bore reply under repeated slan- sion. The administration has ders of this kind; and at the in- been charged with taking an imstance of the friends of the mea- proper interest in it; and it has sure, and in consideration of the been repeatedly referred to as an advanced period of the session, instance of the extravagance of permitted the question to be final- this Congress. We have been ly taken, without reply.

told, in this debate, that while The President, in taking the the President scruples to approground he did upon the Indian priate money to internal improvequestion, knew that he was incur- ment, he has urged the adoption ring great responsibility ; that he of another measure, and by his was shocking deeply wrought influence, carried it through the prejudices in various classes of House, involving an expenditure the community ; in many sec- of half a million of dollars, and tions strong religious feelings; that, too, to further a ruinous and that he was exposing himself to disgraceful policy. I consider the arts and misrepresentations of everything I have said, or shall his political enemies, yet he dared say upon this subject, strictly in to take the course he did, be- order. When this measure was cause he loved his country and directly the subject of discussion, its institutions; that country for stated that the extravagance of which he had hazarded more an administration would never be than mere personal popularity decided inerely by the amount upon repeated occasions --for expended

- for expended — that the intelligence which he had offered to die. of the country, in making up its What had he gained by his course verdict upon such a question, upon that question? The Presi- would look to the propriety of dent had taken a strong interest the expenditure - to the necesin the success of the policy of sity which demanded the appliremoving the Indians, because he cation of the public treasure ; and thought it calculated to preserve that praise or censure would folthe harmony of the republic, and low as the objects to be accomits reputation from a blot, which plished were for good or for evil. the inherent difficulties of our í also then stated that, the removal relations with the southern tribes, of the Indians would bring more and the irritations likely to grow money into the Treasury by reout of them might bring upon it. moving the incumbrance of the But, sir, when he had laid the Indian title from the public lands, proposition before Congress he than would be drawn from it; but felt his conscience free. He had enough of this now.

. done what duty prompted; the

It has been said in the course rest was to be decided. [Here of the debate, that the President Mr Vance called Mr Bell to or- has undertaken to decide against der, as he was discussing a bill the will of the people, as exnot before the House). Sir, I pressed through their representarefer to this measure because it tives in Congress, that appropriahas been brought into this discus- tions shall not be made to objects

of internal improvement. The that the present burthens of the Constitution allows the veto of country may be greatly diminishthe President upon the will of a ed; that manufactures may be majority of Congress. By the duly encouraged, and still have a course pursued in the present in- surplus in the Treasury, ample stance, the subject is recommit- enough for the accomplishment ted to Congress, and an appeal of every desirable object of interwill ultimately be carried before nal improvement. the people, who will, in their re- The gentleman from Ohio, last turns to the next Congress, pro- up (Mr Vance), has spoken in an nounce upon the motives of the improper manner of the fading President, and approve or con- prospects of the west ; and depdemn his councils, as they shall recated the idea of diminished think fit. Before that tribunal expenditures for its benefit. I he will be arraigned, and if they claim also to be a friend to the shall not see the evils of the pres- interests of the west that west ent system of appropriation in the to which I belong by birth, and I light he does, he is willing to be promise that gentleman to go prostrated in their esteem. But, along with him, side by side, in sir, I do not understand the Presi- asserting its claim to be regarded dent to be opposed to internal in the distribution of the favors of improvement. It is the present this Government - its claim to a unequal and distracting mode of fair portion of whatever funds appropriating the public treasure, shall be appropriated to internal which he has set his face against. improvement; but I differ with A patriotic system of dispensing him as to the mode of applying the general funds for the improve- them. I contend that the hali ment of the country - a system million, which it would require which, wluile it professes to act to extend the Zanesville road for the general good, and to be- through Kentucky, and to make come a cement to the Union, it permanent, applied under the shall be so, in fact; one which direction of the Legislature of shall be secured against abuses that State, 10 various roads of by an amendment of the Consti- smaller extent, leading from her tution, is decidedly approved by interior secluded and fertile disthe message. The expediency tricts, to the great outlets which of proceeding in the system, as nature has already provided for at present practised, is, it is true, carrying off the productions of the as decidedly denied; but it is whole west, would secure a greatnot proposed to dam up, forever, er actual amelioration of the conthe stream from the Treasury for dition and prospects of the peothe beneficent purposes of inter- ple of that State, than two millions nal improvement; this I do not expended upon any free great believe the people will consent road, extending quite through 10; but it is proposed to check the State, and belonging to any its flow in its present wild and un- great system of national improverestricted channel. It is believed ment, executed under the waste

to

ful superintendence of the Gene- what had of late fallen from difral Government. I affirm that ferent members, and other indithe same increased proportion of cations, he scarcely knew whethactual advantage and ameliora- er even he was regarded as the tion would attend the application friend or enemy of this administraof a small amount to similar ob- tion. To such as might wish to jects in Ohio, or in any other monopolize the entire support of western State under the direc- the administration he had but littion of the local authorities, over tle to say. This he might say a large sum administered by the perhaps, without offence, that he General Government.

was an older (not a better) solMr Sutherland said, he should dier than those who had on this vote in favor of the bill. He day, so much to his satisfaction, said Pennsylvania was the friend pronounced their eulogies upon of internal improvements, and the President. He had been also the friend of General Jack- longer in the service of that cause son, and she would abide by both, which brought the present Exwaiting with confidence for the ecutive into power than many slow but certain process by which who were now far ahead of him, the system of improvements would at least, in their own estimation. universally prevail. The Presi- Mr Isacks said, when he came dent had, in rejecting the bill, here some seven years ago, a colexercised only his constitutional league of the President's, if mempower, and he (Mr Sutherland,) bers of different Houses can be and his constituents, in support- called so, the Tennessee delegaing it, were only exercising the tion, with one exception, old

thé power which the Constitution George Kremer, and perhaps granted to them. He represent- half a dozen others, were all the ed a State which was friendly to political friends that could then both; for in fact, Pennsylvania be numbered for him in Conwas the first State which had gress. Nothing could be more given the present Chief Magistrate grateful to him than the multiplian undivided support, and which cation since. He was now, and was also while it had lost no con- had been ever since, to this mofidence in its first object, being ment, no less the devoted, perthe general good of his country, sonal and political friend of the friendly to the great principle of President than he was then and internal improvement. That such had been before. And in vindiwould, sooner or later, be the cation of his honor, his honesty,

, universal sentiment of the nation, patriotism and firmness of purhe had no doubt the course of pose, he would, on any proper time and the course of human occasion, go as far as he that affairs would render apparent. goes farthest,' and he trusted that

Mr Isacks said, he was sin- his acts, in and out of this House, cerely sorry to feel it a duty he during the two last struggles for owed to himself to say a few the Presidency would be taken words on this subject. From as a sufficient guarantee for that

a

pledge. But on the present think me a villain. I am certain question he differed from the he ought, under such circumPresident, and what of that? We stances, to despise me, as I have, said Mr Isacks, differed should myself, and am sure he before. During the Congress would. But suppose we had a that we were representatives of Chief Magistrate capable of takTennessee, we often differed; ing offence, and feeling resentbut there was then a class of sub- ment for honest consistency in jects we did not differ upon. We others, I would say to him, I canvoted together (I speak from not help it; to you, Mr Presimemory, not records) on the dent, Iowe no responsibilities; survey bill, on the bill to subscribe to none but God and my constock to the Chesapeake and stituents do I acknowledge reDelaware canal, on the bill for sponsibility, and these I will disthe construction of the road from charge as I may. Canton to Zanesville, in Ohio, My colleague (Mr Bell) antiand on the bill appropriating fifty cipates the final settlement of the thousand dollars to remove ob- great question of internal imstructions in the Mississippi river. provement when the people shall I do not say, and must not be un- decide, and their will is reprederstood to mean that, by those sented. I heartily join him in votes, either he or I stand com- that appeal to the people, and so mitted for this bill : but for my- far as I can, will cheerfully stake self I will say that, under the in- the fate of internal improvement, fluence of opinions formed during yes, and my own fate politically, the period in which those bills upon that issue. Will my. colwere discussed, and which opin- eague do likewise ? ions have never since been chang- Mr Kennon observed that, beed or shaken, I did, upon mature ing perfectly satisfied in his own reflection, vote for this bill when mind that all the arguments it was here before; my opinion, which could be adduced would notwithstanding the arguments by not change a single vote upon the which the President's objections subject, he felt himself bound to are so powerfully urged, remain move the previous question. the same, and if I live, I will vote The motion was agreed to by for it again. And do I expect by a vote of yeas 105, nays 76. So that to offend the President? Not the previous question was carso. If it were to do it, it would ried. prove that I am what I am, and The main question, which was he is not Andrew Jackson !!!I the passage of the bill, the obthink I know the man who now jections of the President notwithfills the - Executive chair well standing, was then put, when no ugh to be convinced that if there appeared to be yeas 96,

ithout a change of opinion, I nays 92. Two thirds of the should feel so strongly the influ- House not agreeing to pass the ence of the message as to change bill, it was rejected. my vote on this bill, he would On the 29th of May the House

proceeded to take up several ed, the bill was sent, together other bills, which originated in with the two other bills, to the the Senate, authorizing internal President for his approbation. improvements; and as if with the The first bill being similar to the view of evincing its total disregard one already rejected, was returnof the opinions of the President, ed to the Senate, where it origithe House passed the following nated, with a reference to the bills :

message rejecting the Maysville 1st. One authorizing a sub- bill for his reasons. The Senate scription to the Washington Turn- then proceeded to reconsider this pike Company. The previous bill, and on the question of its pasquestion was demanded and the sage, notwithstanding the objecbill was ordered to a third read- tions; the vote stood, yeas 21, ing-yeas 81, nays 47, and nays 17, andthe bill was rejectpassed, 74 yeas, 39 nays.

ed. 3d. A bill authorizing a sub- The other bills, viz. that auscription to the stock of the Lou- thorizing a subscription to the isville and Portland Canal Com- Louisville Canal, and the bill for pany.

Here an attempt was building light-houses were retainmade to delay the proceedings ed for further consideration unti by demanding a call of the the next session of Congress. House ; but the call was refused, The manner in which they were 43 yeas, 91 nays. The previous finally disposed of must of course question was then demanded and be reserved for a future volume. the bill was ordered to a third This determination of the Exreading, 83 yeas, 52 nays, and ecutive against the system of inpassed, 80 yeas, 37 nays. ternal improvement gave great

The act making appropriations offence to many of his friends for light-houses, improving har- and entirely alienated some from bors and directing surveys, &c, his party. which had been amended in the Even in Congress such an inSenate, was also called for, and creasing want of confidence was various efforts were ineffectually manifested that the decided mamade by the friends of the Presi- jorities which the administration dent to prevent a vote on the possessed in both Houses at the bill by motions to adjourn and commencement of the session had for a call of the House. These dwindled before its close into feehaving failed, the previous ques- ble and inefficient minorities. Nor tion was ordered, yeas 95, nays was this the only difficulty to

, 44, and the amendments proposed which the President had exposby the Senate were put separate- ed himself by his decision." In ly and passed.

seeking to temporize and to On the amendment relating to lay down a rule satisfactory to the improvement of the naviga- both parties, he had assumed an tion of Back Creek, in Maryland, unsafe position, more difficult to the vote stood, yeas 76, nays 60. maintain than either of the oppoThe amendments having all pass- site points, which he sought to