4067 H. OF R.] GALES & SEATON'S REGISTER lution submitted by Mr. MARDIs, with the amendment proposed as a substitute by Mr. CORWIN. Mr. GALBRAITH resumed, and addressed the House until the expiration of the hour allotted for morning business, in support of the measures of the Executive, and in reply to the arguments adduced in opposition thereto by the member from Rhode Island, [Mr. BURGES,] when he suspended his remarks. ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS. Mr. BOON rose and said that his unwillingness to prevent the member from Pennsylvania [Mr. GALBRAITH] from proceeding with his remarks induced him to refrain calling up, this morning, his resolution to fix the time of adjournment. He, however, would now give notice that he should ask for its consideration to-morrow. for 1834. After passing, without objection, through a number of items of the bill Mr. LEWIS said he was instructed by the Committee on Indian Affairs to move an amendment, granting eight thousand dollars to defray the expenses of negotiating the treaty with the Western Pawnees; also, an amendment granting eleven thousand one hundred and sixty dollars, to be distributed among the Creek Indians who emigrated under Chilly McIntosh. Mr. GRENNELL desired to have some explanation as to the necessity that existed for these amendments. Mr. LEWIS replied, that the first amendment would explain itself. The other was introduced in order to fulfil the stipulations entered into by this Government with the Indians; a portion of the tribe who had emigrated in conformity to the treaty not having received the articles stipulated to be given to them. Mr. FILLMORE inquired if this latter amendment would not with more propriety be inserted in the other Indian bill? Mr. LEWIS said he had no objection to withdrawing it for that purpose. It was withdrawn accordingly, and the other was agreed to. Mr. LEWIS then proposed an item granting ten thousand dollars, to be distributed to purchase provisions for the Creek tribe of Indians in Alabama, who are destitute of the means of subsistence. [MAY 14, provide for these men, but it should be only whe Government would give up all interference with and not, by making treaties, and doing other act them differently from the other citizens of that Sta After some further remarks from Mr. BATE VINTON, and Mr. BURGES, condemnatory of t eral treatment of the Indians Mr. VANCE said that he was in favor of the ment, having himself to propose, under somewhat circumstances, an amendment to it, granting five th dollars for the relief of the Shawnees. Mr. LEWIS replied to Mr. BURGES, who now ady he said, quite a new doctrine, that the Indians wer the jurisdiction of Alabama; he wished the Gove would treat them either as citizens of that State and would not make them independent when a was in question, and citizens as soon as they becar pers and were to be relieved. The Indians co be both. Mr. EVERETT dreaded the effect of the amer He thought these Indians might safely be left to t and humanity of the State of Alabama, which clar jurisdiction over them. Some further explanations took place between GILMER and LEWIS, when Mr. MARDIS re Mr. BURGES, and strenuously denied that any inj resulted to the Indians from the recent policy of t ernment towards them. The discussion was ter by Mr. POLK, who proposed to include the cas Indian annuity bill. Whereupon, Mr. LEWIS withdrew his amendment. On motion of Mr. H. EVERETT, an item thousand dollars was added for a treaty with the dotts. Mr. LEWIS moved, pro forma, an item of five thousand dollars, to enable the Government to ex Indian claims to land in Alabama. He named th random, intending to bring up the subject in the Negatived. Mr. ASHLEY moved an amendment for a cler office of the Superintendent of Indian Affairs at S five hundred dollars. Agreed to. Mr. POLK reduced one of the items of the thousand dollars, being an amount formerly paid to and two interpreters. The bill was then laid aside to be reported; committee proceeded to consider the. INDIAN ANNUITY BILL. Several of the items of this bill were slightly in so as to provide for an additional blacksmith in the tribes. These several amendments were zealously, bu cessfully, resisted by Mr. McKAY. In one or tw ces, however, he cut off a blacksmith. Mr. L. said the destitute condition of the Indians made this necessary to be given, to enable them to procure the means of subsistence. It was the more incumbent on the Government to grant this, as it appeared the relations that had formerly subsisted between them and the Government were not sufficiently dissevered; at least, they were not known to be so by that class, the most improvident among them, who relied upon receiving their cus-Peorias. tomary supplies. Mr. GILMER opposed the appropriation, considering that such grants to the Indians would only tend to make them still more improvident, and encourage them in habits of idleness. He opposed it for another reason: the State of Alabama, he understood, had extended her jurisdiction over them; and if they were in the starving condition they were represented to be, then it was incumbent on that State, not "for the General Government," to provide for them. Mr. LEWIS remarked that he made the proposition at the instance of the Secretary of War, from facts of distress which had been made known to him to exist. He would admit the obligation of the State of Alabama to Some reductions were made, on motion of Mr viz: from the Kaskaskias one thousand dollars; same amount from the joint annuity of the Kaska An item was added, on motion of Mr. HUBB carry into effect the fourth article of the treaty Appalachicolas, three thousand five hundred dollars. The item for the expenses of transportation ties, salt, tobacco, tools, &c. was increased from thousand to twenty-nine thousand five hundre Mr. BATES made some inquiries respecting which were answered by Mr. POLK and Mr. The item for expenses of locating reservations tifying contracts under the Creek treaty of 24t 1832, was augmented from eight thousand thousand two hundred and twenty-three dollars. Mr. WILLIAMS wanted to know the number MAY 14, 1834.] Indian Annuity Bill. [H. of R. tent of the surveys made, and have the expense of them Mr. WILLIAMS still insisted that a portion of the five compared with that of the ordinary surveys of the public hundred thousand dollars must remain unexpended. lands. Mr. POLK explained, and said that the vouchers for the details were in the department. The item of five thousand dollars, for a commissioner to value the improvements of the Brothertown Indians, was stricken out. Two thousand dollars were appropriated for running the boundary line between the Sacs and Foxes. The clauses for fees of counsel in certain suits, and for horses lost by the Choctaws, were stricken out. Two thousand two hundred and one dollars were allowed for a surveyor. Five thousand one hundred and thirty-six dollars for payment of claims for provisions and bounty money to the emigrating Creeks. A long debate arose on the amendment moved by Mr. POLK, for removing five thousand Creek Indians west of the Mississippi, furnishing them with rifles, blankets, &c. and supporting them for one year, two hundred and sixty-nine thousand five hundred dollars; and another for removing certain Cherokees, and their subsistence, sixtyeight thousand three hundred and twenty-five dollars, (their removal costing twenty dollars a head, and their subsistence seven cents per ration.) Mr. VINTON inquired whether these were Cherokees from Georgia or from Tennessee? Mr. POLK replied, that they were almost all from Georgia. Mr VINTON had no objection, so far as they were from Georgia, because, with respect to that State, the Government was under stipulations to remove the Indians as soon as practicable; but no such obligation existed in respect to Tennessee. All the Indian lands in Tennessee had been made a donation to that State, and the State ought to remove her own Indians. Mr. POLK quoted a treaty to show that the same obligation bound the Government in respect to all the other States, where the Cherokees might be located. Mr. POLK assured him that it was not so; and, even if it were so, the money must have long since gone back to the surplus fund. As to any questions between Tennessee and the Government, they had nothing to do with the matter in hand. Mr. VINTON's amendment was thereupon negatived, and that proposed by Mr. POLK agreed to. Mr. POLK now moved the appropriation of one hundred and twelve thousand eight hundred and fifty-three dollars, which had been paid into the treasury under the act of 1831, being the proceeds of the sale of certain lands belonging to the Seneca tribe of Indians, in the State of New York, and from which he proposed that the annuity of six thousand dollars promised to those Indians should be paid, in support of which motion he read a communication from the Department of War, and called for the reading of the law of 1831. Mr. ADAMS strenuously opposed the amendment, contending that this was money which the Government had no right to touch, inasmuch as it had been vested in the President, in trust for the Seneca tribe. It was their property, and ought to be kept sacred as such. Mr. A. gave a history of the investment of the money, by his own order, when he was President, and denied the power of Congress to pay the Seneca annuity from this fund. Mr. POLK explained, and stated that the money was in the treasury to the credit of the Seneca tribe. It now lay dead, and the purpose of his amendment was not to deprive those Indians of their funds, because it would always remain safe to them, but only to give this money the same activity with other moneys in the treasury. Mr. ADAMS responded, and warmly insisted on his former objection; but the question being put, the amendment was agreed to. Mr. HAWES now moved an amendment, proposing that the annuities, paid under treaties with the Indians, should be paid to the tribes, or their representatives, and not to individual Indians. His object was to prevent the money from passing into the hands of the whites, and to secure to the Indians the benefits intended for them. Mr. VINTON'S objections were aggravated by this provision, and he moved an amendment so as to confine the appropriation only to Indians in Georgia and Alabama. Mr. H. EVERETT suggested that the Committee on Mr. WAYNE said this would prevent the emigration of Indian Affairs had prepared a bill, which would shortly the Cherokees altogether; as those in Georgia and Ala-be reported, providing that these moneys should be paid bama would not go unless the residue of the tribe in Ten- to the Indian chiefs, and that Mr. HAWES had better so nessee and North Carolina went with them. Mr. WILLIAMS thought, the objection too late, after the treaty had been ratified. But he wanted to know why these expenses were not to be paid out of the five hundred thousand dollars granted by the famous "Indian bill" of 1830? modify his amendment. [Mr. HAWES Consenting, the amendment was modified accordingly; and a debate of considerable length ensued, wherein it was contended on one side, that, under the present mode of paying the annuities to individual Indians, the tribes were all assembled under a notice on Mr. POLK replied, that the appropriation to which the a given day to receive their quota; and no sooner was gentleman [Mr. WILLIAMS] referred had all been expend- that day known than the sellers of rum, for a hundred He believed the gentleman would find on the files miles round, congregated on the spot, and the result of the House a report stating the manner in which it had generally was, that the Indians were stripped of every been applied. He was aware that there were a few Che-penny they received; and not only so, but were somerokees, both in North Carolina and Tennessee; but their times obliged to sell their rifle and blanket, and go home land, in either State, was not larger than to constitute a naked. The agents, too, who paid the money, were respectable county, and what there was of it lay chiefly in a held to no responsibility. The Indians could give no mountainous region. The treaty, however, which the receipts, and the account was usually kept on a notched Government had made with the Cherokee nation, and in stick. ed. consequence of which they had ceded their land, bound On the other hand, it was urged that, if the money the Government to remove all who were willing to emi-should be paid to the chiefs, mingoes, or headmen, they grate, let them reside where they might. I would divide it among themselves, and leave the common Some explanation here took place between Messrs. Indians without a single penny. In confirmation of this VINTON and PоLK as to a proviso in the bill. statement, Mr. ASHLEY referred to a case in which moMr. BATES was much opposed to removing Indians ney paid for annuities had, by order of the chiefs refrom Tennessee at the expense of the General Govern-ceiving it, been deposited in the Bank of St. Louis, in ment, when the lands they left would go, not to the Uni- the very boxes, still unopened, in which it had been reted States, but to the State of Tennessee. No treaty ceived from the agents of the United States. It was in with the Cherokees would settle that question, as between consequence of this difficulty that the present mode had Tennessee and the General Government. been adopted.] H. or R.] Adjournment of Congress. [MAY 15, 1834. Mr. ASHLEY proposed to amend Mr. HAWES's of high importance, before the House, which yet remainamendment, by directing the money to be paid over, in the presence of the chiefs, to all the heads of families in the tribe. This was agreed to: Ayes 68, noes 57. The question being put on the amendment, as thus amended, it was rejected without a count. ed to be acted upon, and which, if the resolution were adopted, there would not be time enough to despatch. He need not remind the House of the days that were set apart for private business; that Monday's only were set apart for the reception of memorials; and that, judging from the slow progress that was made with those already presented, there was little probability that there would be sufficient time left to go through the several States for that purpose. Mr. LEWIS now moved the amendment he had formerly proposed, when the Indian appropriation bill was under consideration, providing $11,160 to be distributed among certain Creek Indians, friends of Chilly Under such circumstances, then, with the knowledge McIntosh, in pursuance of a treaty which he quoted. they must have of the state of the business generally, he The item was agreed to; and thereupon the commit-would put it to every gentleman to say, was it possible tee, on motion of Mr. POLK, rose, and reported both bills, as amended, to the House. Two messages in writing were received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Donelson, his private Secretary, as follows, viz: FIRST MESSAGE. for the House to accomplish what was necessary to be accomplished before they could think of adjourning? Mr. H. enumerated, as coming within this description, the various appropriation bills; and, above all others, he said, was the commutation bill, recently recommitted, and one that he had much at heart-the bill to place on the pension roll those persons who had been engaged in To the Senate and House of Representatives of the U. S.: the Indian wars prior to 1794. There were other bills of I communicate to Congress copies of a convention be- as great importance to various sections and interests. tween the United States and his Majesty the King of the One for the construction of the Potomac bridge; one in Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, to terminate the reclama- relation to the Chesapeake and Ohio canal; and that in tions of the former for the depredations inflicted upon relation to the extension of the Cumberland road--this American commerce by Murat, during the years 1809, latter being one of paramount interest to the whole 1810, 1811, and 1812, concluded at Naples on the 14th of West. How many days, he asked the House to consider, October, 1832, and the ratifications of which were exchanged at the same place on the 8th of June, 1833. ANDREW JACKSON. Washington, May 13, 1834. SECOND MESSAGE. To the Senate and House of Representatives of the U. S.: would be consumed in the case of the Kentucky contested election Three or four at least. He would remark further, that scarcely more than one or two of the subjects before the Committee on the Judiciary, and which were of high importance, were yet acted upon. One of these alone was of such importance that the House should pause before they would fix a day to I communicate to Congress copies of a treaty of navi-adjourn, and thus leave it unsettled. He alluded to the gation and commerce between the United States and his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, concluded at St. Petersburg, on the 18th of December, 1832, and the ratifications of which were exchanged in this city on the 11th of May, 1833. Washington, May 12, 1834. ANDREW JACKSON. case as to property claimed by the city of New Orleans from the United States, and which, having been referred to Congress, was sent to that committee, who had prepared a bill in conformity to their views, and which went to settle a question that had left the city hitherto in s most unsettled state. The member representing that section had yielded to the decision made on the subject by the conmittee. Was this, however, to be left undis Sundry other communications were laid before the posed of, as he contended it must inevitably be, if so early House by the Speaker; when The House adjourned. THURSDAY, MAY 15. ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS. Mr. BOON asked the unanimous consent of the House to take up the resolution heretofore submitted by him, proposing to fix a day for the termination of the present session of Congress. Objections having been made, Mr. B. moved a suspension of the rule for the purpose, and called for the yeas and nays thereon. The House agreed to suspend the rule: Yeas 136, nay's 23. a day was named? There were the Indian bills, not the least in importance, to be considered. He believed, in fact, there never were, previously, so many and im portant subjects presented as at this session, and now remaining to be disposed of, owing to the unfortunate state the country had been thrown into by the rash measures of the Executive, and which it was necessary that the House should act upon. However gentlemen might say that many or all these bills might be acted on next session, it should be recol lected that the next session of Congress would consist of not more than eighty-eight days. He hoped, therefore, that so trifling an extension of the time as he proposed would not be objected to. Even with this extension, be did not well see how they could expect the Senate to get The resolution was then taken up, as follows: through. There, the appropriation bills already passed in Resolved, That the President of the Senate and the the House, owing to the subjects of exciting character Speaker of the House of Representatives close the pres- which they had so recently under discussion, were not ent session of Congress, by an adjournment of their re- yet taken up. If the time was not granted, he consid spective Houses, on Monday, the 16th of June next. ered that there could be no hope of passing through the Mr. HARDIN moved to strike out "the 16th June," commutation bill, which so many gentlemen desired, in and insert "the 2d July." He presumed the honorable order to give to the old veterans, who had spent their member from Indiana [Mr. BooN] was not more solicitous days in the service of their country, a pittance to close than he was to return to the bosom of his family; his them in independence. There was, also, be must rebusiness, both professional and private, calling upon him mind members, the affairs of the Post Office to be inquir (Mr. H.) as urgently and as imperiously as did that of ed into; and, with all these, how, he asked, was it po any other honorable member so to do. But he was un-sible for them to think of adjourning? He hoped he willing to fix so early a day as was named in the resolu- would get credit for the assertion that his anxiety to re tion, considering the state of business, public and private, turn to his home was as great as that of any man, feeling MAY 15, 1834.] Adjournment of Congress. with Cowper, in the beautiful lines he attributes to Sel-home. When I think of my own native land, Soon hurries me back to despair. 4074 [H. OF R. It was not desired by the people that we should stay here during the summer, and every one knew that, after the 1st of June, we could not continue in session. without hazarding our health. business had been done by this Congress; and he would He would grant that little should not pass more than half a dozen general bills. He undertake to say that if we sat three months longer, we fully believed that our constituents wished us to close the session after passing the appropriation bills and a few but would prefer to postpone the resolution to the time Mr. BURGES was in favor of the motion to postpone; when this House should consent to do something for the relief of the country. Mr. CAMBRELENG rose to suggest to the member from Indiana that, under the state of the business before the House, it was evident that they were not, as yet, prepared to fix a day to adjourn, desirable as it was, un-others of a general nature. doubtedly, to many. They had already had enumerated to them many important bills, and he might, he said, be permitted to express the hope that, in addition to the necessity that there was for passing the appropriation bills, the same necessity would be felt as to the bill to regulate the making foreign coins a legal tender, before they should adjourn. Other measures of high importance might be expected even yet to arise, which would claim, nay, demand, some share of their attention. The new and extraordinary and unexpected attitude assumed by the Bank of the United States, but upon which he would not then enter, was of this character; and was enough to induce them not to act prematurely, as he thought it would be now acting, by adopting the resolution to adjourn. He moved to postpone the further consideration of the resolution until this day fortnight, and to make it the special order of the day for that purpose. the adjournment, in order that we might begin to select drew it at the request of the remarks which had been made. Mr. BOON, who wished, he said, to reply to some of ced this resolution, he was of the opinion that, in a time of profound peace, six months was long enough for the deWhen he introduspatch of the business of Congress, and he thought so now. Mr. H. EVERETT did not wish to prolong the session of the House would soon be despatched. But nothing If gentleman would act, instead of debating, the business of Congress, but he was not now ready to fix the day of could be said or done here which had not some immediate adjournment. Some bills relative to the Indian depart-reference to the United States Bank; and unless the House ment, which were well deserving of the attention of the would fix the day of adjournment, this kind of debate House, would be reported on Monday next. therefore, the resolution would be postponed. He hoped, might last five or six months longer. This resolution was Mr. WILDE said, the extraordinary unanimity with House to appoint a committee to report what business it which the motion to suspend the rules of the House, in was necessary to act upon until the day of adjournment introduced in the ordinary way. It was not usual for the order to take up this subject, had been carried, clearly was fixed. indicated that the House were disposed to act on the subject at once. Whatever individual feeling he might enter- dent-making, and Vice President-making; it had been We had been here five months speech-making, Presitain in favor of an early adjournment, there were consid- entirely a political session, and not a session for business. erations, of a public character, which rendered a precipi- To continue here was only to continue the excitement tate adjournment highly inexpedient. But still he was which had been got up in the country. disposed to be governed by the majority of the House. that he could not accept the modification proposed by the If we were not to act upon the highly important subject gentleman from Kentucky. There was a difference of He was sorry of the currency, we might despatch all the other business opinion among his friends as to the time proper to be fixof importance by the time proposed in the resolution. ed, some wishing as early a day as the 31st of May, and Whether we should or should not act definitively on that others a day as late as the 1st of July; but he had fixed subject, rested with the majority of this House. In the upon the middle of June, and now left it to the majority present temper of the two bodies, it was obvious that, of the House to dispose of it as they pleased. whatever time might be spent on the subject, its fate was certain. If there was no intention to do any thing in ref House acted injudiciously in opposing the proposition to erence to the subject of the currency, there was no neces- adjourn. If the country suffers in consequence of a preMr. LOVE thought, he said, that the minority in the sity for postponing the resolution. it, the Senate could amend or postpone it as they pleased. Upon them, and not upon us, would fall the responsibility After we had passed mature adjournment, the majority were responsible for it. It was a law of politics, as well as of nature, that no two of leaving the country in its present condition, in regard great epidemics could prevail at the same time. ter what subject we may take up, the currency question thing could be done. No mat-to the currency. must run into it. He was willing to remain here, if any If we did not intend to act upon it, we cerned, the charge of President or Vice President making. might as well adjourn. He denied, so far as he was conMr. MERCER rose to support the motion of the gen-the business of this House; but at present, the House, as At a former time, the charge might have been true as to tleman from New York. The calendar which he held in well as the country, was agitated by questions of vastly his hand contained 450 bills, of which we had not touch-greater importance. ed more than fifty. The Committee of the Whole on the Mr. R. M. JOHNSON said there was time enough be state of the Union had before it the unprecedented num-fore the day fixed in the resolution to transact the whole ber of thirty-nine bills, every one of which was important. of the public business of importance, and go away with Mr. BEARDSLEY recollected, he said, only one ses less confusion than they have done at any former period sion which was prolonged beyond the middle of June, and except that when we received our salary of $1,500. That that was the last long session. moment, the bank and the tariff, were then before Con- business, and adjourned without confusion. If, by proTwo subjects of great was the only session in which Congress ever did all its gress. The time of adjournment was at first fixed four longing the session for two months, all the business could or five weeks before the day on which the adjournment be done, he would consent to it, but we could not expect finally took place. He felt satisfied that it was the wish to clear the whole legislative docket, even if we sit to the of his constituents, and of the country at large, that we 4th of March next; but, fixing a day now for the adjournshould pass a few of the bills of general interest, and go ment, we should be able to do ten times as much business H. OF R.] Adjournment of Congress. [MAY 15, 1834. Mr. STEWART moved that the House proceed to the orders of the day. Mr. BRIGGS demanded the yeas and nays on the question, which were ordered. as we should otherwise do. He considered that the ten- definite action of Congress on that subject was very redency of this contest now was to decide the question mote. whether the session of Congress should be made perpetual or not. The argument that all the business before Congress must be transacted at every session, supposes the necessity of perpetual sessions. He would not be one to hold up the idea to the people, that Congress ought to sit Mr. STEWART then withdrew his motion, and deall the year. The constitution did not contemplate such manded the previous question, which was not sustained. sessions. Further, he would remark, that a session longer Mr. BELL had no desire to protract this discussion. than the middle of June was inconsistent with the com- He would, however, suggest that it might be expedient, fort and health of the members of this body, and that the in view of various circumstances which might arise, to pallid countenances of many of them already indicated prolong the session beyond the time which might now be the prejudicial effect of their labors upon their health. fixed. He was not for putting it out of the power of the He hoped that the House would fix the day of adjourn-House to do this. Within two or three weeks, a disposi ment now, as it was evidently its temper to do. The tion to despatch business had been manifested. Several Senate, as was usual, would probably take a little more important measures had been acted on. There were many time, if it was necessary. other important measures which required the action of Mr. CHILTON ALLAN had made up his mind to vote the House. He would never consent to put an end to a for an adjournment as soon as he should become convin- session of Congress, on the ground that the House was ced that nothing would be done for the relief of the peo- not competent or willing to decide upon every measure ple. He was almost convinced, by the recent rejection required by the public interest. For some years past, it of the broad and liberal proposition of the member from had been the fortune of the country, that some great and New York, [Mr. SELDEN,] that it was determined by the absorbing question had seized upon almost exclusive atmajority not to do any thing. It had been suggested that tention, at each session of Congress. He was not willing the bill reported from the Committee of Ways and Means to overlook any matter of public importance. At this would occupy some time; but he could not believe that time he was not prepared to decide when the House would a proposition to divide the public money among local be able to get through with such business as was neces banks, to legalize usurpation, and to repeal the constitution, would occupy a moment's time. The CHAIR called the member to order, for not confining his remarks to the question. Mr. ALLAN said he would vote for the postponement, in order to give the majority time to reflect upon the responsibility they were about to assume. sary to be done. Two weeks hence an opinion may be formed. It might be that the 16th of June would then receive his support, as the day of adjournment; but at this time he could not fix upon that or any other precise day. Mr. MANN said he was in favor of an early day of adjournment. He had little doubt but the House would be Mr. EWING intended, he said, before he consented able to act upon all subjects of public interest by the 16th to adjourn, to attempt to bring before the House some of June. But he was unable to see the force of the arguthe business which it was its duty to transact. He was ment which had been urged in favor of fixing upon that willing to leave here on the 16th of June, or at any time day at this time. A strong disposition had been manifestwhen Congress shall have done the necessary business of ed by the House recently to go forward with the busthe West and the country at large. Not a bill affecting ness. He hoped such measures as were most important, the interests of the West had yet been acted upon. We particularly those in which his own State was interested, had done nothing but to make appropriations for office- would be disposed of before the 16th June; but be could holders. perceive no necessity on the part of the House committing itself as to the precise day at this time. Mr. CHILTON was not only in favor of an adjournment, but of an adjournment at the earliest day which had been Mr. BURD addressed the House at considerable length, named. His zeal to do something to quiet the agitation and was understood to support the motion for postponeof the country was unabated; but he would ask gentle-ment. men what desirable end was to be obtained by continuing Mr. CAMBRELENG was quite as anxious as the genthe session during the summer? If there was a single gleam tleman from Kentucky [Mr. JOHNSON] could be, to terof hope that we should be able to effect any thing for the minate the session. But when gentlemen recur to the public benefit, he would consent to prolong the session. situation of a portion of the important subjects which deBut it was evident that we should be able to do nothing, mand the attention of Congress, they will be satisfied that except to promote and keep up the excitement which the period has not yet arrived for fixing the time of adprevails in the country. The question before the country journment. It should be recollected that the message of could never be settled but by referring it back to the the President, sent to the House at the commencement of people. His experience had convinced him that busi- the session, was still in Committee of the Whole on the ness was much facilitated by fixing the day of adjourn- state of the Union. It had been stated that the majority ment. He was well satisfied that the country would see of the House was responsible for the transaction of pubthat the minority had done every thing which was requir-lic business. If so, the majority should beware of fixing ed of them to do, and that the responsibility rested upon the day of adjournment before the necessary business the majority, who were willing to meet it. could be completed. Mr. MILLER should vote, he said, against the propo- After some further remarks from Messrs. Boox, Ewing, sition to postpone the resolution, for the reason that, by and BURGES— fixing the day, we should facilitate the despatch of busi- Mr. WAYNE said the question was one upon which ness. He had come to the conclusion that it was imprac- no difference of opinion ought to exist. What were the ticable for Congress, at this session, to act on the subject facts as to the situation of the business of the House' of the currency; for which opinion he was about to offer some reasons. The CHAIR stated that the member could not go into that question. Mr. MILLER hoped the day of adjournment would be fixed, in reference to other subjects than that of the currency, for he believed that the prospect of obtaining the He had taken pains to make an abstract from the records, and it appeared that four hundred and seventy-eight bills had been originated and were now ready for the disposal of the House; one hundred and eighty-two had been dežnitely acted on by the House; and thirty-four bills from the Senate had been acted on. There was, therefore, no ground for any imputation of negligence upon the |