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H. OF R.]

Bank of the United States.

[MARCH 8, 1832.

which should of themselves produce a postponement of it this one. Sir, I do not hesitate to say that, upon a due to a future period. We shall see, in the end, whether this consideration of the question of rechartering the Bank of House is prepared to disregard every sound principle, the United States, in this aspect alone, no enlightened every wise maxim of a free Government, in an attempt to friend of the President can advise him to sanction any try the strength of this question at the present session charter which the present Congress shall present for his of Congress, or whether in an attempt to be resolved of the consideration. President's determination upon this subject without further But there is a stronger objection to any attempt to settle delay, it will fail in a prudent, or even decent respect for, this question during the present session, or during the and confidence in, the decision of the people upon this present Congress, than any I have yet suggested. That subject, as it may be expressed through the next Congress. it should be overlooked, if indeed it has been overlooked, Responsibility is the great conservative principle of our is only one of those strange oversights, which ever attend Government. Why was the charter of the bank limited rash and precipitate councils in affairs of great interest. to twenty years, or, it might be asked, why was it limited The self-delusion under which some gentlemen labor, who at all? Surely for the wise and politic purpose of giving have placed the whole argument in favor of acting upon to the Government the control of the whole subject at the this subject during the present session, upon the ground expiration of the term for which it was granted, and for that it is important to give quiet to the country, and to the purpose of binding it to its good behavior, by mak- prevent fluctuations in the stock of the bank, is most reing its continuance depend upon the experience of its markable. But can it be possible that gentlemen who operation, for good or for evil, to the full end of its term. take the lead in this business really believe that we have What do you propose to do now? To make a voluntary the power to settle the question now, and to give that and unnecessary surrender of the responsibility of this assurance to the public upon this subject, as to what is institution for one full fifth part of its entire term. Are or will be the fate of this institution, which their arguments we republican statesmen--are we the trustees of the in- imply?

terests of a free people, and are we ready to sanction Do they expect to settle this question now? If they such a practice, in delegating the power to regulate so do, I can‍ tell them they have not the power. Sir, both important an interest as the whole currency of the coun- Houses of Congress, with the President at their head, try!-to give to others the control of the money power of and uniting with them in opinion, have not the power to the country--a power, besides reaching to every branch settle this question now. If we had the will, we have not of private industry and of the public resources, admit- the power, to tie up the hands of the next Congress, or ted to affect, more or less, the political fortunes of indi- even of the succeeding one, if they choose to act upon viduals, of whole parties, and even the political frame and this subject. We cannot drown the voice of the people, condition of the Government itself? Is it upon a subject or set the sentiment of the country, for the next four of such magnitude that you are afraid to hear the voice of years, at defiance, if we had the desire to do so. Sir, the the people uttered through the next Congress? Is it upon British Parliament, in all its omnipotence, is not compesuch a subject that you will deliberately seek to forestall tent to bind its successors upon such a question. No public opinion, by a precipitate and premature action? lawyer in this House, or in this country, of any pretension In the course of some of the debates upon this subject, to legal science and constitutional learning, will, I venthe times were deprecated, in which the contests between ture to say, contradict me in the position I assume, after parties should be narrowed down to mere personal con- he shall have duly considered the subject. I make this siderations and preferences, instead of being waged upon assertion without much research, but I am so confident great principles of public policy and interests. I will ask the doctrine I have advanced is sound, that I do not think now, in reply, if there are any friends of the bank who I hazard much in making it. The sanctity of a vested are prepared to disregard all principle in the attempt to interest cannot attach by the passage of the bill reported bring this question to bear upon the Presidential election; by the Committee of Ways and Means upon this subject, or who will persevere in urging the decision of it now, until the expiration of the present charter in 1836, and for any more worthy purpose, when they see what a dan- the stockholders of the bank shall have signified their acgerous precedent they are about to establish. I under-ceptance of the new charter. A mere speculative instand it to be a part of the fundamental policy of this terest, the enhancement of the value of stock, and even Government, that the principle of responsibility through- transfers of it, predicated upon the passage of a law conout all its departments, in all its branches of delegated tinuing the present charter, will not do. The next Contrusts, powers, and privileges, shall be carried to the farthest gress may alter, or repeal totally, the law which this limit consistent with the practical objects to be accom- Congress may pass upon the subject; and all such arguplished. So gross and palpable a violation of this salu-ments as the appreciation of stock, sales of it having been tary, this fundamental policy of every free Government, effected, and the whole business of the bank conducted as is attempted in the present case, will surely meet with in reference to the proposed renewal of its charter, would a just rebuke every where else, if we, in our eagerness to only be addressed to the discretion of the next Congress, accomplish any collateral object, shall be so unwise as to to admit or reject their validity. It is clear they would commit it here. I would not be understood to impute to be of no just weight, for if what is proposed is actually this House the deliberate purpose of committing so fla-done now, and the bill upon your table shall become a law, grant an outrage upon the true whig principles of the it must be known as extensively as the interests connected country. I do not believe the subject has been duly con- with the bank are felt, that it will be liable to be repealed sidered in this aspect of it. When it shall be so consider- by the next Congress, upon the ground that no new ined, and weighed by the House, I confidently trust a terest can vest under it until 1836, which the judiciary majority will be found, not hostile to the bank in every can protect. It would, in reality, be no breach of public form of incorporation, for that I do not desire, but a ma- faith to repeal the law which you now propose to pass jority true and firm in adhering to a sound and indispen- upon this subject. I venture to predict that no prudent sable principle of our Government. Sir, if there should man will add one single share to the stock he now holds be no other objection to any bill which may pass this in the bank, in consequence of any renewal which may be House, upon the subject of the bank, at the present ses-sanctioned by this Congress. There is only one mode by sion, or even during the present Congress, a statesman of which those who desire to settle this question now, can the old school, one imbued with the principles of the re-effect their object, and that they will not dare to attempt. volution, of the period of our great act of settlement-the It would be by stipulating some modification of the precharter of the constitution, might safely rest his veto upon sent charter in favor of the public, to operate promptly,

MARCH 8, 1832.]

Bank of the United States.

[H. OF R.

and, in consideration of such a concession on the part of insist upon being informed of those concealed dangers the bank, to grant a prolongation of its existence. Sir, and obstacles which are supposed to lie in the way of rethe only possible result of any thing we can now do upon chartering the bank by the next Congress. If I know this subject, will be to make the question of the duration any thing of the evils which the bank was designed to reof the bank more uncertain, probably, than it now is, to medy, or of the nature of the benefits it was expected to add to any agitation of the country upon this subject, bestow upon the country, the State from which the genwhich is now felt, to give a new impulse to party action tleman [Mr. ELLSWORTH] comes never experienced the throughout the country, and to increase the excitement one or the other, in any degree calculated to produce any which already exists upon so many other questions, if I considerable interest or feeling upon the question. The have not wholly misconceived the legal as well as the gentleman has said that his State does not want the use other effects of any decision to which the present Con- of a single cent of the capital of the bank. Since, then, gress may come upon this question. I ask, what becomes the gentleman is good enough to take so deep an interest of the arguments so often reiterated in this debate, as to in this question, for the sake of the welfare of other secthe importance of giving stability to the interests connect- tions of the Union, I hope he will avow the cause of his ed with the bank, of giving repose to the country, and alarm, and not continue to affright the nation with the preventing fluctuations and speculations in the stock of idea of hidden dangers. Is it the expression of public the bank? It is manifest they are all misapplied, and that sentiment at any future period, or something else, which no such results can follow, or ought to be anticipated is so much dreaded? I trust there is no reasonable ground from any thing we have the power to do. upon which to apprehend an unfavorable result, from a But it is said that public sentiment demands the action dispassionate examination of this subject by the people. of the present Congress upon this subject. I deny that Mr. Speaker, it is idle to quote the messages of the public sentiment demands any such thing. In particular President, as countenancing the proposition to settle this districts or sections of the country, I doubt not public question at the present session of Congress. It is in vain, sentiment is settled in favor of the bank, as it is in others sir, that gentlemen tell me that the President has invited against it, but I deny that, in any considerable portion of an early decision on this subject. He has invited no such the country, there is any demand of an immediate deci-thing. It is a clear perversion of every thing he has said sion upon the question. This is, indeed, a strange asser- upon the subject to say so. The President, in his first tion, when it is notorious that the stockholders of the message to Congress, invited the attention and inquiry of bank themselves were not determined, so late as the last the Legislature and of the people to the views which he fall, whether they would even ask the renewal of their submitted in relation to it. In both his first and second charter at this time. It was not until after the present messages, in which the subject is alluded to, he invites session of Congress had commenced, that we had any in- Congress to inquire whether all the benefits of the pretimation that the question would be presented. Instead sent bank might not be secured by some institution less of demanding an immediate decision of the question, pub- obnoxious to objection than the present. What is it that lic sentiment generally is not, in fact, settled down, either you propose to do now? Why, relying upon the invitafor or against the bank, in very large sections of the Union. tion of the President to give your early attention to this The fermentation of the public mind upon this question inquiry, you assume that the powers of the human mind is only now begun. That spirit of inquiry, that kind of can do no more than has already been done upon the subinterest which ought always to exist in such cases, is just ject of the regulation of the currency of a country; that awakened. The result of the examination of this subject while you admit, or must admit, that every other branch by the people is not yet felt or communicated. This of science, physical and moral, is advancing, and receiv Congress is not, nor can it give, the fair impress of public sentiment upon this subject. I believe I may say that the entire West is yet to declare its determination upon the question. In the last elections the subject was very slightly agitated, and in some districts not at all. I can speak from personal knowledge and observation of some districts. The section of country which I represent is deeply concerned in the decision of this question, yet I am not now able to say how the majority would be.

ing yearly and almost daily acquisitions, this one alone is stationary, and is so of necessity: you assume that the present charter of the Bank of the United States, and the modifications proposed by the Committee of Ways and Means, are the ne plus ultra of human invention upon this subject, and you consequently proceed four years in advance of the true time, and only two since inquiry was first invited, to close the door against all further inquiry, to forestall any future invention, by rechartering the bank It is worthy of particular notice and remark, not only at the present session of Congress. A stronger expresthat those who have the control of the interests of the sion of the contempt of Congress for the views of the Prebank have so suddenly come to the conclusion to ask the sident could not be invented than is contained in the renewal of its charter at the present session, but that most proposition to recharter the bank at this time. I do not of the gentlemen who urge its recharter now appear to say any contempt is designed by the advocates of this prohave come to the conclusion that this is the only time position. I do not think any such disposition is felt by which holds out any prospect of success to the applica- the House. You say you will not wait even for inquiry tion. The gentleman from Connecticut, [Mr. ELLS- upon this subject. The President has said that he did not WORTH,] the other day, concluded an able view of the think the present bank had answered all the objects insubject on his side of the question, by announcing to the tended by its erection: that he thought one might be de. House and the country, with solemn and oracular gravity, vised which would answer all the essential purposes of the that, if the bank should not be rechartered at the present present, in aiding the fiscal operations of the Government, session, "its chance was gone forever!" Other gentle- and which would be more acceptable to a large portion of men have indicated similar apprehensions. Now, what do the people of this country; and, with a view to avoid the these mysterious givings-out portend? or upon what just evils of precipitation, he invited the early attention of grounds are they uttered? I think the House has a right Congress and of the people to the subject, clearly implying to be further enlightened upon the subject of those half- that he considered the full period of six years not too long expressed, half-concealed apprehensions. If there is any for the consideration of a subject of such magnitude. Sir, State secret in the matter, or it is, for any reason, unfit is it just, is it candid, to contend that such a declaration for the public ear, let us have the communication with of his views warrants the conclusion that he has advised closed doors. As one of the representatives of a section the final action of Congress at this time, upon this quesof country as deeply interested in the fate of the bank as tion, particularly since what you propose, with the excepany other of the Union, I think I have some right to tion of the slight modifications of the bill reported, is in

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Mr. ROOT called for the yeas and nays. They were taken accordingly, and stood as follows:

[MARCH 8, 1832.

direct opposition to the advice of the President? This, cept such as are requisite for its immediate accommodaand every other question connected with the subject, this tion in relation to the convenient transaction of business, House will decide upon its responsibility to the country. and such as have been bona fide mortgaged to it by way A long contest now arose, as to the fact whether Mr. of security, or conveyed to it in satisfaction of debts preRooT had or had not withdrawn his amendment, (which viously contracted in the course of its dealings, or purproposed that the committee of investigation should con- chased at sales upon judgments which had been obtained sist of seven members, to be appointed by ballot.) Mr. for such debts. And also to report the amount and kinds R. insisted that he had not withdrawn it: Mr. WAYNE that of specie and bullion imported into the United States by he had. After a very desultory conversation, it was de- the bank, the cost of the same, and the arrangements for cided by the CHAIR that the amendment had not been procuring it; the amount of specie exported by the bank, withdrawn; and the question was, thereupon, propounded and for what objects, and the amount sold by the bank upon its adoption. for a premium, or upon discounted paper and a premium, for exportation; the amount of specie furnished by the bank to any department of Government, and at what preYEAS.-Messrs. Adams, Chilton Allan, Appleton, miums, with a report of the amounts of specie received Armstrong, Arnold, Babcock, Banks, Noyes Barber, Bar- or drawn by the bank from incorporated banks in the ringer, Isaac C. Bates, Branch, Briggs, Bullard, Burd, States, and in the District of Columbia; the amount of bills, Burges, Cahoon, Choate, Lewis Condict, Silas Condit, notes, or checks of the State banks, and of the banks in Eleutheros Cooke, Bates Cooke, Cooper, Corwin, Coulter, the District of Columbia, acquired by the Bank of the Craig, Crane, Crawford, Creighton, Daniel, John Davis, United States and its branches, distinguishing the amounts Dearborn, Denny, Dickson, Doddridge, Ellsworth, Geo. from each, and the manner the same were acquired; the Evans, Joshua Evans, Edward Everett, Horace Everett, manner in which said notes, bills, or checks have been reGrennell, Heister, Howard, Hughes, Huntington, Ihre, deemed by said banks from week to week, or at other Irvin, Isacks, Jenifer, Henry King, Kerr, Letcher, Mar- intervals, as may have been stipulated between the Bank shall, Maxwell, Robert McCoy, McDuffie, McKennan, of the United States and such banks, showing the conMercer, Milligan, Muhlenberg, Newton, Pearce, Pendle- tracts with each for the redemption of the notes or bills ton, Pitcher, Potts, John Reed, Root, Russel, William B. of each, and the amounts of interest severally paid by said Shepard, Slade, Smith, Southard, Stanberry, Stewart, banks to the Bank of the United States, upon the bills, Storrs, Taylor, Philemon Thomas, Tompkins, Tracy, notes, or checks held by the bank; the sums loaned by Vance, Vinton, Washington, Watmough, Wilkin, Elisha the Bank of the United States to State banks, and to banks Whittlesey, Frederick Whittlesey, Edward D. White, in the District of Columbia, the interest upon the same, Wickliffe, Young.-88.

and in what manner the same were repaid, with a report NAYS.--Messrs. Adair, Alexander, Anderson, Angel, of the profit received or made by the bank, by premiums Archer, Barnwell, Barstow, James Bates, Beardsley, Bell, upon foreign and domestic exchange, and the rates of exBethune, James Blair, John Blair, Boon, Bouck, Bouldin, change established by said bank from time to time, and John Brodhead, John C. Brodhead, Cambreleng, Carr, if the sum have been fixed with a due regard to the course Carson, Chandler, Chinn, Claiborne, Clay, Clayton, Coke, of trade; with a report of its dealings in foreign exchange Collier, Conner, Davenport, Warren R. Davis, Dayan, on its own bills, and at what rates, and with such as have Dewart, Doubleday, Drayton, Duncan, Felder, Fitzge- been bought by the bank from individuals, copartnerrald, Foster, Gaither, Gordon, Griffin, William Hall, Har- ships, or incorporated companies, and the advances chargper, Hawes, Hawkins, Hogan, Holland, Horn, Hubbard, ed upon the sales of the same; with a report of the issues Jarvis, Jewett, Richard M. Johnson, Cave Johnson, of post notes, or notes payable to order, issued by the Charles C. Johnston, Kavanagh, Adam King, John King, bank, the withdrawal or redemption of the same, and of Lamar, Lansing, Leavitt, Lecompte, Lent, Lewis, Mann, checks drawn, and at what rates sold; with a report of Mardis, Mason, McCarty, William McCoy, McIntire, the funds of the United States received on deposite by the McKay, Thomas R. Mitchell, Patton, Pierson, Polk, Ed- Bank of the United States and its branches, distinguishing ward C. Reed, Rencher, Roane, Augustine H. Shepperd, the same as to time and amounts, of the sums transmitted Soule, Speight, Standifer, Stephens, Francis Thomas, Wi-by the bank for the Government, and to what places, the ley Thompson, John Thomson, Verplanck, Ward, Ward- times when done, the modes of transfer, and the cost, if well, Wayne, Wheeler, Campbell P. White.-92.

So the amendment was rejected.

any, to the bank, for doing the same, and whether the same has not been done, and given a profit to the bank; Mr. WAYNE then offered the following amendment: with a report of the profits made by the bank by disResolved, That a select committee be appointed to meet counts and exchange upon Government deposites, and of in the recess of Congress, to inspect the books and exa- the loans made by the Bank of the United States to the mine into the proceedings of the Bank of the United Government of moneys advanced to the Government, or States, and to report by the third Monday in December to either of its departments, and the interest or premiums next whether any provisions of the charter have been paid by the Government for such loans or advances; with violated, and particularly such violations of the charter as a report of the different kinds of stock pledged to, or at may have been made since the 16th day of January, 1819; any time owned by, the bank, in any other bank, or inand also to report especially whether the said bank has, corporated company, railroad or canal company, particuat any time, and to what amount, issued any bills, notes, larly distinguishing how the same was acquired and parted or drafts, to be circulated as currency, contrary to, or with, and of the sums loaned to, or advanced or given to, evasive of, the provisions of its charter; whether the said any incorporated or unincorporated railroad or canal bank has, directly or indirectly, dealt or traded in any company, and the terms upon which the same were made, thing except bills of exchange, gold or silver bullion, or and the inducement for any donations which may have in the sale of goods really and truly pledged for money been made, and the authority of the bank in the charter lent, and not redeemed in due time, or goods which have for doing the same. Also, to report if any and which of been the proceeds of its lands; whether the said bank has the branches of the said bank have been unproductive directly or indirectly charged or received for or upon its from the establishment of them, and what salaries have discounts and loans, from the time the same were made been given to the officers of such unproductive branches, until finally repaid, more than at the rate of six per cent. and the amounts or kinds of bills or notes, and where payper annum; whether the said bank has had or owned, or able, which the bank has, from time to time, transmitted has or owns, any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, ex- to its branches.

MARCH 9, 1832.]

Bank of the United States.

[H. of R.

That the said committee have leave to meet in the city of Philadelphia, and to remain there as long as may be a few, to control the election of directors. necessary; that they shall have power to send for persons and papers, and to employ the requisite clerks, the expense of which shall be audited and allowed by the Committee of Accounts, and paid out of the contingent fund of the House.

4th. The undue accumulation of moneys in the hands of

Mr. BURGES offered an amendment to the amendment; but before the SPEAKER had decided whether it could be received,

The House adjourned.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9..

BANK OF THE UNITED STATES.

The resolution of Mr. CLAYTON, proposing an investigation of the affairs of the United States' Bank, coming up as the unfinished business of yesterday, the following was offered by Mr. BURGES, of Rhode Island, as an amendment to the amendment of Mr. WAYNE, offered yesterday, viz.

Whereas a resolution is now before this House requiring that a select committee be appointed to inquire into the affairs of the Bank of the United States, with power to send for persons and papers, and to report the result of their inquiries to this House.

And whereas the said resolution being under consideration in the House, the mover thereof alleged in his place, in discussing the same, that he believed the following facts would be established, and, under that impression, he preferred them as a sort of indictment against the bank:

1st. The issue of 7,000,000 and more of branch bank orders as a currency. The president admitted 7,000,000 issued.

2d. Usury on broken bank notes in Kentucky and Ohio. They amounted to 900,000 in Ohio, and to nearly as much more in Kentucky. (See 2 Peters's Reports, page 527, as to the nature of the cases.)

3d. Domestic bills of exchange, disguised loans, to take more than at the rate of six per cent. Sixteen millions of these bills for December last. (See monthly statements.) 4th. Non-user of the charter, in this, that from 1819 to 1826, a period of seven years, the South and West branches issued no currency of any kind. (See the doctrine of non-user of charter, and duty of corporations to act up to the end of their institution, and forfeiture for neglect.)

5th. Building houses to rent. (See limitation in their charter on the right to hold real property.)

6th. In the capital stock not having due proportions of coin.

7th. Foreigners voting for directors through their trus

tees.

Abuses worthy of inquiry into, not amounting to forfeiture, but going, if true, clearly to show the inexpediency of renewing the charter.

1st. Not cashing its own notes, or receiving in deposite at each branch, or at the parent bank, the notes of each other.

5th. A strong suspicion of secret understanding between the bank and brokers to job in stocks, contrary to the charter. For example, to buy up three per cent. stock at this day, and force the Government to pay at par for that stock; and whether the Government deposites may not be used to enhance its own debts.

6th. Subsidies and loans, directly or indirectly, to printers, editors, and lawyers, for purposes other than the regular business of the bank.

7th. Distinction in favor of merchants in selling bills of exchange.

8th. Practices upon local banks and debtors, to make them petition Congress for a renewal of its charter, and thus impose upon Congress by a false clamor.

9th. The actual management of the bank, whether safely and prudently managed. (See monthly statements to the contrary.)

10th. The actual condition of the bank, her debts and credits, and how much she has increased her debts and diminished her means to pay in the last year; how much she has increased her credits and multiplied her debtors since the President's message, in 1829, without the ability to take up the notes she has issued, and pay her depo

sites.

11th. Excessive issues, all on public deposites. 12th. Whether the amount of the bank's property be real or delusive.

13th. The amount of gold and silver coin and bullion sent from the Western and Southern branches to the parent bank since its establishment in 1817. The amount is supposed to be fifteen or twenty millions, and, with bank interest on bank debts, constitutes a system of the most intolerable oppression on the South and West. The gold and silver of the South and West have been drawn to the mother bank mostly by that unlawful currency, created by branch bank orders, as will be made fully to appear.

14th. The establishment of agencies in different States under the direction of one person only, to deal in bills of exchange, and to transact other business properly belonging to the branch banks, contrary to the charter.

15th. Giving authority to State banks to discount their bills without authority from the Secretary of the Treasury. And whereas the people of the United States, being deeply interested in said bank, have a right to know the condition of its affairs, whether faithfully and prosperously, or otherwise conducted, and those who have been placed in the direction and management of those affairs, in said bank, and all its branches and agencies, are liable to be called upon by this House to state, and may, of right, claim the privilege to the same, or to a committee thereof, the allegations above set forth, and also are liable to, and all matters of fact concerning the case aforesaid touching may in like manner exhibit all books and papers needful, or to be acquired for the purposes aforesaid:

Therefore, a select committee be appointed with like powers as this House may have, to send for all such persons, books, and papers, as they may judge nccessary to By reason of this practice, notes of the mother bank are inquire into the affairs of said bank touching all and singu at a discount at many, if not all her branches, and com-lar the allegations aforesaid; that said committee have pletely negatives the assertion of "sound and uniform currency."

2d. Making a difference in receiving notes from the Federal Government and citizens of the States. This is admitted as to all notes above five dollars.

3d. Making a difference between members of Congress and the citizens generally, of both granting loans and selling bills of exchange. It is believed it can be made to appear that members can obtain bills of exchange without, citizens with a premium. The first give nominal endorsers, the other must give two sufficient resident endorsers.

power to sit during the sitting of this House, to report the facts obtained by such inquiry as aforesaid, whether the same be in the testimony of witnesses or in the books and papers by them examined, to this House, once each week during their sitting; that no other report than such facts be made; that the last and final report as aforesaid be made on or before the second Monday of April next; that said committee have power to appoint its own chairman; that it be composed of seven persons, and that they be appointed by ballot.

Mr. BURGES moved that the further consideration

H. or R.]

Claim of Mrs. Decatur.—Bank of the United States.

After a desultory conversation, in which Messrs. BURGES, MCDUFFIE, WAYNE, and CLAYTON took part, the question was put, and the postponement negatived-yeas 88, nays 90.

[MARCH 10, 12, 1832.

of the whole subject be postponed to Monday, and that C. Reed, Smith, Soule, Speight, Stephens, F. Thomas, in the mean while the several amendments which had P. Thomas, Verplanck, Washington, Watmough, Wayne, been proposed, together with the original resolution, be Weeks, C. P. White, E. D. White, Wickliffe.-78. printed. NAYS.--Messrs. C. Allan, Allison, Armstrong, Arnold, Ashley, Babcock, Banks, N. Barber, J. S. Barbour, Barnwell, Barstow, Beardsley, Bethune, James Blair, John Blair, Burd, Cahoon, Carr, Chandler, Claiborne, Coke, Conner, E. Cooke, B. Cooke, Cooper, Crane, Crawford, The question was then about to be put on Mr. BURGES's Creighton, Daniel, Davenport, J. Davis, Dewart, Dickamendment; when son, Doddridge, Duncan, Ellsworth, G. Evans, H. EveMr. L. CONDICT moved a call of the House. The rett, Felder, Foster, Grennell, Griffin, T. H. Hall, W. motion prevailed, the call proceeded, 188 members an- Hall, Hammons, Harper, Hawes, Hodges, Hughes, Huntswering to their names; the doors were closed, and ex-ington, Irvin, Jewett, Kendall, J. King, Lamar, Lansing, cuses received, when further proceedings in the call were Leavitt, Lecompte, Lyon, Mann, Mardis, Marshall, Maxsuspended; and the question recurring on Mr. BURGES's well, W. McCoy, R. McCoy, McKay, T. R. Mitchell, amendment, Newnan, Pearce, Potts, J. Reed, Rencher, Root, Russel, W. B. Shepard, A. H. Shepperd, Slade, Southard, Spence, Stanberry, Standifer, Storrs, Taylor, J. Thomson, Tompkins, Tracy, Vance, Vinton, Wardwell, Wheeler, E. Whittlesey, Williams, Young.--95. So the bill was rejected. The House then adjourned.

Mr. SPEIGHT suggested a doubt whether some of the clauses in it were in order.

The SPEAKER compared it with the original resolution, and observed that the shades of difference were so small, that he was inclined to the opinion that it was not strictly in order.

On motion of Mr. COULTER, the further consideration of the subject was postponed to to-morrow, and the printing of the amendments ordered.

Mr. BARSTOW, of New York, now moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the House had yesterday rejected the amendment of Mr. Root, (proposing a committee of seven to be chosen by ballot.) He said his own opinion remained unchanged, but he had been requested to make this motion by gentlemen who had been absent yesterday when the vote was taken.

Mr. HALL advocated the motion; he had been himself absent, but should have voted with the majority. Yet, on account of other gentlemen, he desired the vote to be reconsidered.

The question on reconsidering was then decided in the affirmative-yeas 98, nays 93.

The orders of the day were then called, and the House proceeded to the bill for the relief of

COMMODORE DECATUR'S HEIRS.

The bill was further debated by Mr. SLADE and Mr. BURD, who both were opposed to the amendment offered on Saturday last by Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, and addressed the House at length in support of their respective views; when

Mr. EVERETT moved for the rising of the committee. Mr. DICKSON moved to strike out the enacting clause of the bill, (which amounts to its rejection,) but the motion was negatived--yeas 62, nays 70.,

The committee then rose, and reported the bill to the House without amendment.

Mr. DAVIS moved the same amendment he had previously offered in Committee of the Whole, and asked for the yeas and nays, which, being taken, stood-yeas 73, nays 102.

So the amendment was rejected.

Mr. PEARCE then moved the amendment he had formerly proposed, which was also rejected—yeas 80, nays 95. The question was at length taken on the engrossment of the bill, and it was decided as follows:

YEAS.-Messrs. Adams, Adair, Anderson, Archer, Barringer, James Bates, Bell, Bouck, Branch, Briggs, J. Brodhead, J. C. Brodhead, Bullard, Cambreleng, Carson, Chinn, Clay, Collier, L. Condict, S. Condit, Corwin, Coulter, Craig, Dayan, Dearborn, Denny, Doubleday, Drayton, J. Evans, E. Everett, Ford, Gilmore, Gordon, Heister, Hogan, Holland, Horn, Howard, Hubbard, Ihrie, Isacks, Jarvis, Jenifer, R. M. Johnson, Cave Johnson, C. C. Johnston, Kavanagh, H. King, Kerr, Lent, Lewis, McCarty, McDuffie, McIntire, McKennan, Mercer, Milligan, Muhlenberg, Pendleton, Pierson, Pitcher, Polk, E.

SATURDAY, MARCH 10.

MRS. DECATUR'S CLAIM.

After acting on sundry private bills,

Mr. DODDRIDGE moved a reconsideration of the vote of the House, by which the bill in favor of Mrs. Decatur had yesterday been rejected.

Mr. WASHINGTON moved to postpone the consideration of this motion until Wednesday next.

Mr. WILLIAMS moved to lay the motion on the table. Mr. ARNOLD moved to postpone the motion indefinitely: [but the CHAIR pronounced the motion not to be in order, inasmuch as a motion to postpone to a day certain, (which had been made,) as well as that to lay on the table, took precedence of it.]

Mr. WILLIAMS withdrew his motion, to make way for Mr. ARNOLD'S, but it was immediately renewed by Mr. R. M. JOHNSON, and decided in the negative-yeas 61, nays 74.

Mr. TAYLOR then called for the previous question; but, before any vote was taken,

Mr. DODDRIDGE moved an adjournment, which motion prevailed--yeas 74, nays 72.

MONDAY, MARCH 12.

BANK OF THE UNITED STATES.

The House resumed the consideration of Mr. CLAYTON'S resolution, together with Mr. Roor's amendment, to appoint the committee by ballot.

Mr. BLAIR, of South Carolina, said, as the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York was only for the purpose of fixing the mode of appointing the committee for investigating the affairs and management of the Bank of the United States, it would not be in order to discuss the general merits of the resolution; and as the amendment only proposed that the committee should be elected by ballot of the House, it would be equally out of order to debate the propriety or impropriety of rechar tering the Bank of the United States. Nor was he desirous of doing either. He knew, he said, but very little about any banking institution whatever, and still less about this mammoth Bank of the United States; and he should not have attempted the smallest participation in the debate, of even an incidental point connected with the great question of rechartering the bank, was it not that he conceived the proposed mode of appointing the examining committee, by a ballot of the House, objectionable in the highest degree.

Mr. B. said it might be true that this bank had, in the

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