The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-08-24
LOCOFOCO DECEPTION EXPOSED.

When the Wings came into ypower in March
last they found the nation in debt to the tune Of
millions-some of which payable forthwith &
the remainder n a later day, and the revenue Of
the country below the necessary nts of Govern
ment. To meet this debt, and provide further
means, they conceived the plan OF evying duties
certain foreign luxuries-such wines, silks,
and other articles-as temporary measure-to be
in force till the terms ofthe compromise would allow
a general lewiston of the Tariff. A bill was report
ed in which tea and coffee was in cluded, recon
mended by the late Administration, when the fol-
lowing proceedings took place. in reference TO tax.
ing tea and coffee:
"The Wing members held a caucus on this subject,
Mt which large majority determined that tea& cof
fee should be exempt from MISUNDERSTANDING
when the bill was under consideration in commit
tee of the whole, Nj Lawrence of Pa, promi
nent Wing member moved to amend the bill under
consideration by adding tea and coffee The list of
free articles Before the question could be taken,
Clifford of Me, leading ocofoco, moved to amend
the amendment Of Mr. Lawrence by adding to
tea and coffee, "sugar moasses and salt"-The
whole locofoco party then united in voting for the
amendment to the amendment, and in conjunction
with such of the ultra and anti-arifr wings as wish
ed tea and coffee to be taxed, carried the amend
ment. The wings were thus placed in a very ayvk
ward predicament, from which they attempted in
vain to extricate themselves. Mr. Winthrop oil Bos
ton called for division of the question the a
mendment as amended as TO present tho ques-
ton separately, but the chair very promptly dacd.
ed that the vote of the committee have joined them
together, the char could not put them asunder.
The Wings were thus compelled either to vote for
the entire proposition, TO vote the whole down;
therefore they rejected it entirely. And thus it
comes pass that by dexterous manouvre of the
locos, tea and coffee to be taxed.
Thus it was by the direct agency of the whole 10
cofoco party the House, with a few southern
wings, the great of the Wing members were
defeated in their efforts to exclude tea and coffee
| from taxation The whole plan agreed upon
| by the locofocos, that when heWhigs should move
to receive these articles free of duty, Clifford
| should make the motion he did, and the rules Of
the House being such the Wings could not avold
doing as they did-or suffer the Revenue Bill to be
defeated and resort in the end perhaps to the loco
plan of paying off the Government debts by di-
rect tax, collected in gold 81 silver. Rather than dc
this they chose 10 pay small duty on tea & coffee
amounting TO a little over cents per pound tea
and little owe cent coffee which will
not como altogether out OF the pockets of the con
sumers but from the i'm porter, and only lessen hi
profits, should the Bill, it passed the House, be
come law.
: Who then is in the iaulta BY cunning mana
vre of the locofocos, and the established rules o
the House, the Wings were placed in a dilemma
3 where thay must either defeat the Revenue Bill o.
vote for il with :hese articles subject to duty Ant
for us we had rather be subject to light tax oil
tea and coffee for one year, than to be pursued 3D.