FEB. 16, 1829.] Cumberland Road. [H. OF R tions to diffuse, on all sides, the fatal poison of its princi-ted to oppressions, which nothing but her invincible atples. And if it does exist, and conceals itself from the tachment to the Union could have borne. Be not, then, people under false professions of republicanism, ought deaf to her remonstrances. Do not deceive yourselves we not to sound the alarm? Ought we not to tear the with regard to her views or your own course. Her whole mask from its face, and expose the hypocrite? do not life, if I may so express it, has been one continued demonmean to say that there are not honest federalists, who stration of her affectionate respect for the constitution. sincerely believe that they pursue the good of the coun-Let yours be to preserve, not violate, her sovereign rights, try by the practice of their principles: God forbid that I which you are constitutionally bound to protect. should have so much intolerance! But I mean to say But it is not necessary to resort to particular clauses of that those who conceal federal principles under preten- the constitution to prove that we have no power to make sions to republicanism, are not honest, and so far from enjoy-roads. A bare contemplation of the power and objects ing the confidence, merit the execrations of the people. of this General Government will show that they are not But, there is another authority which it is my duty to only opposed to, but inconsistent with, the exercise of introduce, in condemnation of the above rule of construc- this right. Its objects are war, commerce, and negotiation; an authority which you are bound to consider and tion, and its powers are of a nature to effect them, and respect; an authority as high as that of Virginia or any them only. Its authority is that of general superintendin the Union; I mean the sovereign people of the Com-ence. Its legislation is for the whole, and every law monwealth of South Carolina. In the summer of 1827, which it passes must operate on the whole. Its power to apprehending, from past observation, that an attempt declare war involves the defence of all, and its power to would be made at the next session of Congress to pass a regulate commerce the interest of ali. If you lay a tax, tariff of higher duties, they assembled in their respective it must press equally every where; if you grant an immudistricts to consider the subject. The more they examined nity, its beneficial effects must operate precisely to the the principle of such a law, the more they were convinced same extent. It is true that your power, unlike that of that it struck directly at the roots of their rights and other confederacies, acts directly on the persons and proliberties. They saw that, by sanctioning the tariff, it de-perty of the people; but it so acts as to give greater effistroyed their freedom of trade, and must involve them in ciency to your general powers. Now, if there is any inevitable bankruptcy: and they remembered that, under thing which is, in its nature, emphatically local, it is a this same principle, the alien and sedition laws had been road. Nor can the mind separate, in idea, an exclusive passed, which violated personal security, and the freedom sovereignty over the soil from an exclusive power to make of speech and the press. They sent memorials to you, the road. If the States have not an exclusive sovereignty in tones of sorrowful remonstrance, against the unconsti- over the soil, why is Congress, although entrusted with tutionality of the principle, and detailed the injurics which the common defence, obliged to obtain the consent the application of it, by the passage of the tariff law, of the States, before it can purchase sites for forts, arsewould inflict on the profits of their labor. Their Legis-nals, &c.? Another proof that this power does not belature, likewise, transmitted to you a profound report, con-long to the General Government is to be drawn from its taining a full exposition of their sovereign rights, with a absolute incompetency to exercise it. A power created series of resolutions, which go the whole length of im-to act in a great sphere is unfit for a small one; as a mind pugning this construction, not only by denouncing tariffs with capacity to command an empire could never restrain and internal improvements, but appropriations made for itself to the control of a village school; or as a momentum the benefit of the Colonization Society. Sir, these are requisite to move a mountain would be ill-applied to the most solemn appeals, and should be considered by you lifting of a feather. with the deepest attention. It is not the remonstrance of On the other hand, one of the great objects of State a citizen, of a neighborhood, or of a city; but that of a sovereignty is Internal Improvements. This is admitted whole Commonwealth, as well by its sovereign authority, by the Federalist, and all the writers on the subject. Its the Legislature, as by its freemen, assembled in their pro- powers are adjusted to, and fitted for, this object. The per persons. Strong must have been the feeling to have territory of each State is so small that every road must be caused the simultaneous movement of a whole people. under the immediate eye of the Government. No misNo similar event had occurred since the Revolution. No take can occur with regard to its importance or direction. similar assemblages, but those in which, appealing to Hea- The representatives have a personal knowledge of the ven for the justice of their cause, with one voice, they whole country, of the benefits of the read, and of the remonstrate against the usurpations of Britain. manner in which the work is executed. Every citizen What State has contributed more to the Liberties and has a positive interest in its speedy, economical, and perprosperity of this Confederacy than South Carolina? Go fect completion: for, in the shape of a direct tax, he conback to the Revolution, and you find her sacrificing every tributes, annually, so much of his income, or of his time thing for the common cause; blood-treasure-and the and labor to it. If the workmen are indolent, prodigal, dearest connexions of life. When your continental armies and unskilful, they are at once observed, and publicly arwere dispersed; your generals driven out, and the enemy raigned. Now the reverse of all this happens with rein possession of the capital, and every strong hold; with- gard to national roads. So far from every man in the out aid from their Legislature or Congress, her people neighborhood being an overseer over a work of this kind, kept alive the war, and resisted the British until peace it is his positive interest to have it conducted with as was concluded. Go to the convention and you will learn much waste of public money, time, and want of skill, as that her sons were among the foremost in wisdom, elo- possible. The more money expended, the better for him quence, and that compromising forbearance by which dis-and those around; it gives contracts to some, employment cordant interests can alone be reconciled. Consult those to others, and affords a market for the produce of the who have preceded you on this floor, and they will tell neighborhood. The money spent is no tax on him, for it you, with delight, of the manly, patriotic, and able course is drawn from the treasury at Washington; and, although which her representatives pursued. Though her popula- cach, as a consumer, pays a part of it, yet it is very small, tion be thin, and her territory small, her sol does and has and he is insensible of it, as he pays it in the shape of an contributed, annually, one seventh of the whole amount indirect tax. Why is there such a competition among the of your revenue. During the late war, when you were cities for having navy yards? among the States for having driven to the brink of despair, she was the first to ad-roads and canals located in them? It is surely not on acvance her quota to your exhausted and yearning treasury; count of any ult mate benefit to be derived from them; and since, she has calmly suffered privations, and submit- it's because so much money must be expended in them H. or R.] Cumberland Road. to carry on these works. To give a practical and com- presentation on this floor is in the ratio of population? [FEB. 16, 1829. parative illustration of the ability of the National and State Where will you find a Representative so disinterested, so Governments to carry on such works, I present the his- just, as to transfer a benefit of this kind from his own distory of the only two great works which have been com-trict to a distant section, whose necessity and localities repleted by these authorities-this very Cumberland road, and quire it more? Why, what is the fact? While millions the Erie canal in the State of New York. The road was and tens of millions have been projected to be laid out in commenced by the United States in 1806, twenty-three improvements north of the Potomac, thousands, beggarly years ago, and is not yet completed so as perfectly to an- thousands, have been with difficulty obtained for the ferswer its purpose; it is one hundred and thirty miles long; tile plains of the South. These works are classified, not it cost fifteen thousand six hundred and eighty-eight dol- according to the necessities of the people, but according lars per mile, besides the loss of the annual interest on the to their number. Pennsylvania! you contain more than capital laid out, which now amounts to one hundred and a million of people; you must be first served. Ohio! you ten thousand dollars per annum. commenced by the State of New York, on the 4th of July, entitles you to precedence. Are not all the States, in the The Erie canal was are increasing every day in wealth and population; that 1817, and was in perfect operation on the 4th of July, eye of the constitution, sovereign, of equal dignity, and 1825, a period of eight years. hundred and fifty-three miles long, and the branch to Lake ciple on which they entered into the compact? The main canal is three on a perfect footing of equality? Was not this the prinChamplain sixty; it averaged little more than eleven thou- But when we look to our revenue, by which these im sand dollars per mile, and, in the year 1826, the gross provements are made, and ascertain which of the States amount of its tolls was eight hundred and fifty thousand contribute the most to it, the injustice appears more fladollars; which, after deducting four hundred and twenty grant and iniquitous. As our revenue is derived altoge thousand dollars, as interest on the capital laid out, and ther from imports, and those imports are obtained in exone hundred thousand dollars for repairs, left a nett gain change for the native produce which we export, those to the State of three hundred and thirty thousand dollars. States which export most must contribute most to the revenue. Foreign produce, imported for re-exportation, contributes nothing, as that is entitled to drawback. The amount of native produce exported is the fair standard by which you can alone estimate the support which each State or section gives to the revenue. Time in making, Miles in length, mile, Cost per Cumberland Road. Loss in interest per ann. $110,000 Erie Canal. $330,000 super Our aggregate exports of domestic produce, including manufactures, amounted, in 1827, to Of this, the non-slave holding States exported 24,778,638 $58,921,691 The slave holding States, 34,143,653 must have been greater than theirs, in the same ratio with our excess of Our contributions to the revenue means expenditures of revenue on works of Internal Improveexportation. Compare this result with the estimated ment now projected north and south of the Potomac: North of the Potomac, South of that River, $10,291,000 33,000 But this is not all: while the Cumberland road is a perfect quagmire, a speaking proof of the feebleness, extravagance, and incompetency, of the National Government to such undertakings; and, so far from being a of communication between the East and the West, only benefiting, at the expense of the people, the intendent and the workmen employed on it, the Erie canal is a source of living, countless wealth, studding its banks with villages and cultivated fields, and pouring into the capital the annual abundance of the immense countries bordering on the Lakes. You have the treasures of the United States at your command; brigades of engineers, peake and Ohio Canal. This, if it benefits any, will beI do not include in this estimate the cost of the Chesaeducated under your eye at West Point, by the charity of nefit, more particularly, the non-slave holding States of the people; the power to procure from Europe (if you the West. have them not) the most skilful artificers; and you admit gineers of the United States have estimated the cost of that this road is an object of great national importance, this work at twenty-two millions five hundred thousand For us, it might as well be in China. The enbinding the Union with a chain stronger than adamant; dollars. All experienced in the affairs of life know that, why, then, with all these means, and with this great ob- from a pigeon house to a palace, the actual cost always ject in view, have you not accomplished it? Why is it doubles the estimated. not the most perfect piece of workmanship on earth? Why expense than between forty and fifty millions of dollars. do we not hear of the comforts of its accommodations; of Whence is this sum to come? From the Chesapeake and It will not be completed at a less its facilities of intercourse; of the rapid journeys made Ohio Canal Company? Who does not know that Washupon it; of the hosts of loaded wagons and living things ington, Georgetown, and Alexandria, are bankrupts? That which every moment crowd it; of its rising villages, and the two last exhibit marks of melancholy decay? Who of the unexampled appreciation of its lands? In fine, why does not know that the Company cannot sustain the exhave you not proven, by the success of this work, that penditure, and that the burthen must fall on the treasury you have exerted a power, legitimate and constitutional, of the United States? and that the States who can derive which does belong, and can only belong, to you? But, if you have the power to make roads, morality and Besides natural obstacles almost insuperable, this canal, no earthly benefit from it will have to contribute most? policy both forbid you to exert it. ernments, or individuals, to do an act, by which they are petition of the Baltimore Rail-road, planned, and to be It is unwise in Gov- if ever completed, will have to contend against the com compelled, from irresistible circumstances, to be guilty managed, by a company of individuals, as distinguished of injustice. It will not be denied that, if you have this for their activity as for their capital, who have entered on power, under the constitution, its benefits should be dis- their great work with that zeal which characterises the pensed over the United States, at least according to the people of Baltimore, and who will have completed the ratio of taxation and representation. I should go further, road, and have it in full operation, pouring into their city and say, that it should be regulated by the war principle; the rich superabundance of the West, before this canal be most exerted where it was most needed. But is either reaches the eastern base of the Alleghany. of these the rule by which you have or will locate Inter-attend their undertaking! Other statements, of a like chanal Improvements? Have they not been confined to those racter, might be exhibited, to show that the populous May success States where the population was most numerous? And States receive all, and we pay all; that the whole is a syswill they not continue to be so located, as long as the re- tem of fraud and oppression, planned and undertaken, FEB. 17, 18, 1829.] President Elect.--Cumberland Road.--Reprinting of Public Documents. [H. of R. either by the cupidity of private, or the ambition of public of the House; the probable number of volumes which a men, and justified on the heresies of Alexander Hamilton, reprint of those needed would occupy; and the cost of by his unprincipled or deluded followers. But I have said such reprint. On these subjects, statements have been enough. submitted to them by the officers of the House most conMr. BUNNER followed, in reply to the view given by versant with the matter. It appears that though there are Mr. M. and particularly in vindication of the character of a number of scattered and disconnected volumes of the Alexander Hamilton. Mr. B. had no doubt of the gene-printed documents prior to the fourteenth Congress, there ral power of the Government to make internal improve- is not a complete set in the possession of the House; and ments; was not clear as to its right to erect toll gates; of several entire sessions there is not a copy. Before he had concluded his remarks, he yielded to a motion for adjournment; which prevailed. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1829. but was decidedly hostile to the policy of such a measure. "It further appears that, up to the year 1814, the docuHe should, though with reluctance, vote for the amendments of a session were, with few exeptions, comprised in ment, as a middle measure. one small folio, and two small octavo volumes, in large Mr. SERGEANT next rose, in support of the bill, and type. The committee are of opinion that all the docuargued to show that, if the General Government ceded ments which it would be of importance to reprint, might the road to the States, on conditions, it was only removing be comprised in about one volume for each Congress, or the constitutional difficulty one step, inasmuch as the Go- about twelve volumes for the whole. The Clerk of the vernment would then do that by the States which it would House has suggested advantages which would attend the otherwise do immediately. execution of the work on a folio page, in which form, he is of opinion, that it could be executed in eight volumes, and at a reduced price. It is estimated that the reprint, in twelve volumes, may be effected at about two thousand five hundred dollars per volume. Of the cost of the edition on the folio page, the committee are only informed that it would be less than that of the octavo edition. A considerable Upon a call for reports of select committeesdiminution of the expense of either edition might be efMr. HAMILTON, of South Carolina, said that he rose fected by the exercise of a discretion, on the part of the for the purpose of informing the House that the commit- Clerk of the House, in the omission of such documents as tee appointed to meet such committee as the Senate might it is not of importance to reprint. The committee, acappoint, to notify ANDREW JACKSON of his election as cordingly, report the following resolution: President of the United States, for four years, to com- "Resolved, That such of the executive documents and mence with the fourth of March next, had discharged this legislative reports of the House of Representatives as are duty; and that the President elect, in signifying his ac-important to be preserved, from the first to the thirteenth ceptance of this office, had expressed his deep sensibility Congress, both inclusive, shall be selected by the Clerk of its responsibilities, and his gratitude to his country for of this House for publication, and shall be printed under this recent proof of its confidence. He had, moreover, his inspection and direction.” requested the committee to convey to their respective PRESIDENT ELECT. Mr. WICKLIFFE moved to lay the report upon the ta Houses the assurances of his high consideration and regard. ble and print it; but the motion was negatived-ayes, 56; CUMBERLAND ROAD BILL. On motion of Mr. MERCER, the special orders of the day were then postponed, and the House took up the bill for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland Road. Mr. SERGEANT resumed the course of his remarks in support of the bill, and in reply to the constitutional objections which had been urged in opposition to it. He preferred the bill to the amendment; but should vote for the latter if the bill failed. noes, 74. Mr. WICKLIFEE then said that the original proposition submitted to the House he understood to have been the printing the whole of the documents for the first thirteen Congresses of the United States; and one branch of the duty of the committee to whom it had been referred was to ascertain and report to the House the expense attending such an operation. This part of their duty the committee did not seem to have fulfilled. And one reason why he moved to lay their report upon the table was, that he might have an opportunity to examine it, and ascertain how far they had complied with the instructions of the Mr. CHILTON now endeavored to get the floor; but House. But if the House thought it proper to refuse the before he could catch the eyes of the Speaker, printing of the report, which goes to recommend the exMr. STANBERY moved the previous question. penditure of twenty-nine thousand dollars out of the conOn this motion Mr. WICKLIFFE demanded the yeas tingent fund of this House, it was not for him to comand nays, and they were ordered by the House. Being taken, they stood as follow: yeas, 83-nays, 87. Mr. HOFFMAN next obtained the floor, and spoke for some time in opposition to both the policy and constitutionality of the bill, and in favor of the amendment. So the House determined that the main question should not now be put; and the subject, according to the rule in such case, went off for the day. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 18, 1829. REPRINTING OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. Mr. EVERETT, from the Committee on the Library, made the following report: "The Committee on the Library, from the House of Representatives, to which was referred a resolution of the House relative to the reprinting of certain public documents, have had the same under consideration, and beg leave to report "That, pursuant to the instructions of the House, they have endeavored to ascertain what are the deficiencies in the existing supply of public documents in the possession plain. He was thereby called to vote on a report from merely hearing it once read, and the House was about to act upon it, when he did not believe fifty members in the whole House had even heard one word of it. He had always been opposed to this mode of expenditure by the resolution of one branch of the Legislature only. Congress could not draw money from the treasury save by a joint act of both Houses; but when a certain amount had been thus obtained, as a contingent fund, then both branches drew upon it at their pleasure-to purchase and print books, and do a variety of things not connected with the business of legislation. The present object was not, to be sure, so objectionable as some others. But, allowing it to be necessary to print these documents to such an extent, the question was, whether this was the most economical way of doing it. He said, no. If gentlemen desired to reprint these records, and would frame a resolution authorizing the Clerk to receive bids for the work, he was persuaded it could be done twenty-five per cent. cheaper than if exe H. OF R.] Cumberland Road. (FEB. 18, 1829. cuted according to the prices established by the act of by contract, or about altering the usual mode of printing. 1819, for the public printing of Congress. In fixing these He therefore thought that he had no reason to expect such prices, it was obviously fair and right that they should be strenuous opposition. Was it possible that the Congress set at a higher rate than if the work was to be performed of the United States was going to higgle when called on under an ordinary contract, because the public printer to reprint documents which contain those facts and arguwas obliged to keep on hand a quantity of materials and ments from which the action of the Government had rea number of workmen, sufficient to meet any amount of ceived its entire impulse? the reports of the Executive work that the House might suddenly require. They must Department? or those of the Committees of this House? be ready at a moment's warning; and it was equitable that Must they stand higgling, lest such an operation should the prices should be such as to cover this great expense. cost twenty-nine thousand dollars? The gentleman from But when the House was about to reprint the entire pro- Kentucky had informed the House that he was neither a ceedings of Congress, for twenty-six years together, it prophet nor the son of a prophet. So it seemed: for when was surely better to invite the bids of printers, than to ex- the proposition was first introduced, he had gravely told ecute the whole at the advanced prices of the public the House that it would cost half a million of dollars. He printing. was glad to find that the gentleman had abandoned his Mr. W. wished to have an opportunity of modifying the own prophecy. Instead of costing half a million of dolresolution, so as to invite competition. If, however, it lars, it now appeared that the maximum amount will be was the pleasure of the House to saddle the nation with twenty-nine thousand dollars. He believed that even this an expense of twenty-nine thousand dollars, without any amount had been somewhat over estimated, and that, if the investigation, they might, of course, do so. He was no Clerk of the House should do his duty, of which he enter prophet, or the son of a prophet; but he was greatly mis-tained no doubt, the work would be done at even a cheap. taken if this printing did not cost fifty thousand dol-er rate than this; but admitting that it should cost fifty lars before it was done with. Being desirous of recording thousand dollars, as the gentleman who was no prophet his vote in the case, he demanded the yeas and nays, and had predicted, what was this amount when gentlemen conthey were ordered accordingly. sidered that even the manuscript documents, from 1789 to Mr. EVERETT briefly explained. He had been op- 1801, were not in existence in any regular or compact posed to laying the resolution on the table, because, under form, but were scattered throughout the Departments, existing circumstances, that would be to give it the go-by while the printed copies of them had been wholly destroy. for the rest of the session. He denied the correctness of ed. The question was, whether these records were imthe charge that the Library Committee had not fulfilled its portant? Whether they were out of print? And whether duty. They had been ordered to ascertain the expense the House ought to remain without them? of printing these records, and they had done so. Under Mr. WEEMS was opposed to the postponement. The such an order, what could they do but call on the proper House must recently have been convinced of the value of officers of the House for an estimate? This they had done; books. They had a striking proof of it, as, but for books, and had received an answer, which they understood as the House would have missed all the entertainment it had giving the maximum of expense, not the minimum. The been receiving for these several mornings past. Mr. W. estimate stated a given price per volume, for a certain had the most implicit confidence in the Clerk of this House. number of volumes; but by omitting such documents as His industry and accuracy were well known; besides which, were not of any importance, the expenses might be great-that officer possessed a portion of human nature, which ly diminished. The committee did not propose to do this could not fail to remind him that it was his own interest to printing at the ordinary prices established for the printing get this work done on the most reasonable terms. of the House, but to have it executed under the direction The question on indefinite postponement was then ta CUMBERLAND ROAD. of the Clerk of the House. It would, of course, be done ken, and decided in the negative-ayes 50, noes 108. in the most economical manner that officer could obtain. [At this point of the discussion, the hour for reports and When the Journals of the House had been printed, a sim-resolutions expired.] ilar discretion had been given, and the clerk had had the matter compressed as much as possible, and the whole printed in brevier type, which was the smallest allowed in the House printing. The committee felt disposed to confide the present operation to his care. As to printing by contract, all experience had proved that it was the worst Mr. McDUFFIE warned gentlemen that the very first and most wasteful mode of having the work performed. moment he perceived any attempt to prolong the debate The documents were important-they were out of print-on this bill, he should immediately move for the considerathey were constantly called for, and not to be had. He tion of the appropriation bills. On motion of Mr. MERCER, the House then proceeded to take up the bill for the preservation and repair of the Cumberland road. asked gentlemen if that was a proper state of things, and Mr. CHILTON then rose, and delivered his sentiments whether it ought to be suffered? at length in opposition to the amendment, and in favor of Mr. HAYNES, of Georgia, considering this as a subject the original bill. Mr. C. having concluded his remarks, which demanded more deliberation than could, at this Mr. ALEXANDER moved to amend the amendment of time, be given it, moved that the subject be indefinitely Mr. BUCHANAN, by striking out that clause in it which postponed; and the question being on its indefinite post-makes the cession of the road to the States conditional on ponement, their establishing toll gates to keep it in repair. Mr. BARRINGER, of North Carolina, said, that when The question upon this motion was taken without dehe had offered the resolution, he had had little idea that it bate, and decided in the negative. would encounter such severe and warm opposition. He Mr. VANCE now offered the amendment which he merely proposed the doing of what had often been done had before submitted in Committee of the Whole. before, and had never before been objected to. In 1826, Mr. V. briefly explained his reasons for offering the an order was passed for the re-printing of the Journals of amendment. It was intended merely to secure to Ohio her the House during the same period; and the words of the rights, should the amendment of Mr. BUCHANAN succeed, present resolution were an exact transcript of those then against which, however, he protested, as proposing a cesemployed. It was but yesterday morning that an order had sion which was not warranted. been passed for printing the Executive Journal of the Senate, from the very beginning of the Government. Not a word had then been heard about the advantages of printing out a count: The amendment of Mr. VANCE shared the same fate with that of Mr. ALEXANDER, being negatived with FEB. 19, 1829.] Reprint of Public Documents.-Amendment of the Constitution. The question was then put on the amendment of Mr. BUCHANAN, and decided by yeas and nays as follows: Yeas, 77-nays, 113. So the amendment of Mr. BUCHANAN, proposing a cession of the road to Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, on condition of their preserving it by toll gates, was rejected. Mr. BUCHANAN then moved another amendment, as follows: Strike out all the bill and insert- "Be it enacted, &c. That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to enter into such arrangements with the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio, as he may deem necessary, for the purpose of having toll gates erected, under the authority of the said several States, upon the Cumberland road; and collecting sufficient toll thereupon for its preservation and repair." Mr. BUCHANAN said that his object was to get rid of the difficulties which attended the proposal to cede the road; and, in support of his amendment, he quoted a clause from the message of President Monroe, sent to Congress at the time he rejected the Cumberland road bill. The question being then on the second amendment of Mr. BUCHANAN, Messrs. WEEMS and FLOYD spoke in opposition to it: whereupon, it was withdrawn by the mover. Mr. GORHAM now offered the amendment which he had proposed in Committee of the Whole. On this amendment, Mr. WEEMS demanded the yeas and nays, and, being taken, they stood as follows: Yeas, 60-nays, 129. So the amendment was negatived. Mr. WICKLIFFE, believing that the bill could not pass both Houses if clogged with a provision for erecting of toll-gates upon the road, moved to strike out the first seven sections of the bill, and part of the eighth section, being all that part of it which relates to toll-gates and toll. Mr. VANCE suggested that this was, in effect, the same proposition as had already been offered by Mr. GORHAM, and rejected. The SPEAKER replied, that that was a matter for the House to judge on. The form of the proposition was different, inasmuch as the amendment of the gentleman from Massachusetts went to strike out the whole of the bill after the enacting clause, and then to insert; whereas that of the gentleman from Kentucky proposes only to strike out a part of the bill, and to leave the latter part of it untouched. The proposition was, therefore, in order. Mr. VANCE then demanded the yeas and nays upon the motion of Mr. WICKLIFFE, and being taken, they stood as follows: Yeas, 87-nays, 107. So the amendment of Mr. WICKLIFFE was rejected. Mr. ARCHER now renewed the motion to amend the bill, which had been moved and withdrawn by Mr. BUCHANAN, not with any hope that it would be accepted, but merely to show what, in his judgment, was the course the House ought to pursue. Mr. BARTLETT, after adverting to the time which had been consumed by this debate, the importance of the passage of the Appropriation Bills, and the few open days of the session which yet remained, now moved the previous question, and the call was sustained by the House: Ayes, 130. The SPEAKER then stated the previous question, viz: Shall the main question now be put? And it was decided in the affirmative. Mr. McLEAN demanded that the main question be taken by yeas and nays, and it was so ordered by the House. [H. OF R. And it was decided in the affirmative, as follows: NAYS. Messrs. Addams, Alexander, Samuel C. Al- THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1829. REPRINT OF PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. The resolution of Mr. BARRINGER, on the subject of printing the documents of Congress, coming up, as the unfinished business of yesterday morning, Mr. WARD moved to amend the resolution, so as to limit the expense to thirty thousand dollars; but before any question was taken on this amendment, Mr. HAMILTON, from the Committee of Retrench- AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION. Mr. WRIGHT resumed the floor, and concluded his argument. [This subject had been for four days before the House, and the remarks of Mr. W. on each of those days are annexed.] Mr. WRIGHT, addressing the Chair, observed: Before The main question was then stated, in the following I proceed, sir, to discuss the proposition, I wish to learn form: "Shall the bill be engrossed and read a third time?" the precise state of the question at present. VOL. V.-46. |