MARCH 16, 1832.] Turkish Mission. [H. or R. lars. Mr. E. said that, in drawing that report, he had re- principle was rather to give millions for defence, than curred to a paper from the Department of State, giving a one cent for tribute; and however important the comminute statement-a regular tariff-of those presents, merce of this country with the countries bordering on showing what was paid to every officer of the Dey's house- the Black Sea, he would incur all the expense of sending hold, according to his rank, down even to the cook, if he thither vessels of war to enforce our rights, than pay a remembered rightly. Nor is this custom confined to the cent by way of tribute. With these views, and in order Eastern nations; it was, by no means, peculiar to our new to discharge the obligation of $6,000 to Commodore Porfriends, the Turks, to whom (though he was no admirer ter, and to defray the expense of a dragoman, he would of them) he would not do injustice. The custom of pre- move, as an amendment to the amendment, "that the sents obtains at many, perhaps all, the courts of Western $37,500 be stricken out, and $8,500 inserted in lieu Europe. He had heard of one snuffbox, set with bril- thereof." liants, in one of those courts, which on occasion of the Mr. ADAMS now rose, and observed that the appronegotiation of treaties had been presented to successive priation asked for by the chairman of the Committee on foreign ministers for fifty years. The minister received Foreign Relations had been very improperly considered it; sold it to the jeweller who made it for 5,000 dollars; as tribute. It was not tribute; it was not so intended, the jeweller sold it again to the Government, who pre- nor so received. The sentiment of "millions for defence, sented it to the next negotiator, to be disposed of in the but not a cent for tribute," had been much and very prosame way. As our constitution does not allow our minis- perly admired throughout this country; and if applied to ters to receive these presents, our Government is of course our intercourse with European Powers, it was worthy of dispensed from making them to the negotiators of the all the admiration it had received. The time had been, civilized Powers of Europe. But the case was different however, when a maxim directly the reverse of this had with Turkey; and it had in effect been found that the ra- been pursued by the Government of this country, and tification of the treaty could not be obtained without hold- that even under the administration of Washington. At ing out the reasonable expectation of presents, for which that time it might almost have been said that we gave this appropriation was asked. Like the gentleman from millions for tribute, and not a cent for defence. We paid New York, Mr. E. had been in favor of a full mission, to the regency of Algiers large sums as tribute down to differing in that respect from many of his friends in Con- the close of the last war with Great Britain, at which time gress. He had some personal acquaintance with the cha-we began to vote "a cent" for defence. From that racter of the Turks and their Government; and he knew period, we had ceased to pay it. He need not say that that, in dealing with them, the external show went much he referred to the achievement of that gallant hero, Defurther than with civilized Powers. He did not wish the catur; an achievement which had done more for the real Americans to get the name at Constantinople, which he glory and benefit of this nation, than one of which so had heard they sometimes received at Canton--that of se- much was said. It had liberated us from tribute. But cond chop Englishmen. He would not run a race of pro- the making of presents was a very different thing. Mr. digality with any foreign Power, but he would, in every A. read the following passage in Voltaire's History of proper way, impress the Governments of all countries Peter the Great: "It is the immemorial custom over with whom we have dealings, with the assurance that we all the East, whenever an audience is requested of the knew and were disposed to respect their usages, as far as sovereigns or their representatives, never to approach our own honor permitted. There were occasions when, them but with presents in the hand.” Mr. A. observed in semi-civilized and barbarous countries, the property, that he adduced this remark to prove the distinction the liberty, and even the lives of our citizens depend- between presents thus made conformably to imme. ed on its being well known that they were under the morial custom and the humiliating payment of tribute. protection of a powerful Government. There is no way He added that this remark of the historian introduced more effectual, and he would add economical, of con- the narrative of the most interesting incident in the veying to those countries a proper impression of the life of one of the greatest men that ever lived in the power of this, than by keeping up our diplomatic es- tide of times. He spoke of the treaty effected for the tablishments in a respectable style. It would be easy Czar Peter by the immortal Catharine, at a time wher. his to multiply considerations on this subject, but he would army was nearly gone, and nothing was left him but his not, at this late hour, trespass longer on the time of the wife; a woman scarcely less extraordinary than himself— House. of Catharine, the captive of Menzikoff, at Marienburg. Mr. WHITTLESEY, of Ohio, professed his willingness Catharine resolved, in this emergency, to attempt a negoto redeem any pledge that had been advanced by Com- tiation. She attempted it, and succeeded. She collected modore Porter in good faith, on behalf of his country. all the diamonds and other valuables she had about her He should, therefore, vote for the sum intended to_reim-person, and in one night effected the liberation of her burse him what he had advanced. He [Mr. W.] had been husband. And it was to be ascribed to this very policy of disposed also to vote for the $9,000 for the contingent making presents that posterity had ever heard the name expenses of this mission; but, from the explanation which of Peter the Czar. But for this, that great man would at had been just given to the House by the honorable mem- that time have been destroyed. The usage had been ber from South Carolina, [Mr. MCDUFFIE,] that these universal among the Powers of the East from time immecontingents were otherwise provided for, he could not see morial. And as to the usage of our own Government on any necessity for including this amount in the appropria- that subject, the gentleman at the head of the Committee tion now before them. With respect to the $20,000 in- on Foreign Affairs had referred the House to the practice tended to cover the expense of presents to the officers of Mr. Jefferson. But he might have gone much farther at the Ottoman Porte, he could not understand from the back; for we have been in the habit of giving presents chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs that ever since we have been a nation. Our first treaty with there was any actual pledge given by Commodore Porter France had been effected through the influence of prethat presents should be made to that amount, or to any sents--by presents given by our ministers at Versailles; part of that amount. On the contrary, from what they and the old confederation had allowed our ministers not were told, it appeared that a list of articles, as usually only to give presents, but to receive them in return. Mr. given to these gentry on ratifications of treaties, was A. said he was not indeed sure but presents of some kind made out by the Turkish officers themselves, with which, had been received by our commissioners in the present when given, they were perfectly satisfied. He contended case. What had become of them, he did not know. Not against the system of making presents altogether. His an Emperor of Morocco died, but this country made preVOL. VIII.-138 H. OF R.] Turkish Mission. [MARCH 16, 1832. It had sents to the successor; not a Bey of Tunis, nor a Dey of in question was. Our own Government, indeed, formed Algiers, fell by disease, or died by the hand of some the only exception, and even that exception was not uniloving brother, but presents were still made to the new form; for he believed that there was seldom an Indian occupant of the throne. Congress, indeed, did not see treaty made in which we did not make presents, whether the appropriation, nor vote the money for that specific we received any or not. The Indian chiefs, indeed, were object; the Executive drew the necessary supply from a often much disposed to make presents on such occasions, fund set apart for the contingencies of foreign intercourse. so that whether nations were in a state of barbarism, or So that if the worthy gentleman from Ohio [Mr. WHIT- had advanced to the highest degrees of civilization, there TLESEY] insisted upon considering presents made to bar-still seemed to be something which suggested that, in orbarian Governments as tribute, he was paying every day der to propitiate man to man, it was necessary that somenot only many "cents" but many dollars, and many thou- thing should be given. sands of dollars, for tribute. But the matter was not so It had been said by the gentleman at the head of the considered elsewhere. Nay, the practice of making pre- Committee on Foreign Affairs, that the object of this sents in conducting negotiations prevailed even in Europe. treaty had been pursued by a preceding administration. We ourselves received presents on such occasions, not- It had so happened that the negotiations to effect it had withstanding the provision in the constitution to the con- been instituted by himself. But the fact had not been trary. The identical snuff box to which his colleague disclosed, because, in order to the success of the negotiahad alluded had been in Mr. A.'s own hands. It had been tion, it was necessary that it should be secret. offered to him by the minister with whom he had conclud. been commenced in the midst of the war which had raged ed a treaty. The offer took him by surprise, being between Turkey, Russia, Great Britain, and France. At wholly unexpected, and the task of refusing was rendered that time none of those Powers had had accredited ministhe more embarrassing from the circumstance that the ters at Constantinople. If the fact had been otherwise, box contained on its lid a portrait of the reigning sove- Mr. A. could have indulged far less hopes of success. reign. He had, however, been obliged to say to the The negotiation had been commenced, and a treaty was, minister that it was with great regret he was compelled in part, concluded on before the close of the last administo refuse a present of that description, but he must do so, tration. As it had been necessary to keep these proceedings as the constitution of his own Government forbade him to secret from the nation, and as he well knew that it was accept of it. The minister had replied that there was a impossible to do any thing at that court without presents, similar regulation among European Powers, but the diffi- he had employed the whole of the sum constituting the culty was always gotten over by the minister's applying fund for the contingencies of foreign intercourse in proto his sovereign for leave to accept, which was never re-viding them on the present occasion; and one reason fused. The minister therefore continued to press the why the treaty had not been concluded at that time, was, snuff box upon him, urging him to take it, and suggest that the sum had not been sufficiently great, and the pering a similar expedient to get over the prohibition of the sons employed had not seen proper, like Commodore constitution. Mr. A., however, had assured him that it Porter, to augment it on their own personal responsibility. would be very useless for him to make such an applica- The despatches from the confidential agents employed had tion, as he apprehended his sovereigns would not be very been received at the Department of State ten or fifteen likely to grant it. He had therefore requested him to re- days after the present administration came into power. tain the box, and he had accordingly done so. So custo-Those despatches, by order of the President, had been mary was this form of civility, that this was not the only submitted to his perusal, and his opinion had been asked instance which had occurred to himself. He had been whether it would be proper to go further in expenditures offered presents in like manner in other countries. In of the same kind, with a view to bring the negotiation to Holland it was the practice to present a heavy gold chain a close. And, in justice to the present administration, it having a large medal appended to it, to every foreign was his duty to say that his reply to that inquiry had been, minister on his leaving the Hague. In England (where that although four times the sum already expended might they stuck closer to matter of fact) it was customary to be requisite, it should be given. The object had been ask a minister, on his departure, whether he chose to re- effected by an expenditure far within that amount. ceive a snuff box containing a portrait of the King, or a was still his opinion that it was not only proper that these present of the like value in money. Some gentlemen usual presents should be made, but that the Legislature who were more sentimental, preferred accepting the box. should not be niggardly as to the amount applied to such Others, who looked closer to the pocket, received a sum an object. The sum could never be large; and if, instead of money. So perfectly was the thing understood, that of these $20,000, double that amount had been called for there was a regular graduation of the value of these pre- on the present occasion, he would venture to say that sents according to the grade of the minister to whom they the nation would receive five times such an amount in its were to be made, from an ambassador, down as low he pecuniary interest, and five hundred times the amount in believed as to a secretary of legation. It had happened reputation and influence. It to him, when engaged in negotiating a treaty with that Mr. ROOT addressed the House for some time in oppoPower, that the British minister had put the question to sition to the amendment, and argued to show that the mohim. Mr. A. had replied that it was not in his power to ney asked for was to be considered as so much toll for accept either. The minister replied that he had himself liberty to pass the Dardanelles. He knew that we were received many of these presents, but never without ex-in the habit of paying toll at Elsineur; but that was a toll periencing a sense of shame. exacted by ancient usage, and paid by all nations. He A very good principle on that subject had been esta much doubted whether the trade of the Black Sea would blished by the directors of the East India Company. In be worth the toll that was demanded, especially as it would their intercourse with the nations of the East, the com- bring us, as he understood the matter, only the same propany always made valuable presents, and permitted their ducts we now obtained from St. Petersburgh. agents to receive corresponding presents in return. But Mr. WHITTLESEY now modified his amendment, so the value of the presents thus received was always charged as to include not only the amount advanced by Commoto the minister as so much on account towards his salary.dore Porter, but $2,500 for the dragoman, so as to make This, in the policy of merchants who were princes, and the amount proposed by his amendment $8,500. who united glory with interest in all their concerns, might Mr. ARCHER now said that, in deference to the opibe a very proper arrangement. He had mentioned these nion of his friend from South Carolina, [Mr. McDUFFIE,} facts for the purpose of showing how universal the usage he would modify his amendment by omitting the $9,000 MARCH 17, 1832.] Commissioner of the Land Office. [H. OF R. The motion was negatived, and the bill was then order SATURDAY, MARCH 17. to which that gentleman objected. Of the residue, $6,000 COMMISSIONER OF THE LAND OFFICE. Mr. WICKLIFFE, by leave of the House, offered the Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be Mr. A., therefore, put it to the nice sense of honor in instructed to inquire into and report to this House whethat House whether this did not virtually amount to a ther the Commissioner of the General Land Office was pledge of the nation itself. To such a question he well officially called upon, on or about the 27th December, knew he would find a ready response in every bosom, or 1831, to designate the boundaries of a new land district at least in every voice that would be uttered on this occa-proposed to be established in Michigan, by a bill reported sion. The two sums he had named, together with $2,500, from the Committee on Public Lands, which was printed the salary of the dragoman, would make, in all, $28,500. by order of this House, leaving the boundaries of said disIf he should yield to his own impressions, he should add trict blank, he being furnished with said bill. What were the remaining $9,000; but that he would waive, since the the reasons assigned for his refusal to obey the call thus gentleman at the head of Committee of Ways and Means officially made upon him, as assigned in two written comdid not seem to approve of it. Whether the prudence munications in answer to said call; whether the said comand dignity of this Government would dictate the with-missioner did not assign as a reason for not complying holding this amount from a meritorious officer, exposed with said official request "that he had no information in by his situation to peculiar and heavy expense, especially his office to give, and that, in his opinion, the public did when it was known that, out of his own penurious allow-not require an additional land district in Michigan," and ance of $4,500, he would probably be obliged to advance whether, at the same time, he had or had not advised the sums requisite in the public service, and for which the delegate from Michigan that two additional land offices committee would be obliged hereafter to apply to the were required in said territory; what information was House, it was not for him to say. The effect would be it which was "lately received," which, on the 9th Fethat the money must be advanced either by Commodore bruary, 1832, enabled the said commissioner to comply Porter, or the Government-a Government oppressed by with the official request made upon him in December, its own revenues, and almost at a loss how to dispose of 1832, by giving the boundaries of said district, and which its superabundant means. He should be gratified if the he had declined, because, in his opinion, (as expressed gentleman from South Carolina would withdraw his ob-in two communications in writing to the Secretary of the jection, or consent himself to propose the amount in Treasury,) the establishment of a new land office and disquestion. Mr. McDUFFIE inquired whether Commodore Porter was not now in advance for the Government. trict in Michigan was inexpedient; whether the two first communications in writing, in answer to the request aforesaid, to give the boundaries of said district, addressed to the Mr. ARCHER replied in the affirmative, and added Secretary of the Treasury, and signed "Elijah Hayward, that the gallant Commodore had been under the necessity Commissioner of the General Land Office," formed a part of borrowing money for his own subsistence. Mr. A. of the informal correspondence between the Secretary further said that he was in the possession of documents and the said commissioner "on the subject of an addiwhich would enable him to give a full and particular re- tional land district in Michigan;" whether these letters ply to the inquiries of the gentleman from South Caro-" were unofficial," whether they have or have not been lina, as to the particular items as well of import as export recorded; and whether copies of the said letters have or which would probably enter into our commerce in the Black Sea. He would read it to the House, unless the lateness of the hour (it was now near six o'clock) should render the House too impatient to listen. [Mr. A. was about to read the paper, when cries of no, no, were heard in all parts of the House. Several voices said, renew your original motion; withdraw your modification.] have not been denied to a person having a right to demand them of the commissioner, upon the allegation on the part of the commissioner that they formed a part of the informal correspondence between the Secretary of the Treasury and "the commissioner, alleging that the originals were destroyed;" if said letters were official, and have not been recorded or preserved in the office of the Commissioner of the General Land Office. That the said comMr. WAYNE observed that if the gentleman from Vir-mittee also inquire into the expediency of providing by ginia persisted in moving for only $28,500, he should con- law that all official communications in writing, signed by sider it his duty to amend the amendment so as to include the Commissioner of the General Land Office, shall be the original sum of $37,500. preserved, by requiring the same to be recorded in a book to be kept for that purpose; and that the said committee have leave to send for persons and papers. Mr. McDUFFIE relinquished his objection to the $9,000; and Mr. ARCHER thereupon withdrew his modification, and renewed his motion for the latter sum. The question was then put on Mr. WHITTLESEY'S amendment, and promptly negatived. Mr. W. said he had proposed to send the inquiry to the Committee on Private Land Claims rather than to the Committee on Public Lands, to which it might be considered as more appropriately belonging, in consequence Mr. WILLIAMS moved for $28,500; but this motion of the fact of his being himself a member of the latter was rejected with equal promptitude, and the sum of committee, and therefore the reference might seem to $37,500 was agreed to by a large majority. Mr. ARNOLD wished to be informed by the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations whether it was expected that a minister would be appointed to England; to which Mr. ARCHER replied in the affirmative. have had some personal end in view. He should therefore be unwilling to give the inquiry that direction, unless the members of the committee should themselves desire it. Mr. WICKLIFFE said he proposed to send this inquiry Mr. LETCHER made an inquiry respecting the appro-to the Committee on Private Land Claims, from a sense priation for a mission to Central America, (Guatimala,) of the impropriety of sending it to the Committee on Pubwhich not being answered to his satisfaction, he moved to lic Lands, to which he belonged. If it was sent there, he strike out that part of the bill should feel bound to withdraw himself from taking part in the inquiry. He was willing it should take any direction that might seem to the House most proper. Mr. DODDRIDGE moved to amend the resolution by substituting the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. IRVIN said he was a member of that committee, and, after the part he had taken in the defence of the officer whose conduct was implicated, he should object to taking part in the examination. The chairman of the committee [Mr. WICKLIFFE] appeared also to be unwilling to take part in it. He, therefore, hoped the gentleman from Virginia would withdraw his motion. [MARCH 19, 1832. ought not to pass this bill. It must be evident from the report and recommendations which have been placed on our tables, that the grand principle discovered by the person for whose benefit this bill is reported, is the creation of power by mere mechanism. This is impossible; power may be regulated and applied by means of machinery, but cannot be created by it. To one of the signatures to the recommendations, is attached the title of "engineer." I cannot award that title to any person who will sign such a recommendation. We are told the inventor is destitute of property, and wishes to levy contributions on the public, Mr. DODDRIDGE withdrew the motion to amend. to enable him to put his grand principle in operation. Mr. SPEIGHT said the charges stated in the resolution Well, sir, it may be very desirable to him to levy contriwere a grave and serious allegation against an officer whose butions on the public, and that we should assist him in that capacity and fidelity in the discharge of his duty had never object. I know he is somewhat of a visionary; but I prebeen questioned, to his knowledge, till this time. A sume he is too much of a philosopher to suppose, for a mothorough and effectual examination ought to take place. ment, that he can create power by machinery. He may This was equally due to the officer and to the country. satisfy many that he can do it. But if he will explain his He was not determined at this moment upon the proper grand principle to me, I pledge myself to demonstrate that it is worthless. Well, sir, what are we about to do? By course. Mr. WICKLIFFE said it was indifferent to him when passing this bill we attach importance to a worthless inand by what committee the facts were examined--he vention. We do more: by concealing the specifications thought an investigation was required. in the secret archives of the State Department, we prevent Mr. SPEIGHT said, whenever charges were made or the possibility of exposing the fallacy of the invention. suggested against an officer of the Government, the fullest We enable the inventor to levy his contributions on the investigation ought to be had as soon as possible. But unwary, and we become accessory to the imposition. This, this charge was so new that he did not feel prepared to for one, I cannot consent to, and shall therefore vote say what should be its proper direction. He moved to against the bill. postpone the subject till Monday next. This motion was lost--yeas 63, nays 79. Mr. TAYLOR made a brief explanation in reply, referring to the authorities which had been read in favor of the ap-applicant, and which came from persons of too much science and practical knowledge to recommend a visionary and impracticable improvement. Mr. VANCE said the Committee on the Judiciary peared to him the most appropriate for this investigation. He moved that reference. Mr. BOON suggested that the most appropriate reference would be to a select committee-particularly after the statement that had been made as to the press of business before the standing committees. The bill was then passed--yeas 62, nays 58. MONDAY, MARCH 19. Mr. TAYLOR moved to commit it to a Committee of the Whole. Mr. ADAMS said he hoped the investigation would be sent to a select committee. The resolution contained a Mr. WICKLIFFE, chairman of the Committee on matter of charge against a public officer. Prima facie it Public Lands, reported a bill from the Senate entitled would lead to an expectation of an impeachment. It was" An act supplementary to the several laws for the sale of alike due to the character of the officer in question, and to the public lands," with certain amendments, and a proviso the reputation of the House, to investigate the matter proposed by that committee. solemnly and effectually. He thought the Committee on Private Land Claims had nothing whatever to do with this matter. If any of the standing committees Mr. WICKLIFFE opposed this motion, and hoped the of the House had any thing to do with such an inquiry, it gentleman would be induced to withdraw it. If the genmight be supposed to be that of the judiciary--but that tleman looked at the proviso, he would find that the bill committee was not charged with the supervision of the did not make such an innovation in the land system as he public offices. This House had not, and he hoped there might perhaps imagine. The Committee on Public never would be occasion for, a standing committee of im- Lands had been unanimous in recommending the amendpeachment. When a charge was made on this floor against ments. The object of them was to enable settlers with a public officer, it was due to him, to his friends, and to small means, who might not be able to purchase a tract of the country, that it be referred to a committee who are eighty acres, to enter a tract of only forty acres; but, with exclusively charged with the investigation. A select com- a view to guard against speculation, this right was confined mittee would, therefore, be most proper in this case. to lands which had been offered for sale and remained unMr. CRAIG said he believed that charges of this cha-sold; and it was further guarded by forbidding more than racter had heretofore gone to the Judiciary Committee; one such tract to be entered by the same individual, and this was the course in the case of Judge Peck, if he was requiring him to enter it in his own name, and not as the not greatly mistaken. Mr. ADAMS moved the reference of the resolution to a select committee. The reference to the Committee on Private Land Claims was lost, and the reference to the Judiciary Committee was carried--yeas 72, nays 66. SPAFFORD'S PATENT. agent of another. All persons acquainted with the situation of the West, knew that such an arrangement would be extremely convenient to a new and valuable class of settlers, who would otherwise be obliged to settle on land without paying for it, and then to trouble the House with applications for pre-emption rights. Mr. TAYLOR said, if it was the pleasure of the House to take up the bill and discuss it at this time, he should not interfere to prevent it. He hoped, however, the bill would be read, with the amendments, that the subject might be in some degree understood. He thereupon withdrew his motion to commit, and the bill and amendments were read; and the question being on agreeing to the Mr. DOUBLEDAY said, on reflection, I think, we amendments proposed by the committee, a discussion arose, The bill for the relief of Horatio Gates Spafford was read a third time, and the question stated on its passage. [The bill authorized Mr. Spafford to take out a patent on a sealed and undisclosed specification, for a certain time.] in which Messrs. VANCE, WICKLIFFE, IRVIN, HALL, of North Carolina, CLAY, MCCARTY, DUNCAN, HOGAN, BLAIR, of South Carolina, VINTON, and LEWIS took part. The bill was objected to by Messrs. HOGAN and BLAIR, of South Carolina, on the ground of its making a material and dangerous change in the existing system of disposing of our public lands, of its operating to reduce the price of those lands to thirty-seven cents an acre, and thereby to present such a temptation to young and active men in the old States, as was calculated to drain them of their population, and destroy the political balance of the Union. [H. OF R. worthy individual whom the bill proposed to relieve. That application had always met with the favor of the Committee of Ways and Means, and the bill had two or three times passed this House without objection, but was never acted upon in the Senate, far want of time. The ques tion was again before us, approved by the united voice of the committee who reported the bill. Mr. Speaker, the House will pardon me, said Mr. W., while I trespass long enough upon their time to do justice to a worthy man, Bishop Flaget, for whose relief this bill is designed; he is my constituent and friend. He is a man who has devoted a life of near seventy years in dispensing acts of benevolence and the christian charities. He was once a resident of this District, having under his charge the valuable college of Georgetown, where his labors in the cause of science, morality, and religion, will long be remembered by all who knew him. His destiny, or the orders of the church to which he belongs, placed him at the head of the Catholic church in Bairdstown, where, in the exercise of the duties of bishop and of philanthropist in his diocese, he has endeared himself to the community whose society he adorns. This is not all, sir. With his own means, aided by the liberal contribution of the members of his own church, It was warmly defended as going to accommodate the poorer class of emigrants, whom it would put upon an equal footing with those of more property; thus enabling them to possess themselves of a home which they might call their own, and where, by industry and good conduct, they might soon become independent and valuable citizens. Should they be refused the privilege extended to them by the amendments, they must either purchase a tract encumbered with swamp and mountain land, which they did not want, and were unable to pay for, or else settle down as squatters, without a title, and then consume the time of the House with innumerable applications for pre-emption and of individuals belonging to other denominations, he rights. has built up a college, which is both the pride and ornaAfter the discussion had proceeded with much anima- ment of the little village in which it is situated. In this tion for some time, it was suspended by a motion to post-college are taught all those branches of useful knowledge pone the further consideration of the bill until Wednesday next. BISHOP FLAGET. The bill for the relief of Benedict Joseph Flaget was read a third time. [The bill authorized the remission of the duties on certain paintings and church furniture, presented by the King of the French to the Catholic Bishop of Bairdstown, Kentucky.] and of science, which qualify man for the duties of life and its rational enjoyments. This college, without the aid of governmental endowment, brought into existence and sustained by individual enterprise, will lose nothing in comparison with any college in the Union. Sir, I believe it the best west of the mountains. In it are annually instructed about two hundred of the youth of our country, upon terms moderate. And we have in its discipline a perfect guaranty for the preservation of the morals of our young men. Its portals are opened to all denominations. Mr. HOGAN, of New York, regretted that he felt it his Religious bigotry does not extend its unhallowed influduty to oppose the passage of the bill, although it was for ences over the consciences of the professors or their puthe benefit of the inhabitants of a State where he had many pils. The benevolence of its founder and its conductors personal friends. What was the object of the bill? Was is felt in all ranks of society. The orphan and the destiit intended to secure any public benefit? Did it address tute find ready access to the benefits of this institution; itself either to the justice, the equity, or the policy of the and when there is an inability to pay the moderate charges House? Did our constitution recognise any connexion of board and instruction, none are made. I will say between church and State? If the bill had been in a ge- nothing, sir, of the immense amount of money expended neral form, extending the like benefit to all churches simi- on the buildings of this college. larly situated, it would have been better entitled to consideration; but what was its object? To remit the duties on certain paintings presented to a particular church. It was but two days since that the House was very near refusing its assent to remit the duty on so useful an article as railroad iron, though that duty was required neither for protection nor revenue. This bill proposed to promote no national interest--it addressed itself to the mere liberality of the House, and asked Congress to pay back from the treasury a sum of money which had legitimately come into it. The table of the House already groaned with the loads of petitions on subjects pretending some lawful claim to its regard; but if the House proceeded to gratify mere applications to its liberality, the table would not only groan, but would be soon broken down with the mass of such applications. Connected with this institution is the cathedral and church, the residence of Bishop Flaget. The expendi tures incident to such an establishment as the two I have named, have been more than equal to the private means and contributions devoted to the purposes of the institution, and its founder has felt, and still feels, the consequent embarrassments. These embarrassments have been in some measure relieved by considerable donations of church furniture and college apparatus, from persons in Italy and France. The duties upon such articles have been remitted heretofore by the liberality of Congress. The arti cles upon which duties have been paid, and which the bill contemplates to refund, consist of paintings and other articles of church furniture, presented some years since by the then Duke of Orleans, now King of the French, to the Bishop of Bairdstown. He could not refuse to accept Mr. WICKLIFFE said he regretted the gentleman from the offering; by accepting, however, he had to pay the New York [Mr. HOGAN] had not selected some other of duties which your revenue laws impose upon articles imthe numerous bills which had been, and were now upon ported from abroad. These articles would not have been the calendar, to press the consideration of those general purchased and imported. They have not been brought principles to which he had invited the attention of the into the country as merchandise, do not enter into the conHouse. The duty of defending the principle involved sumption of the country, and therefore do not, I humbly in this bill had, however, by the opposition of the gen- conceive, fall within the principle or spirit of your revetleman, been devolved upon him, and he would detain nue system. They are specimens of art and taste, designthe House but a very short time in its discharge. About ed as ornaments to a house of public worship. four years since he had presented the application of the I trust, Mr. Speaker, that the circumstance that this ap |