bs*?
rowed money to speculate in lands, if thesysism wee
not to go/on. ' In a former part of your speech, as re
ported, you say: "The speculation which a particu
lar slate of things had given ns? to, had been pro
duced by those in power. They had profited br
that state of things ; and should this bill be passed,
it would only consummate their wishes," ccc.&e
&?:
Knowing the liabilities of reporters to err in taking
down and writing out the speeches of members er
Congress, 1 h ve made enauiry in relation Jq the a?
curracy of this report, and nave been furnished with
certificates of gentlemen who heard you, affirming
tha? it is substantially correct.
You cannot but be aware, sir; that theimpnlattaas
which your language conveys are calculated, if be
lieved, to destroy my character as a man, and that
the charge is one which, if true, ought to produce m v
impeachment and punishment as a public officer. If
1 caused the removal of the deposites for the bate
purj>oseof enriching myself or my friends by any of
the results which might grow out of that measure,
there is no term of repn?ach which I do not deserve,
and no punishment known to the laws which oaght
hot to be inflicted upon me. On the contrary, if the
whole imputation, both as> to motive and fact^be a fab
rication & a calumny, t lie punishment which belongs
to me, if guilty, is too mild lor him who v* ilfuily makes
I am aware, sir, of the eonstituiional privilege un
der which this imputation is ca>t forth, and ihe im
muniry which it secures. That privilege it is in
n<> degree my purpose to violate, however gross and
wicked may have been the abuse orit. But I exer
cise only the common right of every citizen, when
I inform you, that the imputations you hava rast up
on me are false in every particular, pot having for the
last ten years purchased any puhlk> land, or had any
interest in such purchase. The whole charge, unleas
explained, must be considered the offspring of a mor
bid imagination or of skepless malice.
1 ask yon, sir, as an act due to justice, honor and
truth, to retract this charge on the floor of the Senate,