Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-05-19
the New York Express ol April u.
WEBSTER AND THE LAST WAR.

WcOSNCI.
A letter was published thereto subjoinedl |
apDearino to furnish the result of such exalni- |
nation. Whether this was fair or not, few |
people could Judge, as few have either the |
means or the leisure ofgoing through so many
volumes of public proceedings, and seeing |
whether the real truth has been extracted or
not.
But friend Of ours in this city, having leis.
ure sufficient, in these dull times, has prepared
a statement in answer to the charges in the
letter aforesaid.
We now publish the letter and the state
ment, and, at the request Of the writer, we
publish part of Mr. Webster's speech, in reply
10 Mr. Calhoun, March %, 1888.
We commend the consideration ofthcse pa
pers not only TO the friends Of the last Admin
is,ration generally, but in an especial manner to
Governor Polk, Of Tennessee, who, by news
paper accounts is already on the stump" as
the Western phrase IL, for the next August
election.
Instead Of discussing subjects Of present in
terest, the worthy and venerable Governor
seems to rejoice in discussions relating to by
gone times. There appears to be two objects
which most attract his Excellency's attention;
one to abuse Mr. Clay, who supported the war,
and the other TO abuse Mr.. Webster, who, ho
says, opposed it.. :,
We hone his Excelency will not omit some
notice of the Berlin and Milan DEGREES, the
affair ofthe Chesapeake, and that he will even
take some notice OF the quasi war with France.
The venerable Governor win see how i'm
portant it is to enter into these matters, when
the questions before the American people are,
whether an exhausted Treasury stall be re-
plenished, whether the country shall be deien7
ded, and whether any attempt shallbS made,Y
giving sound currency to the country' tore
Vive business and confidence, and restore pub
lie and private credit.
THE LETTER, (REFERRED TO ABovE)
9Sir IL herewith send you the vote Of
Daniel Webster on several occasions, while
member of Cnngress during the war.
alst. On the 9Th January, 1914, he voted
against an appropriation for defraying the ex-
penses Of the navy.
ADD. On the 10Th January, 1914, he voted
against a proposition more effectually to detect
and publish traitors and spies.
H3d. On the 25th March, he voted against
the bill 10 call forth the militia to execute the
laws Of the Union and repel invaslons.
18th. On the LIST Decem6eronly few days
before the sitting Of the Hartford Contention
he voted against bill to provide additional re-
venue for derraying the expenses. otthe Gov
eminent and maintaining the public credit
18th. On the 10th, he voted to postpone IN
definitely a bill authorizing the President oil the
United States to call upon the several states
for their respective quota oil militia 10 deiehd
the frontier against INVASION.
sc. On the 18th, against the same bill.
"7th. He also voted against a bill to provide
additional revenue for the support of the Gov
4 al IN ok IN
an appropriation for rebuilding the Capitol,
which had been destroyed by the enemy.
"The above is taken from the public records
al Washington. | could give you more, but
the above is enough. Such is the vote OF Tory
now called Wing. Sorry am to find you in
such company, with such leader"
What follows is Of a private nature.
Respectfully yours"
THE STATEMENT.
A true and exact statement ofthe case, IN e.
gard to each Of these votes, as appears from |
the journals and the printed debates.
The charges are:
/. IOn the 9Th January, 1914, he voted |
against an appropriation for defraying the OK
ponses Of the navy"
This is exceedingly disingenuous for two
Ist. Because inc rrII'UUr IIUt accurately
stated, nor the reason for the vote given, as
that now appears in the debates. A bill had
passed the House Of Representatives, and |
without opposition, either on the question Of its
engrossment or the question Of its final passage |
" Making partial appropriations for the service
Of 1874" The Senate inserted, as an amend
ment in appropriation Of one nlillion Of dollars
for the expenses Of the navy. IL was quite
unusual at that time, and indeed It is believed /
Unprecedented, for the Senate to originate, by |
way Of ameudment,such large grants of money |
for the public service.
On this ground, alone. the amendment was |
opposed by some who had been the warmest |
friends ofthe navy, from the time Of General |
Washington. II was a question Of the regu- |
larity of proceeding; a question Of the order !
OF business, merely. The record shows that |
Nathaniel Macon, and other Administration |
men, voted with Mr. Webster on that question |
against ccncurring with the Senate in their |
amendment.
2. Because it is well known that through |
out the whole war, Mr. Webster was constant |
" urging upon the Government greater ex-
tension OF on, naval MEANS, and augmented ex-
pcnditure and augmented efforts on the sea-
The navy had been exceedingly unpopular with
the party then IN power. This every body
knows and Mr. Webster was attempting to
argue It into popularity.
The journal shows that, on the Sth Novem-
Der, 1914, the House went into committee on
the bill from the Senate to authorize the Presi-
dent to build twenty vessels ofwar TO carry a
certain number Of guns. Mr. Reed moved to
increase the number Of guns more than two
fold for each ship. Mr. Webster voted in the
affirmative, but the motion was lost, and the
bill then passed without opposition. Doubtless
many other votes Of this kind may be found in
the iournal,lo the debates show that Mr. Web
ster constantly urged the increase Of our naval
power as the best means Of meeting our enc
my, the proudest maritime power in the world.
In respect, then, to the vote here complain
ed Of, the fact is, that It was not vote against
aI appropriation TO defrsy the expenses Of the
navy, but was a vote against the assumption of
the Senate TO originate, by way Of amendment
large appropriations Of money for military SER
vice.
II was then, and is now, thought by many,
exclusively the legitimate office Of the House
. of Representatives to originate all the principal
grants ofmoney for the support Of Government.
Would It be considered fair to charge Nathan
lei Macon and others, the friends of Mr. Mad-
son and distinguished supporters oft war,
with disposition to withhold the means Of de-
Tending the country, because he and they vo-
ted against the extraordinary amendment of
of the Senate 7 Certainly not and,therefore
the same charge now made against MIR Web
ster with voting Nth Nathaniel Macon on that
question is unfair, if not ridiculous.
2. "On the 10Th January, 1914, he voted
AGAINST a proposition more effectuay todetect