Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-08-07
DEBATE ON THE REVENUE BILL.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
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| The Revenue Bill having been read through IN
Committee OF the Whole, and the FIRST section being
under consideration
MIR FILLMORE arose and said, in substance.
that he would avail himself OF that occasion TO spca
OF the necessity and object OF the 0Iil. That wha,
he had to say on the merits Of the bill, might rs
well be said al thsl time any Other. Indeed the
principal provisions % the bill embraced in the
hTS; section. The other parts q were merely IN
tended 10 carry out IN oeiAI The prime pies there
asserted, and prevent some frauds tina, were now
pracueed upon the revenue; and he would expGin
hose 1t desired, when they came up Tor consldera.
ton.
In the FRS, place, he continued desire 20 solici,
the UNDIVIDED attention OF the members Of This
House TO the facts and figures 10 which fee II nv
duty 10 call their attention deem the subject un-
Ger consideration OF vast importance TO the country
and one that demands the sober elaboration Of ey
cry member Of this committee. Ii lsa business
matter, OF facts sud Gsials-and were | ever spo-
sed n make speech for "BuRson5" tins Is GER
iaIuly not the time or the occasion which should
SC &c; tor that OBJECT. The Little that have TO say
wiIl oe unaioTnea with the flowers OF Rhetoric aud
conancc directly 10 The subject under conscera-
ton, ana addressed 10 those who hear me.
The hrst section OF the UIi declares in substance
that duty Of % per cent al rllCrem shall be lev
led on a. srtc IS imported which are now free, or
winch bear a .ess duty than that propossd in the
oi, except certain articles which are left at the r
present rates oil duty, and certain other ted ar
ue.es which are 10 remain free. These duties are
10 oe evlei aud collected in the manner now provi-
ded uy law, with some slight modification as 10
teas. IL vii. therefore be seen that the main object
and scope Of the ball Is 20 raise revenue and that It's
provisions are strictly within the terms Of the Com
promise .3ct.
The che! questions, therefore, that present them
selves to our consideration, are
FTSL VIII there We deficit IN the revenue for
the current four years under the avs as they now
stand and II so, what ADDITIONAL amount will /, be
necessary 10 provide 10 meet tie ordinary demands
/ upon the Treasury
Secondly. What is the best mode Of supplyips
this dehcIl, and 10 what oIten; viii The bill under
consideration DO II; and Is necessary or expeaen,
! now 10 act upon this suhjecl3
proceed, then, IN the hrst pace, TO consider the
probable amount OF Cthc for the four wears Of the
present Administration, and in dong this shat
'ahe no notice OF The loan OF Sl2,OlO,0OO that has
been authorized, but not yet made, TO relieve the
present urgent wants Of the Treasury because # II
10 made, 1t is intended 10 be repaid during the cur.
rent tour years, aud It therefore adds nothing TO
our means for the whole time.
In Judging for the future we must draw ins.rrrr.
ton from the experience OF the pass and rs our OH
Jeci now Is TO ascertain, II practicable the probable
demands upon the Treasury for the four curren,
years, we will see what they have been for the four
past years during the preceding Administration.
Before proceeding 10 this IGves,Igatiou Il is Droper
that shou dhere observe that 10 the remarks which
l may have occasion TO submit in reference 10 the
past Administration, no party illusions a re Intended
shl. speak oil mat Administration freely as mnttel
OF history, without one opp.oDrous epithet or on,
unklnd a!iuslon. The people have passed upon II,
and am content with their yerdlc' IL also rr5.
| per that should say that, Ia stating amounts
shall generally content myseifwlh giving the roun,
numbers, seldom going below thousands, as mil
uPcty o; figures M debate rather serves 10 confus,
than en.gh.en. And snail proceed slowly, thl
every member who desires may have time 10 TAX,
down my statements, for neither desire TO eeeey,
myself nor the members Of this House; and nj nav,
committed any euor either in fac. or inference, n,
one vii. Oe more graIIhsd Than myself 10 have Il
corrected.
What, then, have been the ordinary expenses o.
this Government for the past four years / hay,
before me House document No. 81 Of this session
which, At page Is contains table headed as fol
! lows:
statement Of the appropriations and expendf
lures each year, from 1929 to 1910 inclusive. for
the civil list, foreign intercourse and mlsce aneou.
Objects for tie military establishment pensions for
'lhcauons, internal Improvements Indian depart
men, and the naval establishment, exhibiting
ture."
Al page %, the total Of expenditures for thes,
objects IN each yer IS gwen, and I desire TO cal
the attention OF the committee 10 them for the pas
four yGurs. They are rs fII.gws.