Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-02-27
Congress.

Congress.
In the Senate on Friday, on the motion of
MIR. BENTON to print an extra number of cop
les of documents relating to Salt, Fishing
Bountes, &C., an interesting debate sprung
up in which Messrs. Benton, CLAY, Davis,
Allen, Preston, Wright and Webster, parti-
cipated. We give the following scene from
the graphic pen of the correspondent of the
Baltimore Patriot:
Mr.. CALHOUN next rose, and said before he
gave his vote on the motion to print, he wish
ed to know whether the Committee on FL
nance intended this session to report bill to
repeal the salt duties
MIR. Wright answered that the commi tee
had not yet determined on their course
MIR. CALHOUN. Is the publication of these
papers designed to have any bearing on that
bill?
MT. w RIGHT answered in the affirmative, and
MI. benton mumbled something which was
not distinctly heard, butwas understood to be
an emphatic declaration to the same effect.
Mr.. CALHOUN, Cooking at Mr.. Wright.
Can you spare the duty!
MIR. WRIGHT said something in low tone.
MIR. CALHouN's shril voice rung through the
chamber.-Will the chairman of the Finance
Committee speak out. | cannot hear.
MIR. WRIGHT, (nOw in strong tone) No
SIR no portion of tho aoeruing revenue can be
spared; and if cut down, the deficiencies
must be supplied in some other way. But
still that consideration would not imuel me
to withhold any useful information from the
public.
MIR. CALHOUN. 1t is enough. / cannot
vote for the printing of these documents
not Tor single copy and for the simple rea-
son that cannot vote for the bill, i'm favor of
which they are designed to operate. Let us
consider what we are doing. This salt duty
cannot be spared. The Government is in
need of it; and be it remembered that the de-
flcIt OF this year, will be the deficit of the
next year.
But what spectacle will we exhibit to the
country! Cut down the salt duty and then
raise money to spend on the Cumberland
Road, or some other purpose of the kind
spending money to print and circulate pub
LEGATION to forestal the opinion of the people.
and create an impression in favor of cutting
OIL resource, at time when the country is
without sufficient revenue!
This was the first strong outburst of Mr.
CALHOUN against darling project of the Mis-
sour humbugger; and it naturally excited a
great deal of attention and interest. both in
the Senate and the galleries.
But MIR. CALHOUN did not stop there He
told the Committee and Mr.. BENTON. that if
the salt tax was to be repealed, the whole Tar
Ill must be renewed. 1t was not fair for them
10 take one step and not 90 the whole course
and he gave warning if the bill forsthe repeal
was reported, he should consider it a signal
fora general action on the Tariff; and he
would instantly present resolution to instruct
them to takeuP and consider the whole Tariff
system. Any other course would be uniust
ana partial, and ubiquitous. What reason or
equality was there in taking off the duties on
salt, and retaining them on hemD, iron. and
other articles ''o
MIR. CALHOUN went still step farther
(whether insPirited by disgust for Benton's
agrarianlsm, or only by jealousy of rival. !
cannot say,-buD he reprobated in strong
terms the interference by the Senate with mat.
tiers purely local, and exclusively under State
regulation. The questions which had been
brought up to day, belonged to the States alone
to supervise and determine.
While the Carolina Senator was speakino
the cloud rose on the brow of Benton. and
his scowl grew darker and darker. He start
ed 10 his feet the moment his ANTAGONIST sat
down, and without the flimsiest afFectation o.
ven of Disgusting his hatred. he upbraided Mr.
Calhoun In round terms for the part he had
taken regard to the compromise act. This
was OF course, and unequivocally, a mere ex-
plosion of personal wrath, for what had il tn do
WIN the business before the Senate-with
the salt documents. He reminded the Multi |
fer that the people had declared themselves
against the Tariff, by electing an anti-TarifrI
President, and filling Congress with major
lty of anti-Tarif Representatives. Then he
said the whole system would have been bro
ken down forever, but how was the anti-Tar-
iii bill of the Administration nett
combination of two opposite parties ar
fayed themselves against 1.-THE i orth and |
the South pole conjoined and produced the
compromise sale, which was in fact new Tar |
ILL., to be fastened on the country till it expired
by its own limitation.
benton talked on these subjects with an in
readers no idea. Those who have seen him
in his most impudent moods can only con-
ceive it.
But the best of the scene was the contest
between these two aspirants to the Presiden-