by the secretary of the treasury for the first instalment under the French treaty. Instead of sending to the American minister at Paris an authority to receive the money, or even of remitting the bill for collection through the bank, the government took the unusual step of selling a bill to the bank at the current rate of exchange, and appropriated the proceeds to the current uses of the treasury. The bill was not paid, and, to save the credit of the bank, its agents took it up. A claim for damages pursuant to the ordinary custom of merchants, was made for the dishonour of the bill, and the president of the U. S. was indignant that the bank should call for damages, when he contended that the public moneys in the bank were more than sufficient to pay the amount of the bill. For these reasons the executive recommended to congress, to remove the public moneys from the custody of the bank, and also to sell the stock belonging to the government in that institution. Pursuant to this recommendation, a bill was reported on the 13th of February by Mr. Polk, from the committee of ways and means, for the sale of the stock; but Mr. Wickliffe moved, upon its first reading, that the bill be rejected, and it was accordingly rejected, ayes 102, nays 91. The subject of the public deposits was referred to the same committee, and on the 1st of March, Mr. Verplanck made a report, in which he stated that the committee had examined the report of the treasury agent, and also the directors of the bank, under oath, and that it appeared that on the 1st of January, 1832, the bank had $80,865,000 of available resources, and that its liabilities amounted to only $37,800,000. The committee consequently recommended a resolution, that the government deposits may, in the opinion of the house, be safely continued in the bank of the United States. Mr. Polk, from the minority of the committee, also made a report, in which the conduct of the bank was condemned, but no conclusion was drawn as to the propriety of continuing the deposits in its custody. The next day the resolution was taken up for discussion, and after an earnest discussion by Mr. Polk in opposition, and Messrs. Ingersoll and M'Duffie in support of the resolution, the previous question was ordered, ayes 86, nays 30, and the resolution was passed, ayes 109, nays 46. Treasury Report for 1832.-Appropriations for Pensions.-for support of Government.-for Naval Service.-for Fortifications.-for Military Service.—for Indian Department.—for District of Columbia.-for Internal Improvement.-LightHouse Bill lost. CHAPTER VII. $31,752,659 51 The expenditures during the first three quarters of the same year were estimated as follows: Civil, diplomatic, and miscellaneous, Military, including pensions, Indian department, The expenditures for the year 2,663,955 42 1833, for all objects, other than the reimbursement of the public The estimates for the public service, having been referred to the committees, the bills provi3,045,361 70 ding for the wants of the several departments, were reported by the committee of ways and means, and that providing for 6,878,790 09 the pension list, was taken up in the house on the 3d of January, and, having received the sanction of both houses, became a law. debt, are estimated at, 17,638,577 35, viz:— 4,000,000 Naval service, 3,377,429 38 During the year 1833, however, the moneys received from Denmark, for the payment of the indemnities due to American citizens, under the convention, will be payable, estimated at 694,000 00. Which, added to the expenditures, make the aggregate charge upon the treasury for the year, exclusive of the reimbursement of the public debt, 18,322,577 35. The public debt, on the 2d of January, 1832, amounted to $24,322,235 18. The amount disbursed on that account, during 1832, was, for payment of principal, 17,302,410 82. Interest 777,646 64. Leaving only 7,001,698 83 of public debt, existing on the 1st January, 1833, As the bank shares belonging to the United States, with the premium, amounted to more than that sum, the secretary regarded the stock as substantially extinguished, ard congress was congratulated upon that event. The secretary then went on to recommend a reduction of the duties to the revenue standard. The general appropriation bill for 1833, was not taken up in the committee of the whole house, until the 1st of March. At this late period of the session, it was not possible to go into an examination of the public expenditures. The committee on public lands had been directed to investigate the affairs of the land office, and Mr. Wickliffe, when this bill was taken up, stated that the committee had not been able, for want of time, to complete the investigation of the concerns of the land office, but from the progress which had been made, he was fully convinced that the commissioner had made an improper application of the funds placed in his hands. Mr. Verplanck proposed an item to cover certain arrearages which had improperly accrued in that office. He said he did it with great reluctance, and merely because the government must of course pay debts contracted by its authority. But the expenditure had the decided disapprobation of the committee of ways and means. This amendment was adopted, but one proposed by Mr. Verplanck allowing $34,000, for extra clerk hire in the post office department, was promptly negatived, as was an amendment proposed by Mr. Washington, granting $250,000, to enable the city of Washington to pay up its subscription to the stock of the Washington and Ohio canal. An amendment was also made, providing for the appointment of a commissioner of pensions, with a salary of $2500, and the privilege of franking. The bill was then reported to the house, and the next day was taken up in the house, and the amendments were agreed to. The amendment providing for the appointment of a commissioner of pensions with privilege of franking, was amended, on motion of Mr. E. Everett, extending the franking privilege of members of Congress. Mr. Verplanck moved an additional appropriation of $34,000, for clerks in the post office department. Mr. E. Whittlesey opposed this amendment. Mr. Conner supported itand read a letter from Mr. M'Lean, late postmaster General, on the subject. Mr. Wickliffe opposed the amendment at length, which was further supported by Messrs. Connor and R. M. Johnson, and adopted. Mr. Bell moved to amend the bill, by inserting a clause granting Stephen Pleasanton $5,000 for certain extra services performed by him. Mr. Hubbard moved the previous question on the bill as previously amended-which was sustained, and the bill was passed and sent to the senate for concurrence. In that body, the bill was amended by making appropriations for custom-houses at Baltimore and Newburyport; ordering the instalments to be received from France, under the |
