Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-04-20
Twensy.fRfth Congress---2d sess.
SPEECH OF MIR. BENTON, OF MISS

II.
On the bill 10 separate The GornnS.sHt from me Bdsks.
Detiosred in The Ssnats If 'hs u S .hareh Ia ls3S
ON THE BILL TO sErA Ar TIE GOVERNMENT FSeA
Mr. Bsnton commenced his speech with remarking
upon The different in which the discussion OF
the bill had been conducted the different sides OF the
House. The chairman Of HE finrpce COMMITTEE. (Hr
Wright who rad reported the bill, and opened t0e de-
bate had done il in most business like manner; his
luminous and mastery exposition OF principles ana DE-
tas being entirely confined 10 the subject, und never
devatng into eEtrInsic matter or touching upon
any topic Of PARTY, o: partisan character. Not so the
speeches Of the Opposition Senators From the very
beginning they launched into the ocean of party poll.
tics and made the bill the occasion for geneni at.
tack upon the Republican sdm'nstraions Of General
Jackson and Mr.. Van Suren, such have been Sc
cAsiomed To see for a long Vine this ioOr The de-
bale has been conducted By them attack ucon5a
party and contest for power, and inqpisy
into the merits OF the bill The speeches they have
ivered have been such might be expected al the par
tsan encounters of the hustrngs, The stump, at
barbecue dinners, in the course OF erctonee ring
campaign for an elective o.Sce and such would
BE- looked for IN the parliamentary discussion Of legIs
la,ve
In this attack il has been asScmed ftr granted that
The country has been ruined by what IS called the mad
and wicked adminstran of General Jackson1 and that
Presiden, Van Buren, being pledged 10 carry ont his line
of policy is Of Plsdged TO 60 on running The
country and therefore oCgh 10 be resisted and over
thrown. propose inquire into the treih OF these as.
SYMPTOMS and ascertain, first how tar IS true that
the country has IN pon; Of fact been rnned next how
far this ruin ST any. has been the work OF Gen. Jack
SON. administration; and after settling tTese preni-
narv points stall have something TO say the merits
Of the bill and something on The Peccliar system o;
party warfare Of which This Senate has been the scene
for the last six gears.
In making nv lnq'ilTies The ruin OF the county
am not left 10 Cripple with vague geperahes and point
less defamation Fortunately for re the Opposition
tors have descs nded TO specifications and have shown
wherein this ruo has BEEN perpe,Faed Their specihca.
tons embrace almost every branch 81 ioeign or Domestic
policy: and taking the ofthe second Adams afnins
ration when themselves in power, and their che
r,shed National Bank IN its merchandising this
period the eliminating point OF our Hnericas pros
pery felicity, and Eenown they trace rapid descent,
from that high point Of national pre- einence GOWN the
seep road 10 destruction until the entire nation ,slnnd-
ed in total perd,,on in the wear Of Lord 1887 They
have given us specifications bu. there they stop No
proof no statistics statements, no comparative Ia
bIes their specifications to establish Their
truth Bold assertion and terrifying testr' ptions occu.
py the place of proof These ferce teuuncIaors assume
the prcrogatve Of geniosi they assume 10 be sdepend
ent of facts and OF and they rely upon Highs
of fancy dsshes Of ginaon, and erceness OF invec-
tive 10 supply the place Of proof and argument have
no p.ete nson 10 t,s prerogntve am PLAIN speaker
and tell what know and then prove il Reversing then
the method nr our opponents shall discard altogether
The painted and gded creations Of the mag nation, and
shall confne myself &c the effective Ugrc o. iacts ana
figures
A, the head Of The specifications Of gentlemen, IS the
article Of commerce both foreign and domestic, each as
serted 10 have Frustrated and sacrificed by the Ia
tai policy Of General jacksons administration We
will tee, the truth Of this bold assertion; and for that pur
nose will have RECOURSE data which no gentleman Will
be at liberty question And. 6rs Of domestic CON
merce The great West shall be- FIRST field OF inquI
ry ard casting The eye the broad e1panse OF that
magnificent region, We see two poins al h'ch 'he com
meTce of the upper hal! Of the valley the MISSISSIPPI
ic subjected TO process which slags j 70 be annually
and easily, counted and compared These points ore,
the Louisville canal for the comm'rceof the Oh'o and
the port OF ST. Louis for The comf1erce Of the Upper
Hissis.ppi Referring to evidence obtained al these
two points and we accounts Of the commerce
in the two largest sections OF the West and data for es
tinating the condition Of the remainder In each IN
stance The statement goes back years that is TO
saw 10 the second yeui Of General JacksonS admins
traton. and comes down 10 the first year of Mr. Van
Burens For the Louisville canal. the Official return
stands thus:
7bsract of The Goas that haze passed. and tolls recer<d,
H. Ioujsrjus and Portland Canal