Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-06-27
Twemty-tllird COmgrcss.--lst Scss
IN SENATE.
MONDAY, June 16.
MIR BENTON'S SPEECH.


MIR BENTON'S SPEECH.
Mr.. Cays resolution calling for the state OF the revenue
and comparative statements showing the relative amounts
of revenue accruing in the first OF 1888 and the
first quarter OF 1894.
The Vice President communicated the Report OF the
Secretary of the Treasury containing the Information
called for.
The Secretary of the Senate commenced the reading
OF it,
Mr.. Webster moved to dispense with the reading, and
refer it 10 the Committee on Finance.
Mr. Benton demanded The reading
The Secretary of the Senate resumed the reading, and
completed il.
Mr.. Webster moved TO refer, and prin, it,
Mr.. Benton anil said Ihat this report was oil
deserve attention, before il left the chamber
of the Senate. AMI went 10 a comnitee from which il
might not return in time for consideration at this session
Ii had called for under which attract
ed attention. and disclosed information which deserved
be known Ii called for early in May, in the crisis
Of the alarm operations an, with confident assertions
the answer 10 the call would prove the stress That
aud the suffering OF the country II was cousidenlly
asserted that the Secretary OF the Treasury had
estimated the revenues OF the year; that there
woud-be great falling Ola decine-a bankrupt
cy; that confidence destroy d-enierpe checked
industry parayzed-commeoc suspended hat the dire
fu act OF IN dire order had changed the lace
of the country, from O unparalleled prosperity
a scene of unparalleled desoatoiG that the canh
solitude the lake desert waste OF waters the ocean
without ships the commercial towns deserted, SILENT and
sad orders for goods conntermanded foreign purchases
stopped and that the OF the Secretary would prove
all this in showing the ialsiiy OF his estimates, and
the great decline in the revenue and mporiaons OF the
country Such the assertions and predictions under
which The call made, TO wlchthe public attention
attracted by every device OF theatrical defamation
from this floor. Well, the answer comes. The Sec
rotary sends in his report with every statement called
for. Ii is report to make the patriots heart rejoice
full OF high and gratifying facts repetc with rich in
formation; and pregnant with evidences OF national
prosperity How is il receivc-how received by those
who called Tor il With downcast looks, aud wordless
tongues motion is made TO stop the resdingi 10
stop the reading OF such report called Tor under such
circumstances! while whole days givenHp TO readng
the monotonous, tautoogOu and endIessepeions. of dis
tress memorials The echo OF our speeches, and the
thousandh edition OF the same work. without emenda'ion
correction! All these can be read and printed too, and
Landed with studied euOgiun and their contents sent
TO the people, ireightcd upon wind; bat this OIL
fetal port OF the Secretary OF The Treasury upon the
state Of their revenues aud OF their commerce,
called for by order OF the Senate to be treated like
unwelcome and worthless intruder; received without
a word,-not read, slipped on, upon ,Hso,on-
disposed of as the Able Seyes voted tor the death OF
Louis the Sixteenth, mort phrase death, without
talk But he Mr. b., did 10 suffer this report
he despatched In this unceren0nous and eompendi-
Style IL had been called for to be gwen to the people,
and the people should hear Of it. ~ not what
expected but il what is aad what will rejoice The
hear, OF every patriot in America. pit dug for Mr..
Tsney the diggers OF the pit have fallen into IL; The
fault not his and the they Chamber out the bet
ter for themselves. The people have right toknow the
contents OF this report, and know them they sbaI and il
there is any in this America whose heart is
siruced grieve the prosperity OF his country,
LET him prepare himself for sorrow; Tor the proof fo
coming. that since America had place among
nations, the prosperity OF the country equal 20 whaii
is at this day.
Mr. b. then requested the Secretary of the Senate to
send him the report, and comparative statement which
being dune Mr. b. opened The report and we MT over the
heads Of il show that The Secretary OF the Treasury
had estimated The Of the year; that The
revenue was in fact superior TO The estimates; and that
the impoalions would equal, not exceed, the highest
amount that they had ever attained.
To appreciate the statements which he should make,
MIR. b. said was necessary for the Senate TO recolIeci
that the list oil dutiabie articles now greatly
duced Many articles Tree OF duty, Which
formerly paid heavy duties; many others were reduc-
ed in duty; and the fair effect OF these additions and
radn ho i'm AZ
out diminuon of imports; yet the Seoretssy's estimate,
made the commencement OF the session, than
realized, aud show ed The gratifying spectacle Of iu and
overlowing Treasury, insesj OF The empty which
had been predicted; aud lett Congress the grateful
cupaon OF further reducing taxes 0si,a d Of The odous
task OF borrowing money, had been so loudly aDicpa
ed for six months past The occTtting iroR i'm
ports in the FIRST quarter OF the present year 53I4
$40 doIlas payments actually made into The Treasury
from the CsstoB- Tor the quarter was Abs
$50 dollars and the payments FROM lands Tor the same
time, l,39S 296 dollars. The two first months of
the second quarter producing In a full ratio
20 the first quarter; and the actual of available
funds In the Treasury the 9th day Of this month"; las
ELEVEN MILLIONS TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY. NINE
THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND TWELVE DOLLARS.
The two last quarters Of the year were always most pro
ducge. 1t the time Of the largest nporaiions OF
foreign goods which pay most duiy-the " oollens-snd
the also Tor the largest sale Of public lands IL is
well believed That the estimate will be more largely ex.
ceeded in those two quarters Than in the rs and that
the for the whole year the estimate will be
full two millions Of dollars. This, MI said was one OF
the evidences Of public prosperity which the report con-
tanned; aud which utterly coDfsdiced the idea OF distress
and commercial embarrassment which had been pfopa.
gated from this Chamber for the last six months
Me- B proceeded 70 the next evidence OF commercial
prosperity; vas Ia the increased mporisons II lore 20
goods These imports. Judging tom tie rs five months
would bc millions than they we're two years
ego, when the Bank OF the United States had soveny
millions loaned out; and hey twenty millions more
than in the time OF Mr.. Adams administration. Al The
rate they had commenced, they would amoun 10 enc hun
dred and ten millions for the year. This will exceed
whatever was known 10 country. The imports for
the time that President Jackson hes served have regular
ly advanced from about "a millions los millions The
following is the statement Of these Imports from which
Mr.. u. read:
1920 S74. 527
1880 70,S76 92O
1881 103,i9fI24
1892 iot 400 1ee