3531 H. OF R.] Memorials respecting the Public Deposites. [APRIL 7, 1834. would be the deed of the patriot; and that the reflection that the United States Bank may not be rechartered and arising from the execution of such duty, should be more that the public deposites may not be restored, and denygrateful to his feelings than the sounding fame, even ing the existence of great distress in that neighborhood. when acquired as a soldier or statesman, upon a thousand The language of the memorial was respectful. It was fields of renown. Finally, they pronounce the allegation that the Bank of the United States has acted improperly and oppressively in contracting her accomodations, unjust, unfounded, and disingenuous, as is clear from the fact that she has not withdrawn any thing like an amount equal to what has been abstracted from her vaults. Thus I have given the substance of the resolutions passed by my constituents, which breathe the spirit of freemen, and of men alive to the best interests of their country. I have only to add, that I respond most heartily to the sentiments which they have thus fearlessly and ably avowed, and ask that they be laid upon the table and printed. The memorial was read, ordered to be printed, and laid on the table. signed chiefly by farmers, mechanics, and laborers, the yeomanry of Berks county, men distinguished for the morality of their habits, and their attachment to the institutions of the country. Their opinions were entitled to respect at home, and throughout the State, because they speak a united and powerful voice through the ballot-box, and he hoped they would be respected here, for here the opinion of every citizen was entitled to respect, whether federal or democrat, bank or anti-bank. He asked the reading of one of the memorials. The memorials were read, ordered to be printed with the names, and laid on the table. CHESTER COUNTY (PA.) MEMORIAL. Mr. POTTS, addressing the Chair, said he had in his hand twenty-three memorials, signed by sixteen hundred citizens of Chester county, Pennsylvania, in relation to the removal of the public deposites and the recharter of the Bank of the United States. And NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY (PA.) MEMORIAL. Mr. ANTHONY presented the memorial of 1,118 citizens of the county of Northumberland, Pennsylvania, apThe county of Chester (said Mr. P.) as is doubtless proving of the course pursued by the administration in removing the Government deposites from the Bank of well known to every gentleman on this floor, is among the United States, and remarked, that the memorialists the largest and most populous counties of the State of were principally the farmers, the mechanics, and yeoman- Pennsylvania. Possessing a soil, for the most part of ry of the county; that they were among the most honest, great natural fertility, highly improved by good cultivaenterprising, and respectable portion of his constituents; tion, and, although embracing within its limits various that it embraced only a part of the county, and he had manufacturing establishments of iron, cotton, &c., yet it understood that others of similar tenor had been transmit-is mainly an agricultural county; its citizens are princited, which were not yet received. He was pleased to pally farmers, practical, independent farmers; men who observe, among the petitioners, the honorable gentle- cultivate their own lands with their own hands. man's name, who, as his predecessor, had occupied a widely, sir, as it is known for its excellent husbandry, it seat two years on this floor, and many other gentlemen is not less extensively so for the industry, enterprise, with whom he had a personal acquaintance, and felt high- public spirit, and intelligence of its citizens. These mely gratified that they had recommended the propriety of morials, Mr. Speaker, bear the names of a class of peothe course that had been pursued last Friday by a majori-ple who come befor you, not as Jackson men, nor antity of the House; that although they were not versed in Jackson men, but under the more appropriate title of Their object is higher, purer, no"previous questions," yet their language was, that they freemen. They are not party men, they have no party desired a speedy decision of the question, and prayed purposes to answer. Congress not to grant a restoration of the deposites. Af- bler. It is to vindicate the constitution and laws of their ter stating that his constituents viewed with surprise and country. They see in the manner in which the Presiindignation the conduct of the United States Bank, and dent had directed the removal of the public treasures believed that the present pecuniary embarrassment of the country was caused by that institution, he moved that the memorial be read, laid on the table, and printed; which was agreed to. from the custody where the law had placed them, a violation of the constitution and the law. They see, sir, by that act, that one of the main defences which the wis. dom of their forefathers had thrown around liberty, to guard it from the encroachments of power, has been broken down; and, alarmed for the consequences that must ensue, they come here, sir, and in the respectful but decided language which it befits freemen to use to their representatives, they demand the restoration of the public moneys to their proper depository, thereby giving to power the merited rebuke, and inculcating the wholesome lesson, that that public officer assumes a fearful Mr. A. observed that the petitioners were of the highest responsibility," who does it in defiance of the constiturespectability and intelligence, and embraced his neigh- tion and the laws. We have, Mr. Speaker, approached bors and many of his intimate personal friends. They an alarming crisis in our affairs, and— were merchants, mechanics, professional men; some of LYCOMING COUNTY (PA.) MEMORIAL. Mr. ANTHONY also presented the memorial of one hundred citizens of Muncy, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, in which they represent that the removal of the deposites from the Bank of the United States was imprudent, illegal, contrary to the spirit of the constitution of the United States, and disrespectful to Congress. The SPEAKER here observed, that the gentleman them those who are ranked among that class of citizens from Pennsylvania would please confine himself strictly who, in the language of Addison, "Iras et verba locant." to the rule, in stating merely the substance of the memoHe said they complained of great pressure and embarrass- rials, as it was now a very late hour, and as there was a ment in the monetary concerns of the country; and re- large number of the States yet to be called. Mr. POTTS said that he did not wish to infringe the spectfully appeal to Congress for relief; that they ask for the restoration of the deposites and renewal of the charter rules of the House; that he had intended making some of the Bank of the United States, with such modifications further remarks, but would forbear, and, as the memoand amendments as experience may have suggested. He rials which he held in his hand were similar to some bemoved that the petition be read, laid on the table, and fore presented by him to the House, and read and printed, he would only ask that these, without reading, be printed. Agreed to. laid on the table. BERKS COUNTY (PA.) MEMORIAL. Mr. MUHLENBERG presented memorials signed by 5,480 citizens of Berks county, in Pennsylvania, praying ADAMS COUNTY (PA.) MEMORIAL. APRIL 7, 1834.] Memorials respecting the Public Deposites. [H. OF R. ings of a meeting of the citizens of Adams county, in of all parties; not so here: those from a part of the county Pennsylvania, held at Gettysburg, on the 22d of March of Rockingham were unanimous-those from the county of last. Mr. M. said that the gentleman who had enclosed Shenandoah were opposed by one dissenting voice, to one the proceedings to him, authorized him to say that the of the resolutions, amidst the affirmative sanction of hunmeeting was large and respectable. He said he knew a dreds of its bold yeomanry. But, Mr. Speaker, this large number of the gentlemen himself, whose names appear- majority were of a particular party, they were of that ed in the proceedings, and knew them to be, not only re- party, and of that people and their descendants, who, in spectable, but intelligent. The proceedings are in rela- the days of the Revolution, fought against the British, the tion to the Bank of the United States, and the public de- Indians, and the tories, and aided in establishing upon a posites. They are opposed to the recharter of that in- firm basis, the rights of our race. They were of that stitution, and approve of the measures of the adminis- party, who, under the auspices of Mr. Jefferson, effected tration in the removal of the public money from it. They the great civil revolution of 1800. They were of that have also referred to several political topics, not immedi- party who sustained the administration in the late war ately connected with legislation, but relating to a national made for the rights of our sailors, and the liberties of the convention, and the nomination of candidates for the first seas, and who did not then hold out false lights to the offices in the Government. On all of which subjects, enemies of our country, and who in more modern times, Mr. M. said they had expressed their sentiments so much have rallied under no banner but that of the Union. more fully, and so much better than he could, in any condensed remarks he might make, he would ask for their reading. The hour being late, the motion for reading was withdrawn, and the proceedings were ordered to be printed, and laid on the table YORK (PA.) MEMORIAL. Mr. BARNITZ presented the proceedings of a public meeting lately held in the county of York, Pennsylvania, at Wolf's, in West Manchester township, praying a restoration of the public deposites to the United States Bank, and a recharter of the bank. LEXINGTON (KY.) MEMORIAL. Mr. ALLAN, of Kentucky, presented the memorial of the citizens of Lexington and county of Fayette, against the removal of the deposites, &c. He said that, on the presentation of memorials, it had become customary in this House, and in the other, to speak of the character of the memorialists. If high character, intelligence, and experience, give weight to a memorial, then the one which he had the honor now to present ought to receive the most respectful consideration. It comes from the city of Lexington, a name associated in the revolutionary struggle with the first resistIn presenting these proceedings, Mr. B. briefly stated ance to arbitrary power. The citizens of Lexington, in that it was a meeting of a peculiar character, composed peace and in war, have ever maintained a character in of respectable farmers, and others connected with the accordance with all the associations of the name of their agricultural interests of the country, who, from their op- city. The inhabitants of a city, who adopted a name to portunities and situation, were well qualified to form cor- honor the first resistance to despotism, now present themrect opinions as to the present embarrassments, as well selves before Congress, to protest against usurpation. as the causes, and remedies for relief. They had a deep In looking over the names of these memorialists, I disinterest in the public prosperity; and, in engaging in cover that all interests are fully represented: farmers, these proceedings could have no other motives but such mechanics, merchants, and professional men, all unite. as regarded the welfare of the community. After briefly stating the general contents or the resolutions, he moved that they be printed and laid upon the table; which was agreed to. If long experience in the active pursuits of life enable men to judge truly of the causes of public prosperity and public distress, then he should repose great confidence in the opinions of these memorialists. These men have, PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY (MD.) MEMORIAL. in a single age, built a large and flourishing city, and Mr. CARMICHAEL prensented certain proceedings in converted a wilderness into the most highly cultivated Prince George's county, with a memorial signed by 800 country that is to be found in America. A foreigner, to of the voters of that county, praying for the restoration of view their extensive pastures, their cultivated fields, their the deposites. He then went into an explanation of in-spacious mansions, the progress of the arts, the provisions structions he had received from 50 of his constitutions, had been the slow growth of a thousand years. The men for education, would believe that all these improvements and was going pretty much at large into a statement of facts, tending to show that the distress, represented by the memorialists, had no existence, when he was restrained by the Chair. He concluded by stating that the memorial prayed for a restoration, retroactive as well as prospective, of the public deposites to the United States Bank, but did not ask the recharter of the bank. ROCKINGHAM AND SHENANDOAH (VA.) ME MORIALS. Mr. BEALE, from Rockingham and Shenandoah counties, presented memorials against the restoration of the deposites to the Bank of the United States. who have done more in the short term of their own lives than has been accomplished in other countries in centuries, after having had full experience in all kinds of currency, now tell you that this great nation cannot get along upon the basis of a State bank note currency. That a fixed standard of value is identified with the titles of property, the security of commerce, and the safety of labor. That the only means that ever has been discovered, by which the issues of the State banks could be restrained, and their notes regulated, is the agency of national bank, established by the national Legislature, and under the government of national laws. These practical men, On presenting the above Mr. BEALE said: Mr. Speaker, guided by the light of experience, recommend that the I present you the resolutions of a people, who, in Virginia, national bank shall be rechartered. They give it as their in all the great struggles for political freedom, bave been opinion, that the taking of the public treasure out of the denominated the 10th legion of its democracy. Their res- custody of the legislative and transferring it to the execuolutions approve of the withdrawal of the public money tive department, was a dangerous violation of the constifrom the Bank of the United States, declare the unconstitution. They believe that the substitution of the State tutionality, illegality, and irresponsibility, of the Bank of banks, as the fiscal agents of the Treasury, will derange the United States, and as therefore dangerous under a the finances and jeopard the public treasure. Government of limited powers. The substance of what these memorialists pray for, is, It has been common upon the presentation of memorials 1st. That Congress will retain the power of regulating and resolutions here, to say that they come from persons the currency, and not surrender it to the State banks. 3535 H. OF R.] Memorials respecting the Public Deposites. Mr. A. moved that the memorial be printed; which was agreed to. [APRIL 7, 1834. 2d. That the affairs of the Treasury shall be administered taught and all experience proved to be most favorable to through the agency of a national bank, under the control the cultivation of that only true dignity of character, a of Congress, where the representatives of the people can modest yet manly independence of thought and action. see that their money is safe, and not scatter it through They inhabit the most fertile portion of the Miami valley, the Union in State banks, where it is not subject to the a district of country remarkable for its exuberant procontrol of Congress. 3d. That the public treasure shall duction of those heavy articles of subsistence that are not be taken from the use of the people of the United every where regarded as necessaries of life. For these States, and given to the Eastern cities as a banking cap- (the only subjects of export trade in that country) the ital; and 4th. That the public treasure should be re- memorialists have usually found markets through the stored to the custody of the legislative department of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, in the South, and lately through the Ohio canals and the lakes, in the NorthGovernment. markets which have yielded an encouraging reward to their industry; I say, sir, their industry, for in that country almost every man engaged in agricultural pursuits HARRISON COUNTY (0.) MEMORIAL. I may say, without exaggeration, that Mr. LEAVITT rose and remarked that, two weeks wields his own sickle and scythe, and ploughs with alacsince, he had presented to the House several memorials rity his own fields. from the county of Harrison, in the State of Ohio, signed they have a country and population that (if need should by about seventeen hundred persons, making known their be) could realize the boast of the better days of the Roopposition to the restoration of the deposites to the Bank man commonwealth, when "every rood of earth mainof the United States, and to the rechartering of that in-tained its man." Many of these memorialists came to stitution. He now held in his hand another memorial that country whilst the wandering and marauding Indian Be-prise of civilized life. They have lived, in half the length from the same county, but of an opposite character, which tribes held there a divided empire with the arts and enterit was his purpose presently to offer to the House. fore he did so, it became his duty to submit a motion for of years allotted to the life of man, to see the then unbro. the printing of the names of the signers to the anti-bank ken forest disappear, and rich plantations, covered with memorials to which he had just referred as having been luxuriant crops, rise up in its place. The Bank of the presented by him on a former day. He would state, in United States has, for the last fifteen years, furnished a truly the exchangeable value of their property. This explanation of the reasons which governed him in making capital for their trade, and a currency which represented this motion, that, since the presentation of these memorials, he had been informed that charges and allegations currency, always as good as gold or silver coin, is now had been mutually made by one party against the other, rapidly disappearing, and the paper of State banks, havas rapidly taking its place. Experience, (that sure, but, in the county of Harrison, of unfairness in obtaining sig-ing an estimated value never equal to its nominal amount, natures to the memorials which had been respectively circulated by them, and both parties had indicated a de- in these times, too much neglected teacher,) dearly this last cannot subsist without some power stronger than sire that the names attached to the several memorials bought, almost fatal, experience, has taught them that should be printed. charter stipulations to regulate and control it. present state of affairs they look with fearful anticipations the United States Bank found them, and from which the to that ruinous condition in which the establishment of Without this institution, they Mr. L. then said he was charged with the presentation excellent administration of its functions, as a regulator of of a memorial, said to be signed by about two thousand currency, redeemed them. of the inhabitants of the county of Harrison, in favor of expect to see again currencies of different values in difthe restoration of the public deposites to the Bank of the ferent parts of the Union, with a difference of exchange United States, and the recharter of that institution; which, operating, as it once did, as a tax, varying from two to on motion of Mr. L., with the names attached, was order-ten per cent., on every article they buy from the Atlaned to be printed. Mr. L., having obtained leave for that purpose, then submitted a motion that the names upon the memorials formerly presented by him should be printed; which was accordingly ordered by the House. Mr. L. also presented a memorial from the same county, signed by upwards of three hundred persons, against the restoration of the deposites, and against the rechartering of the Bank of the United States; which, together with the names, was ordered to be printed. WARREN COUNTY (0.) MEMORIAL.. Mr. CORWIN, on presenting a memorial of the citizens of Warren county, Ohio, praying the restoration of the public deposites and a recharter of the United States Bank, addressed the Chair as follows: In the tic cities. They expect to see State banks, all over the country, sinking into hopeless insolvency, leaving immense amounts of their paper worthless, in possession of those who have earned it with the labor of their own hands. and vicious currency, in the depression of prices and They already feel the baneful influence of a deranged general stagnation of trade. They see in that paralysis which has benumbed the great mercantile cities of the North and Southwest, the near and sure approach of ruin to themselves-for they look to those great hearts of trade for the life-blood which is to nourish the industry and enterprise of that rich interior of which they are a Mr. Speaker: I am charged with the presentation to part. These memorialists believe that the evils, present and this House of a memorial, signed by about two thousand of the inhabitants of a single county of the district I have prospective, of which they complain, are to be traced to the honor to represent. By reference to the names and the late act of the Secretary of the Treasury in withholddesignations of occupations affixed to them, it will be ing the revenues of the country, the money of the people, seen that they are composed of farmers, merchants, and from the United States Bank, where it had been heretoa great variety of those engaged in mechanical pursuits. fore safely kept and usefully employed. They assert, They are emigrants, or the descendants of emigrants, what is now conceded by all, that the money of the Govfrom every State in the Union, and present in many re-ernment and people was safe in the custody of the United spects a faithful miniature picture of the manners, habits, States Bank, and fear that it is not so in the State banks tastes, and opinions, of the whole American population. that now have it. They insist that as the safety of the They are generally in that condition for which a pious public treasure in the United States Bank is not denied, and wise one of old so fervently prayed-they are neither and as the bank has performed faithfully the duties perrich nor poor, but in that happy medium between the taining to its fiscal agency, that the withdrawal from it of extremes of poverty and wealth which philosophy had the public deposites, is indefensible upon principles o. APRIL 7, 1834.] Memorials respecting the Public Deposites. NATIONAL CURRENCY. [H. of R. Mr. EWING sent certain papers to the Clerk's table, which he wished to have printed, and observed that, if the House would hear him on the subject, he would promise not to occupy more than an hour. national good faith or sound policy. I have already in-day for the adjournment of Congress. Objections being formed you, that this memorial comes from a county bear-made, he moved to suspend the rule, but, in consequence ing the venerated name of Warren. Having ever present of numerous remonstrances all around him, he immedito their minds the glorious associations connected with ately withdrew the motion. the name of " the first great martyr to the cause of liberty," it is not to be expected that they should speak in "bated breath and whispering humbleness" of power usurped or power abused. In a strain of honest indignation, they declare the late conduct of the Secretary of the Treasury to be unwarranted by the constitution or laws of the land. They appeal to Congress as the guardians of the law and their constituted agents, for redress. They ask you to vindicate their violated constitution and broken laws, by an immediate restoration of the public moneys to their former place of deposite. They pray you to recharter the United States Bank. These measures are respectfully demanded of us as the only means by which lost confidence and quietude can be restored, and their prosperity, now rapidly declining, arrested in its downward career. BELLEFONTE, CENTRE COUNTY, (PA.) MEMO RIAL. The CHAIR inquired whether the papers were memorials? Mr. EWING replied, that they were not memorials, but contained programmes, draughts, and outlines, for the establishment of a national currency. The SPEAKER stated that these could not be presented but by unanimous consent. Loud objections being made to the leave, Mr. EWING withdrew his motion. DELAWARE COUNTY (PA.) MEMORIAL. Mr. DARLINGTON said: I have been requested to present to the House the memorial of the citizens of DeMr. HENDERSON presented the proceedings of a laware county, Pennsylvania, praying for the restoration meeting held at Bellefonte, Centre county, Pennsylvania. of the public deposites to the Bank of the United States, Mr. H. said this meeting was acknowledged to have and for the renewal of the charter of the bank. These mebeen the largest ever convened in this county, and com- morialists are, in point of intelligence, respectability, inposed of the professional men, the substantial farmer, dustry, and enterprise, not inferior to the citizens of any the manufacturer, and the mechanic. Amongst the other county in the State, or in the Union. This memomany respectable names which he recognised, was that of rial is signed by the citizens of the county, without disour distinguished fellow-citizen, the Hon. Andrew Gregg, tinction of party-by the opposers of the administration, whose name alone, at least in his own State, will com- and by those who have uniformly supported it; and by all mand for those proceedings a respectful attention. He classes and conditions of society-the farmers, the manuwould only add, that it was highly gratifying to him to facturers, the mechanics, and the laborers. It is signed find that his course here, upon this all-absorbing ques- by 2,530 of the citizens, which constitutes a very large tion, had met with the approbation of so large a portion majority of the taxable and votable inhabitants of the of his fellow-citizens, and that, without doing violence to county. This is apparent from the fact that the whole his own opinions, he could cheerfully obey their man- number of taxable inhabitants in the county does not dates. Mr. H. also presented the proceedings of a meet- probably exceed 3,200 persons, and that the highest vote ing adverse to those last presented. Mr. H. said that, ever polled in that county did not exceed 2,400. I am differing, as he did, in many of the sentiments contained informed by the respectable gentleman who handed me in those resolutions, he could cheerfully bear testimony the memorial, that there are not more than 200 of the to the respectability of the men whose names were signed persons whose signatures it contains that are not entitled to the paper; some of whom were too well known to re- to a vote. The memorialists represent that they are. quire this humble tribute. farmers, manufacturers, mechanics, merchants, and laborSHELBY COUNTY (KY.) MEMORIAL. ers; and that they have heretofore been highly prosperMr. POPE presented a memorial and resolutions of ous in their several pursuits; and, from the sound and 1,083 inhabitants of Shelby county, Kentucky, depreca. healthy state of business amongst them, they had reason ting the removal of the public deposites from the Bank to expect continued prosperity. From the great facility of the United States, ascribing the present distress of the afforded by water power, connected with the active enpeople to that cause, and resolving in favor of their reterprise of the citizens of the county, manufacturing of storation to that bank, and in favor of a recharter thereof, various kinds, as cotton, wool, paper, and iron, is extenwith such modifications as will meet the general sense of sively engaged in. Capital exceeding $1,500,000 is inthe people. Mr. P. observed, that the signatures were vested in these various operations, producing a manufac evidently not the autographs of the memorialists, but tured property amounting to $2,000,000 annually, and The proswere copied, he presumed, from the originals. He had giving employment to at least 1,500 hands. no doubt, however, that it had been fairly done, inas- perous and flourishing state of things which existed a much as the gentlemen who had forwarded the memorial short time age, has now entirely changed; and it is this to him were of high character and worth. He had rereverse from prosperity to suffering and distress, which ceived the memorial on last Wednesday, and would have has induced these memorialists to address you. They been much pleased if he could have presented it before tell you the mechanics are now without employment; the vote on the subjects of the memorial had been taken; the manufactories are, some of them, actually closed; but he was precluded from doing so by the rules of the others have partially suspended operations; and all of House, which only permitted their presentation on Mon-them are preparing to wind up business, should Congress days. He stated that the people of Shelby county, as a do nothing to relieve them; that the merchants are body, were eminently respectable, industrious, and in-unable to collect their bills-the prices of agricultural telligent, and so were the memorialists, as far as he knew products are rapidly declining a great reduction of the them, and he regretted that he could not concur with wages of laborers has taken place-and that, ere long, them in all their views. He moved that the memorial be hundreds will certainly be left without employment, laid upon the table and printed. Agreed to. should the present state of things continue. This sudden change from a state of enviable prosperity to one of impending distress and ruin, they attribute to the fatal exMr. BOON asked leave to offer a resolution, fixing a periment of the Executive in removing the public ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS. VOL. X.--222 H. OF R.] The Commutation Bill. [APRIL 8, 1834. deposites from the Bank of the United States to the local to a clear and succinct statement of the case as it presents banks; a measure which they regard as a tyrannical usur- itself to my own mind. I would inquire what were pation and abuse of power; an experiment which has de- the services rendered by the petitioners? And on what ranged the currency, and destroyed commercial credit and equitable grounds is compensation demanded? If I confidence. The memorialists express their belief that a have understood these claims rightly, they are based on restoration of the deposites, and a recharter of the Bank the solemn pledge of the nation, given at a crisis when it of the United States, under such modifications as Congress, in its wisdom, may deem necessary and expedient, are the only safe, certain, and effectual remedies for the present wide-spread distress. They look with hope to Congress to adopt such measures as will speedily settle the deranged state of the currency, and restore confidence to the community. had nothing else to pay in but its faith and its depreciated credit, and made for services the most important, appalling, and hazardous that can be imagined. Yes, sir, the men for whom this bill proposes compensation, entered and continued in the service of the country, literally with a hangman's noose around their necks. For what, I ask, would have been their condition, if they had proved The memorial was read, laid upon the table, and or-unsuccessful in the final issue? No one need be told that dered to be printed. The whole of the residue of the day was consumed in the reception and hearing of memorials; when, at about half past four o'clock, the House adjourned. TUESDAY, APRIL 8. the most of them, in all human probability, would have Mr. MASON, from the Committee on the Public Lands,cated on a still more uncertain contingency, well underreported a bill relinquishing the reversionary interest of stood by both parties, viz: that they should be victorious the United States in an Indian reservation, situated be-in the dreadful and unequal contest in which they had tween the Mississippi and Des Moines rivers, and wished it embarked. This agreement or contract was consummated by a resolution of this House, recorded 21st to receive its engrossment. Mr. C. JOHNSON made some inquiries respecting the October, 1780; it was afterwards, in March, 1783, on the grounds of the bill. magnanimous request of the officers interested, com Mr. VINTON made further inquiries, the object of which was to see that no advantage was about to be taken of these Indians. Mr. MASON having removed his doubts, and Mr. ASHLEY having confirmed the assurances and explanations given, the bill was ordered to be engrossed for its third reading. PUBLIC DEPOSITES. The resolution of Mr. MARDIS, on the subject of the deposites, coming up again as the unfinished business of the first hour, Mr. CORWIN, of Ohio, resumed the floor, and continued his speech in opposition to the resolution, and spoke till the expiration of the hour; when The House passed to the next order, viz: the consider Thus Mr. MASON explained, and stated that these reserva-muted for a much less sum than the original amount, tions had been allowed by the treaty of Washington, on namely, five years' full pay in money, or in securities the 24th August, 1824, for certain half-breeds of the Sacs bearing an interest of six per cent. per annum. and Foxes, who had now become amalgamated with the we have the services performed, and the pledged comwhite population, and who desired to hold their lands in pensation; and what are the objections to the fulfilment fee. of the contract, or, in other words, to the passage of the bill under consideration? One which was urged by my honorable friend from New Hampshire is, that it erects a new and a different tribunal to ascertain whether the claimants bring themselves within the letter or spirit of the resolution of 1783. And is this objectionable? I made it, and heard no satisfactory reason assigned to confess I listened with attention to the gentleman who sustain the objection. Is it not evident that action on these claims would be more uniform and expeditious if they shall be settled by the Secretary of the Treasury under a general law, than if investigated and adjudicated by a committee of this House, fluctuating and changing as that body must necessarily be? Surely it must be finitely more just, as the same rule, by the same officer, admitted that the present arrangement would be inwould be applied to all claimants, with leisure sufficient carefully and critically to examine all the proof. In addition to this, it would save much of the time of this and the other House, and also prevent unnecessary delay and expense to the applicants. It would, therefore, promote true economy as well as expedite justice; for it Mr. Speaker: The time which this subject has already must be recollected and admitted that the individuals occupied the attention of the House, and the distin- here claiming are creditors of the Government, and if we guished talent and ability with which all the provisions of pay at all, we must, or ought to pay interest at the rate this bill have been sustained by the committee who re- stipulated in the resolution to which I referred, for the ported it, admonish me that nearly all has been said entire period these settlements have been deferred. which was necessary and proper, and that I ought not to Another objection which has been made against this bill trespass upon the patience of the House by obtruding is, that the rule prescribing the proper testimony to my views upon it, conscious as I am that my proper substantiate the time and extent of the service is too province is rather to listen to and receive instruction than favorable to the applicants. This, however, is an assumpto endeavor to impart it to others. But a deep sense of tion not warranted by facts, nor by the established rules the justice of these claims, a settled conviction of the of evidence, as applicable to ancient covenants. But this entire propriety and expediency of the provisions of this objection has been so fully discussed, and so triumphbill, and, more especially, the manner in which it has antly refuted by gentlemen who have preceded me in been assailed by one of my honorable colleagues, must this debate, that I will not tax the patience of the House be my apology for briefly presenting the reasons which with any additional reason to demonstrate its fallacy. The have contributed to the formation of my judgment; not that I indulge the vain hope thereby to influence the vote of a solitary member of this House, but with a view ation of the COMMUTATION BILL. Mr. CRAMER then resumed and concluded his remarks, as follows: third objection which has been taken to the provisions of this bill is, that some may possibly be thereby included who have already received compensation, and perhaps others |