Norwalk Gazette, Wednesday, August 17, 1842 · page 2

(L ‘—_ H,

 

VETO OF THE TARIFF BILL.

To the House of Representatives qf the United
States of America .-

It is with unfeigned regret that I find my-
self under the necessity of returning to the
House ofRepresentatives, with my object-
ions,a bill entitled ‘An Act to provide reve-
nue from imports and to change and modify
existing laws imposing duties on imports 5.:
for other purposes.’ Nothing can be more
painful to any individual called upon to per-
form t'ne chiefExecutive duties under our
limited Constitution, than to be constrained
to withhold his assent from an important
measure adopted by the Legislature: yet he
would neither fulfill the high purposes ofhis
station, nor consult the true interests, or the
solemn will ofthe People, the common con-
stituents of both branches ofthe Government
by yielding his well considered, most deeply
fixed and repeatedly declared opinions on
matters ofgreat public concernment, to those
of a coordinate Department without request-
ing that Department seriously to reexamine
the subject of their difference. The exercise
of some independence ofjudgement in regard
to all acts of legislation, is plainly implied in
Ill? responsibility of approving them. At
all times a duty——it becomes a peculiarly
solemn and imperative one, when the subject
passed upon by Guugrcsa happens to involve
as in the present ibstance, the most mornent-
ous issues, to effect variously the various parts
ofa great country, and to have given rise in
all quarters to such a conflict of opinion as
to render it impossibte to conjecture with any
certainty,on which side the majority really is
Surely, if the pause for reflection intended by
the wise authors of the Constitution, by re-
ferring the subject back to Congress for re
consideration be ever expedient and necessa-
ry, it is precisely such a case as the present.

On the subject ofdistributing the proceeds
of the sales of the public lands, in the exist-
ing state ofthe finances, it has been my duty
to make known my settled convictions on
various occasions during the present session
of Congress. At the opening of the Extra
Session, upwards of twelve months ago,
sharing fully in the general hope of returning
prosperity and credit, I recommended such
a distribution: but that recommendation was
even then coupled with the conditionthatthe
duties on imports should not exceed 20 per
cent provided by the Compromise act of 1833.
These hopes were not a little encouraged
and these views strengthened by the report
of Mr Ewing then Secretary ofthe Treasury,
which was shortly thereafter laid before
Congress, in which he recommended the
imposition of duties at the rate of ‘20 per cent
ad valorem on all free articles, with specified
exceptions, and stated 'ifthis measure be.
adopted, there will be received into the
Treasury from customs in the last quarter of
the present year, (1841) $5,300,000 in all
of the year 1842, about :2‘2,"00,000,’ and
adds ‘it is believed that after the heavy ex-

penditures required by the public service in
the present year shall have been provided for
the revenue that will accrue from that or a
nearly proximate rate ofduty will be suffi-
cient to delraythe expenses of Government,
and leave a surplus to be annually applied
to the gradual payment of the national debt
leaving the proceeds of the public lands to be
disposed of as Congress shall see fit.’ 1 was
most happy that Congress at the titncsecmcd
entirely to concur in the recommendation of
the Executive, and anticipating the cor-
rectness of the Secre.tary’s coiicliisiocs and in
view ofan actual surplus, passed the Distri-
bution actof the 4th of September last, wisely
limiting its operation‘ by two conditions hav-
ing reference, both of thern,to :1 possible state
ofthe Treasury and the paramount necessi-
ties of the public service. It. ordained that
‘if at any time during the existence of that
act there should be an imposition of duties
on imports inconsistent with the provi

sion of the act of the 2d of l\~1arch,
1833, and beyond the rate ofdtities fixed by
the act, to wit, 20 per cent. on the value of
such imports or any oftbem, then the distri-
bution should be suspended and continue so
suspended until that cause should be removed.
By a previous clause it had in a like spirit
of wise and cautious patriotism, provided for
another case in which all are even now agre’d
that the proceeds ofthe sales of public lands
should be used for the defence ofthe country.
It was enacted that the act should continue
and be in force until otherwise provided by
law, unless the United States should become
involved in war with any foreign nation, in
which event. from the commencement of
hostilities the act should be suspended until
the cessation of hostilities.

Not long after the opening of the present
session of Congress, the unprecedented and
extraordinary difficulties that have "recently
embarrassed the finances ofthe country, be-
gan to assume a serious aspect. It soon
became quite evident that the hopes under
which the act ofthe 4th of St-ptemlt-er was
passed,‘ and which alone justified it in
the eyes either of Congress who imposed, or
of the Executive who approved, the first of
the two conditions just rt-cited, were not des
tined to be fulfilled. Under the pressure
therefor ofthe embarrassments which had
thus unexpectedly arisen, it appeared to me
that the course to be pursued had been clear-
ly marked out for the Government by that act
itself. The condition contemplated in it, as
requiringfia suspension ofits operation had
occurred. It became necessary in the opin-
ions ofall to raise the rate ofduties above 20
per cent, and with a view both to provide
available means to meet present exigencies,
and to lay the foundation for a- successful
negotiation of a loan, I felt it incumbent upon
me to urge upon Congress to raise the duties
accordingly, imposing them in a _ spirit of
wise discrimination, for the two fold object
ofaffording ample revenue for Government
and incidental protection to the various bran-
ches of domestic industry. I also pressed in
the most emphatic but respectful language I
could employ. the necessity of making the

land sales availableto the Treasury as the
basis of public credit.

I did not think that I could stand excused,
much It-ssjustified before the people of the
United States. nor could I reconcile it to my-
self to recommend the impositton of addi-
tional taxs upon them, without at the same
time urging the employmct of-all the legiti-
mate means ofthe Government towards sat-
isfying its wants. These opinions were com-
municated in advance of any definite action

-i- 
'of Congress on the sulject, either ofthetariff

Li .

1*

orland sales, under a high sense of public
duty and in éoinpliance with an express
injunction ofthe Constitution, so that if a
collision extremely to be deprecated as such
collisions always are, has seemingly arisn
between the Executive and Legislative bran-
ches of the Governmenr, it has assuredly not
been owing to any capricious interference or
to any want ofa plain and frank declaration
ofopinion on the part ofthe former.

Congress diff»-.-red in its views with those
of the Executive as it had an undoubted right
to do, and passed a bill virtually for a time
repealing the proviso of the act ofthe 4th of
September, 1841.

The bill was returned to the House in
which it originated, with my objections to
its becoming a law. VVith a view to prevent
if possible, an open disagreement of opinion
on a point so important, I took occasion to
declare that I regarded it as indispensable
prerequisite to an increase of duties above 20
per cent. that the act of the 4th ofSeptember
should remain unrepealed in its provisions.
My reasons for that opinion were elaborately
set forth in the message which accompanied
the return of the bill-—-which no constitution-
al majority appears to have. been found for

assing into a law.

The bill which is now before me proposes
in its 27th ovation, the total repeal of one of
the provisos in the act of September, and
while it increases the duties above twenty
per cent. directs an unconditional distribution
of the land proceeds. Iain therefore sub
jected a2nd time in the period ofa few days,to
the necessity of either giving my approval to
a measure which, in my deliberatejudgement
is in conflict with great public interests, or
of returning it to the House in which it
originated, with my objections. \~Vith all
my anxiety for the passage of a law which
would replenish an exhausted Treasury, and
furnish a sound and healthy encouragement
to mechanical industry, I cannot consent to
do so at the sacrifice of the peace and harmo-
ny of the country, and the clearest convic-
tions of publicduty.

For some of the reasons which have
brought me to this conclusion. I refer to my
previous messages to Congress, and briefly
subjoin the following:

1. The bill unites two subjects, which so
far from having any affinity to one another,
are wholly incongruous in their character. It
is both a revenue and an appropriation bill.
It thus imposes on the Executive, in the first
place, the. necessity of either approving that
whi.:h he would reject, or rejecting that
which he might otherwise approve.

This is a species ofconstraint to which
the juudgeuient of the Executive ought not,
in my opinion, to be suljected. But that is
not my only objection to the act in its present
form. The union of subjects wholly dissim-
ilar in their character in the saiue bill, if it
grew into a practice, would not fail to lead
to consequences destructive of all wise and
conscientious legislation. Various measures
which agreeable only to a small minority,
might by being thus united, and the more
the greater the chance ofsuccess, leading to
the passage oflaws, of which no single pro-
vision could. if standing alone, comriiand a
majority in its favor.

2. Vvliile the Treasury is in a state of
extreme embarrassment, requiring every
dollar which it can make available, and
when the Government has not only to
lay additional taxes, but to borrow money to
meet pressing demands, the bill proposes to
give away a fruitful source of revenue—-
which is the same thing as raising‘ money
by loan and taxation—not to meet the wants
of Government, but for distribution, a pro-
ceeding which I must regard as highly im-
politic if not unconstitutional.

A brief review ofthe present condition of
the public finances will serve to illustratethe
true condition of the Treasury, and exhibit
its actual necessities. On the 5th of Aug.
(Friday last,) there was in the Treasury. in
round numbers, $2,150,000
Necessary to be retained

to meet trust funds, $360,000

Interest on public debt due
in October,

To redeem Treasury notes
and pay interest, 100,000

Land distribution, under

the act of 4th Septem-

ber, 1841, 640,000

-—---— $1,180,000

80,000

Leaving an available amount of $970,000
The Navy Department had drawn requi-
sitions on the Treasury at that time, to meet
debts actually due, among which are bills
under protest for $1,414,000, thus leaving
an actual deficit of $444,000.

There was on hand about $100,000 unis-
sued Treasury notes, assisted by the accruing
revenue, amounting to about $150,000 per
week, exclusive of receipts or unpaid bonds.
to meet requisitions for the army, and the
demands ofthe civil list.

T‘h_e._withdr'.awal of the sum of $640,000 to
be dilstributc-d’among the States, so soon as
the statements and accounts can be made up
and completed, by virtue of the provisions of
the act of the 4th September last, of which
nearly a moiety goes to a few States, and
only about $383,000 is to be divided among
all the States while it adds materially to the
embarrassments of the Treasury, affords to
the States no decided relief.

No immediate relief from this state of
things is anticipated, unless. what would
most deeply be deplored, the Government
could be reconciled to the. negotiation of
loans already authorised by law, at a rate of
discount ruinous in itself, and calculated
most seriously to affect the public credit.——
So great is the depression of trade, that even
ifthe present bill were to become a law, and
prove to be productive, sometime would
elapse before sufficient supplies would flow
into the Treasury, while in the mean time,
its embarrassnients would be continually
augmented by the semi-annual distribution
ofthe land proceeds.

Indeed, there is but too much ground to
apprehend that even if this bill were permit-
ted to become a law, alienating as it doesthe
proceeds of the land sales, an actual deficit
in the Treasury would occur which would
more than probably involve the neccessity of
a resort to direct taxation. I

Let it also be remarked, that $5,500,000
of the public debt becomes redeemable in

’n‘--:‘_ ‘ _ I
about two years and a half, which at ‘any
sacrifice, must be met, while the Treasi_l'y is
always liable to demands for the paym of
out standing Treasury notes. Such fisjtlte
gloomy picture which our financial Dspark
tnent now presents, and which calls for the
exercise of a rigid economy in the public
expendittires, and the rendering available of
all the means within the control ofthe Gov-
ermnent.

I most respectfully submit, whether this is
a time to give away the proceeds ofthe land,
sales, when the public lands constitute a fund
which of all others, may be made the “most
useful in sustaining the public credit. Can
the Government be generous and munificent‘
to others when every dollar it can command
is necessary to supply its own wants’! And
if Congress would not hesitate to suffeflllv
provisions of the act of 4th September 1 St t0
remain unrepeuled in case the country was
involved in war, is not the necessity for ucb
a course now just as imperative as it would
be then .7 ' ,l

3. A third ol-jection remains to be irrgcfl.
which would be sufficient, in ilselfto induce
me to return the bill to the House Willi my
objections. By uniting two subjects so in-
congruous as Tariff and Distributiofi. ll
inevitably makes the fate ofthe one depen(l-
ent upon that of the other in future. coiiwsts
of party. Can any thing be more ftnlill l0
the merchant or manufacturer than such an
alliance? What they most of all require is
a system of moderate duties, so arranged as
to withdraw the Tariff question, as far as
possible, completely from the arena of politi-
cal contention. '

Their c hiefwant is permanency and stabil-
ity. Such an increase ofthe Tariff, I believe
to be necessary, in order to meet the eco-
nomical expenditures of Government. Sticli
an increns", made in the spirit of u'ioderuti'on
and judicious discrimination, would, I have
uo doubt, be entirely satisfactory to the great
majority ofthe American people. In thr-
way ofaccomplishing a measure so salutary
and so iinperatively demanded by every
public interest, the L.-gislutive Department
will meet with a cordial co-operation on the
part of the Executive.

This is all that the manufacturer can
desire, and it would be a burden rt-adily
borne by the people. .But I cannot too ear
nestly repeat,that in order to be brneficlul it
must be permanent, and in order to be per.-
inancnt it must command general acquies-
cence. Butcan such pcrtnanency be justly
hoped for if the Tariff‘ question be coupled
with that of Distribution, as to which a seri-
ous conflict of opinion exists among the
States and the people, which enlists in its
support a bare majority, of the in 0 Houses
of Congress .7 i\Vl’iat permanency or stability
can attach to a measure. which, warring upon
itself, gives away a fruitful source of revtnue
at the moment it proposes a large Il')C1'L’.flSt~'
Oftaxes on the people? is the manufacturer
prepared to stake himself and his interests
upon such an issue?

I know that it is urged, but most errone-tl
ously, in my opinion, that instability is just
as apt to be produced by rituining [lir-
public lands as a source of revenue as from
any other cause, and this ascribed to a con-
stant fluctuation, as it is said, in the atnount
0fS.lle's. If there were any thing in this
objection it equally Z1ppl1r‘S to every imposi-
tion ofduties on imports. The amount of
revenue annually derived from duties is con-
stantly liuble to change. The regulations
of foreign governments, the varying produc-
tiveness of other countries, periods of excito-
ment in trade, an] a great variety of other
circumstances are constantly arising to c-ff-sci
the state of commerce, foreign and domestic,
and ofconsoquence the revenue laid upon it.
The sales ofthe public domain in ordinary
times are regulated by fixed laws, \‘.‘l]lL‘l1
have their basis in a demand increasing only
in the ratio of the increase of population. In
recurring to the statistics connected it ith this
subject. it will be percievcd that fora period
of ten years prcceetlinu 1834, the average
amount of land sales did not exceed 3.2 000,-
000.

For the increase which took place in 1834
——-5 and G, we are to loo_k to that peculiar

Congressional.

Corrcspundcrzce of the N. Yorfc T1'ibu7ie.
Moxnar, Aug. 8.

In the House of Representatives to day,
Mr l\-‘luson of Ohio, offered a, rejvolution for
the adjournment of Congress siyic die, on the
22d inst, at ":2 o'clock p. in.‘ which was
adopted without a division, Kut two or three
dissenting voices being l]e¢JI'tI. 1.,

The bill to regulate the taking testitii‘bny
in cases ofconterste-ilfllerttiorts ,was taken up
in Committee of tllé \Vho'le'on the Union-—
the debate to cease at one o’clock. Mr
Gtvin of Mi. moved an additional scction
providing that it shall be the option of the
States to elect their members of Congress by
single districts! This was ruled out of order
and not received. _

The debate was continued on details of
little interest until one, when, after voting on
the remaining amenilrnents, the committee
rose and reported the billto the House. Mr
J_ Campbell, of S C moved to recoinmit the
bill with certain instructions, and briefly
advocated the motion.

The previous question, moved _by Mr Hal-
sted, was seconded (thus cutting off the
motion to recommit.)

The question was taken and the amend-
ments of the committee were concurred in-
among which was one of importance, provi
ding that the clerk of the House in making
the list of members to be called at the orga-
nization ofthe ‘I-louse, shall include the
name-s of none who do not appear to have
been elected according to the apportionment
act, by siu_<___rle. districts. ,"i'he _vote on this
(ms, ye.-as ‘.)Sl,nays 70. I he bill was passed
——yc-as E19, 79

i\'lr Stanley, from the committee of confer-
once on the bill to reorganize the Army,
l‘(‘j70l‘If'(l and briefly explained the provisions
on which the counnittee had agreed. Mr
Fillmore from a similar committee on the
appropriutioii bill for the Army, reported~—-
both which reports were laid over and order-
erl ptliiti-(1.

The House then took up the bills relating
to the Tei'ritoi‘ie.<, ‘~\l1lCll have laid on the
Spe.tkcr’s table some days since their report
from the committee of the whole, and one or
two were ordered engrossed and others
passed. The House adjourned.

ln Senate the rt solution for adjournment
was received from the House, and on motion
of ill r Preston postponed, and made the spe.
ciul order for Monday next.

The bill to supply the deficiency in the
Navy Pension funl was taken up, and after
some discussion was laid over without action
thereon .

The bill providing for the establishment
of schools of ins'ructions in the naval service
(authorising the Secretary of War to transfer
to the navy such military posts anti fortifica-
tionsnot exceeding five, as be deemed neces-
sary, and the establishmenttherein under the
direction of the St-cretary of the Navy of
Naval schools for the instruction ofacting
einidshipmcn and those preparing for exam-
ination, &t:.) was taken up and debatt-tl at
some length. Without further action, the
S -natc arljourn_ed.

a

'I‘ui~:sn.-tr, August 9-

In the Senate, a cozrtrnunicatiou from the
Post Master General, relating to the Post-
Olfice expenses, was ortlereil printed.

Tlie bill to supply the (.lt‘flClt’l'lCy in the
Navy Pension Fund was considered, report-
ed to the Senate and passed its third reading.
The bill to establish a Naval Military
School near Fort Monroe was debated and
passed '23 to 5.

Private bills occupied the Senate till the
adjournment.

In the House, Mr C J fngersoll moved
to suspend the rules to enable him to offer a
resolution calling on the Secretary of Stite
for a list of all the bankrupts in the United
States, which was lost.

Mr W Cost Johnson presented a memorial
from citizens ofPa‘, praying Congress to
issuctwo hundred millions of national stock
for the relief ofthe States auda pledging of the
public lands for its redemption.

The subject was laid on the table by the
decisive vote of 166 to 17.

On motion of Mr Fillmore the A rmy Ap-

condition of the country which grew out of
one of the most extraordinary excitenienis in‘
business and speculation that have ever oc-E
curred in the bostory of commerce and cur I
rency. It was the frtiit of a wild spirit of,‘
adventure engendcrrd by a vicious system oll
credits, under the evils or which the country
is still laboring, and which it is fondly hoped’
will not soon recur. .

Considering the vast amount of invest-
ments made by private individuals in the
public lands, during thosethree years, and
which equalled $43,000,000, equal to more
than 20 years purchase, taking the average
of sales of the ten preceedirig years, it may
be safely asserted that the result of the pub
lic land sales can hold out nothing to alarm
the Manufacturer with the idea ofinstabilityt
in the. revenues, and consequently in thlel
courseof Government.

Under what appears to me therefore, the
soundest considerations of public policy,
and in view ofthe interests of every branch
of domestic industry, 1 return you the bill
-with these my objections to its becoming
a law. '

I take occasion emphatically to repeat my
anxious desire to co operate with Congress,
in the passing of a law, which, while it
shall assist in supplying the wants of the
Treasury and re-establish public credit, shall
afford to the manufacturing interests of the
country all the incidental protection they re-
quire.

After all, the effect of what I do is sub-
stantiantially to call upon Congress to re-
consider the subject. If, on such reconsid-
eration, a majority of two thirds of both
Houses should be in favor of this measure,
it will become a law notwithstanding my
objections. In a case ofclear and manifest
error on the pa rt of the President, the pro-
sumption of the Constitution is that such
majorities will be found. Should they be so
found in this case, having conscientiously
discharged my own duty, I shall cheerfully
acquiesce in the result. JOHN TYLER.

VVashington, August 9, 1842.

The manufacture of covered buttons by
steam (says the Boston Transcript) has been
commenced in Petersbam, and it is,o;-xpccted

' not sziiisfactory.

prop:'iation bill was :'eferrcd to the Commit-
tee of the Whole.

The House then took up the resolution of

Mr Everett that the reasons of the Secretary
of War for decliningto give information are
It was debited a little by
Mr Cushing when tlie. Ditto to John Tyler's
Third Veto was received and read.
Mr CJ Ingersoll gave notice that he
should ofll.-r resolutionsauthorising the Col-
lection of Revenue by duties established by
the act of I‘.-‘larch 2, 1833; and changing the
20 per cent duties ad oalore/n of the act of
September 1841, to 30 per cent.

The bill to reorganize the Army was de-
bated by l‘v'1essrs Adams, Fessenden, Mar-
shall, Thompson, and Calhoun, and the
report of the Committee of Conference was
disagreed to. and another committee appoint-
ed. The House adjourned. "

\Vi«:nN ESDAY, Aug 10.

In the House, the Veto Message was taken
up, a large audience having assembled in an-
ticipation of the debate.

Mr Adams occupied the first, hour inani-
festing on this occasion ofexcitement a cor-
responding additional warmth to that usually
displayed by him; he said on the President
rested the responsibility ofdefeating the ac-
tion ofthis Congress which had done more
for the good ofthe country than any Con-
gress which had preceded it, and which had
accomplished in the face ofthe most adverse
circumstances, all for the country within
their power.

Mr A concluded by moving to refer the
message and bill to a select Committee of
13 members, with instructions to report
thereon.

Mr Adams then modified his motion so as
only to refer the message of the President.

Referred, Yeas103, Nays 84.

Tlie‘bill was laid on the table.

The time was consumed with some unim-
portant business till adjournment, at a late
hour. A

In the Senate the fowllowing bills, after
some discussion, were passed to grant pre-
emption rights to St'Il.l_t'IS on the Dubcque
claim in Iowa, to extend and regulate the
Navy rations.

it will be carried on extensively.

.
.-;

Mr Rives from the Committee onForeign

affairs. reported on certain membrials. Smne

titre since referred to that Coiiirnittee,.cn the
subject of claims aqains y-:l\'lcxico. ,

The bill to regtffiaie rife pay and emolu-
ments of purs<;,rs and warrant officers in the
Navy, was ordered to a third reading.

The billautliorizingthe Secretary of the
Navy to c'ontrat:t for the building of eight
steam vessels was laid on the table, and ‘the
Senate went into Executive session.

T“ - '~l.llLDRSDA1',,Aug.-11.’

In the House of Repvrescnilatives, to dayt
the Select Committee, raised on motion 0
Mr Adams, on the I.)l't‘Sl(lt‘f1l.,.S veto, was an:
nounced to consist ofthe following inembersi
Messrs Adains, .V1orrow,,Granger, Smith 0
Conn, Botts, Pierce, Raynor, Cooper of Pa.
'1‘ J Campbell of Tenn, Gilmer, IV \V
Irwin‘, Roosevelt, and C J I"ngr-.rso1l.

Mr Profiit moved to take up from thetable
the vetoed Revenue bill, that they might dis-
pose of it, 1iI‘t(l[)lESi1l'10i.lll'l'l.)llll The motion
failed: ye-as 82, noes 104. .

The House then in Committee of the
VVhole on the Union (Mr Hopkins in the
chair.) took up the bill making appropria-
tions for fortifications for 1842.

The amount asked for by the. Department
was $1,l0‘3,fi00; the cominittee had reduced
it and the bill only appropriated $258,000

After a (Il.'l)t)lL_’. of some lt~n‘gth on the de
tails the Conimitt:-c rose and reported pro
grass on this bill, and reported several other
bills previously passed in Committee to the
House. The House adjourned.

In Senate, a second Comniittt-e of Refer-
ence was appointed on the bill to reorganize
the Army and a i\-lessage sent to the House
asking the appointment of a simil.tr commit-
tee on their part.

The TI‘.EA'I‘Y "was received from the
President, and the Senate immediately went
into Executive Session, and remained therein
till they adjourned at a late hour.

*Afterwards excused.

FRIDAY Aug 12.

In the S»-note the day was devoted entirely
to the consideration of private. claims.

In the House Mr IV C Johnson gave
notice that he. should the ncxt day ask leave
to introduce his bill for the issue of National
Stock. |*

The bill making appropriations for i\'larine
Hospitals in the Western wat»-rs, was read
a tbirdtime and finally passetl. -,

The bill to provide for claims arising rin-
der the Dancing Ribblt.Crcelr, was also fin-
ally p =Ssr.-.«l, 76 to 5-1. ‘

The bill to settle ct>rt:iin_cla,iins of the. State
of Alabama was finally passe.l——-8.1 to T0.

’.‘tlr C J ‘liigtprsoll a"sked letvc to bring in
his ’t-avenue hill, and moved- a ‘¢i5sp'i-nsion
of the rules of the House. The motion was
ncgatived , 4-3 ayes to ‘l 1,8 nays—a vote of
two thirds in the affirmative being requisite.

Mr Fillmore moved to terminate -debati-
on the Fortification bill after an hour--l’ass_
etl 8| to 36.

The bill then came up and was reported
to the House with a recoininendation that it
do not pass.

The bill then ca-no before tho House and
was laid on the table, 102 to 54.

M r Fillmore moved a reconsideration and
the House adjourned.

SA\1‘UR on August 13.

In the I-Iouse to day, Mr \Vise from thr-
Committee on Nziviil Affiiirs, reported with
amt-nclinont several of the bills recently
passed by the Sen-a'e relative to the reorgani-
zation, &c. of the navy, which were ordered
printed and referred to the committee of the
VVliole. -

On Motion of Mr Oikly a resolution was
adopted directing the St-r'i'etai'y of the Treas-
ury lo report the number of clerks in the
Laml Office, how many and what reductions
can be made tlieroof, &,c.

On motion of Mr Barnard, the Coinmittr.-e
of the Whole was disc.bar;:ed from further
considerasion of the bill to amend the act
establisliing the ludicial System of the U.
States, relating to the MaritimcCourts. The
bill was passed.

The resolutions reported by Mr Cooper of
Pa from the Committee on Indian Affairs,
relative to the refusal ofthe Secretary of war
to communicate the report on alledged Cher-
okee frauds, with the amendments llI(‘l'(’I0,
came up in order, the previous question
having been ordered. ,

The resolutions were then severally adop-
ted as follows; 1st declaring. that the House
has a right to demand of the Executive or
of Heads ofdepartments information in their
possession relating to subjects of the deliber
ation of the House and which are in its
legitimate power, yeas 142, nays 7 ;‘2d do
claring that the Report called for relating to
Indian Frauds was within the sphere of the
lt.-gitimate power and the deliberations ofthe
House, and should have been communicated
yeas 94, nays 64. 3d,requcsting the Pres»
idcnt to communicate the report of Col Hitch-
cock, with refercnce to frauds alleged to
have been committed on the Cherokee Indi-
nns, and all other infoizmation on the subject
in his possession: yeas 83, nays 69.

Mr Arnold made another unsuccessful
attempt to take up his bill to reduce the pay
of the members of Congress.

The remainder of the day was consumed
in the consideration of Private hills.

In Senate the billto establish a Police in
the city of Washington. was after some de-
bate passed.

The bill to extend the benefits of the Pen-
sion laws of 1836 and ’3S to certain widows
not bertofore enjoying the privileges thereof
was ordered to a third reading.

The House bill, legalizing and making
appropriations for contingencies, and other
objects not heretofore authorised by law but
includi-d in the General -Appropriation bill
was taken up, and was under conside ration

I

at the close of the day.
It is somewhat a singular fact that the
floors in the Patent Omce at VVasbington

are made of stone imported from Germany
by a Connecticut man who works an exten-
sive quarry in his own land of ‘blue laws’
and ‘horn gunflints’. The stones were trans-
ported as ballast at a trifling cost. That
together with the low wages of Germany,
enabled the ‘calculating’ Yankee to furnish
the Government with the imported stone ata
price less than he could afford his own——
yielding him, too, it is said, a handsome

pro fit.

lllcditaled escape of Col. ,Edwa.7"ds.-'-‘-'-
Circumstances having occurred to excite the
suspicion of Mr. Horn.-in, deputy keeper of
the city prisons he yesterday minutely search-
ed the cell in which MonroeMdwards, who
was recentlyconvicted of forgery is confined.
He discovered in his trunk a rope ladder, 60
feet in length, with leather loops fastened to
it for the person using it to place his hands
and feet on : also a large iron grapple about
twofeet in length forthe purpose of aiding
him in securing his ladder, by fastening it to
the wall. There was .also found aj small
sledge hammer, a large wooden mallet, a
number of large iron wedges, saws, cbisels
files, several keysaud various other instru-
ments for Jail breaking. In his trunk was
also found a large percussion pistol, loaded
with powder and ball. The articles were of
cour,se all taken away from his cell, and ad-
ditional means adopted to prevent the success
of any future attempt to escape.-—Jour. Com.

College of I/La Propaga-n(Za..—The Col-
lege of the propaganda at Rome, intended
chiefly for the education of natives of eastern
countries as Catholic missionaries, contained
in May, ninety pupils. Of these five were
Chinese, ten Chaldeas, six Armenians, four
Gt:-orgians, five Syrians, five Maronites, four"
Egyptians, nine Grist-lzs, five. Albanians,
three Bulgarians; one Illyrian, tbrce Wal-
lacbains, four Germans, six Duurliman, four
Englishmen, five Scots, five liishinen, and?
six Americans. After a pupil has been six
months in the e-stablishmem, he is expected!
to bind himself by oath, to devote himself to
tbe foreign missions. The usual period of
study is ten years, but this is frequently
shortcut-d. When the pupil has finished
his studies he tniers, priests, orders, and is
furnished with the means of returning to his
native country, where it is intended héshould
llt'VUI|' hiinst-lfto the duties of his vocation
.-is a missionary. If he is sent to any coun-
try but his own, his free consent must be
obtained. Every missionary residing in
Europe is t-xpected to furnish an annual
l'k‘pOfl. of his labors; those,‘ residing out of
Europe are expected to send in a report once
in‘ two years. Many of the missionaries
have established thriving schools in their
native countries. Six such schools exist in
Egypt. four in Ill_vria, two in 'I'rans_\'lt-annia,
anti others in Albania and among the Islands
of the Archipelago. The Rev: nues of this
establishment amount annually to 80,000
St‘l](ll; of which 24.000 are a gift from the
Pope. This sum is arnuully expended on
fqreign missions is estimated by the Anal (Ii
Slali.-tics at 18,000 scudi ; but this calcula-
tion, we are ilSSUl't.(I, is below the truth.

.F'H‘(’ig7I. Quarlcrlr/.

From Vera Cruz -——By an arrival at New
Orleans, papers were received from Cainpea-
chy to the 17 tilt. Particulars ofthe capture
of tbe schr. Yucataco by the Mexicans, are
Qiven, from which itappears that the Mexi-
cans had been hanging round Campeachy
forsome time in the guise of smugglers, con-
trealirigthe-ir rt--al iutent until a favorable
opportunity offer: tl, when they attalcr-d the
schooner with several boats and towed her to
sea. 'LLhe government has received a large
supply of powder and lead from the United
States in anticipation ofthe intruded invasion
of the Peninsula by Santa Ana.

Speaking of the acts of Captain Tyler,the
Boston Timts says—“whcnevei' his mind is
fixed on any point of duty, be [lots not con-
sult tbe cpprobation of any particular party,
but disposes of it -in the manner which his
conceivt-s to be-the most conducive to the good
of the -w/mle co-z1,7ztrg;.” That is be consid-
ers his own opinion the supreme law ofthe
land. The diffit-ulty is, that Captain never
“conceivt-s" twice alike; and his miserable
and starveling parasites, who look only to
the spoils, tlon’t know the difference between
mulis/1. olistinacy and consistent ff.7'77l'/£685.

Boston ilfail.

Capt. Stockton has had construct:-d a
wrought iron cannon, that will throw a bull.-
weighing one hundred and twelve pounds.
It was testt-d at the Philadelphia Navy
Yard. The largest charge of powder used
was forty five pounds. This instrument is
an improvement upon the original Paixhan
gun by Capt. Stockton and is said to possess
consitlera-ble advantages over that gun, in
throwing of the balls, and the readiness with
which it may be brought into action.

“T/Le Begin’/n'ng‘of the End.”‘— Stephen
Srniththe owner ofthe building knovtn as
‘Smitb’s Beneficial Hall’ and the Triistees
of the 2d African Presbt,/terian..Chiirch, the
buildings destroyed by fire by the mob during
the late riots-—entered a stilt against the coun-
ty of Philadelphia, in the Supreme Court
yesterday, for the full amount‘ of damages
accruing from the drstruction ofthe same.

I’/Lifad. U. S. Gazette.

 

workmen engaged in the recent turnout,have
at last seen the folly and expense of such
turnouts, and have generally evinced a dis-
position to return to their labors. But unfor-
tunately many of those-who had good situa-.
tions cannot find employment, and they-
wander about idle, cursing in their hetrtst
those advisers who induced them to this ru_-.
inous step.-——.Miner’s Journal.

The Harrisburg Capitolian of Friday.
says :——"'I‘be sheriffs ofthe different counties
of this State have been officially informed
that the Governor will not approve of the
Apportionment Bill,and they need not, there-_.
fore, hold Congressional Elections.

 

Good !—The‘ First Municipality Council
of New Orleans has passed an ordinance
subjecting every person who keeps any gum-.
bling table within the limits of the Muni-
cipality after the 1st ofAugust, to a fine of
$100 per day! .

Return qfllfissionaries —The ship “fash-
ington, Taylor, from Calcutta and Madras,
which arrived at Philadelphia on Thursday,
brought as passengers Rev. Dr Scudder lady
and fivechildren. Dr. S. is one of the oldest
missionaries of the American Board.

 

The patronage of the New York Post
Office has been given to Noah’s new Tyler
paper, The Union. It is evident by this
that ‘Mordecai the Jew sittith at the ' king’:
gate,-—Columbz'an Reg. ' '

 

The late Turnou,t.—-That portion of the '