Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-06-24
POLITICAL.
STATE DEBT AND THE CIVIL POSSE.

! DettCeFe1 HpTH 9th GnC LIN, 1871, on The orIeF
| directing the Finance COMMITTEE 10 assess q
State tar Of 100000
Mr. Speaker: This debate has taken an ex-
traordinary, though in this House not an unusu-
al turn. The gentleman from Portland Mr. Lit
tle) exercising the privilege of membership, and
keeping strictly within the limits of courteous de
bate, in connection with the subject now under
consideration, has gone into examination Of
the present and prospective resources of the
State-the past and present condition of the
Treasury, and an exposure of some of the M
warrantable dongs of the late Treasurer. MIR.
! Williams For making this exposure, he has
been assailed with vulgar abuse from all parts of
this hall. One accuses him ofmakng a cold and
deliberate personal attack on Mr.. Williams, as if
animadvcrting on the official doings ola public
functionary, entrusted by the people with the
charge of an important Office, was designed at
tack upon the man. Another calls it an attack
on the whole Van Buren, party. Very we'll, sir,
II gentlemen consider an ATTACK on illegal, blum
dering, incompetent management, an attack on
their whole party. and all feel responsible for
the misdeeds of one of their pets, | surely have
no objections, and shall be among the last to find
fault with their good taste. But the gentleman
from Turner, (Mr, Andrews) finding him
self too weak to contend with any hope of sue
cess, against the honorable Speaker in fair con-
troyersy, has abandoned the field of argument
and come out with a cataract of violent person
al abuse. This is nothing new the same dis
cordant note is heard SO often here that it produ-
ces no sensation, but almost dies upon the air, be-
fore we are sensible that its harsh tones are rra-
ting upon the ear. Ifthe gentleman expects to
accomplish his design by the use of such weap-
on. he VIII find himself at least, for once, mista-
ken His feeble, feather-like shafts dipped as
they were in the gall of an envenomed heart
spent their force and fell far beneath the object at
which they were aimed. That object stands at
too great an elevation to be reached with missiles
thrown by so puny an arm. We have been told
that there are "two modes of warfare" Wheth-
er there are Just teo recognized modes of warfare
/ or not, We have had an ample illustration of one
nlode-a mode too not approved OF by the laws of
chivalry-a warfare in which no true knirht
would raise spear or draw a lance, and that is
to avoid meeting the enemy face to face, flee
from the open field of honorable conflict, and ig-
nobly retreat behind barrier of hard names and
unbecoming personalities. But such mock bra
very, snch windy hcrosm can make impress
SION upon the fortress OF an argument built up by
the gentleman from Portland. II stands firm
as the eternal htis, and thousand such sense
less pel'ngs would not move or shake single po-
s't'on' 1t is the commission OF sin too great to
be forgiven IN the estimation OF some men, to
question the entire purity off modern democrat;
ana whoever is bold enough to lit the veil and
let an aStoniShec people look IN upon the doings
! Oh one Oh theSe gehtiv, draws around nun The
yelplng OF a whole tribe OF sx-penny politicians.
but, SIR, when we are about to impose the bur
dens OF taxation upon the people, 1t IS not only our
r'gnt' Dnt our duty TO inquire INTO all the caus-
es Whch orou9ht ABOUT the necessity Tor ADDITION
a burdens This the people expect at our hands,
and we shall be marked as unfathtul servants if
lhe guy he neglected Inc gentleman from
Portland has performed searching operation on
one OF the departments; the Treasury; and be-
tore close ! 'ntend TO take nasty glance at an