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CONGRESS.—IN SENATE, Jan. 23, 1840. THE INDEPENDENT TREASURY BILL. The following bill was talo n up for consideration, the question being <»» its passage : A BILL to pro'ide for the collection, sale-keeping, transfer, ami disbursement of d e public r venue. lie il enacts! b# /w.’ X Mite and H use of llepres n- i (atives of lie C.-tilcd Stiles of Am idea .it Congress assembled, That, there shall be prepared and provi ded, within the new Treason boil ting now erectnic at the seat of Government, suitable and «wnvetm nt ; rooms for the use of the Treasurer of the United Stases, I his assistants and clerk-; and sufficient ant secure j fireproof vaults and safes, for the keepingot the pub lic moneys in the possession and under the imrnr.liate | control of the said'Treasurer : which said rooms, j vaults, and safes, are hereby constituted and rb dared , to be, the Treasury of the t nited States. And the said Treasurer of the Unitefl States shall keep all the public moneys which shall come to bis hands in the j Treasury of the United Stales, as hereby constituted, I until the same are drawn thert l'tom according to law. Sec. 2. And be it jurther enacted, That the Mint ■of the United States, in the city of Philadelphia, io ; the State of Pennsylvania, and the Branch Mint, in 1 the city of New Orleans, in the State of Louisiana, ; and the vaults and safes thereof, respectively, shall be j places of deposits and safe keeping of the public mo-1 nevs at those points respectively; and tire Ihet-un of the said Mint and Branch Mint respectively, for the time being, shall have the custody ami care of all public moneys dc;>ositcd witbin the Mime, and shad perform all tile duties rvqmoed la be performed by Pie ill, I iTTHV .-r-rrT-. .■♦n-r Ic<i pt, safe ki t ping, fer ami disbursements of all such moneys, accordiej to the provisions hereinafter contained. Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That there shall he prepared and provided, wi'hin the custom-hrmu« now erecting in the city of New York, in the State of New York, and in the eitv of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, suitable and convenient rooms for the use of the reccivers-nenera! of public moneys, herein after directed to be appointed, at those place-, respec tively; ami sufficient ami secure fiirproof vault. and safes for the keeping of the public monevs collected and deposited with them, respectively; and rccei v<rs general of public money, from time to time, appoint cd at those points, shall have the custody ami care of the said rooms,*'aults, and safes, respectively, ami of all the public moneys deposited within the same; am shall perform all the duties r.-qu red to lie p• rfor by them, in reference to the receipt, safe keeping, transfer, and disbursement of ail such moneys, accor ding to the provisions of this act. Sec. 4. And be it further enu ted, That there sha'i be erected, prepared, and provided, at the expense of the United States, at the city of Charleston, in the State of Sou'h Carolina, and at the ci'v of Sr. Louis, in the State of Mi-souri, offices, with suitable and con venient rooms'for the use of the receivcrs-general of' public money hereinafter directed to be appointed at the places above named; and sufficient and secure I fireproof vaults and safes for th:* keeping of the public ' money collected and deposited at those points rcspec- ! lively; and the said reci ivers-gcner il, from time to time appointed at those places,” shall have the cu-to- : dy and care of the said offices, vaults, and safes, so to j be erected, prepared, and provided, and of all the ! public moneys deposited within the same; and shall ! perform all the duties required to i e performed In them, in reference to the receipt, s ife keeping, trans fer, and disbursement of all such moneys, according i to the provisions hereinafter contained. Sec. 5. And b- if further enacted, That the Presi dent shall nominate, and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint four officers, to be de nominated “ receiver.—general of public money,” which said officers shall hold their respective offices term of four years, unless sooner removed therefrom; one of which shall he located at tl e citv of New York in the Stat ■ofN< w York; one oth> r ■ofwhich shall be located nt the city of Bo ton. in the State of Mass :chusetts; one other of which shall he located at the city of Charleston, in the S: t? of Smth Carolina; and the remaining one of wbi Ji shall be located at the city of St. Louis, in the State of Mis souri; and all of which said officers s' all give bonds to the United Stales, with sureties, according to the provisions hereinafter contained, f>r the iTthftd dis charge of the duties of weir respective offios. Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the Trea surer of the United States, the Treasurer of the Mint of the United States, the Treasurers and those acting as such.Jof the various Branch Mints, ail collectors of the customs, all surveyors of the cus’oms acting also as collectors, all rcceivers-gencral of public moneys, all receivers of puldie moneys nt the several hnd offi ces, and all postmasters, except as is hereinafter par ticularly provided, be, and they are hereby, required to keep safely, without loaning or using, all the public money collected by them, or otherwise at any time placed in their possession and custody, till the same is ordered by the proper Department or officer of the Government to be transfeired or paid on’; and when such orders for transfer or payment are received, faithfully and promptly to make the same as directed, and to do and perform ail other duties as fiscal agents of the Government, which maybe imposed by this or any acts of Congress, or by any regulation of the Treasury Department, made in conformity to h-v; and also to do and perform all acts and duties requir ed by law, or by direction of any of the Executive De partments of the Government, as agents for paying pensions, or for making any oiler disbursements w hich either of the heads of dm, - Departments nay be required by law to make, and which are of a char acter to be made by the depositaries hereby constitu ted, consistently with the other official duties imposed upon them. Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That the Trea surer of the United States, the Tieasun r of the Mint of the United States, the Treasurer of the Branch Mint at New Orleans, and the receive,al of public money herein!)* fire directed to be appointed, shall, respectively, give bonds to the United States’ in such form, and for such amounts, as shall be direct ed by the Secretary of the Treasury, by and with the advice and consent of the President, with sureties to the satisfaction of the Solicitor of the Treasure and shall, from lime to time, renew, strengthen, and in crease their official bonds, as the Secretary of the ' Treasury, with the consent of the may di-' reel; any law in reference to any of the official bonds of any of the said officers to the contrary notwith standing. ! Sec. 8. And be it further entitled, That it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Trea-ury, at as early a day as possible after the passage of this act, to re quire from the several depositaries hereby constituted, and whose official bonds arc not hcrciidiefcre provi ded for, to execute bonds new and suitable in their terms to meet the new and increased duties imposed upon them respectively by this act, and with sureties,' and in sums such as shall seem reasonable and safe to ' the Solicitor of’the Treason, and from time to time to require such bonds to be renewed and increased in i amount and strengthened bv new sureties, to meet any ' inert using re-pon.-dbiliiy which mav grow out of accu mulations of money in the hands of the depositary, or I out of any oilier duty or responsibility arising under i i dirs-or any other law of Congress. See. y. And be il further eiuicled,- That all col lectors and receivers of public money, of every char acter and description, within tin' District of Columbia, ; shall, as frequently as they mav be directed by the ’ Secretary of the Treasury, or the Postmaster Gener ; al, so to do, pay over to the Treasmer of’the United . States at the Treasury thereof, all public moneys col- i let ted by them, or in their hands; that all such eollce- ■ tors and receivers of public tmmevs within tlie citie- I of Philadelphia atul New Orleans, shall, upon tlw same direction, pay over l > the Treasurers of' the Mints in their respective cities, at the said Mints, all public moneys collected by them, or i‘t their hands; : ami that all such collectors and receivers of public | moneys within the'cities ff New York, Boston, ’ Charleston, and St. L-mis, shall, upon the same di rection, pay over to the refeiier-general of' public money in their re.petive cite s, at their offices icsjm c ) lively, all the public money* collected by tfiem, or hi I their hands, to Ixt safely kept bv the said respective depositaries, until otberwi-e disposed of according to law; ami it shall be the dirty of the said Secretary and Postmaster General to direct such payments, by the ■■aid colfocto s and receivers at all the said places, at least as often as once in eaci week, and as much more frequently, hi all cases, as in their discretion, "may think proper. Sec. 10. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for tfoc Sei relary of the Treasury to trans-1 k r the moneys in the handsol any depositary h» reby constituted, <o the Treasury of tbe United States, to ' the Mint al Philadelphia; to the Branch Hint atNew Orleans; or to the offices of either of th • receivers general of public moneys, by tins act die eted to be appointed; to be there safely kept, aecmdmc to the provisions ot this act; and also io transfer monevs in the hands of any one depositary coustiiim d by thi act to atty other d-positaiy cotistimti d by the same, at his discretion, ami as the s.ifoiy of the public mo neys, and tbe convenience of the public service stodl seem to bi nto reqtiiri; which authority to transfer the money s lr|i«-jmg to the Post Office Depart) cut is abo hereby conferred upon the P>>stm is!t r General so far as us exercise by him may be con-i-tt nt with the provisi us of existing laws; and every depositary constituted by this act shall ke p his actmunt of the money paid to or dep ■siti <1 nidi him, to the Post OiMee Depariment separate and distinct from the account kept by him of other public nmnevs so paid or deposited. And tor the purpose of payments on the public account, it shall be I iwfitl for the Trea surer of tl.e I nited Slates to draw upon any of the . said depositaries, as he may think most conducive to the public inteiests, or to the convenience of the pub jliceie itors, or both. See. 11. A.id be it fur:ftcr e;t <■! d, That the mo neys in ihe hands ca;e, and custody, of any of the I dep sitnries cons ituted by this act, shall he considi-r --: cd ami held as deposited to the credit of the Treasu rei of the United States, and shall be, at all times, std ject to his drafi, whether made for transfer or dis | biirsemeiit, in the same maimer as though the said j moneys were actually in the Treasury of the United | States; and each depositary shall make returns to the j Treasury and post Ofiice Department of all motif vs ■ received and paid by him, at such times, ami in such . j form, as shall be directed by the Secretary of th< . Treasury, or the Postmaster Gem nil. ! Sec. 12. An Ibe it firth, r enacted, That the See-; rotary of tire Treasury shall be, and he is hereby au- | [ ihonscd tocausc examinations to be made < f the books, | i accounts, and money on hand, of the several dvposi ; tarics cottst’f.tiled by this act, and for that purpose to! ; appoint special agents, as occasion mav require, with 1 i siti h c<impeiisati"H as Iw may think reason ible, to be , i fixed ami declared at the time of car h app- i'itrnent. j i'he ageots selected to m ike these examinations shall be in-.tr cted to exam'ne as well tjie books, accounts, ! . and returns of the officer, as th? money on hand, and , the manner of its b’ fog kept, to the mid that unifotm- ' . ■ ity and accuracy in the accounts, as well as safetv to . i the moneys, may be s-cured t ier hv. Sec. 13. An I be it further enacted. That in nddi-; . tion to the examinations provided for in th? last pr--- i ceding section, and as a further cuaid over the pitbii” ; moneys, it shall be ihe duty of each naval officer and | surveyor, as a cheek upon the receiver general of pit!)- ! ( lie moneys, or colfictor of the customs, of th. ir res-, pectiic districts; ol’em h register of a I >ml offic ■ a* a < heck upon the receiver of hi; land office ; ami of th ! director anti supei inl'iidi’fit of each Mint >nd Branch! Alint when separate offices, as a check noon the Tr< n suier?, respectively, o| the sai I .dints, or the persons acting as sited’, at th*- dose o! < aeh quar'«T' fth ■ 'ear. ! and us much m. re fiequeiitly as if.'i shall hi- directed by the Secremry of the Tie;)-m yto do so, to examine : tin; books, aeco nlq returns, ai I money cn hrnrl, of! the rccei'ers-gcweral of public imm-v, c- llcetois, re-1 o ivers of land offic =, treason rs, and p. rsons acting ! as such, and to make a full, accurate, and faithful re-j j turn to theTrea airy Department of their condition. i'ec. 14. And. be it further enacted, That th" said officers rLp< ctively wlm.-r duty it is ma bv this act ■ to <ei < i-,.'. k«' ( p and di-burse ti e public mom vs, as th- fiscal agents opthe Goxcrnm' n', may lie allowed any necessary additional cxjierises for clerks, fin-proof chests, or vaults, or other nec<s«ary expanses of safe k> eping, tiar!.->;i iili;y , and disbm-.-ifig said mon"vs; all such expen-es ofc very i haracter to be first expressly authorised by rhe Secretary of the Tr'asurv, whose diiectioss upon ail the above std jecis, by wav of re- ! i gulation and othi rwise, so far as authoris’d by law, ! are to be strictly followed by ail the suit! offiicrs:. Provided, That the whole nnmlw r of cl: rks to be ap pointed by virtue ol tns section i f this art, shall not j exceed ten, and th it the aggtenatc comp ns-itions of the w hole number shall not exceed eight thousand dollars, nor shall the compensation of anv one clerk, so appointed, exceed eight hundred dull <rs per annum. Sec. I«. And be it jurther enacted, That the Sec retary of the Treasury shill, with as much prompti tude as the convenience of the public business, and (he , sul-ty o| the public funds will permit, withdraw (he I balances remaining with the present depositaries of; the public moneys, and confine the sale keeping, I ■ transfer, and disbursement of those moneys ts the tie- ( j po,itari(>s established by ibis act. ' Sec. ft;. And be it further enacted, Tint all mar-1 : shalls, district attorneys, ami others, having public i rnotiey to pay to tlie United Slates, and all patentees, | wishing to make payment lor patents to be issued, ; may pay all such moneys to the Treasurer of tin? Uni- j ted States, at the Treasury, to the Treasurer of either j o! the Mints, in Philadelphia or New Orleans, to eilh- ; er ol the receivers general of public money, or to each ! other depositary constituted by this act as shall he de- signaled by the Secretary of the Treasury, in other parts of the United Slates, to receive such payments, , anti give receipts or certificates ofdep'isite therefor, i Sec. 17. And be it further entteted, That all ofli-| cers charged by this act with the safe keeping, trans- ■ ler and disbursement of the public moneys, others than | those connected with the Post Office Department, are hereby required to keep an accurate entry of each sum received, and of the kind of money in which it is received, ami of each payment or transfer, and of the kind of currency in which it is m ide, and that if any one cl the said officers or of those connected with the Post Office Department, shall convert to his own use, in any way whatever, or shall use byway of invest i meni in any kind of property or merchandise, or shall loan, with or without inter' -t, auv portion of’the pub lic moneys, intru ted to him for safe keeping, dis bursement, trwiysfer or for any other purpose, every such act shall be deemed and ailjmlged to be an em bezzlement of so much of the said moneys as shall be thus taken, converted, invested, used, or loaned, which is hereby declared to be a folony, and any offi cer or agt in ol the United States, and all per.-ons ad vising or participating in such act, l)e'>ng convicted tbereid before any court of the United States of com ;M-t< nt.jurisdiction, shall be seHtenced to imprisanmeHt for a term not less than six moutlis nor more than five y ears, and to a fine equal to the amount of the money riHh zzled. - Sec. 18. And be. it further eutieted, That until llie rooms, offices, vauhs, and -ales, di>ecte<l by the first four sections ol this ad to lie consti ucted and prepnr- 1 ed fin - the u-e of the Treasurer of’tlte United States, the Treasurers of tlte Mints at Philadelphia and New ' Orleans, and the receivers general of public mowey at ! New York, Boston, Charleston, and St. Louis, can I be constritcied and prepared for use, it shall be the du ty of (he Secretary of the Treasury to ;n-ocure suita ble rooms fin- offices forth se officers at their respec tive locations, and to contract for such use of vaults ■ ind safes as may be required for the safe keeping of i the public money- in the charge and i-ustodi oftlio.se' dti'ers respeciively, the expense to be paid bv the United Stites. Sec. 19. And be il further enacted, That from and after the tuirtieth day ot June, which will be in the year om- thousand eight hundred and forty, the reso lution ot Congress ot ti e thirtieth day of April, in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, so far as it autli uizes the receipt in payment of duties, tax es, sales of public lauds, debts and sums of money, ac cruing or becoming payable to the United States, to be collected and paid in the notes of specie paying banks, shall be so moi iSed as that one-fourth part of all such duties, taxes, sales of public lands, debts, and shims of money accruing or becoming due to the Uni ted St ites, shall be collected in the legal currency of the Unit'd States ; atul from ami aft r the thii ti-. th day of Jone, "liich will he in the yi ar one thousand ticht hundred and forty one, one fourth part of all such du ties, taxes, sales of public lands, debts, and sums of I be so collected ; and that from and after j the thirtieth day of June, which " ill be in the year one | thousand eight hundred anil forty two, one'other fourth part of’ all such duties, t ties, sales of public lands, debts, and sums of money, shall he so collected; ami that from ami after the thirtieth day of June, which will be in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty three, the remaining fourth part of the said duties, taxes, sales of public lands, debts and sums of money, shall be also collected in the legal currency of the United States ; and from and after the la-t men tioned day, all sums accruing, or becoming pax aide to the United States, for duties, taxes, sales of public lands, or other debts, and also al! sums due for post ages, or otherwise, to the Post Office Department, ■ shall be paid in gold and silver only. Sec. 20. Ant be it farther enacted, That from and jafer the thirtieth day of Jutie, which wid be it! the | year one th-usand eight hundred and forty three, every officer or agent engaged in making disburse ments on accomt <>f the United States, or es the Gen eral Post Office, shall make all payments in gold and i silver coin only, and any receiving or di-bmsiug offi ; cer, or agent, who shall negle l, evade, or violate the i provisions of this and the last preceding section of this act, shall, by the Secretary o the 'freasnry, he im mediately reported to the President of the Uni'ed Sates, with the facts of such m-gbet, evasion, or vio , lation, and also to Congress, if in session, and, if not in session, at ti e commencement of its session next as ; ter t e violation takes place. Sec. 21. And. bn it furth r enacted, That no ex ; change ol funds shall be m ole by any disbursing offi cers, or agents of the Government, of any grade or ilenomin 'troii what-oevei, or connected with auv branch ol the public service-, other than an exchange lor gold and silver; and every such disbursing ofii c r, when the mea is for hi. di-b tr.-.cments are furnish ed to him in currency leg illy receivable under the provisions of inis act, shall make his paxments in the < itriemy so fiirtii.-hed, or when those means are fur nished to him in drafts, shall cause tbo-e drafts to be; presented at their place ol payment ami properly paid ; accordm -, to the I iw, and sh ill make bi- payments in the cuueiicy so received for the drafts furnished, un less, iu either case, be can exchange the means in his hands for gold and silver al par, so as to facilitate his : paymei ts, or otherwise accommodate the public scr-; vice ami promote the circulation of a metallic cm ten- ■ cy : And it shall be, ami is hereby trade the duty of the head of the pro|>er department immetliately to sus pend from duty any disbursing officer who shill vio late the provisions of this section, and lonic* ifh to re port tlte name of the officer, or agent, to the Presi dent, with tlte fact of th' 1 violation and all the circum stances accompanying the same, ami within the know l edge of the said Secretary, to the end that such offi cer, or agent, may be promptly removed from office, or restored to liis trust ami the performance of hi duties, as to the President may seem just ami proper. Sec. 22. Amt be it further enacted, That n shall no be lawful for the Secretary of the Treasury to rnaae or continue in force, any general order, which shall create any difference Ittlwcen the different bi am hcs of revenue, as to the funds or medium of payment in which debts or dues accruing to the Unit ed States may be paid. Sec. 23. And be. it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of ihe Secretary of the Treasury to issue and publish requisitions to enforce the speedy presen tation ol all government drafts for payment at the place where payable, and to prescribe the time, ac cording to the different distances of the depositaries from the seat of government, within which all drafts upon them, respectively, shall be presented for pay ment ; ami in default of such presentation, to direct any other mode and place of payment which he may deem proper. But in all those regulations anil di rections it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Trea-ury to guard, as far as may be, against those drafts being used, or thrown into circulation, as a pa per currency or medium of exchange. Sec- 24. And be it further enacted, That the re- i ceivers-general of public moneys directed by this act i jto be appointed, shall receive, respectively, the fol | lowing salaries, per annum, to be paid quai ti r yeai- ; ' ly, al the Treasury 4f the United States, to wit: the receiver general of public mopey at New Xp,k shall! j be paid a salary of four thousand dollars per annum ; ; the receiver general 4f public money at Boston shall I be paid a salary of two thousand five hundred dollars j per annum;-the refeiver-gs tteral of public money a' ; Charleston shall be jmid a salary of two thousand five hundred dollars per annum; and the teceivet-general of public money at Mi. Louis, shall be paid a salary of two thousand fixe hundred dollars per annum; the Treasurer of the Mini at Philadelphia shall, in addi tion to bis present salary, receive five hundr-<1 dollars annually for the performance of the duties imposed bx this act; the Treasurer of the Branch .Mint at New Orleans shall also receive one thousand dollars annu ally lor the additional ifuties cieated bv this act; -o I these salaries, tes| e< tiv elv, shall bv in fl II foi the »er vices ol the respective officers, nor shall either ol them be |M*rmitted to charge, or receive, any commis-ion, pay, or peupiisite, for any official service, of any character or description whatsoever; and the making of any such charge, or the receipt of any such com pensation, is hereby tied 'red to be a misdemeanor, lor w hich the officer convicted thereof, b< fine any court of tike. United States of competent*jurisdiction, shall be subject io puHislnnent by fine, or imprison ment, <>r both, at the discretion of the court before i which the offence shall be tried. 1 Sec. 25. And be il further enacted, That the Treasurer of die United States be, and he t» I'creby, authorized to receive at the Trea-urv, ami al such otlter points as be may designate, payments in ad vance for public lands, (he payments -<» made, in all cases, to be evukneed by the rec< ipt of the said Treasurer of the United Siittes; which receipts so giv en shall be receivable for public lands, at any public or private sale of lands, in the same maimer as the currency authorized by law to be received in pay ment for the public lands: Prvritled houerer, That the lectipts given by the Treasurer of the United : States, pnrsuant to the aulhorrty conferred in this sec tion, shad not be negotiable or transferable, by deliv ery, or assignment, or in any ottter maimer whatsoev er, but shall, io ail case.-, be presrn ed in payment for lands by or for the person to whom the receipt was given, as shown upon its five. See. 2(5. And be it further enacted, That for the purchase of sites, and for the cons.ruction of the offi ces of the receiv ers-geueral of public money, bv thi act directed to be erected at Charleston, South Caro lina, and at St. Louis, Missouri, there shall be, and hereby is, appropriated, to be paid out of any inottcv in the Treasury not other" i-e appropriated, tlte sum of ten thousand dollars, to be expended under the di recti >n of the S'-, r -tary "f the Treasury, who is here by required to adopt plans for the said offices, and the vaults and safes conn, r ed therewith, am! to cause the same to be constructed ami prepared for use with as little delay as shall be coioi-tent with the public iti teiest-- and the conv (nienl location and sccttritv of ' th'- buildings to be erected : Prorid d, kou'evi r, That if the Secretary of the Treasury shad find, upon in quiry and examination, that suitable rooms for the u.e of the rccei ver-general al Chai lesion can be ob tained m tin’ custom-house now owned by the United Stales al that place, and that secure vaults am( safes can he constructed in that buiidiiig forth" safe kec|>- itig of th" public money, then he sh ill cause sm h rooms t > b-- prepared and fitted up, and s+uh vaults and safi's to he constructed in the custom-house at Charleston, and tto independent office shall be there et e< t< d. Sec. 27. Atul be it further enacted, That, for the payin' ul of the expenses authorized by this act, rttber than those herein Ijefore provided for, a sufficient sum of money be, ami the same is lierehv, appropriated, to Ite paid out ol'imy money in the Treasury not oth er" i-e appropriated. Sec. 28. b - it further enacted, That all acts or parts ot acts which come in conflict with the pr.o vi-ions of this act be, and the same are herebv, re pealed. Mr. HENDERSON opposed tire bill at great lent: th. Mr. TAPPAN said that he was desirous of expres sing his opinions on the bill, but if it was the wish of the Senate to take the question <m i<- pas-age ir w, he would not interpose, if it was intended, however, to continue the debate, I e would yield the floor to any gentleman who wished to address the Senate. Air. SMITH, of Indiana, then rose and submitted his reasons for voting against the hili. Mr. MERRICK said he intended to address the Semite on this measure, hot as.it was now lite, being a quarter past three o’clock. Ire moved that the Senate do now adjourn. The y eas and nays being dema "led, the question was decided in the negaliv.—vea- ls«, uav- 21. Air. MERRICK then proceeded to m!.b« -s the ; Senate in opposition to the lull. Air. SMITH o! Indiana, for she purpose of testing the sense of the Senate as to wltvtiwr llie question ■ should betaken on the passage of the bill this evening, moved that the Senate adjourn. The ayes ami noes being demanded, the question ! was decided in die negative—ayes IS, nees 23. j Air. MERRICK then eom’lmled his remarks, ami was followed by Air. DAVIS, also in opposition to the bill. Tlte question was then taken on the pa. sage i*f the bill, and deckled in the affirmative—ayis 24, nms 18, ; as (oil ovs: YEAS—Messrs. Allen, Benton, Brown, Buch anan, Calhoun, Clay of Alabama, Cuthbert, Fulton, Grundy, Hubbard, King, Linn, Lumpkin. Mouton, Norvell, Pi> rce, Roane, Sevier, Smith of Connecti cut, Sirange, Tappan, Walker, Williams, and Wright —24. NAYS—Tilessrs. Betts, Clay of Kentucky, Clay ton, Crittenden, Davis, Dixon, Hend"rson, Knight, Alerrick, Nicholas, Phelps, Prentiss, Preston, Rob inson, Ruggles, Smith of Indiana, White, and Young IS. Sotbebill was passed. On motion, The Senate adjourned. SLANDER.—It is a poor soul that cannot hear j slander. No decent man gets along without it—at least none that are actively engaged in tin* struggle of business fife. Have you a bad fellow in your employ ment, and discharged him, he goes round and slanders you ; refuse anoth' r some very modest boon, which he has asked, be goes round and slanders you ; let your conduct be such as to create the envy of another, he goes round and slanders you. In fine, as we said be fore, we would not give a cent for a person who is not slandered ; it shows that he is either a milk-sop or a fool. No—no—earn ah id name from a bad fellow, (and you can easily do so by correct conduct,) it K tlte only way to prove that you are entitled to aj good one. ' MAINE BOUNDARY QUESTION. We regret to find that the signs of the times are not now so auspicious for a speedy and amicable ad justment of this difficulty, as they were some months I ago. The accumulation of troops by the British authori ! tics, upon the disputed territory, is awakening ihe jealousy of the people of Maine, and arousing a spirit not very favorable to calm discussion. We have read a portion of the correspondence upon the subject, from which we have selected the letter of Mr. Fox, the British Minister, of the 12th instant, to Mr. For syth; and Mr. Forsyth’s reply, of the 16th instant— Horn which onr readers will collect a pretty clear idea of the state and temper of the controversy. MR. FOX TO MR. FORSYTH. Washington, Jun. 12, 1340. Tlie undersigned, her Britannic Majesty’s Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, has the honor to ackm wledge the receipt tT the official note addrt s.-ed to him by the Secretary of State of the United States, on the 24th of December, in reply to a previous note, which, by direction of his Govern ment, the undersigned had addressed to the Secretary of State on the 2d of November, in relation to various and continued acts of encroachment committed by the authorities and inhabitants of the Slate of Maine, with in that tract of territory on the norih-eastern frontier of the United States, the true title to the possession of which, according to the terms of the treaty of 1783, is at present in dispute between the British and Ameri can Governments. The undersigned haslost no time in transmitting to her .Majesty’s Government the official note of the Se cretary ol Slate. He has, in the meantime, to express his extreme regret that tlte explanations furnished by the authorities of the State of Alaine, and communi cated to the undersigned by the Secretary of State, in relation to the encroachments complained of, both as regards the constructi m of roads and public wotks, and the sale ami alienation of land, are of a character which must render them abogmber unsatisfactory to the Government of Great Britain. It would appear, iu fact, as if a reference by tlie General Government to die authorities of Maine, of tlte complaints prefer red by Great Britain, had produced no other reply or explanation from the authorities of Maine, limn a rei teration of their intention to persist in the commission oftlte acts complained of, w hether iu accordance with tlie obligations of international justice or not. The undersigned does not permit himself to relin quish the hope tlmt, through tlie wisdom ami integrity ot' the General Government of the United States, in unison with the sincere endeavors of her Alajesty’sGo vernment, it will still be found possible to tiring the ' pending controversy of the disputed boundary to a sa tisfactory and amicable conclusion ; but it is cei tain that the public acts, and public declarations of theau ‘ thoritivs of Alaine, are continually'calculated, as far I as in them lies, to render sm h amicable conclusion i more difficult and more distant. With r< lereme to the concluding part of the official j no;e »f the Secretary of State, wherein observations | are made upon certain reported movements of British j troops in the neighborhood ol Lake Temiscouata,and ;al oilier points within that portion of the territory ■ vrlkere, according to the provisional agreementsenter ; ed into at the beginning of last year, no interference "as to be attempted, with the exercise of British au th’-rity, pending the negotiation of the boundary question, the undersigned can distinctly assure the Se- I cretarv ol State that there exists no intention on the j part of her Alajesty’s authoi ities to cancel or .infringe die terms of those provisional engagements, so long as the same are observed with fidelity by the other ] >*ity. » Tlie particular motives, and the amount of the pre sent movement of troops, have been explained in n frank and satisfactory manner to tlie Governor of Mattie by the Lieutenant Governor of New Bruns wick, in a correspondence which has been made pttb { lie, and which, it appears, has been officially com ! mimicated by the Governor of Alaine to the President of tlie United States. With regard, however, generally to the reinforce ment of military posts, and other defensive and pre cautionary measures, whether along the confines of the disputed territory, or within that portion of it •s here, according to th»' provisional agreements before cited, the authority of Great Britain was not to be m.ertered with, the undersigned has to observe, that th" adoption of such measures by her Alajesty’s autho rities cannot be, with reason, objected to or complain ed of by the Government of the United States, when reg.trd is had to the reports which have for some time pa.-l been circulated, (and of the prevalence and con si t' ncy of those reports the United States Govern ment are themselves fully aware,) respecting the pro bable intention of the Legislature of the State of Maine to revoke, during its present session, the pro visional agreemt ut now in force, and to authorize some new and extensive act of aggression over the stipulated territory. And the undersigned has regret ted to observe that the language of the Governor of Maine, in his recent message to the Legislature, at the opening of the session, is calculated to encourage rather than to restrain such rash and obnoxious de signs. Tl>e undersigned avails himself of this occasion to rejieat to the Secretary of Slate of the United States the assurance of his distinguished consideration. H. S. FOX. Tlte Hon. John Forsyth, &.c., kc., kc. MR. FORSYTH TO MR. FOX. Department of State, Washington, Jan. 16, 1840. In a note which Air. Fox, Envoy Extraordinary and Alinister Plenipotentiary of Great Britain, ad dressed on the 12th instant to the undersigned, Secre tary of State of the United States, Air. Fox, alluding to a complaint made by the undersigned of certain re ported movements of British troops in portions of the territory in dispute between the two countries, dis claims all intention on the part of the British authori ties to cancel or infringe the terms of the provisional agreement entered into at the beginning of last year ; and this disclaimer is connected with an assumption of the right of Great Britain to strengthen posts, and take measures o (military) precaution, not along the line only,but within portions of the disputed territory, as, by the terms of the agreements referred to, no in terference was to he attempted pending the negotia tion of the boun'daiy question, with the exercise of British authority in the neighborhood of Lake Temis couata, “ and al other points” within a portion of the territory supposed to be embraced in the terms of the arrangements. .Mr. Fox having stated that he has re ferred to his Government the representations of the United States against the military movements alluded to, the undersigned, under aconiident expectation that