Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-16
coNGREss---1s, SESSION.

'GNGNTu U,
tons against the constitutonalty and cxpedency
of assuming, or providing for the payment of the
State debts, or divertng the land revenue to that
object.
The resolutions having been read,
Mr.. BENTON rose and said
Mr.. President: | am an enemy to abstract resolu-
tons and if those which present were Of that cha
ractcr, should not have offered them to the Senate
They appear 20 be abstract, but they not. They
appear to be mere declarations of principles; but they
are reality, SO many issues presented on great ques.
tons now occupying the public mind, destined to
occupy the legislative halls and the prompt decision Of
which is necessary successful action other
subjects.
The assumption of the State debts contracted for
Stale purposes has been for long time measure dis
guisedly pnd now is q measure openly, pressed upon
the pubic mind. The movement in favor Of il has
been long gong or; opposing measures h,v- 70,
commenced. The assumption party have the start,
and the advantage Of conducting the case and they
have been conducting il for long time, and in way
10 avoid The Of assumption while accomplishing
the thing itself, All the bills for distributing the pub.
lie land revenue-all he propositions for dividing
plus revenueal the refnsals to abolish unnecessary
taxes-all the refusas TO 90 on with the necessary de-
fences of the counirv-werc many steps taken in
the road to assumption. | know very well that many
who supported these had no idea Of assump
ton, and would oppose as sooI discovered but that
does alter the nature of the measures they support
ed, and which were many steps in the road TO that
III,
now ripened into strength, and enbodened into pub
lie disclosure Of itself Already TIL Stale Legislatures
are occupied with this subject while we sit here, wait
ing its approach.
II is time for the enemies of assumption to take the
field. and 10 act II is a case in which they should
give, and not receive, the attack The President has
led the way; he has shown his opinions He has
Div done his duty. He las shown the evils Of divert
ing tie general funds from their proper objects-he
mschiefs of present connection with the paper sys-
TEN of England-and the dangers If foreign influence
from any further connection with it. In this he has
discharged constitutional and patriotic duty. Let
the constituted authorities, each in their sphere, follow
his example, and declare their opinions also. Let the
Senate especially, part Of the legislative poweras
the peculiar representative OF the States in their sovc-
reign capacity-!et this body declare ITS sentiments,
and by its resolves and discussions arrest the progress
Of tie measure here and awaken attention to it else
where As Of the Gar!!"s: opposers of this raea-
strc-s fact, the very caIls: oIposcr OF the whole
family OF Of wirich II The natural offspring
as having denounced the assumption IN disguise IN
letter 10 my constituents long before the London bank
crs letter revealed public; snch early, stead
fast, aud first drnoncrr o.! this measure, now come
forward oppose in form, and to submit Tie resolves
which may here and carry lis discussion TO the
forum Of the people
The resolves which offer, 6 in number, are not the
DEGREES Of party, the result OF council, but
the opinions of an individual Senator. speak for N.Y.
self in these resolutions They contain the declaration
OF NV sentiments the momcntous points to which
they refer; and not authorized To say that they
speak the sentiments Il any ether Senator lhiS de-
claratio. think proper make. in order TO exclude
erroneous conclusions and prevent undue Importance
from being attached 10 my proceeding.
Let no one suppose that an prcma,urc--that be-
gin too soon--amd should wait until the friends OF Gs-
sumption shall bring forward their measure, and show
the shape and form they intend TO wear any one
should think and intimate, must answer as did TO
n objection l
did when it was objected that had brought in my
solution against the renewal Of the chater OF
the Bank OF the United States Many Senators thcn
thought Inc premature and objected to entering upon
the question until the stockholders should present their
memorial and ask for an extension of their privileges
refused to Weld TO this objection. then sald If we
waited till the Bank presented her application, we
should wait till defeated; that she would
never apply until she had organized victory; that
she would see her minority before she asked for The
vote-aEd would be ready 10 gallnp through her bull
for the re-chartcr the day that she presented IT. This
is what | then snd; and subsequent events proved
its correctness. The country was saved, and barely
saved, from the dominion of that institution, by be-
ginning the contest when we dld-by giving instead
Of waiting to receive the attack; by carrying the
question to the people, and rouslng up the public mnd
and preparing il for the contest which soon began, and
which seven long years have hardly seen terminated
So of this assumptions disguised as may be with
proposi.onto divide the land revenue among the States
mmed discussion direct issues, and prompt action
is what we want. The assumption party will not BRING
on the question, except al time, and under ioTin 20
favor their own wishes. They will not move here un-
III they lave nrst acted elsewhere The State Legs
lanres will he the selected theatres Of their operations;
and Anticipated judgments will be the object OF their
policy This Will be their course: ours should be the
reverse. What need is public discussion, prompt
action and reference, before decision, TO the Judgment
Of the people The adoption Of the resolutions which
have brought in will give these advantages; they
will give us the advantages which we secured by pre-
cpitatnR the contest with the Bank Of the t. States
This for prompt action IN tins case; out
there is another Of great weight and which some ex-
nerence in the business of legislation requires me TO
nresent. and TO commend TO the delberatve conside
ration Of the Senate. 1t is the effect which n,ea
sure proposing divert the land revenue from the cur
rent service (for that IS the FORM apprehend which
the assumption will take)-it IS the effect which THIS
proposi:ion will nsre upon the legislative action OF
Conrress upon other subjects. Assuredly its pen
dency will hav sc most perricious influence ether
hills on,he bills for the national delences, for the
medication of Florida, for the reduction OF The
price of the public lands, for granting pre- enPons,
for abolishinr the salt tax and generally, on all
the bills which 90 make adequate appropriations,
for national objects, or to get rid of unnecessary
md burthensomc taxation The diversion OF some an
nual millions from the Treasury will prescribe stlnted
appropriations for essential objects, the sacrifice of
Others the retention of all present taxes and the
SPEEDY imposition of new This is the language
both offoresigh and of experience. It IS wha rea-
sonabc degree Of forecast authorizes us to look for,
and what the experience ofo own body enables Us to
recocct in our past history. We have experience on
this subject bitter and recent experience, OF the effect
which The tendency of distribution projects exerts upon
our legislation. speak of the c. session of 1856
when two bills Cor distribution passed this body, one OF
which became law; and when, IN session OF seven
months the current bills for the public service were
still lingering the calendar and many of most I'M
portant character totally lost As late as the 18TH
of June, in the session of 1886 had done little
more than growl and wrange for the spos of the Trea-
sury On that day, ieit to be my duty to present to
the Senate view of the mschievous effects upon le-
esation which the distribution spirit had brought upon
us, and this did in the following words
Thus already distribution has occupied us the entire ses
SION proposition amend the Constitution, TO enable us 10
the brought forward in the first month OF the
session. he land bill followed and engrnsed months 10 the ey
cIsun all defence bills Then came the deoe
scheme variation at the foime which ahso!os Inc remainder
Of session For nearly months we have been occupied
with ruiun Senate Las actually passed Two bills 10
e inject and 10 divide The same Identical money
TWO bills divide mnney while ONE canho b" rot through Tor
the great Of national defence named la me