The Madisonian. [volume], December 19, 1837, Image 3

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department since the suspension of specie payments 1
by the banks, it U proper to add, that the note* ol 1
those institutions, though to koute extent tolerated by
law in the transactions of the Government as long
a* redeemable and redeemed in gold and silver, ate
expressly prohibited to its use wben no longer so re
deemed ; that it was in obedience to the law that this
department, on the suspension of the banks, took
prompt measures to prevent tbeir receipt and avoid
their disbursement in its own operations; that the
suspension of payment by ibe banks occurred iu the
month of May, one of those months in which the
quarterly balances due to contractors are chiefly
paid off; that the entire available means of ihe de
partment for that purpose were deposited in the
bonks; that the department had no alternative but
to continue iu warrants on the bank*, or stop pay
ment altogether; tbal inasmuch as the banks had
Slven no notice of an intention to refuse gold and
Iver or their equivalent iu paying out the deposites
ol the department, it was cunsideied no violation of
law to draw on them as ii nothing had occurred;
for that reason, as well as to avoid an absolute stop
page of payment, and gain time lo accumulate a spe
cie lund, the issue of warrants on bank* was con
tinued, but in sunt steps were taken to provide a spe
cie fund for the payment of such as might be return
ed with proof of the refusal of the banks to pay
them in gold and silver;, by the lime ihey began lo
return, the department had an ample fund for their
Payment, and in every instance thev have been paid
in (he legal currency of the United States. By these
means, without sanctioning or countenancing the re
ceipt or disbursement of depreciated bank notes, this
department has b?en enabled thus far to outride the
storm, with its credit unimpaired, and is confident in
its capacity to carry on its opperatio .s, according to
adveronl'***' receiving and disbursing gold and
Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
? . _ ? AMOS KENDALL.
Hon. James K. Polk,
Speaker of the Hume of Representatives.
DEBATE IN THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
WeoNEsmr, December 13.
TEX Ml.
Mr. ADAMS having moved the reference of the
memorials, presented by himself and his colleagues
,r2? Massachusetts, on the subject of the annexation
of Texas to the Union, to a select committee, w ith
Instructions to report thereon; and Mr. HOWARD
or Maryland, having moved their reference to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs?
Mr. ADAMS said, that when he presented the
motion now under consideration, he had staled that
it was with the assent and approbation of all his col
leagues of the Massachusetts delegation in that
House. They had all presented similar memorials,
numerously signed, containing the same remon
strance against the annexation of Texas to this
Union, to those which he also had presented. Like
himself, they too had viewed this question as one of
the deepest consequence to their constituents, and to
the whole country; and as a question which involves
even the integrity of the Union by which this Confe
deracy is b9iind together; a question, in short, of the
most deep, abiding, and vital interest to the whole
American nation. For, said Mr. A. in the face of
this House and in the face of Heaven, I avow it as
my solemn belief that the annexation of an indepen
dent foreign Power lo this Government would, ipse
facto, be a dissolution of this Union. And is this a
subject lor the peculiar investigation of your Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs 1 Mr A. thought it to be
no part of the duty of that committee to consider the
subject-matter of these memorials; to investigate
that which struck a blow at the very vitals of the
Government. The question involved was, whether
a foreign nation, (acknowledged as such, in a most
unprecedented and extraordinary manner, by this
Government,) a nation ' damned lo everlasting fame'
by the reinstitution of that detested system, slavery
after it had once been abolished within its borders'
should be admitted into Union with a nation of free
men1 For, sir, said Mr. A. that name, thank God
is still ours 7 And is such a question as this, he far
ther asked, to he referred to the Committee on /V
reten Aflhirs 7
Mr. A. went on to remark, that the exact grounds
upon which the memorialists base their prayer are
not yet officially known lo the House. He had said
that he had presented one hundred and ninety peti
tions upon this subject, signed by some twenty thou
sand pe sons, and lhat his colleagues had presented
collectively, a still larger number; and he might
have referred to the fact that many other members,
from other Slates, had also presented similar inemo
nals, on the same subject. His colleagues, he said
did not think it fitting to move the reference to a se
lect committee of any others lhan those petitions
which they and he had presented, therefore he had
not done so. But the grounds,upon which the prayer
of all of them was based were the same. Different
reasons and arguments may be adduced in support
of them; but they all had one object, and not one of
them contained aught which had the least possible
connexion with the foreign affairs of the country.
The People of Ihe Commonwealth of Massachu
setts who have addressed these memorials lo this
House, (continued Mr. A.) have been deeply alarm
ed by the prospect before them, in relation to this sub
^e,cT!iey ?iave observed, wilh a.'arm not unmin
g'ed witb terror, the recent conduct of the Govern
ment towards Mexico. They have been deeply af
fected with what they have conceived to be tne ex
ceedingly equivocal course of the Government, dur
ing the last, and, as lar as it has pone, of the present
Administration, upon the .-.flairs of Texas. One
strong reason of this remonstrance, on the part of
his constituents, arose from the facl that the nation
now sought to be annexed to our own had its origin
in violence and fraud; an impression by no means
?weakened by the impulses given by the late and pre
sent Administrations lo push on this senseless and
w;icked war wilh Mexico. They have seen the ter
ritory of lhat Republic invaded bv the act of the Ex
ecutive of this Government, without any actii n of
Congress; and ihey have seen conspirators against
that Republic coming here, and contriving and con
verting their plans ol operations wilh members ofour
own Government! And, amidst all these demonstre
stranons of the true stale of the case, thev have heard
the bald and unblushing pretence, lhat ihe people of
Texas were struggling for freedom, f;nd that the
wrongs inflicted upon them by Mcxico had driven
them into insurrection, and forced them to fight for
liberty!
The CHAIR remarked that, pending the question
of mere reference, it was not in order to discuss the
subject of the annexation of Texas.
Mr. ADAMS resumed; and remarked, that one of
the grounds of objection set forth in many of the
memorials submitted to this House is the statement
that this nation of Texas originated in fraud end vi
olence; and the gentlemnn from Maryland demands
that this subject be referred to the Committee on fo
reign Affairs'! Why, sir, (demanded Mr. Adams)
what would be the reply of that commiitec lo such an
objection on the part of the memorialists, if such a
reference Mere made 1 Would it not be, that with
such an objection they had nothing whatever to do 7
{ t whether knaves, or rcbbeis, or thieves?with
the character of that people, thev hed no concern
whatever in the inquiries it was their peculiar pro
vince lo make 1 But it did appear, he must say lo
him, that when, if admitted, tne new State would
infuse its venom into ihe pure streams of our own
country, the expediency of such admission should be
carcluliy and anxiously inquired into, and an oppor
tunity be afforded those who make such allegations
to prove them tri e.
a Th!rre i'a,d !*cn rccenl evidence (continued Mr.
A.) afforded the country as to ihe real origin of the
insurrection in Texas. A citizen of Virginia (Dr
Mayo.) who for years has been appointed lo offices of
trust and profit under the last Administration, has
just issued a pamphlet in this city, which er.n be
found on sale at any bookstore, in which the author
givesaeopy of a letter written bv himself in Decem
ber, 1830, to the President of the United States in
which he declared lhat, in February, 1830, the per
son now called President Houston did, in this city
disclose to himself the author of the letter, all his
designs as to this then State of the Republic of Mci
A"d whoever will read that pamphlet
will find that what that letter Ihen contained as ihe
disclosure of a scheme to be executed,is now a matter
of history. It was written, be it remarked, in De
cember, 1KJ0, and discloses the paiticulars of a con
versa Hon which detailed the plan of the conspiracy*,
since consummated, against the Republic of Mexico
to rob that Government of the province of Texas ' '
After this disclosure (said Mr. Adams,) let gentle
men arise here, and fnlk to us, sir, (bout Texians
fighting for liberty !?abjut Texians driven to insur
reciion by the wrongs inflicted on them bv the Re
public.
Mr. A. then inquired what were, in reality, the
pretences upon which the disseverment of Texas
from the Mexican Government was justified. He
said, that as early as 1824, the Legislature of the Re
public of Mexico, to its eternal honor, passed an act
for the emancipation of slaves, and the abalilion of
slavery; and the only real ground of rebellion
against the Government of lhat Republic on the part
of Texas was lhat very decree, the onlv object of I
the insurrection, the revival of the detested system of
slavery, and she had adopted a Constitution denying '
evertoher Legislature even the power of ever cman- i
cipating her slaves,
Aj a further reason for ni* wUhtng 10 1
memorial* to the Committee on foreign JflUn.? ?
Aim mm kaid that he ?UW to speak re*pect*ull) oi
the gentlemen cotupontag that couiinitien. bu > ?
must sav that it was not constituted in such a manner
as to induce the belief that ibis report would be in
accordance with the wishes of the memjrialiMb,* ih
the presentation of whose peliuons ?l? colleagues
and himself had teen entrusted At the bead ui that
committee is a gentleman (Mr. *boi>,
himself, a slaveholder, and tt was to te feared, who
<-n>ertained a widely dillerent opinion, as to t he ?no
ralitv of the institution of slavery, lrom that hew Dy
the great mass of the memorialists. Mr. A. saw ne
had reason, even, to fear that that gentleman tavors
the annexation of Texas to this Government, anjl ne
feared and telieved that such were the sentiments oi
a majority of the committee of which that gentle
man was chairman, and to which he now ^
refer these petitions. Independently of a.I ne baa
said. Mr. A. moreover contended thai it was Mrictly
conformable to the parliamentary rule, when com
mittees are to te appointed to consider the prayer of
memorialists, to appoint a majority of such commit
tee in favor of that prayer. I his seemed to Inm as
one of the incidents of treedom of opinion itself; ne
cessary to carrv out and perfect that ireedom; and he
contrasted ihe character of a committee thus appoint
ed, with that of a packed committee ; instancing the
Committee ofWajrs and Means of the House, which,
he remarked, could pass upon petitions of the people
without so much as reading them in committee, as
had teen acknowledged by the majority of that com
mittee in a publication, to which their signatures
were affixed in the papers of that day. And yet, sir,
added Mr A., it were better that such should be the
fate oi such memorials as those under consideration,
than that they should tereferred to a committee con
stituted like that to which it was proj>osed to refer
them, bv the gentleman from Maryland.
Mr. ADAMS sgam alluded to the fact that six out
of nine of the Committer on foreign Affairs were slave
holders ; and he took it for granted th.t evcrv member
of the House who was a ?la?ebolder vraa ready for the
annexation of Tcxs. to the Union. This measure in
volved a principle with these gentlemen : for it* accom
plishment was sought not for the acquisition of so much
new territory to the country but as as a new buttress to
the tottering inatitution of slavery.
Mr. LEG ARE, of South Carolina, hero interrupted
Mr Adams, and remonstrated against the reiteration of
remarks which, if the latter would but reflect, he aver
red, would be acknowledged to be unfounded.
Mr ADAMS claimed the right to go on without in
terruption, and called the gentleman from South Caro
lina to order. . , ,
Mr LEGARE was understood to say, as he sat
down, that the time for this discussion had not yet come,
though it soon might, and advised the gentleman from
Massachusetts that "sufficient unto the day is the evil
Mr. KHETT, of South Carolina, hoped the members
of the House would suffer the gentleman from Massa
chusetts to proceed without interruption, and hear him
through this most extraordinary speech.
Mr ADAMS proceeded, and repeated that one great
objection to the proposed reference was, that six out of
nine upon ?he committee were slaveholders, and were,
therefore, not a proper committee for such a reference.
They were in feeling and in interest committed in favor
of that against which these memorials remonstrated ?
He would sav, with all respect to the two gentlemen
from South Carolina, (the moat deeply slaveholdmg
1 State in the Union,) who had just taken their scats,
1 that whether the discussion arise now or hereafter, was
| as immaterial to him as it could be to them ; it must
I come ! And though it might for the present be delayed,
' he did not believe it would forever be smothered by
j previous questions, motions to lay it upon the table, and
all the other means and arguments by which the institu
tion of slavery is wont to be sustained on that floor?
the same means and arguments, in spirit, which in an
other place have produced murder snd arson. Yea,
sir, continued Mr Adams, the same spirit which led to
I the inhuman murder of Lovejoy at Alton
The CHAIR here interposed and remarked that the
! gentleman from Massachusetts was straying widely
I from the question of reference, which was immediately
I under consideration.
Mr. PETRIKIN of Pennsylvania sent a written rno
i tion to the Chair, which was not read, the Speaker dc
i claring it to be, at that time, out of order. At the re
quest of Mr Dawson of Georgia, it was withdrawn.
Mr. SNYDER of Illinois, asked the Chair if he should
be permitted to reply to so much of the remarks of the
| gentleman from Massachusetts as related to the recent
Alton affair 1
The SPEAKER decided that what was said out of
I order it was not competent for any member to reply to
! in order.
I Mr SNYDER must, then, he paid, call the gentle
! man from Massachusetts to order, and move that he
take his seat. .... , ,
Mr. ADAMS should do this when tho sense of the
House indicated it to be their will.
The CHAIR decided that having been pronounced
out of order by the Chair, and a motion made by a mem
bet that he take his seat, according to the rules of
the House, the gentleman from Massachusetts would
do so. .
Mr. RHETT went on to make some remarks, ex
pressive of the hope that gentlemen whom Mr. Adams,
as he alleged, had so gratuitously assaulted, might be
allowed an opportunity to make a reply, when he was
called to order by the Chair.
Mr. ADAMS said, in reply to the last observation
that hail fallen from the Chair, that he would proceed
without even so much as a whisper more in relation to
the recent affair at Alton He was proceeding, when
The SPEAKER said: the gentleman from Massa
chusetts will take his seat.
Mr ADAMS resumed his seat for a moment.
Mr. BOULDIN, rising to address the Chair,
Mr. ADAMS rose and asked by what decision he had
been bidden to take his seat?
The Chair repeated what he had before said, and
read the rule again.
Mr. ADAMS then said : But 1 had said I would not
utter a whisper even to the winds of what it had given
the gentleman from Illinois so much uneasiness to
hear.
The CHAIR insisted on the rule.
Mr. ADAMS. And does the Speaker, when a
member is out of order, porem ptorily bid him to take his
seat 1
The CHAIR again explained the requisition of the
rule, and the dutv of the Speaker to enforce it.
Mr. ADAMS." But there is certainly an appeal to
the House ; and to the House I appeal, and ask the
yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. IJOULDIN claimed the floor. He had risen to
address the Chair, after the gentleman from Massachu
setts had resumed his scat. If there was to be an ap
peal from the decision of the Chair, it should have been
made before another member obtained the floor.
The Speaker said that, strictly speaking, that was
true; but the nature of the case seemed to require a
more liberal construction of the usual rule, in such
cases. , ? .
Mr GRENNELL put this question to the Chair
When a gentleman makes a motion, the effect of
which is to permit him to proceed, is it not understood
that this motion involves the condition that he proceed
"in order!"
The CHAIR said certainly.
Mr. ADAMS declared that to have been his declara
tion, in what he had already said, when called to order
by the Chair.
The veas and navs being about to be called,
Mr SNYDER withdrew his objection, and
Mr. ADAMS proceeded. He said that, as there
appeared to te an indisposition on the part of a por
i tion of the House to hear him farther upon this to
pic, at this time, he would abridge his remarks, and
' hasten to a close. What he had said was intended
I to enforce the objections which he had stated against
i the proposed relerenee of the memorials from Mas
j sachusetts to the Committee on Foreign Affairs :
| first, that the subject-matter of those memorials was
! not appropriately referrible to that committee; and,
i secondly, that that committee was not, in itself, a
properly c :jstituted committee for such a reference,
| inasmuch as six out oi nine ol the members com
' posing it were already committed, by feeling and
position, adversely to the object and prayer of the
petitioners. He had allowed himself, while urging
these objections, to make some remarks upon the
spirit manifested in this matter by gentlemen simi
larly committed, and bv those sections of country to
whfeh they telong; and thence to argue against the
propriety of the reference proposed by the member
lrom Maryland. Nor was this objection, he con
tended, at all inconsistent with that respect which he
entertained towards the gentlemen composing that
committee, in every other point of view.
Mr. A DA MS urged a still further objection to the
proposed reference, derived from the change which,
since the special session of Congress, it had teen
thought properto make in the Committee on Foreign
Affairs?a change, the contemplation of which im
pressed him still more deeply with the belief that
that committee was decidedly adverse to the prayer
i of these memorials. Three new members had been
placed upon that committee; and, as it to make it
still more emphatically a slaveholding committee, a
gentleman from Virginia had been taken from the
chair o! another important committee, and placed
upon this. For what, he would ask, was this altera
tion made 1 Whatever the motivc, he tnus'. say it
was, io hU mind, an additional reason why, u one
of the r?pm>oiitaLivea ol' the people of Ma?achu
aetts, be should not consent that iheir interest*, as
freemen, should Im cauliUed to it. Upon that com
mittee, besides the fact that six out of nine were
slaveboiding members, he i;b>ei ved the sau.e propor
tion of friend, to the administration bad been placed.
Perhaps not the identical six b.'l'ore alluded to, but
yet members ever ready to support the administra
tion in every and any measuie, be what it may?
consistent wiih their sense of duty. Now, said Mr.
A., It may be urged, as, indeed, in his section, it had
been repeatedly, that the Piesident of the United
States was agaitut the annexation of Texas; and
(bat it is a base calumny to say that any prejudice in
favor of this measure had existence at the White
House! He had seen such things iu the public prints,
, and latelv in the official paper in this city.
The CHAIK reminded the gentleman froin Mas
| sachusetts that be was straying from the subject un
' mediately under the consideration of the House.
Mr. ADAMS would come back, and keep as
nearly to the mark as he could. This he mignt be
Crmitted to say, that he and his colleagues bad seen,
reading the late Message of the Executive, how
much was not in that document, as well as how much
teas in it. History, sir, tells us (said Mr. A.) of the
funeral of a sister of one of the Roman Emperors,
which took place at a lime when Rome was steeped
in slavery, at which the statues of Brutus and Cas
sius were not seen among the splendid array of sta
tues of friends and relatives, which it was the custom
to bear in the funeral processions of I he great. And
the historian remarks that the absence of those
two friend* of liberty was more noticed by the peo
ple who witnessed the display, than (he whole train
which was present; and that the spectators of the
scene, instead of admiring the pomp and magnifi
cence of their tyrants, were thinking only of the ab
sent statues of Brutus and Cavius, ibe friends and
advocates of freedom. Sir, I could not but recall
this heroic incident as inversely applicable, w hen 1
saw, in the late Message of the Executive, so much
allusion to ihe grievances of this Government at the
hands of Mexico, and literally not a single allusion
toour relations with Texas.
1 he CHAIR observed that the Message was not
now under consideration.
Mr. ADAMS. The Committee or. Foreign Re
lations will, of course, have the subject of our rela
tions with Mexico before it; and mv objections to
the reference proposed by the gentleman from M iry
land are strengthened by this consideration. The
annexation ot Texas and Ihe proposed war with
Mexico are one and the same thing, though express
ed in different forms. Now, the message is diame
trically adverse, or, as the recenily fashioncble
phrase is, it is decidedly " antagonisticnl" to the
prayer of these memorialists.
The CHAIR again reminded Mr. A. that the message
not having been referred, the connexion attempted to be
shown between any portion of its contents and the pre
sent motion of reference was too far-fetched to be in
order.
Mr. ADAMS But suppose these memorials were
against a war with Mexico ; would it not be in order to
discuss that part of the message ielating to that subject,
upon the question of reference !
ibe CHAIR. 'I hat is not the point under discus
sion, and it will be time enough for the Chair to decide
it when it arises.
Mr. ADAMS remarked that, did he not know what
the composition of that House was, he would appeal
from the decision of the Chair. He considered it per
fectly competent lo argue, as fie had done, upon the un
fitness of ilie Committee on Foreign Affairs to act upon
these memorials, by reason of the fact that so much of
the message as relates to the affairs of Mexico, would
of course bo referred to that committee. Bui, under
the decision of the Chair, he should reserve what ho
had to say further on that point, until the mouths of
members inclined to advocate the cause of freedom up
on that floor should be permitted to be opened more
widely; if, indeed, there was any hope that that time
would ever arrive.
Mr. A. remarked, in closing, that he did not wish the
parliamentary usage in sncli cases to he strictly observed
in this instance, in the appointment of a mover of a se
lect committee to he chairman of that committee, should
the motion he had made prevail; but he did claim lhat
the chairman and the majority should !>? favorable to tho
prayer of the petitioners. This he considered it was
his right toelaim, as parliamentary practice of long stand
ing. He did not ask for a great majority, but simply a
bare majority.
Mr. W ISE, of Virginia, said he had not risen to dis
cuss the motion immediately before the House. He re
gretted that the gentleman from Massachusetts had
gone so much at length, and in such a manner, into tho
merits of a question not yet before that body. He felt
no excitement at what he had just been listening to
though the remarks which had fallen from the gentleman
were calculated to produce such feelings. He had risen
merely to <nake the motion he had indicated his intention
of offering yesterday, and he should give his reasons
very briefly, for that motion.
All these memorials are merely negative. They do
not ask for any action of this House upon any matter yet
before il, but simply, that the propriety of an act, not
now proposed to be done, be referred to a cornmittce of
this House. There was clearly no need at present, of
any such reference as was proposed. The Republic ol
Texas had attempted to open a negotiation for admis
sion to the Union, with this Government, which over
ture was declined on the ground of our relations with
Mexico. This government had peremptorily refused to
do any thing whatever upon the matter. Nothing had
been done, or had been proposed to be done, in Congress
upon the subject. No memorial in favor of such a
measure had ever been before this House. No reference
of any such subject had been made to a committee, nor
had any committee to consider it been appointed. It
was time enough, Mr. Wise conceived, to discuss the
subject which had been dwelt upon with so tnuch feel
ing and earnestness by the gentleman from Massachu
setts, when it should come up regularly for discussion.
As to the question of slavery in Texas, and the infusion
of its "venom" into the pure morality of this Republic,
for the present (said Mr. Wise,) we certainly may not
sav to the Republio of Texas, in the words of St. Paul,
" Would to God that thou wert both almost and alto
gether such as we are, except these bonds !"
He moved to lay the pending motions of reference on
the table.
Mr. RHEITandMr DAWSON appealed to Mr.
Wise to withdraw his motion, to enable them to make
some reply to what had fallen from Mr. Adams.
Mr. W ISE insisted upon his motion, as the only
proper coursc to be taken in the present position of the
subject.
Mr GRENNELT,, of Massachusetts, demanded the
yeas and nays, which were ordered ; and being taken,
stood as follows :
YEAS?-Messrs. Alexander, Anderson, Atherton,
Beirne, Bell, Birdsall, Bould.n, Brodhead, Bronson,
Bruyn, John Calhoun, Cambreleng, W*i||iam B. Camp
i?!."' T' J- Car,er' VV,n 11 Carter, Casev, Chambers,
Chmev, Chapman, Cheatham, Cillev, Claiborne. Clark,
Cleveland, iCobs, Craig, Crockett, Cushman, Debcrry,
DeGrafl, Dennis, Dromgoole, Edwards, Ewing Far
rington, Fairfield, Gallup, J. Garland, J Graham, Grant
land, Graves. Griffin, Ilamer, Harlan, Harrison, Hawes,
Hawkins, Keynes, Holt, Hopkins, Howard, Hublcy,
R. M. T. Hunter, Ingham. Jabez Jackson, Joseph
Johnson, Jenifer, Wrm C. Johnson, Nathaniel Jones,
John \Y. Jones, Kcmblc, Lnwler, liOgaif, J>cadbottert
Looinis, Lyon, Mallorv, James M Mason, Martin'
Maury, May, McKay. A McClellan, McKim.Mene
fee. Mercer, Miller, Montgomery, Moore, Morgan, S.
W. Morris, Muhlenberg, Murray, Noble, Palmer, Pat
ton, Pearee, Pennybaeker, Petriken, Phelps, Pl'umer,
Pope, Pratt, Prentiss, Randolph, Rencher, Hives, Ro
bertson, Rumscy, A. H. Shepperd, Shields, Sheplor,
Smith, Snyder, Sonthgate, Spencer, Stanly, Stewart,
Stone, Taliaferro, Taylor, Titus, Toncey, Underwood)
Vail, Wagener, Webster, John White, Thomas T.'
Whittlesey, Lewis Williams, Sherrod Williams, Jared
W. Williams, Joseph L. Williams, Wise, Worthinir
ton, Yell?127. K
NAYS?Messrs Adams, Heman Allen, John W.
Allen, Aycrigg, Bicknell, Biddle, Bond, Borden,
Bfiggs, Buchanan, William B Calhoun, Clowney. Cor
win, Cranston, Cushing. Darlington, Dawson, Davies,
Duncan, Dunn, Evans, Everett, Richard Fletcher, Fill
more, Gholson, Goode, W. Graham, Grennell, Haley,
Hall, Halstead, Hastings, Henry, Herod, William ft!
Hunter, Thomas B. Jackson, Lincoln, Marvin, Samson
Mason, Robert McClellan, McKennan, Milligan, Mat
thias Morris, Naylor, Noycs, Ogle, Parker, Parmenter,
Patterson, Peck, Phillips, Potts. Heed, Rhett, Ridg
way, Russell, Sheffer, C. Shepard, Sibley, Slade, Strat
ton. Tillinghast, Toland, Turney, Albert S. White,
Elisha Whittlesey, Christopher If. Williams, Yorke.'
?68.
So the motion of Mr. Wise was agreed to, and tho
whole subject ordered to lie on the table.
ITEMS.
Sxow.?The sleighing is good from Boston to Alba
ny and on westward, we do not sknovv how far. Here
the ground is entirely uncovered, and the weather very
fine.?N. Y. Jour, of Com.'t ?
Ttnnerxte l.rgi*taturt.?A resolution was introduced
into the House on the 26ih tilt. instructing their Senators
and requesting their Representatives in Congress, to
vote for and to use their influence to establish a Bank of
I the United States at the ensuing session
OPINION'S OF REPUBLICAN JOURNALS
M the hutuutal portion of tkt Mittagt.
Fro* the (later, (N. V ) Sentinel.
The President again recommends to Congnu the
1 ?]o|>Uoi) of llit Sub-Treasury system. Our sentiments
on tin* ?object have been 10 recently expressed, th?t it
j i, uiinuceaury (or us to aay more at tins time, ami uutli
' we ?ee the detail* of the new bill which in?y be submit
ted to Congress, tlisu that we have found, to uae the
wordi of the Piesidont, ?* no reason to change (our) own
opinion aa to the expediency of adopting the ayateui
pro|>oaed"
. We continue to believe ihat the viewa of tiie Globe in
1834, which theu denounced it at " disorganizing and
revolutionary," and as exposing the public money to be
"plundered by an hundred hands where one cannot now
reach it," were correct. We continue to believe with
' General Jackson, (and a more honest, well meaning,
1 patriotic and sagacious man is seldom, if ever to be
? found,) that such a system, "to lock up in vaulta the
treasure of the nation," would be ruinous to the best in
I terests of the people and " dangeroua to the liberties of
I the country." We continue to believe that it is better
! suited for a monarchy than for a republican government;
? and we are not without the apprehension, that if adopted
' it may, to uae the warning words of the laat of the revo
lutionary stock of Presidents, " tempt the ambiiion'' of
some crafty and designing Executive to mount a step or
two higher than the Constitution framed by the patriots
and sages of '76 contemplates.
We had hoped that the result of the recent elections
would have convinced Mr. Van Buren that a large ma
jority of the people are opj>oaed to all ultra or radical
measures; and that they will not tolerate any policy
which will have a tendency to break down and destroy
the state institutions, and check the enterprise aud ope
rations of the whole country. Hut, we must confess, we
are disappointed, 'l'he voice of the ballot box has had
no effect. We regret this?we regret that a democra
tic President should treat with indifference the decision
of the people. We regret still more that be should as
j sert tli.it a large portion of the |>eople were governed by
sinister influence. Such sentiments do not become a
: man who sprung from the people. The assertion can
! uot be sustained. The diminution of the republican
vote for Senator thia year in Ulster, from the republican
vote given three years ago, is 1945. l'he diminution
of the republican vote in Dutchess is 1676. The diini
j tuition qf the republican vote in Orange is 1353. Was
all tliia difference ejected through the influence of the
; moneyed institutions ! No! It was produced by the
avowal, on the part of the administration candidate for
Senator, of his attachment to radical measures, one of
which was the ill-fated Sub-treasury project.
The observations of the President, relative to the
conduct of Mr. Biddle, the truatee of the Bank of the U.
S., in issuing, recently, its notes in place of those of the
new institution, are forcible and just.
From the Poughkerpsie (N. Y.) Journal.
We hail the Message as a harbinger of better coun
cils and belter limes, and if the "apple of discord can
be thrown to tlie dogs," the democratic |>arty will, pre
sent an undivided front, marshalled on the middle
grctind, between loco-focotxui on the one hand, and fed
eralism on the other. 1'ho inere separation of bank and
state will of itself pro luce no serious evil*, but that fea
ture of the Sub-Treasury plan which makes a distinction
I between the currency of the states, and that received by
government, or which requires the payment o! govern
ment dues, after a limited time, in specic only, we yrt
believe is calculated to work ruinous results, and in the
end, destroy state institutions. 'Twas this feature of
Van Btiren's scheme which raised up against him hosts
of opponents, and produced more of the changes witnest
od at the late elections, than any other cause. Under
this conviction we are sorry to find the cry of " bank
influence," raised by the Globe and E\ening Post,
cchocd in the Message, and referred to as the prominent
influence operating upon the late elections. If it be true
that the Sub-Treasury plan "ought not to be regarded
as a measure of hostility" toward the banks, it pays but
a poor compliment to that large mass of our citizens w ho
are directly or indirectly interested in sustaining them.
If, on the other hand, it be a uieasure of hostility, (and
we believe the people are capable of judging for them
selves.) the result of the election proved that the people
came to rescue their institutions, and were determined
to sustain them, let who would oppose. That they will
continue to sustain them, we firmly believe, and hence
are fully of opinion, that so long as Mr. Van Buren
directly or indirectly gives countenance to measures that
in their operation (no matter how intended,) injuriously
affect the institutions of the people in the siatcs, so long
will he encounter an invincible opposition. His last
message gives us ground for hope that he so regards it,
and that a course will yet be taken by his friends in
Congress, in accordance with " the national will" which
he truly savs " is the supreme law of the Republic."
MR. RIVES AND NEW ENGLAND DANCING.
Much speculation appears to be going on in the pa
pers, respecting Mr. Rives. The Portland Advertiser
fears that an attempt is to be mado to nominate Mr.
11. for the 'Presidency, and that its (the federal) party
will bo brought mto his support. The Jeffersouian of
the same place, an administration, sub-treasury paper,
docs not believe Mr. R. entertains the least desire to
join the Federal party, that he has too much good sense
and respcct for his political reputation to do any such
act. A Washington Correspondent has written a long
rigmarole of nonsense respecting Messrs. Rives and
Garland, to the editor of the Columbus Mississippi De
mocrat, to prove that Mr Rives, when he. becomes Pre
sident of the United States, is to make Mr. Garland Se
cretary of State, for his efforts at the extra session of
Congress in favor of the Deposite Baiik System. Al
most every paper we receive contains some speculation
respecting our Senator, and we are pained to say that
all, or nearly all, the sub-treasury papers are continually
charging hiin with having deserted the party and become
or about to become a Federalist.
It were well enough for these scribbles and editors
firat to enquire what their course has been before they
attribute improper and unworthy motives to the talented
and consistent Senator of Virginia. Who recommended
the Deposite Bank System ? President Jackson. Who
were the advocates of the measure? Mr. Van Buren
and the Democratic party in every part of the United
States. Who said the measure worked well and much
hotter than a National Bank? The President of the
United States, tho Secretary of the Treasury and all
the Republican party. Who were engaged in defend
ing the system ? These same editors who aro now en
deavoring to make a Federalist of Mr. Rives. What
party mado it their rallying cry in their elections in
1834-'5 ? The same that elected Mr. Van Buren to
the Presidency. There never was a measure, perhaps,
that was defended with such unanimity of opinion by any
party as the Deposite Bank System.
Who voted for Mr. Rives' Currency Bill at the last
regular session of Congress? Every person in the
United, States Senate except fire, and three-fourths of
the mombers of the House ot Representatives. But
the bill was defeated by the President's not returning it
before the adjournment* of thai Congress. It is the be
lief of many that that was one of the causes which led
to a suspension of specie payments ; whereas, if it had
been adopted it would have greatly mitigated, if it had
riot averted many of the evils under which the couptry
has been suffering ever sinco. Did Mr. R. become a
Federalist by bringing forward this measure ? If so, all,
or nearly all the supporters of the administration in Con
gress, became Federalists by voting for it. When the
next session of Congress met, who changed, who were
consistent then? Did Mr. It. change! No. He
brought forward a similar measure, and was still an ad
vocate of the State Bank Deposite System ; and for sup
pressing small bank notes ; for having a metallic circu
lation of gold and silver for all the common and ordina
ry transactions of the farmer, mechanic and laborer;
leaving bank notes for the commercial transactions of
the country. And he was as much opposed to a Na
tional Bank as he ever was; as much so as Mr. Van
Buren or Mr. Benton. Of what use is it then for somo
of the sub-treasury papers to be continually endeavoring
to create an impression among the Republican party to
| the prejudice of Mr. Rivea, thai he has become a Fedc
: ralist. Let them be as honest as a gentleman of our
'acquaintance, who favors the sub-treasury scheme. He
' toaid " I admit that there has been no inconsistency on
; the part of Mr. Rives, for it is we (the sub-treasury
men) that have changed."
We will not say that the supporters of the sub-treasu
ry have become Federalists, but that they have shifted
their ground, admits of no question, and doctrines that
were once declared to bo revolutionary and disorganiz
| ing, are now upheld as the only true Democratic doc
; trine, and which alone can aave the party from destruc
j lion. It seems, however, that even the advocates of
! the sub-treasury are becoming a little alarmed, and be
i gin to fear that the people will not go with them; that
| the people's" heads are not to be turned by every new
; piprr, pipe he never so charmingly.
We have heard an anecdote which occurred at Wash
ington during the extra session of Congress, which,
perhaps, will apply to many of those who are now en
gaged in endeavoring to put Mr. Rives down;, we,
( therefore, give it to our rcsders. One of the Senators
from one of the New England States, who had been
warm in his support of Mr. Rives'Currency Bill, snd
voted for it. when it was first brought forwsrd, and we
believe after the adjournment of Congress was engaged
in supporting it by means of the press, snd in his Cor
j respondenee,?at ihe extra sessiou of Congress voted
aiuii->t it. Ou being l?>w it tu that be
to had alwaya act*d with Mr. Rivea, ami to generally
?greed with him on political questions, could now vote
agaiuat a measure that be- bad but an months before
voted in fa Mr of; be replied, that in the State which
be came from, it was a rule m dancing, that when the
tune changed in the dance, ihsl those who were danc
ing abould change too. And you know air, that we have
lately got a new piper, that be has changed the tune,
and it was right 1 should change also.
A geiitleipan in Now England wrote to bis friend in
Washington to enquire of Mr. Rive* if be intended lo
become a Federalist t Mr K replied no, I do not, and
you may inform your friend that I have not letrned to
dance after the fashion in lua country, / cannot cluugt
cetry lime lk? tune ekan//tt. When any of our friends
feel inclined to censure Mr. Hives, we hope they will
boar in mind that he cannot change merely becauae a
now tune is set to a new key. We hope before Con
gress shall bare beun in session many moutba that we
shall have a tune piped that all the Democrats can join
in sounding, so (hat wo can dance in one grand, OU1
Virginia Kiel?Charlullctrii!' Republican.
TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
IN SENATE,
Monday, Dec. 18.
Mr. CALHOUN appeared to-day and took hi* seat.
Reports from the Secretary of lite Treaaurv relative
to the prevention of frauds on the revenue: also
From the Navy Depart me .(, respecting the Navy
Pension fund : also
A communication from the Cdinmixsioner of the Pub
lic Buildings, relative to the expendilurea on the same
for the pist year.
Severally laid on the table, am) ordered to be printed.
Mr. BUCHANAN presented a petition from sundry
citizens of Philadelphia, in connexion with resolutions
and the memorial of the working men's convention,
lately held in that city, praying Congress to suppress
banking, and establish the Sub-treasury system upon a
pure specie basis.
Referred to the Committee on Fiuancc, and ordered
to he printed.
Mr. WALL presented ihe petition of twelve men
and thirteen women of Burlington county, N. J.
against the annexation of Texas?when on motion
to lay the same on the table,
Mr. PRESTON hoped the motion would be
withdrawn, and begged leave to give notice, that in
consequence of the numerous petitions presented on
this subject?all of a negative nature, and when no
disposition had been manifested on the part of Con
gress, to introduce the annexation, he should at an
early day institute an inquiry into the expediency of
annexing Texas to the Union. This he should not
have done but he thought the Sentate had been driv
en to the course by the constant pouring in of these
petitions, he wished the operation definitely deter
mined.
A long and animated discussion on the subject of
abjlitiou on a petition being presented by Mr.
HALL. A motion to lay the Lsame on the table,
which was supported by Messrs. CALHOUN,
I PRESTON, ROANE, RIVES, and others, and op
| posed by Messrs. CLAY, CUTHBERT, DAVIts,
and others, but which (in consequence of the late
ness of the hour of adjournment, we are obliged to
omit) was finally decided. Yeas 25?nays '20.
Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Moxdav, December 18.
Mr. BRIGGS, of Massachusetts, rctnindrd the
House that a few days ago, his colleague, Mr. Fletcher,
was excused fioni serving on the Committee of \\ aya
and Means. He, Mr. Briggs, has been appointed to the
vacancy by the Speaker. But under the circurnstancea
of the case, he thought it would be improper for him to
accept the situation, and this wss the opinion of all his
colleagues, with a few exceptions. He therefore, re
spectfully asked to bo excused from the service; and
the House then directed that the vacancy be filled
Various petitions and memorial# were then presented
by many members.
Mr. BOON offered a resolution directing the Com
mittee on the Public Lands to inquire into the expe
diency of reducing and graduating the price of the same,
and affording pre-emptive rights to actual settlers ;
?greed to.
Mr. FILLMORE presented a memorial from many
members of the bar and others, citizetis of Buffalo, pray
ing the abolttion of imprisonment for debt.
Several memorials were presented by members from
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, praying the
abolition of slavery in the District, and remonstrating
against the annexation of Texas ; laid on the table.
Mr. B RON SON of New York, presented the fol
lowing petitions, viz :
Petittof, of Mary Snow, widow of Jonas Snow, a Re
volutionary soldier now deceased, praying for a pen
sion.
The petition of Chaancy Calhoon of Watertown, N.
Y., praying for the payment of the balance due to hitn
from the II. States for work done on the Madison Bar
racks, Sackcls Harbor
The petition of sundry citizens of Jefferson county,
N. Y., for the construction of a ship canal around the
falls of Niagara.
On motion of Mr. BRONSON, the following resolu
tion was adopted :
Resolved, That the Committee orl Roads and Ca
nals be directed to inquire into the expediency of con
structing a ship and steamboat canal around the Falls of
Niagara?and that the Report of the Secretary of War
to the lioiiBeof Representatives of the 14th April, 1830,
together with the maps and accompanying documents
(numbered 214 of 1st session of 24th Congress) toge
ther with all other papers on file with the Clerk of this
: House relating lo that subject, be transferred to said
' Committee.
Mr. ADAMS presented the memorial of the Massa
chusetts Peace Society, praying Congress to accede to
the proposition made by the legislative authority of Mex
ico, for the adjustment of the difference between that
I country and this.
Mr. ADAMS moved that the petition be referred to a
| select committee, with instructions to read, deliberate,
; and report upon the same.
Mr. HOWARD submitted whether the subject had
1 not been fully referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations, by the reference of the President's message
to that committee so far as it relates to foreign affairs.
Mr. ADAMS said the subject of the proposition of
Mexico was not even alluded to in the message of the
: President, and for that reason he had made the motion.
I He also said that the gentlemen composing the Sland
| ing Committee, had made up their minds on this sub
' ject.
i The CHAIR called the j-enileman to order.
Mr. ADAMS made, he said, two motions: first, the
motion above given, and second, a motion that the me
( motial be referred to the Committee on Foreign Rela
tions, with instruction to read, consider, and report
thereon.
Mr. HOWARD asked whether the gentleman from
Massachusetts had ever known an instance in which the
Committee on Foreign Relations had made a report
without considering the subject, or reported upon a me
morial without reading.
Mr. ADAMS was obliged to the gentleman, he said,
for an opjiortunity to say distinctly that he bad never
known an instance in which that committee had report
ed on petitions without reading them ; hut another rom
mittee (Ways and Means.) had done tins, and six out
of nine of its members admitted it.
The subject was laid over till to-morrow.
Mr. ADAMS offered a resolution calling fo^he com
munication of the pamphlet, alleged to have btrn pub
lished bv Senor Garrostiza.
Mr. ADAMS presented several petitions for the abo
lition of slavery in the District of Columbia ; and several
remonstrances against the annexation of Teias : the
reference of all which he moved, and the motions of re
ference were laid on the table.
Mr. ADAMS also presented a petition from certain
citizcna of Doxbury, Mass. against the abolition of
slavery, the refereuce to which he moved to the Com
mittee on the District, and the motion was laid on the
table.
Mr SLADE, of Vermont, in presenting several abo
lition petitions, gave notice that he would to-morrow
address the Heuse on the subject.
After the presentation of many memorials relative to
slavery and Texas, which together with the motion for
the reference of which were laid on the table,
The House adjourned.
Tiik Armv.?The last number of t ic Army Chi)
nicle contains the following notices:
PROMOTION.
Wii.liam Thimbu.!., Captain Topographical En
gineers, to be Major by brevet, November 23,1837,
vice McNeill, resigned.
A PPOINTMEVT.
Campbkix Graham, First Lieutenant and brevet
Captain 3d Artillery, to be Captain by brevet in the
Corns of Topographical Engineers, November 23,
1837, vicc Turnbnlf, promoted.
knoxiTinm.
Wm. Gibbs McNihul, Major Topographical Engi
neers, Nov. 23.
Jacor Ammkn, First Lieutenant, 1st Artillery,
July 30.
COMMUN1 CATIO Vs.
SUB-TREASURY SPECIAL DEPOSITE
WUEME-HTATE DEPOSITE BANKS
AND TREASURY NOTES.
no. r.
To t\s Publisher of Ik'. Madisonia*.
After the lapse of more than three during
which, as I gave extracts in Uiv last to show, U.e
depose banks performed all ihe duties exacted from
them Ciithfully and efficiently: up*? a sudden,the lan
guage of approbation was changed, to that of deep
and loud denunciation, from high quarters; and in
the language of Mr. Calhoun, there has b;en wit
nosed, "a war against those very bmks" waged by
those, who but a lew months before, were uuerin-?
unqualilied prais^\lo their merits.
The dtiposittf Lurks, and all the other banks in the
country, had been overwhelmed in one general ca
lamity, superinduced by the government itself, by
the request it made of the deposite bmks, to extend
all the facilities in their power to the community m
their vicinities, upon the public moneys-, and when
these facilities had been extended so far as to encou
rage those who partook of thein, to imprudent un
dertakings, then by its not countermanding the for
tner request, thereby repressing the dangerous
spirit of enterprise, have prevented its reaching
that extent, which ended in a catastrophe. Beside
this, other circumstances called for the interposition
of the head of the Treasury Department to check
these extravagant expansions, when it was first per
ceived they were progressing to a disastrous extern
The reputation of the binks which were employe |
by the government as its fiscal agents, as well a> the
character of the government itself were at stake.
In 1819, Mr. Crawford discovered, that a western
bunk employed by the Treasury Department as a
public depository, had been imprudently extending
its discounts on the public moneys deposited with it.
After a just rebuke for its so doing, he remarked I
will also add, that the interest which this Department
feels for the stability and reputation of the banks
which are used as places of deposite is not limited
to the amount of public money deposited in such
banks. TV character of the government is in s,nne
degree dependant on /he prudent management of a bonk
vhich thus Incomes its agent."
Had a Crawford been at the head of national
finances in 1835-6 and have exercised the same in
flexibility and firmness, that gentleman did in 1819,
I venture to predict, that no bank would have been
permitted to extend its discounts so wildl v, as to have
lost all control of any part of more than a million of
the public money, which I have seen it stated was the
case with the Agricultural Bank in Mississippi ?
And that too, in the brief space of about nine months
after it was first selected. Either its condition uium
have been unsound when it was selected, or its ope
rations subsequently must have been conducted in a
mast extravagantly imprudent manner.
What else could the banks do under the circum
stances that existed, but suspend for a time as they
did I The community, or a large portion of it, were
debtors to the banks. They were borne .dow n by
pressure which accompanied the revulsion then ex
isting, and which had for some time previous been in
full operation. Under these circumstances, in the
language of \ir. Crawford, in 181b: 11 At a moment
when e.ret si re importations of foreign merchandize
had involved the mercantile andmanufaeturinc classcs
in the greatest distress, and menaced thrm with im
pending bankruptcy, reason, humanity and sound poli
cy, all united against the curtailment of bank dis
counts." This representation of Mr. Crawford's
was asapplicable to the state of things which existed
at the time the banks suspended payments, as it was
to the period to which it was applied by him.
On a former occasion when the banks suspended
specie payments, the course pursued, both by Mr.
Dallas and Mr. Crawford while at the head of the
Treasury Department, was ever of the most kind
and obliging character; calculated throughout to
sustain them, and to lead to inspiring the communi
ty with confidence in them. How directly opposite
the course which has been pursued'on the late occa
sion, even up to the present moment! It appears to
justify the declaration made by Mr. Calhoun, and
a? if the object was to " make war against those very
banks" which had so long been faithful agents, and
which had at the time of the suspension nearly thirty
millions of the money of the people in their hands. ,
Human ingenuity seemed to have been directed to
the height of activity in devising schemes, whereby
to throw dishonor on the " late deposite banks"
though still holding such large amounts of the pvblic
money. The first scheme produced by the genius
of invention, operated like a two edged sword. It
was this. It was directed that w arrants drawn on
deposite banks, which they should refuse to pay in
specie, after being protested and thus dishonored,
should be received in payment of all public dues ?
The operation of this measure, was, first, to prevent
the banks from reducing the balances in their hands
by the payment of these warrants, which, with but
very few exceptions, they 'were alJle and desirous of
doing; and 'hen, it led to a great portion of the re
venue which was collected, being paid in these dis
credited warrants, (which, but for this device, as far
as it was paid in them, would have been paid in spe
cie,) and which were altogether unavailable to the
government for any use whatever.
No one can doubt the propriety of confining the
collection of the public revenue to legal currency, or
its equivalent.
Experience showed, that until the above measure
was resorted to, the public creditors were perfectly
satisfied to accept the notes of the banks, on which
warrants were drawn, in payment of them; and
there can hardly exist a doubt they would have con
tinued to do so voluntarily, but for the adoption of
that measure.' They were intrinsically as valuable
after, as they were before the suspension. They
would purchase as much subsequently as antece
dently. This is proved by the fact, w hich I have
heard frequently declared as such, that the very spe
cie which it was vauntingly announced had been
provided to pay members of Congress, at the com
mencement of the late extra session, was, nearly all
of it, sold by those who received it, to brokers, at a
premium in exchange, for inconvertible paper, in
which they paid their landlords and landladies for
their weekly biard. Will any one venture to assert,
that for this and all other purposes to which they
w ished to apply their pay, that ten dollars in paper
was not equally valuable with ten dollars in gold or
silver 1
The next step resorted to, was a circular addressed
to the disbursing agents, directing thrm to withdraw
the public moneys in their hands, deposited with
the Deposite Banks, from thein. This was followed
with circular after circular, until by the frequency
of publication, they became almost stereotyped.
The effect of all these projects and movements,
(whether intended I will not say,) was, that by the
middle of July, the public were so alarmed, and had
become so distrustful of the banks, that in the city of
New York, the notes of the Kinks there, hnd fallen
to nine and ten per cent, below the discredited war
rants of the Treasury. It was about this lime the
official organ, half exultingly, half sneeringly.staK d.
that " the Woodbury notes" were nine to ten per cent.
"above par," or above the notes of the "broken
banks." About the same lime, the same organ, for
the nurpuee of causing increased excitement against
the bnnks, when it "STATED THE CASE
charged them with paying the public in a depre
ciated currency, by which, on every ten million',
they nrxndled the people out-of one million It has
been under the prejudge* and excitement which
these steps were well calculated to instil into the
minds of an already dissatisfied portion of the peo
ple, added to the previously existing embarrass
ments which the banks labored under, that they ha\e
struggled to m?t and p.y the Treasury wa.rants