The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Seventeenth Congress, First Session, [Volume 1] Page: 53
[621] p.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
53
HISTORY OF CONGRESS.
§4
January, 1822.
Official Compensation.
Senate.
The President communicated a letter from
the Secretary of the Navy, transmitting, for the
use of the members of the Senate, sixty copies of
the Naval Register for the year 1822; and the
letter was read.
Mr. Otis submitted the following motion for
consideration:
Resolved, That five hundred copies of the calcula-
tions founded upon the returns of the last census be
printed for the use of the Senate.
Mr. D'Wolf presented the memorial of William
D'Wolf and others, merchants, traders, manufac-
turers, and others, of Bristol, Rhode Island, pray-
ing the passage of an act establishing an uniform
system of bankruptcy; the memorial was read,
and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Dickerson laid before the Senate the fol-
lowing preamble and instructions from the Legis-
lature of the State of New Jersey, to wit:
" Whereas controversies exist between the States
of New Jersey and New York, and of New Jersey
and Delaware, concerning their respective boundaries ;
and whereas the Constitution of the United States
has declared that the judicial power of the General
Government shall extend to controversies between two
or more States, thereby providing for the legal settle-
ment of disputes which might otherwise endanger the
peace and safety of the Union ; and whereas Congress
have hitherto omitted to carry into effect the wise and
salutary provisions of the Constitution for that purpose,
by vesting adequate power in the courts of the United
States ; therefore,
" Resolved, By the Council and General Assembly
of this State, that our Senators and Representatives in
Congress be requested to use their endeavors to pro-
cure the passage of a law for the decision of territorial
or other controversies between States, in such manner
as is authorized by the Constitution of the United
States.
" Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be
requested to transmit copies of the foregoing preamble
and resolution to each of our Senators and Represen-
tatives in Congress, to be by them laid before their re-
pective Houses."
The document was read, and, on motion of Mr.
Dickerson, it was ordered to be entered at large
on the Journal of the Senate—ayes 19, noes 12.
The bill authorizing the payment of a sum of
money to Thomas Shields was read a third time,
and passed.
The bill, entitled "An act for the relief of Sam-
uel Clarkson and Alexander Elmslie" was read a
third time, and passed.
Mr. Southard laid before the Senate a report
and resolutions of the State of New Jersey, ap-
proving and recommending the Maryland propo-
sition to grant to the old States, for the purposes
of education, a portion of the public lands corres-
ponding to the portions granted to the new States
for that object; which were read, and laid on the
table.
Mr. Southard presented the petition of James
H. Clark, a purser in the Navy of the United
States, praying relief in the settlement of his ac-
counts, in consequence of his having been robbed
of a certain sum of money, as stated in the petition;
which was read, and referred to the Committee of
Claims.
Mr. Chandler presented the petition of Samuel
Odlin, of Lubec, in the State of Maine, stating
that he had made a contract with Lewis F. De-
lesdernier, late collector of the port of Passama-
quoddy, for a certain parcel of land, which he had
paid for and improved, without receiving a title
therefor, which said land has been attached by and
since set off to the United States, as Delesdernier's
property; and praying relief. The petition was
read, and referred to the Committee on the Judi-
ciary.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
report of the Committee of Finance, to whom was
referred the memorial of Paul Lanusse and F.
Bailly Blanchard, merchants, of New Orleans;
and the further consideration thereof was post-
poned until Wednesday next.
Mr. Lanman laid before the Senate resolutions
of the Legislature of the State of Connecticut, in-
structing their Senators and requesting their mem-
bers of the House of Representatives to use their
influence to procure the adoption of a system of
retrenchment and economy in the public expendi-
tures, corresponding with the national revenue;
and particularly to exert themselves to procure
that the compensation of the members of Congress
be reduced to their former price ; and, on his mo-
tion, they were laid on file.
A Message was received from the President of
the United States, transmitting a report of the
operations of the Mint for the last year; which
was read.
The bill for the relief of John Coffee was con-
sidered as in Committee of the Whole, and ordered
to a third reading.
The President laid before the Senate the memo-
rial of the Legislature of Indiana, praying of Con-
gress the grant of five or six thousand acres of un-
tillable land, contiguous to the town of Vincennes,
to be used as a town common ; which was read,
and referred.
OFFICIAL COMPENSATIONS.
The Senate, according to order, took up the fol-
lowing resolution, submitted on Friday last by Mr.
Knight:
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire
into the expediency of reducing the compensation of
members of the Senate, members of the House of Rep-
resentatives of the United States, and delegates of Ter-
ritories, and all other officers in each of the Executive
departments and Post Office Establishment; and that
said committee have leave to report by bill or other-
wise.
Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, said he should like
to hear some reasons in support of the expediency
of agitating this subject at the present time; at
least he should like to be convinced that the present
pay of the members of Congress was too much,
before he could assent to another discussion of it.
It was a subject which had occupied much of his
attention; he said he had, perhaps, been as much
concerned in former proceedings on it as any man,
yet he had not been able, so far, to convince him-
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Gales and Seaton. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Seventeenth Congress, First Session, [Volume 1], book, 1855; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30365/m1/25/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.