JAN. 24, 1832.] The Tariff. [SENATE. "doubt; that they could be rendered more acceptable to can system, said Mr. D., I know not. All the stockholdthe Southern as well as all the other States, I have no ers in Europe, and in the Southern States, are enemies of doubt, provided the subject could be met with a spirit of the protective system of this country. But leaving the accommodation. Duties to a large amount are imposed, bank out of the question--"the sugar planter, the iron which promote no interest whatever, and which are not master, and the Lowells and the Appletons, will die hard!” wanted for revenue; and some of which are much against Yes, they will die hard-in the language of the Senator the interests of the manufacturers. All these the manu- from Georgia, they will die in the last ditch. But their facturing States would gladly repeal or reduce. But we struggle for life will be here-in the two Houses of Concannot consent to a reduction of the duties upon certain gress. To the majority they submit--they will neither great articles of consumption, in part imported, and in threaten nor resist the laws. part manufactured here, so as to give the foreigner greater| advantages in our market than he now enjoys. We can not consent that the citizens of our States should be driven from our own markets by the subjects of Great Britain. Here we must take our stand till we shall be overruled by majorities in the two Houses of Congress. To them we shall submit. But what says the Senator from South Carolina upon this subject? He does not sound a beat to arms, but he anticipates with raptures the moment of the extinction of the public debt, as it will, in his opinion, remove the foundation of the protective system. This, he exclaims, is the great national jubilee! Now, now, is the time for action! We have reached Mount Nebo! We stand upon the top If the industry of the Southern States required as much of Pisgah, and shall we perish in the sight of the Promised protection from foreign capital and foreign combination, as Land? Moses perished there, and was buried in the land the industry of the other States, it would be most freely of Moab, and no man knows his sepulchre unto this day. accorded to them; as they do not require the same protec-If by this promised land is meant the abolition of the protion, the Eastern, Western, and Middle States sincerely tective system--the destruction of the manufacturing esdesire to extend to those of the South benefits equal to tablishments of the Western, the Eastern, and the Middle any which they enjoy; and it is to be hoped the Southern States-the wasting of property to the amount of millions, States will discover some way in which such benefits may and the dooming to poverty, wretchedness, and misery, be conferred, without pressing a measure which must, if thousands upon thousands of our worthy, industrious, ecoadopted, result in the sacrificing the industry of the ma-nomical, and laborious citizens, then I do most fervently nufacturing States. With a great majority of the citizens pray that the honorable Senator may never pass Mount of these States, the most kind feelings towards the South Pisgah, nor riot in this land of promise, but that he may prevail, of which I think the proceedings of the two Houses of Congress afford the most incontestable proof. But while a spirit prevails, which led the Southern gentlemen of the two Houses of Congress, in 1828, to introduce into the tariff bill its most odious feature, in direct hostility to their own interest; while the spirit prevails Mr. SMITH said that he wished to address the Senate, which rejects the repeal of duties which are a burden to and was perfectly ready, to go on with the debate, should them to a large amount, and not necessary to be retained the Senate so determine; but, as another subject had been for any purpose whatever; while such a spirit prevails set apart for to-morrow, [alluding, it is supposed, to the against what the honorable Senator is pleased to call the accursed tariff, I must confess I see but little prospect of doing any thing by way of compromise. I sincerely hope, however, that something may arise in the course of this discussion, that may lead to the return of more correct views and better feelings and brighter prospects. As to the amendment proposed by the Senator from South Carolina by way of compromise to reduce the duties gradually on protected articles, till they should, in effect, be no protection at all, I see in it nothing but the most determined hostility to the protective system-a fixed purpose to destroy the tariff. If our manufactures must fall, let them die at once, and not be killed by inches--any thing in preference to being consumed by a slow fire. I have not noticed the numerous denunciations from the South, that almost forbid the hope that any thing like compromise can take place; but I cannot omit to notice one symptom of violence of recent occurrence, meant, no doubt, to excite alarm. long remain in the land of Moab, till he shall reach a good consideration of the nomination of Mr. VAN BUREN, in secret session,] and the general attendance of the Senators requested for it, he thought it would be better to postpone further proceedings, with regard to the resolution under consideration, to Wednesday next. The resolution was then postponed to, and made the order of the day for Wednesday next. The Senate then adjourned. TUESDAY, JANUARY 24. Mr. HAYNE rose to present a memorial from a number of highly respectable citizens of South Carolina against the protecting system, and said that, in the course of the observations which he had submitted to the Senate a few days since, in relation to the tariff, he had taken occasion to remark that gentlemen on the other side must not deceive themselves by supposing that there existed any dif ference of opinion at the South as to the injurious, oppresThere is an article now going the rounds of the South-sive, and unconstitutional character of the protecting sysern papers, which, I fear, expresses the exasperated feel- tem. I am happy to have it now in my power, said Mr. H., ings of a portion of the South, I hope a small one, against to adduce, in support of that assertion, a memorial from the other sections of the Union. The article is headed a the minority of the Legislature of South Carolina "op"Call to Arms." The author continues, "the crisis is now posed to nullification," which I have been requested to coming on when our politicians-I mean our popularity present, and which shows that whatever difference of opihunters, will discover that none but whig principles will pre-nion may exist in other respects, the whole State is united, vail;" (so far it is to be hoped he is right) but he proceeds, as I trust the whole South now is, in determined oppos "With the public debt must inevitably go its offspring, tion to this system. "The evils of which" the memorialthe American system. There will be a hard struggle for ists declare are obvious and alarming, depreciating the it. The United States' bank, the sugar planter, the iron value of cotton, reducing the profits to which the plantmaster, and the Lowells and Appletons, will die hard."'ers have long been accustomed, to such a degree that This is quoted from the United States Telegraph, of the 'the culture no longer yields an adequate compensation 10th of this month, taken from the Richmond Enquirer.for their labor, and is continued from necessity; and How the United States' bank became a part of the Ameri-that, though other causes have conspired to reduce the On motion of Mr. H. the memorial was ordered to be printed. [JAN. 25, 1832. income of the citizens of the South, yet it is the tariff alone number, said Mr. F., and have been supposed to be amply which denies them the right of converting that reduced sufficient to regulate its proceedings; but it cannot have income into such an amount of the necessaries and con- escaped the observation of every Senator of five or six veniences of life, as would certainly be at their command, years' experience, that great innovations have been made 'under a revenue system of moderate duties; that these dif- in the practice of Senators; and although I would accord 'ficulties, though great, might be tolerated, if the burden to every Senator the fullest latitude of legitimate and relewas equal, but that they are greatly aggravated by the vant discussion, yet I must be permitted to say that the 'consideration that the benefits of the tariff are confined Senate has its rights also, which must be preserved. And to the manufacturing States, and that the policy, justice, if Senators are disposed to intimate their intention to and constitutionality of this system have been strenuously introduce subjects, such as the Senator from Kentucky 'contested and denied." [Mr. BIBB] had a few days since described "as of a character such as the Senate ought not for a moment to entertain--for instance, a proposition to liberate the slaves in MisMr. TIPTON submitted the following resolution: souri, or that no white man in Georgia should own an acre Resolved, That the select committee to which was re- of land," Mr. F. believed it to be the duty of the Senate ferred the memorial of the President and Directors of the to refuse to grant leave to introduce such subjects; and Bank of the United States, praying for a renewal of their leave had been refused, he believed, in more than one incharter, be instructed to inquire into the expediency of stance. The object of the proposed amendment was to restricting the bank, if rechartered, from holding, or in prevent any discussion of subjects before the Senate, unany way acquiring, real estate to a greater extent than is til they were in the possession of the Senate, and subject to necessary for banking purposes. its control, and an opportunity afforded of deciding whether The resolutions submitted yesterday by Mr. BENTON they were proper subjects for discussion or not. The amendand Mr. MOORE, respectively, were taken up, and agreed ment embraced no new principle; it was in accordance with the rules and practice of all deliberative assemblies, and within the true spirit and intent of the rules of the Senate, although perhaps not within the letter. to. The Senate went into the consideration of executive business; and, when the doors were opened, Adjourned. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25. Mr. BENTON submitted two resolutions; one of them referring to the select committee on the memorial of the United States' bank, certain inquiries; which resolutions lie on the table one day of course. The resolutions submitted yesterday by Mr. MOORE, were considered and agreed to. Mr. BENTON said he would not be so squeamish as to affect to misunderstand the cause and object of this resolution. The object was to prevent any further discussion of the state of the United States' bank currency. Unless the Senate were willing to give up this day to him, they would consent to the motion he was about to make. If the liberty of speech was to fall in this House, it would mitted the other day the proposition to inquire into the not fall silently, nor without a struggle. When he substate of the currency, he expected it would have been met by argument, not by a motion to stop all discussion. The same attempts to vitiate the currency which were made The following resolution, offered on Monday by Mr. by the Bank of the United States in issuing orders as curFOOT, was taken up: Resolved, That the ninth rule of the Senate be amended trick of banks to issue small notes in one place payable in rency, had been made in Great Britain. to read as follows: "No motion shall be debated until another. The Marquis of Lansdown gave notice, in the the same shall be seconded;" nor shall any debate be per- same case, that, after the Easter holidays, he would bring mitted until the President shall have announced to the in a bill for the suppression of this species of currency. Senate the subject under consideration; and the question [The VICE PRESIDENT reminded Mr. B. that the any subject presented for the Senate, and shall be decided subject before the Senate was the resolution to alter the RULES OF THE SENATE. of consideration shall be in order on the introduction of without debate. Mr. MILLER, of South Carolina, asked of the mover some reasons for the proposed alteration. For himself he was willing to take the rules of the Senate as he found them. Was the resolution intended to apply to any cases or individuals in the Senate? Because a Senator had made an elaborate, an able, and eloquent exposition of the state of the currency in this country, was the rule to be so altered as to prevent a repetition of the offence? He regarded the proposed alteration as subversive of the rights of the minority in the Senate, and he would endeavor to preserve the rules as they are. Mr. FOOT disclaimed any allusion to, or any connexion with, the Bank of the United States, or any discussion of its merits. It was not his object to stifle debate; and so far from impairing or infringing the rights of the minority, the Senator from South Carolina must know that all rules in deliberate bodies were designed to secure the rights of the minority: they have no other security against oppression from a powerful majority. The object of the amendment was, Mr. F. said, merely to make more plain and explicit the existing rule, which declares, "No motion shall be debated until the same shall be seconded." This rule certainly forbids the indulgence in debating a subject before a motion is made and seconded, before it is before the Senate. The rules of the Senate are few in rules.] It was an old Mr. BENTON only wished, in proposing his motion, to say, that if the majority attempted to deprive the minority of leave to speak, the people should know it, and they shall know that it was done for the safety of the bank. He moved that the resolution be printed. He was ready at any moment to take it up, and go into a discussion of it. The resolution was ordered to be printed, and was laid on the table. THE TARIFF. The special order of the day was then announced by the Chair--being Mr. CLAY's resolution to modify the tariff, and Mr. HAYNE's proposed amendment. Mr. MARCY hoped that the special order would be passed over, for the purpose of proceeding to the consideration of executive business. Mr. FORSYTíl moved that the special order be postponed to Monday next. Mr. CLAY was opposed to its postponement to so distant a day. Mr. FORSYTH did not think that the Senate could devote any day to the subject before Monday next. Mr. MILLER was willing, he said, 'to postpone the discussion till Monday, if it was understood that the Committees on Manufactures and Finance should, in the mean time, proceed in their investigations. If the action of those committees was to be delayed till after this debate was brought to a close, he hoped the debate would not be interrupted. He was a member of the Committee on Manufactures, and that committee had had, as yet, no practical meeting on the subjects committed to them. If the Committee on Finance are also to wait till the close of this discussion before they report or proceed with their examinations, this session must close without any action on the subject of the tariff. He wished to know what course the Committee on Finance would take. Mr. SMITH said that, being thus called upon, he would state that the Committee on Finance were diligently employed in the discharge of their duties; they had before them a bill which they had been busily engaged on, and would report as soon as practicable. [SENATE. Mr. DICKERSON certainly understood the Senator from Missouri as offering to the committee some important information on the subject of one of those bills, which, he said, a gentleman to whom he was introduced was in possession of, and would communicate to the committee. Mr. BENTON said the gentleman alluded to received no call from the committee, and had left the city. Mr. SEYMOUR remarked that the absence of his colleague to-day, from indisposition, would, he hoped, prevent the Senate from proceeding to the consideration of executive business. The discussion of the special order, he thought, had better continue to-day, and the executive business could be taken up when the Senate was full. Mr. CLAY said he had opposed the postponement of the resolution to Monday next, because he thought it Mr. TYLER said that, as a member of the Committee highly important that the decision of the Senate upon that on Finance, he felt bound to say, in reference to the resolution should be obtained. Until the principle insubject before that committee, that all hope of amicable volved in that resolution be decided, the committees adjustment had passed by; no member had been more would not be able to go on. The Committee on Manudesirous than himself to bring about a satisfactory arrange- factures was anxious to proceed with its business, and to ment of the tariff-but he was the only member of the have the decision of the Senate on this resolution. No committee from the south of the Potomac river, and his motion for postponement had come from the friends of the was the only voice raised in it in favor of the interests of resolution. It had, again and again, from time to time, that portion of the country. He was, therefore, convert-been postponed at the request of its opponents. He was ed into a mere cypher, having no effective influence over aware that they had set, for to-morrow and next day, some the course of the committee. All the responsibility of business of importance, but he knew no business before whatever they might do devolved upon them; he stood Congress so important as that which was now before them. clear of it. He deemed this explanation due to himself, In regard to the remark of the gentleman from Virginia, to show his position in the committee. that he was the only member of the Committee on ManuMr. BENTON had a right, he said, to ask, and he did factures from the south of the Potomac, he would observe ask, the Senator from South Carolina [Mr. MILLER] to in-that the gentleman's recollection did not serve him. The form him, as a member of the Committee on Manufactures, Senator in his eye [Mr. JOHNSTON] was a member of the whether, in the meetings of that committee, he had ever committee. seen or heard of the titles of two bills referred to themone for the reduction of the duty on alum salt, and the other for the reduction of the duty on Indian blankets and other Indian goods. Mr. MILLER, in reply, said that he had never seen or heard of those bills in the committee. There has been no convention of the committee since the reference was made to them; but, from the protocol presented at the meeting of the committee, he judged that the bills inquired after would be strangled in the committee. Mr. BENTON rose, he said, to give vent to his feelings ---his parental feeling for bills, the objects of so much care and hope, now in the hands of strange, distant, and hostile nurses. Mr. TYLER begged to explain. He intended to convey the idea that he was the only member of the committee from the south of the Potomac who entertained his principles-who was opposed to the protective tariff. Mr. CLAY hoped the Senator would profit by this circumstance, and not separate himself from his friends; but, finding himself in so small a minority, that he would come over to the right side. The Committee on Manufactures were not fully authorized to treat the subject of finance; and he did not see how it was possible for either committee to act before the principles which were to govern their action were decided on. As to the compromise which had been talked of, if by compromise was meant the abandonment of the protective principle, he could Mr. DICKERSON said it was true the committee had tell gentlemen there would be no compromise. But he had but one meeting. They had waited for information would not lightly, nor till every effort was exhausted, reon a variety of subjects, and they were willing to be in-linquish an object which was so dear to the country and formed upon any subject. Information, very essential to to his own heart. A reduction might possibly take place the correct and intelligent action of the committee, had even on protected articles-but not such as would touch been received very lately-a portion this morning. A the principle of protection, which he was satisfied the meeting of the committee was proposed yesterday morn- country would not consent to abandon. But that question ing, but was, for some reason, deferred till to-morrow is to be decided with the question involved in this resolumorning, at which time, it was now understood, the com- tion, and he was for an early decision of it. mittee would meet. In relation to the bills referred to by Mr. HAYNE was, he said, much mistaken, if all the the Senator from Missouri, he had been informed, by that motions for the postponement of this subject had come Senator, that some information would be given to the from the opponents of the resolution. The subject was committee from intelligent sources; which information the postponed once, and for many days, on the motion of the committee had always been ready to receive. Senator from New Jersey, [Mr. DICKERSON,] in opposi Mr. BENTON said he had no information on the sub-tion to the wishes of the Senator from Kentucky, as he ject of those bills, which he should refer to the Commit-might recollect. Let the discussion proceed whenever tee on Manufactures. When the salt bill came before the the friends of the resolution pleased. We, said Mr. H., Senate, he should have recourse, not to the report of that are ready to pursue it. If, as the gentleman suggested, committee, but to a report from a committee of the Bri- there was no hope of any compromise without an entire tish House of Commons. It was a report in the British retention of the protective system, he was very sorry. House of Commons, to which he should appeal in defence As to the revenue system, there was no doubt or dispute. of the true American system. Mr. HOLMES was in favor of the continuation of the discussion of the resolution. At a proper time, it was his intention to give his views in regard to the resolution and amendment. VOL. VIII.-12 It was to the protective system that opposition was excited throughout the country. If the protective system was not to be touched, there was, indeed, an end, now and forever, to all hope of compromise. But he trusted the Senator from Kentucky would change his views; nor SENATE.] A new Bank proposed. [JAN. 26, 1832. The previous motion to postpone being withdrawn, the motion was agreed to, and the Senate proceeded to the consideration of executive business, and remained with Then adjourned. THURSDAY, JANUARY 26. A NEW BANK PROPOSED. should he, at once, relinquish his hope of a conciliatory Mr. SMITH replied that he was ready to go on, was arrangement. ready yesterday, and was ready now; but at this late hour Mr. HOLMES said there was certainly no hope of com- he was unwilling to begin: for, although he thought he promise till after this discussion had been concluded; nor should not occupy more than an hour and a half, when would there, perhaps, be any hope then. Each party we begin to speak, we know not how long we may conwill compromise, provided it obtains all it asks. One tinue. But, at the request of the gentleman from New party seeks the abolition, the other the preservation of the York, he moved that the Senate do now proceed to the protective system. There was now some little prospect consideration of executive business. that, after this discussion, parties might come to some medium point. At present they were as wide apart as they could be. Mr. MARCY was so little accustomed, he said, to legis-closed doors till six o'clock; and lative forms, that, as a member of the Committee on Finance, he had acted with much caution and hesitation. After that part of the President's message relating to finance had been referred to the Committee on Finance, he supposed that it was the duty of the committee to report a plan for bringing the revenue down to the expenses Mr. MARCY, of New York, presented the memorial of of the Government. They had accordingly, besides the David Henshaw and others, citizens of Massachusetts, abolition of duties on unprotected articles, looked to the praying that when the present charter of the Bank of the protected articles to see what reduction could be made United States expires, the memorialists may be permitted there. The committee had been diligently employed in to establish a bank, with powers and obligations similar to this labor. But after the reprimand, as it seemed to be, those under which the present Bank of the United States upon the committee, for touching the protected articles, was established. [The petitioners propose a bank of fifty he was at a loss to conceive how the committee could millions-one-half to be subscribed by the Government if perform its duties in a manner satisfactory to the Se-desired, the other half by the citizens at large; to pay the nate. This is the situation of the committee. They Government as a bonus an annual tax of one per cent. on are required to reduce the revenue some ten or twelve the capital; also, such tax on the actual capital employed millions of dollars; and, by taking off the duties from by any branch in any State, as such State shall impose on all unprotected articles, they can, perhaps, effect a its other banking institutions, not exceeding one per cent.; reduction of only five or six millions. The hope of a directors to be appointed by the Government in proporcompromise, though somewhat faint, was not, he believed, tion to the amount of its stock; the charter to continue for so desperate as the member from Virginia represented. twenty years. These are the prominent features in the It was true that a majority of the Committee on Finance proposed bank.] was in favor of preserving the protective system. But he In support of their application, the petitioners maintain believed that something might be done, which, if not satis- that the capital of the present institution is chiefly in the factory to all, would much lessen the present discontent, hands of foreigners and a few wealthy American citizens, or at least spread it over a wider surface. The committee to the exclusion of other citizens from the enjoyment of could report a bill if they were authorized to proceed in the privilege. They maintain that the present bank charthe way they had begun. They had not agreed as to the ter might expire, and the concerns be closed, without maspecific articles which should be subject to a reduction of terial injury to the interests of the country, as the capital duty, nor as to the extent to which the reduction should of that bank was but a small portion of the entire capital be carried. Information was coming in daily, which great- of the country vested in similar institutions. The State of ly assisted the judgment of the committee on these points. New York alone had rising of twenty-four millions of There was a great movement in the country, both in favor vested capital, and the proposed institution might be made of, and in opposition to, this system, and each party col-to take effect immediately upon the expiration of the lects and gives the public information in regard to it. present charter of the Bank of the United States. For one, he was under the necessity of availing himself of Mr. MARCY observed that the present memorial was all the knowledge on the subject which he could obtain. signed by a large number of the most wealthy and reNot having, till he took his seat here, paid particular at-spectable citizens of the State of Massachusetts, and he tention to it, he was not prepared to act upon it with so moved that the memorial be printed for the use of the much celerity as some other gentlemen, who for years had Senate. been familiar with all its details. Mr. CHAMBERS could not see the propriety of the He was The prospect, he said, of effecting an arrangement, motion for having the memorial printed, together with was indeed not bright, but still not desperate. We shall the long list of names appended thereto, in which no not intermit our labors. We have incidentally become member would feel any interest, except it might be the involved in the consideration of the duties upon manu-gentleman who presented them. It was contrary to the factured articles; and though we shall not relinquish the usage of the Senate on similar occasions, and would be system, yet we hope to devise a plan for preserving it adopting a principle which would inevitably lead to much consistently with a reduction of the revenue to the public inconvenience, and waste of time and money. expenses. As to the suggestion, that the consideration of not in favor of expending the public money for any such executive business should be put off on account of the purpose, without a sufficient reason being given for the absence of one Senator, he said we have no assurance that request. He hoped that the printing of the long list of no one will be ill or absent to-morrow. There was much signatures, at least, might be dispensed with. business to be done, and it was not out of order perhaps Mr. WEBSTER said that the memorial presented by for him to remark that much was also to be said. He the gentleman from New York, although from citizens of would agree that no question of importance should be his own State, had never been communicated to him. He taken during the absence of that Senator, but they could had no knowledge of the subject or the intention to make proceed with the discussion. He was extremely anxious the communication until this morning, although he was to proceed in the executive business. a member of the same committee with the gentleman Mr. CHAMBERS inquired of his colleague, who had from New York who presented it. He thought the dithe floor for the discussion of the resolution, whether he rection which the gentleman had proposed to give the wished any postponement of the subject for his accom-memorial was proper. He bad looked over the names of modation. JAN. 27, 1832.] Executive Powers.-Salt. the subscribers to the paper, and he must say that there were some very respectable persons that had signed it, some names indeed that he had hardly expected to find affixed to so singular an argument. He thought that it might be well to refer it to a committee, and print it, either with or without the names. [SENATE. vise and consent to the appointment of any person to fill a supposed vacancy in any office occasioned by the removal of a prior incumbent, unless such prior incumbent shall appear to have been removed for sufficient cause. On motion of Mr. BENTON, the resolutions were ordered to be printed. Mr. HAYNE said the gentleman from Maryland was On motion of Mr. SILSBEE, the Senate took up the mistaken in supposing it was a new practice to print the bill empowering the Secretary of the Treasury to comnames attached to memorials, if requested. He recol- promise the claims of the United States on the Commerlected it had frequently been done in similar cases, when cial bank of Erie; and, after some explanatory remarks by it was thought proper and desirable to test the respecta- Messrs. SILSBEE, EWING, and JOHNSTON, (elicited bility of the names appended to the communication. He by some inquires of Mr. SPRAGUE,) the bill was ordered did not conceive that it was necessary generally to print to a third reading, nem. com. long memorials with a great list of names, but in the pre- The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of exsent case he was in favor of it, because the effect might ecutive business; and, after some time spent therein, be important upon the decision of the subject, which Adjourned. would depend in a great measure upon the character and responsibility of the signers. FRIDAY, JANUARY 27. Mr. BENTON rose to ask the attention of the Senate Mr. DALLAS was not in favor of the printing of the memorial. Its only effect he considered would be upon the treasury, by creating an unnecessary expense. Numerous to a paper communicated to the Senate yesterday mornmemorials were coming in every day from various quar- ing by the chairman of one of the standing committees. ters, in favor of rechartering the bank, signed by thou- He alluded to the letter of certain salt manufacturers on sands of highly respectable citizens, which were equally the Kenhawa, to the members of the Senate's Committee entitled to be printed with the present paper; and if the on Manufactures. Mr. B. had looked over that letter, and object would be, as was supposed, to affect the existing bank, it would be necessary to have the memorials in favor of the present institution printed also, to counteract any improper effect which might possibly be apprehended by some of its friends from the publication of the present document. Mr. SILSBEE thought that he had some right to complain of the gentleman from Maryland for opposing the printing of this memorial; this was the first and only one of the kind which had been presented by the people of Massachusetts, and was subscribed by some of her most respectable citizens. He hoped the Senate would consent to the printing of the memorial. found it to be highly encomiastic on certain Senators, who took part in the debate which occurred in the Senate on the reference of the alum salt bill; and rather disparaging to another Senator, who took part in the same debate. But to this part of the letter he had nothing to say, because it requires no action for the Senate: but there was another part of it which would require their action; it consisted of all that part of the letter which was intended for evidence, and to guide the Senate in their votes on the question to abolish the duty on alum salt. This part of the letter concerned the people, and might affect their interest, and that in a very injurious manner; he, therefore wished an opportunity to present countervailing testimony, and for that purpose to empower a committee to send for witnesses, to take their examinations in writing, and to report the minutes of their evidence to the Senate. He had formerly asked for a select committee to make these examinations; but he would not now ask for it. He would take the Committee on Manufactures. [Mr. B.] had no place or voice in that committee; but there was one Senator upon it at least, (he did not know of another,) to whom he could give the right hand of fellowship on the subject of the salt tax. He alluded to the Senator from South Carolina, who sat farthest on his right, [Mr. MILLER;] and although that Senator might stand in that committee, and on the question of the salt tax, as one stands to four, yet, in the duty which the committee might have to perform under his motion, if it prevailed, he might prove himself to be not an unequal match for numbers, nec pluribus impar. He would, therefore, take that comMr. DICKERSON presented a letter from the proprie-mittee, and move, as he now did, that the Committee on tors of the Kenhawa Saline, in Virginia, addressed to him Manufactures be empowered to send for persons, and to as chairman of the Committee on Manufactures, remon- take their examinations in writing, under oath, on the state strating against repealing the duty on imported salt, which of the salt manufacture and salt trade, and report the was, by consent, referred to the Committee on Manu- minutes of the evidence so taken to the Senate. factures. Much further conversation and explanatory remarks took place between Messrs. MARCY, CHAMBERS, HAYNE, SILSBEE, and CLAY, on the question of printing the names to the memorial; at the conclusion of which, Mr. WEBSTER asked leave to make one remark before the decision was made. A gentleman had taken exception to his remark, that he had not expected to find the names of some of the petitioners attached to so singular a paper. He did not wish to be misunderstood in the observation referred to. He meant to be understood that he was surprised that the names which he alluded to, should be found affixed to the arguments made use of in the memorial against the present bank--not that they were signed to a petition for a charter. Finally, at the request of several friends, Mr. CHAMBERS withdrew his opposition to the printing; and the memorial with the names was ordered to be printed. EXECUTIVE POWERS. Mr. EWING laid the following resolutions on the table for consideration: Resolved, That the practice of removing public officers by the President, for any other purpose than that of securing the faithful execution of the laws, is hostile to the spirit of the constitution--was never contemplated by its framers-is a daring extension of Executive influence--is prejudicial to the public service, and dangerous to the liberties of the people. Resolved, That it is inexpedient for the Senate to ad He Mr. DICKERSON said that he presumed the Committee on Manufactures would not object to take upon them the labors proposed. He was willing for one to enter into any inquiry that might be deemed expedient or necessary, but he hoped the gentleman from Missouri would inform the committee where the information required might be found. He should be glad to receive any light from that gentleman, or from any other quarter. Mr. CLAY did not perceive the utility of the inquiry, although he had no particular objection to it. There could be no advantage whatever derived from it. The gentleman must recollect that there were twenty other States and two Territories in the Union in which salt was |