The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-02
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF MIR. SEWER.

OF the Senate, he had read with mueh care a"u
ton the very lengthy and learned rsPSia = s oJ par
tculary that part OF which treats oil me treasury o
der Of the lith of July, 1886 Sir, concur pretty
fully in ali that the Senator has said IN his report win
the exception Of that part Of when ano's ~
ously TO prove the wisdom aud expedency that there
was Al The time or that there now Tor the existence
Of The Treasury order Upon this conroyered point we
differ and differ widely.
am aware sir, that, for entertaining this difference
Of opinion am running Of risk of being thought
by those who assume be the only and legitimate
expounders OF The Republican creed, political nfdel,
or traitor something worse. am aware that incur
this risk and especially the Treasury order has been
so pertnacousy adhered by the Executive, against
the known wishes OF large majority OF his friends and
especially this report, whole has been SO highly
extoled and compmented here, TO make Il matter
Of grave consideration for to decide whether was
best for publish the public expense thirty thou
sand, fifty thousand, million copies Of IT, Tor The
benefit and edhcalon OF poor and benghted const-
tuents And especially hazard this risk, as this
report in these times of dsconten and suspicion, and
political disaster has been represented cannon,
which is PROSTATE all adsersaries and when II Is
also calculated, some suppose to have the happy Ell
feet Of crushing TO DEATH by the wheels Of It's carriage
rebounds from its discharge, all OF the unbeleves
III the wisdom and expectancy of the Treasury order
all Of those who not prepared 10 carry OUT ,chh0ut
qualification, that Allah IS great and Mahome IS his
prophet res, sir, wrrth,s report is mus consuered,
fear that an exception taken to any part OF It by the
Inns Of one belonging TO the rank and file Of the parity
will be considered such an intoerable heresy can
only be atoned for by the stake, the re, aud the ag
got. t'g
Sir a total disbelief in the wisdom aud expedeney Of
the Treasury order, Is no opinion with me- u Is
not which has grown up with IN the course Of
single night II Is one which have consistently and
uniformly entertained from the first appearance OF that
order, down TO this day have on all occasions, m
yariably voted for its repeal have done more, sir,
have spoken against IL But through some fatality, my
speeches upon this subject, and particularly my last
which delivered the night Of the passage Of the d
yorce bill, upon an amendment offered 10 that bill, by
the Senator from Massachusetts, have been pub
lshed do not mention this, out OF any spirit OF com
plant, with temper of unkindness. Far from it.
The mere publication Of any of those speeches to
matter Of but little consequence, and Of still less
10 the public. ! aude to it, solely with purpose Of
showing my consistency upon this subject in the first
place; and in the second, Of satisfying my constituents
that have not appeared speechifyer upon this
very interesting question, that it has been no fault Of
mine.
Now, sir, having defined my true position" with
regard to the report and the measure upon which
manly dwells, and having explained my the
satisfaction, hope, of my beloved and condng
sttuents will now with Gods help, endeavor show
that all the arguments in favor Of the Treasury circular
delusve allacous and utterly untenable ! will
now endesvor to convince my friend from New York,
who generally hews away all difficulties, liks giant
armed backwoodsman, with two foot broadaxe that
too knotty and tough for his Hercuean strength
viii Begin with the Joint resolution of 1885, as all
that pyecedes that my friends report matter
Of history, and rghtfuy belongs the family Of the
dead What is that resolution! That resolution,
among other things, authorizes the Secretary of the
Treasury to receive all debts, Dues or sums Of money
becoming due to the United States, in the notes Of
banks which payable and paid demand in the
legal currency of the United States This is the reso-
luton. 1t is the law Of the land. 1t contemplated no
hat,u Ia IL and koll
forth such idea. II is general in its terms and was
designed to bear equally upon every Of revenue
And why such resolution ever passed. if SO very
reprehensble The Senator the question and
far know, he has answered 1t truly He says the
resolution Of 1916 called into existence in
Suence Of the arrangement in our monetary system at
that time a arrangement occasoned by war with "a
rich, powerful, dangerous, and fearful enemy" and
that that account he will not ccnsure what orbear
ance what gracious lenlty what Christian charity y he
will not ccRsure the allie, the worthy, and patriotic
public officers whose duty made it necessary for the
Government to receive the notes OF specie-paying
banks" yet he mourns" (and, no doubt, sincerely
for that distressed condition of our beloved country
which made it necessary for faithful public officers
place her in such extremties. In what extremity Mr.
President! Why in the extremity Of receiving for the
public dues the notes OF specie-payng banks What
direful calamity What prodgious misfortune!
[Mr. WEIGHT to explain: He said his friend
from Arkansas had Inexperienced the report he said
the part OF the report upon which he had commented
referred the OF banks which did pay specie
Mr. S. said he truly happy in being corrected
If those the kind Of he referred to, he be-
leved he rather disposed to in than
the report
Sir, in 1915 and in 1889 we had and have, thank
God, beloved country; and every American heart,
then, which felt feels that beloved
try is suffering from whatever cause, and from whatso
counsels or agency, Is unworthy OF HIMSELF and
unworthy Of his ius,rious ancestors, if he hes,aes
about stepping forward her relief Sir, in 1916 our
beloved country suffering by the difficulties through
which she had passed, in checking the nsolence and
piracy, and plumber OF foreign enemy and in guard
ing and sustaining herself at home against the machina
tons, and caumnies, and treason of domestic traitors
Yes sir, our beloved country in this crisis in her AFFAIRS
passed the resolution Of 1916 and what has been its
happy RESULT Under the operations of that resolution,
have public debt paid off we have seen her
get along for upwards OF twenty years. without much
actual loss; the public dues have been collected with
convenience and without embarrassment to the people.
Under the provisions Of that resolution, beloved
country has been enabled to pay debt Of gratitude by
pensionng her heroes of the Revolution, and those
honoraby SCARED in the public service during the last
war. Under the happy provisions OF that resolution,
this beloved country has gone on IN grand and unpa
raeled course OF prosperity She has grown in wealth,
in population IN the arts and Sciences and is still
marching onward elevated plain with her broad
and noble front erect to the ument of her great des
tiny, alike the wonder and admiration Of every civilized
community.
Sir, this beloved country is suffering she
IN 1916, by arrangement in her monetary system.
We find that the resolution Of Is 6 has been repealed
far one great branch Of the public reve-
nue. is concerned and we find that Immediately
succeeding that repeal that this arrangement has
occurred. And shall stop and cavi meta
physically about what has occasioued this dcrange-
cntwhether it has been occasoned by wars or banks
our and prodigality, before will ap-
ply any remedy | hope not, sir. | hope shall
profit by the lessons Of experience and cneavor