Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-06-05

against proposition more electually 10 detect
aud punish traitors and spies"
This is absolutely untrue
On the 10Th January, 1914, Mr.. Wright Of
Maryland moved the following resolution:
Resolved That the Committee Of The whole
House be instructed TO inquire into the expedcn.
cy Of extending the second section Of the act for
the government Of the United States relative 10
spies, 10 citizens Of the U,sicd States"
The effect Of extending the rules and articles
Of war; relative TO spies, to citizens OF the United
States, would have been to expose every Amer.
lean citizen, visiting the encampment Of the
American amy, to be charged with being spy,
and have that charge tried and determined ~
drum head court martial, and that trial followed
by death.
1t would have Withdrawn from our own citi.
zens that great shield of american Liberty-the
right of trial by jury: and placed the whole coun.
try, and al our citizens at once, rnder martial
law. So l.ought Mr.. Webster, and he voted
against it, SO thought Mr.. Cheves and Mr..
Furrow, Of South Carolina, Mr.. Duval, MI.
Ormsby and Mr.. Clark, Of Kentucky, Mr.. Ep.
pes, Of Virginia, Mr.. Kent, Of Mary land, Mr..
Seybert, of Pennsylvania, Mr.. Fisk, Of Vermont,
Tor New York; Mr. King, OF North Carolina,
(now Senator from Alabama, and late President
Of the Senate) Mr.. Richardson, Qate G. J. Of
New Hampshire) Mr.. Robertson, Of Louisiana,
and many others Of the warmest supporters Of
the Administration OF MI Madison; and they
voted with Mr. Webster; and there is no more
truth in this charge against Mr.. Webster, than
in the same charge, should it be made against Mr..
Eppes, the Chairman Of the committee OF Ways
and Means son.in.law Of Mr. Jefferson, the
leader Of the then, Democratic party in the House
OF Representatives.
Ill. "On the 25th OF March he voted against
the bill to call forth the Militia to execute the
laws of the Union, and repel INVASION"
This is wholly mis- statement. The Journal
OF the 25th OF March shows no such question
voted upon or pending
w. ION the LIST OF December, only few
days erore the meeting OF the Hartford Conven.
ton, he voted against bill TO provide additional
revenue for delraying the expenses Of the Gov
eminent and maintaining the public credit"
This reference 10 the Hartford Convention is
merely for effect, and to make unfair and false
: impressions, as it is known to all who are not
wiifulIy ignorant, that Mr.. Webster had nothing
TO do with the Hartford Convention.
The opponents Of Mr.. Webster have been
again and again challenged in VAIN 10 the proui,
5 that he was in any manner connected with the
Hartford Convention, its origin or proceedings.
No such proof has been or can be presented.
And yet, the charge so falsely made, and SO often
reluted, continues 70 be repeated.
As for the rest of the fourth allegation, it only
, appears that Mr.. Webster was in very small
minority against bill laying taxes on various
serious objections, however important the object,
while money could be raised in other modes.
The bill proposed direct tax upon various
articles. 1t laid duties upon sales at auction, on
the postage Of letters, on licenses 10 retail wines,
4 and foreign merchandise, on carriages for the
conveyance Of persons, and on plate, harness,
&c. 1t is but fair 10 ascribe Mr.. Websters vote
q against this bill 10 his objection 10 the form oil
some OF the taxes, because the Journal shows
n that few days before he voted in the affirmative
on proposition to increase other taxes.
The yeas and nays given in the Journal show
that the vote on the tax bill referred to was not
by any MEANS test of parties or party vote,
most Of the leading opposition members having
voted in the affirmative. The Journal of the Goth
Oct, 1914, shows that Mr.. Webster proposed,
and voted for, some Of the taxes provided for by
this bill, but as he disapproved of other taxes
contained in it, he voted against the whole bill
V. "On the 10th, he voted to postpone indie
fnitely bill authorizing the President OF the
United States to call upon the several States for
their respective quotas Of Militia to defend the
' frontier againSs! invasl on
= VI. "0n the 18Th he voted against the same
BILL"
The answer to these stands on the same grHunt
! as those to some of the preceding. The reason
) is not given, but the debate shows reason, fair
a nd honest, at least whatever may be thought oil
its strength and validity, Mr.. Webster never
gave vote against defending the country, against
Iepelling invasion, or against executing the laws.
He was as ready TO defend the country as the
: warmest patriot, and we have seen it stated, what
is no doubt true, that when Portsmouth, the
town in which he then lived, was supposed TO be
It in danger Of an immediate attack by the enemy,
he was placed, on the nomination of John Lang.
. don, at the head OF Committee raised for lis
f defence.
In Mr.. Webster's speech, 2lst March, 1888,
in reply to Mr.. Calhoun, he challenged that gen.
L tleman to show that he ever gave an impair lotto
vote during the war, or at any other time. He
1 admitted that, nth Mr.. Calhoun, he had pre-.
y ferred to carry on the war with England on The
+ ocean, and had indicated that preference by his
votes, as had Mr.. Calhoun, and Others 1t i;
A well known that on the occasion referred to, Mr.
Calhoun, who has served with Mr.. Webster lol
nearly thirty years in Congress, and who wei
knew what his votes were during the war; was
perfectly silent when this challenge was made
. VII. ale also voted against bill to provide
n additional revenue for the support Of Government
. and the public credit, and also against an appro
a prialion for rebuilding the Capitol which hac
0 been destroyed by the enemy"
4 The answer given to the fourth charge is thu