The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-05

resolution though he had frequently endeaNored 80
10 do. And what the consequence, ana "hal
was now the spectacle presented The consequence
was that the sum of eight land probably even OF
tweIye) millions had been directed 10 be raised by
imnorts under bill which had been hurried through
with rash and indecent haste, and without the mem
bers being allowed to assign one solitary reason of
the votes they had given. Not single gentleman
in this House was now responsible TO the People iof
the massage Of this bill Not single individual out
of this House could tell how any one of the members
had voted Here a bill imposing duties on arti-
cles which, in his section Of country al least IL was
supposed never would have been taxed and YET no
one was responsible for it, because, the moment the
bin had come into the House the previous question
cut off all debate, and forbad any expression OF opin-
ion or sentiment on the part OF any member.
He knew that in this matter he differed from
large majority of his political friends. lie regretted
that il should be So But he had opposed, and, SO
long as he had seat that floor he would continue
to oppose, the principle which had been introduced
this session in egisatng they had done. lie had had
no opportunity to express his sentiments neither he
nor any other member had had opportunity OF say
ing one word upon any amendment which had been
offered and he eontended that the amendment oner-
ed by the gentleman from South Carolina, Mr. Pick
striking out the article of raw hides, an article
of which two and half millions in value were I'M
ported into this country-was, of itself, OF SUFFICIENT
importance to be debated one day yet, not WORD
had been said upon it. And thus they were called
blindly TO vote upon the passage OF bl containing
numberess items upon which they had not had
the privilege of opening their lips. And when the
members of this House went home, and the ques-
ton should be asked who had voted for the IMPOSE
ton of duties upon coffee the answer would be mot
l. not l. and not l." Who they were that had given
such vote was matter not to be found out; and,
yet if his recorded in favor OF the passage
Of the bill would be taken for granted that he had
voted for all these propositions. No debate, no rea-
sonng, analysis had been allowed, and gross IN
Justice had been done TO the mercantile classes with
out even allowing them to be heard through their
Representatives. Not word had been allowed on
the important amendment offered by member from
Massachusetts, Mr. Satonsall,) giving 10 men who
had shipped cargoes good faith under the last tar
The poor permission to land them under that tariff ;
and they had thus been subjected TO all additional
iuty of twenty per cent.
lie had made it a rule of his legislative life, (not
ery brief one least in the Legislature of lndipna)
where matters of this importance, free discus
lion was not aowed-where he believed the leglsla-
ion TO be hasty unnatural and contrary TO the spirit
of the Constitution and Of the laws OF the House
to vote as ainst il and he would do
A voice" Agreed
Mr. P, continued. The gentleman says Agreed"
Suppose he agreed does he suppose that would
make any material difference Loud laughter lie
(Mr. P) presumed 1t amounted to about the same
thing whether the gentleman agreed or not. He
(Mr. P) thought it had been sufficiently tested here
that all these matters, he had pursued the course
which he believed to be correct without regarding the
little popularity of the day. OF caring what other gen
llemen might say or think of his position here.
He had been in favor of imposing duties on wines,
silks, and other Injuries, and he had supposed
that Congress had assembled, amongst other things,
for that purpose He contended that by this bill duties
imposed on articles not contemplated by the Peo-
pie, nor agreed upon by them. He reasserted that
gross injustice had been done TO the mercantile classes
by this egislaton-a legislation which Mr.. p.
understood TO say had been well characterized in
letter addressed TO of the members from Massa-
chusetts, and read by him, as specimen of Mexican
legislation not to be tolerated
Mr. STANLY replied at some enght to Mr. Prof
fit
Mr. s, in the course Of his remarks expressed his
surprise at the remarks which had fallen from the gen
teman from Indiana The gentleman got up here
not a very old man and lectured this House, compos
ed it of large majority of his own friends for
passing a measure Of more Importance than all the
other measures upon which they were called to act
put together, with hot and indecent haste. This, Mr.
S. thought, unbecomlng highly unbecoming-
il disrespectful to this House, and to every mem
Der Of it.
Mr.. PROFIT explained. II he had used any
language unbecoming the House, the SPEAKER
would have called him to order. He (Mr P had not
intended to say any thing dsrespectiul to the body
He spoke merely of what he conceived 10 be the haste
and hurry with which this bill had been passed
through and if the gentleman from North Carolina
( Mr. Stan1y) had supposed that he Mr.. p had in
debate, he Mr.. p astonished that the gentle
man should not have called him to order
Mr. STANLI continued. He had preferred TAX
ing his course. But if, the gentleman
animated, he did not mean any disrespecl to the
House, he (Mr. s. would pass over that matter The
reflection sounded the harsh, coming it did
from of friends. Could the House
member that during the very last week, the gentle
man from Indiana had offered resolution 10 take
measure out Of committee which his friends the
nov "A ind, thn ilar ma
dread of hot and indecent haste then : The gentle
man himself, without consultation with any one, SO
far as he MIR. S } knew, brought in that resolution.
Mr.. PROFFIT. 1t was handed TO me by the
chairman of the Committee of WAYS and Means who
requested me to offer it,
Mr.. STANLY continued. Very well so be
But the gentleman said that responsible
for the passage Of this bill How did we differ be-
tween this and the last session. The men who came
forward here to vote money to pay the Van Buren,
debts, they the men who were responsible for
this measure He took his share of that responsible
y Hetook il before the House, he took it before the
country and wished he could take the share of the
gentleman from Indiana They all responsible.
Let the Wing party be responsible before the nation
aud before the world, not only for the votes which
had been gwen not only these articles of tea and
coffee but for every other provision of the bill and
for all the acts which might be done at this extra
sion. lie despsed the base argument Che meant no
personal disrespect TO any many which had heretofore
been rcsoled to IN other measures which had Leen
voted for by portion of the Wing party, that they
We're responsible, when the Van Buren, party had the
ma joIy in this House He dcsplsed it, Let the re-
sponsiblity of all the of the Administration
be fixed upon the party who had the aorty there
II belonged, and there let it rest; and il they could
not bear IT, then let them go out Of power, and sink
into that low abyss of contempt into which the party
just gone out had sunk yes let them 90 of power
never again to return to it.
The gentleman had said that opportunity had
been given to discuss the amendments. How
this 7 Had not the gentleman from New York OBJ
eced to the withdrawal Of the motion strike out the
enacting clause of the bill for the very that it
allowed greater latitude of debate than could be ex-
tended under any other proposition
The gentleman said that opportunity Ind been