For the improvement of rivers in East, Middle and West

Tennessee, $100,000 each

300,000

$S$9,500

Total amount of bonds issued for Internal Improvement purposes under the act of 1838.

Secretary's Office,

Oct. 24, 1839.

Respetfully submitted,

LUKE LEA,
Secretary of State.

A Bill from the House of Representatives for the benefit of occupant settlers south and west of the congressional reservation line, was taken up, read and passed first time, and referred to the committee on public lands.

Mr. Wheeler introduced

A Bill to appropriate money to the payment of a debt due the Union. Bank, which was read a first time and passed.

Mr. Frey introduced

A Bill to change the time of holding the circuit courts of Robertson county, which was read a first time and passed.

Mr. Coe submitted the following preamble and resolutions, to wit: Whereas, the General Assembly of the State of Tennesse have, on various occasions, when in their opinion the great public interests of the country demanded it, expressed in the most solemn form their views in regard to questions of a national character, involving the welfare of the people of the United States, and have at all times, when deemed necessary to give practical effect to the rentiments which they entertained, availed themselves of the power which legitimately, and in conformity with long established Republican usage, throughout the Union belonged to thein, of instructing their Senators and requesting their Representatives in Congress to carry out, as to specific measures, their declared wishes; and

Whereas, the extraordinary circumstances which have existed for

the last few years, in the financial and commercial interests of the United States, remain unabated, and under causes of increased excitement and difficulty, originating as we believe, in the same vast source of public mischief; and

Whereas, we do solemnly believe that to that source, the late Bank of the United States, is in a great degree to be attributed the oppressive calamities under which we have suffered and through which we are now actually passing; and

Whereas, during the history of the last few years we have seen this mammoth moneyed power struggling almost with success against the Government, and wielding a power in the production of panic and disaster, that in the language of its boldest advocates we were pronounced to be in the midst of a revolution, and the terrible evils which we have not only been taught it may infiict, and the present admonitions, which proceed from the last throes and agonies of that expiring power, justify us, and demand at the hands of the General Assembly, who should truly be the guardians of the happines and prosperity of the people, any effect which can in any wise strengthen the councils of the nation against the recurgence of similar causes and results, and which may encourage the administration of the country to adhere to its existing wise and prudent policy in regard to this great and absorbing subject: and

Whereas, the Constitution of the United States contemplates a Treasury to be held by the Government, wholly free from any necessary connexion with Banks, and the present crisis, as well as times past, have demonstrated the wisdom of such a measure, this General Assembly do most fully approve the policy heretofore recommended by the President of the United States in relation to what has been denominated the Independent Treasury, and believe that the passage of the measure brought forward in the last Congress, or some similar system upon this subject, would be not only prudent, but is absolutely demanded by the peculiar and remarkable vicissitudes which have acted powerfully upon the currency and commerce of our country; and further, that such a measure would contribute to the more permanent stability of our institutions, the dependence of the Government for all purposes of peace and war, to check the wild and extravagant spirit of the age that has come upon us with a reckless fury, and would ultimately tend to bring us back to sober reflection, steady pursuits, and the confirmed possession of an ample prosperity; and

Whereas this General Assembly do believe, that the public domain of the United States should not be treated by the General Government as a mere source for the acquisition of money to the public Treasury, but by reducing the price to reasonable and moderate rates should rather be regarded as the great and extensive means of encouragement to the augmentation of our population, and the reward of the laborer, the husbandman, (by the grant of pre-emption rights) who in times of peril, will be a powerful bulwark to the frontier, and the right arm of safety and defence against the hostile invasion of a foreign fee: and

Whereas the liberty of speech and the freedom of the press are con

sidered as invaded directly or by implication in the provisions of a bill which was brought before the Senate of the United States at the last session of Congress, entitled "a Bill to prevent the interference of cer-. tain Federal oilicers in elections;" and

Whereas the people of the United States have long paid a tribute of millions to the monopolists of Salt, under the tax which has been imposed upon the foreign importations of that necessary article, whereby the quantity which would otherwise.have been introduced into the United States has been diminished, and the price to the consumer increased; and

Whereas, reviewing the history of our Government for the last ten years, a period which will be remarkable through all future tine, and looking round upon the events now being daily developed, this General Assembly have reason to congratulate the country that its destinies were cast at the approach of the trying events which have within that period rapidly succeeded each other, in the hands of our venerated and patriotic fellow citizen, Andrew Jackson: and whereas, his policy began the restoration of that system which was hailed in 1500 as the establishment of sound principles, and was steadily pursued by him and transmitted with the impress of his character to the hands of his distinguished successor; and whereas the firm and patient wisdom of the present chief magistrate, pursuing the same policy, has successfully conducted our domestic and foreign relations in the midst of peculiar and very extraordinary difficultios: Therefore, be it

1st. Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That our Senators in Congress be instructed and our Representatives requested to vote against the chartering by Congress of a National Bank.

21. Resolved further, That our Senators in Congress be instructed and our Representatives requested to vote for, and to use all fair and proper exertions to procure the passage of the measure brought forward in the Congress of the United States commonly called the Sub Treasury Bill or the Independent Treasury Bill, the object of which was to separate the collection, keeping and disbursement of the public money from all Banks, so as to make the Treasury of the United States independent of all Banks, as recommended by the President of the United States in his several mes.ages communicated to the last Congress of the United States.

3d. Resolved further, That this General Assembly doth unqualifiedly condemn the provision of a Bill heretofore before the Senate of the United States at its last session, entitled "A Bill to prevent the interference of certain Federal officers in elections," which Bill this General Assembly doth doelare to be a violation of the Constitution of the United States, which provides that "Congress shall pass no law abridging the freedom of speech and of the press," and they do as unqualifiedly condemn the vote given in favor of soid Bill by the Senators in Congress from this State, and our said Senators in Congress are hereby instructed, and our Representatives requested, to vote against

and to use all fair and proper exertions to prevent the passage of the same or any similar bill.

4th. Resolved further, That our Senators in Congress be instructed and our Representatives requested to vote against the measures heretofore brought before Congress, which had for its object the distribution among the States the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, and that they be further instructed to vote for and use all fair and proper exertions to procure the passage of a law for the graduation and reduction of the price of the public lands, and for granting pre-emption rights to

the settlers thereon.

5th. Resolved further, That our Senators in Congress be instructed and our Representatives requested to vote for and use all fair and proper exertions to procure the passage of a law repealing the duties on、 imported Salt.

6th. Resolved further, That this General Assembly doth heartily approve the leading measures and policy of the administrations of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren, and our Senators in Congress are hereby instructed and our representatives requested to support in good faith, the leading measures and policy as brought forward and advocated by the present President of the United States, and to use all fair and proper exertions to carry out, sustain and accomplish the

same.

7th. And Resolved further, That the Governor be requested to transmit to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions.

Mr. Aiken submitted the following:

Resolved, That the committee on banks, be instructed to enqire into the expediency of repealing that part of the act establishing a State Bank in the State of Tennessee, which authorizes the president and directors of the principal bank to locate the branches, and appoint twelve directors for each brauch of the Bank of Tennessee. And Mr. Gillespy the following:

Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, That the Secretary of State is hereby directed to call upon the respective boards of directors of the several Internal Improvement Companies incorporated by the laws of this State, in which the Governor of Tennessee has subscribed for stock, to report severally as soon as practicable to this General Assembly

1st. The nature and extent of the improvement completed. 2d. The probable cost necessary to complete the enterprize.

3d. The amount of stock subscribed by individuals under each charter, the number of subscribers, the amount collected, the amount forfeited if any, and the probable amount of subscriptions that cannot bo realized.

4th. The amount of stock taken by the Governor on behalf of the State, that has been received by each company either in funds or State Bonds, if in bounds whether the same have been negotiated, where, and what amount thereof; if not negotiated the reasons why they have not been sold.

5th. Whether the whole or a part, and how much of the enterprize has been put under contract, the names of the contractors, and the terms of the contract.

6th. What progress has been made in the contemplated improvement, what amount has been expected thereon, including the amount paid, in salaries or otherwise to engineers, agents, officers of the respective boards since the commencement of the work, presenting in tabular form a complete statement of the same--and also the probable sum necessary to complete the construction of such work, and the amount of available funds in the power of the company.

7th. The number, names, grades and salaries of the officers of each company who are performing, or have performed services under salaries for the company, and the sums that have been paid to such officers respectively.

The preamble and resolutions heretofore submitted by Mr. Gillespy, in relation to the late suspension of specie payments by the Bank of Tennessee, was on his motion taken up and read.

Mr. Jennings moved to lay them on the table and make them the order of the day for to-morrow.

Pending which motion, the Senate adjourned.

SATURDAY MORNING, Oct. 26, 1839. A message from the House of Representatives by Mr. Crockett, their clerk.

Mr. Speaker: I am directed to transmit to the Senate the report of C. W. Nance, Civil Engineer, upon the survey of the route for the Tennessee and Hatchie Canal, made in conformity to an act of the General Assembly of Tennessee.

And then he withdrew. Whereupon the said report was ordered to be referred to the committee on Internal Improvement.

Mr. Gillespy presented the petition of sundry citizens of Bradley county in relation to the Hiwassee Rail Road, which was read and ordered to be transmitted to the House of Representatives.

Mr. Turney presented the petition of sundry citizens of Overton, White and Jackson counties, praying the establishment of a new county; which was referred on his motion to the committee on new counties and county lines.

On motion of Mr. Laughlin, the Resolution from the House of Representatives, proposing to go into the election of a Register for East Tennessee, was taken up, read and concurred with..

Ordered, That the clerk acquaint the House of Representatives therewith.

Mr. Rencau submitted the following:

Whereas, all just governments are designed to secure enjoyments of peace, equal llberty, and common prosperity and happiness of all those over whom they are intended to be administered, and for the at