Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-04-13
Mn. WEBSTER SPEEC II .
SryArE, MARCH 10, 1885.

s,ane of the debate expressed, in a general
manner. nv opposition 10 this bill, must
find an apology for again addressing The
Senate, in the acknowledged Importance
Of the measure, the novelty Of its character,
and the division Of opinion respecting il
which is known TO exist ia both Houses of
Congress.
To b. able, in this state Of things, To
give prcpondcrance to that side of The
question which embrace. is, perhaps,
more than | ought to hope but do not
feel that have done all which nv duty
demands, until make another c(f,rt.
The functions orth's Government which,
in time Of peace, n.oat materially affect the
happiness Of the people, are those which
respect commerce aud revenue. The bill
before us touches both lhese great interests.
1t proposes to act directly on The revenue
and expenditure Of Government, aud it is
expected to act, also. indirectly, on com
mercc and currency; while lis friends and
supporters altogether abstain from other
measures, deemed by a great portion at
Congress and Of The country to be indls
pensab'y demanded by tho present eX-
gency.
We have arrived, Mr.. President, to
wards the close of halt century from he
sdGG:ion Of the constitution. Daring the
progress OF these ytarG, our population has
increased from three or four millions to
thitteen or fourteen millions; our com
morcc from little or npruEg, to an export
of hundred and unctv millions, and On
import of nundrcd aud lwcnIy.cght and
q halt millions, in the year 1886. Our
mercantile tonnage approaches near to
two millions. We have revenue, and an
expenditure, Of thirty millions year. Tan
manufactures Of the country have a,t1incd
very great Importance, and. up TO The cons
meucement OF The deranGement Of the cur.
rency, were IN prosperous and growing
state. The produce Of the 'herics has be,
come vast and the genera production of
the labor and capital of tho country is in
creaslng far beyond all example in other
countries, or othcr tunes. and hes already
reached an amount which, 10 those vino
have not investigated the subject, would
seem incredible.
The Commerce of,hc Uaited States. sir,
is spread over The globe. 1t pursues It's
objects IN all seas. aud findS It's way in'o
every port winch the laws Of traGe d. not
shut against It's approach. Wrh al thr
Disadvantages Of more costly matctial-,
and Of hghef wares, aud often in despite
of unequal aud uniavora5e cummnrc al
regulations Of other States, the enterprise.
vlgnr. and economy which distinguish oar
navigating IN crest, enable il 10 show our
flag, IN competition with the most favored
and the most stlilnI. in the various quar-
terra Of the world. In The mean time, in
ternal activity does not lay nor loiter.
New and useful modes Of Intercourse and
facilities of transportation are established.
or are in progress, everywhere. Pubic
works are projected and pushed forward IN
spirit, winch grasps at high aud vast
objects, with bold defiance of all expense.
The aggregate value Of the property of
the country is augmented daily. A con-
slant demand for new capital exists, al
though n debt has already been contracted
in Europe, for sums advanced to States,
corporations and individuals, for purposes
connected with internal improvement
which debt cannot now be less than hun
dred millions Of dollars. Spreading over
a great extent, embracing different cIl
mates, and with vast variety of products,
we find an intensely exc'ed spirit o! indus
try and enterprise TO pcrvade the whole
country; while its external commerce, as
] have already said, sweeps over all seas.
We are connected With all commercial
countries, und, most oi all, with that winch
iias established and sustained the most
etupcnd Ius system of Commerce and man
ufacturcs. and which collects and disburans
an incredible amount of anna. .evcnue
81 IL IN n
OF currency and circulation, mixed money
of metal aud paper.
Such n mixed system, sir, has also pre-.
vailed with us, from The beginning. Gold
and silver, and convertible bank paper,
have always constituted our actual money.
The People are used to this system. 1t
has hitherto commanded their confidence,
and fulfilled their expectations. We have
mad. ~ succession, two national banks
each for period of twenty years Loca
or State banks have, at the same time,
been IN operation; aid 40 man Of ln'eill-
geDce or CanGDr can deny that. during these
forty years, md with the operation Of n
national and these Slate institutions, the
currency of the country, upon the whole,
mas been snfo, cheap, convenient, md sat
ls!ac,ory. When The Government was
established, it found convertible bank pa
per, issued by State banks, already IN
circulation and WITH this circulation It dad
not interfere, The United States, indeed,
had Themselves established bank, under
the old Confederation, wllh authority to
issue paper. system Of mixed crcna-
tlon, therefore, was exactly HAT system
which this Constitution. at rs ADOPTION
found already IN existence. There Is not
the slightest evidence Of any intention, m
establishing the Constitution. tn overthrow
or abolish TINS system, although u certainly
was the object Of the Constitution to
abolish bills Of credit, and All pap intend