Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-30
No. si.--VOLUME XXXVU.

there was any little defect in his, it the reverse Of
cunnng-it was the excess of his amiabilty-and the
obllgng facility Of his temper have thought BIN not
quite cunning enough-nnt quite sharp enough to keep
himself out Of scrapes which others contgiv; md HAT
on III" present OCCASION he has gwen evidence Of that
anabe facility by standing IA her for very ugly cid
which OF his The Senator appears as tie pre-
sent Of the land s,5huiion b measure bad
enough at all times hat bad for its own author 10
move in at the present time, when the Treasury
nearly empty ard when the proposition u abstract lie
land revenue from the annual income, and distribute il
among The States, and supply It's place by taxes,
about equivalent 10 proposition to put end 10 lie
Constitution and to let Congress 30 on 10 do what It
pleasos, without guide 10 rs steps restriction upon
It's will. think if the Senator had been a lt;le more
cunning he would not have moved that bill al his time;
anxious as he might have been TO obll.e a friend |
think he should have dcmurred to the time, and begged
of un the Treasury fall.
! Mistaken the Senator in Tic snpposton that
The term cunning applied 10 him, he has been equal
~ in the application Of term Il ms 10 this side
NJ the chamber, and doubtless intended Tor me,,hat
q older politicians who could give HIM lessons
nns. The Senator snPpnses that politicians older than
himself giving to the phrase pointed application
by smirg ulance in thi. dire ction-wou!d BE- masters
Of cunning l" which younger politicians, himself
for example, could vol pretend Now granting that
there may be old politicians who IRE too cnunin, r
that Senator yet deny that there IRE any such IN
this side of The chamber and especa!tt affirm that
am not. II is not on this sde bu, HI own SIDE oi
the chamber, that he should look FIR these wlv elders
There Of them here We are al! his minors
Between himself and myself he Is most respectfully
my senior He was here long before | renenl-
her very wei! 10 have read with much satisfaction
the more, because the speaker WAS then my own
side in polillcstho lively speeches Of the Senator from
Kentucky delivered ih;s floor, long before Missouri,
vas admitted into the ULion-w when myself I
mere provincial attorney the Territory oi Missouri.
The gentleman was therefore politician, dis,ina
one Of rank Senatorial, when was nothing ba pro-
v!ncia attorney! THIS settles the question ut political
seniority between that Senator and myself IL leaves
him far ahead of me. ! believe can also settle up
quickly for all the members this side 81 the chamber.
Immediately before me (pointing TO MIR kinG Of Ala
5ama) sis the oldest sitting memher Of the lions"nut
the Oldest gentleman BY sny means merely tho oldest
sitting member The gentleman yet married,
and II would b. dombly wrong 10 wrong INN in a qucs
ton Of time The united ter:s for which bc has been
elected amount TO tweniy-years, SIX Of which rcmlin
vet to be served lie has been here twenty-five ears:
lie the longest sitting member lie has seen many
.kitS and ratanrcS upon the Senatorial bprrds; but lie
has been here lon. enough 10 have seen the first
appearance OF the Senator from Kentucky. That Sc
major had made his first entrance, and his first exit
II So before the Senator from Alabama had taken lis
first seat here. lie had served term, and was gone
before the oldest sitting member now here, had reached
this floor.
mir. Crtenden said: | have never been politician
since
Mr. BENTON continued 1t is not this side, but
on his own side Of the chamber that the gen,!cmans
remark can find lis application He must look on ms
own sdc-in his n-,ghborhoodon his RIGHT hand
for view o.. the only Senator on his ioor TO whom
his remark can apply.
Having DISPOSED of these two small matters, Mir Z.
woud proceed larger oIes and first won!d express
his regret havin. sgnaly faiied IN almost the
1nly quality pnb!ic speaking winch lie aimed At; and
that ineIi'g'Lility. tie did moi say rersrc"ny
or tina, was high quality in speaking and III writing,
and one 10 which he Gid not pretend. Sut nteli9tblI-
~ he did pretend II. lie AIMED at beng ineligible
at being under stood-at making his hearers compre-
bend his meaning; and III his ann at this quality, me
r,torious though humble, he greatly regretted hrvng
81 sipnally failed The Senator from Kentucky
as.onIshcd at the violent denunciation at measure
which has been 50 long before the country-he IS
astonished the violent eptheis which are !av'shed
upan the land distribution bll-a ball for years be-
fore the Senate and often recommended by State e-
r,s,,urcs He is asionlshcd at THIS remuneration,
and these epithr;s but has wholly faxed 10 understand
wly used them. | endeavored 10 make myself lntci-
ribc on TINS point, and therefore dWeit particularly
upon III. chronology Of hls movement Bad and indc-
rns,be the distribution oi the land revenue was al
MI and mschievons rs such
measure must forever he seemed To me TO be stamped
with peculiar enormy at the present time, ana III Inc
prcsent circumstances Of the Treasury. IL WAS ~ re-
spec to this me and these circumstances, that let
myself called upon speak, and 10 speak III language
which tile Senator qualities, perhaps very Truly, US
Violent unexpected, and uncalcd-tor by the OCCASION
He understands me directing all this violence against
In. measure ltscIt no part Of IT being induced ny
he time and rcuHstancts under winch u = moved
Yet upon these latter points, iniend,G !" DC iuh 'hd
poined-cxplcit and emphatic; ara upon ihrs' P'h's
expected 10 hear from hm expected 10 near from
;m on the point Of bringing forward Distribution 81
10 land revenue al time when the Treasury needed
av.rv dollar of the money: and when, II tie abStrac-
lion should he made, an immediate resort ih'st cc
ind 10 lnnns or taxes to il the chasm TINS MADE ~
the puhc income | expected II be understood on
these ponts-to be replied 10 upon them-and we
remuneration shown 10 be untounded, II un:""ndr4
il was, which qualified this conduct as 4 NAKED,
harraat breach Of the Constitution rs much az
ne levied taxes borrowed money, IN III" first N
sanc. and by name f. b. distributed among t' states
considered lhis conduc; ilagrniiy nnc"nsii'uln-
alas admitting OF NJ argnment-ns beng an exercise
of our reyenue.rasIng po"cs, not tor INC ph"h' Out
;,r the Sates-not 10 support the Federal rnment,
Or 10 nav lis debts, but IL support The Sa,e Govern
meu,s and 10 pay their debts relied upon the TINE
aud circumstances 10 give this fragrant character -
the present movement IN favor Of t' land ha anu
mon these points | wish 10 be understood, and to
have IN answer The Senator has not answered nc:
presume lie has not understood me-that have
M, been able 10 make myself lnrlllgb!e To hiM,
otherwise lie could not have been entirely silent IN
the main points, while 50 Proiuse OF answer on small
The Senator has been dead sien; upon tho charge
ofnaorant unconst,tuiicna!ity creating drhcency
Of revenue by distributions for the purpose oil supply
mo il BY xatio. II" has not denied bnt that IT rqH-
yalent original imposition oil taxes l"r l'e purpose
of distributions He has neither answered tins charge
nor denied this proposition. Nor has liz done another
,hpr winch called upon Inn IT, do h. has not told Us IN
uhai manner he would have the deficiency supplied
whether Nv leans taxes, issues oi Treasury notes
The gentleman shakes his head at this last alternative,
no seens TO eschcy the Treasury II so we shall
he ,ogehcr at that pont for Treasury note ISSUE IS =
me worse than loans or taxes. The gentleman would
M, ,. his TO borrow or to lay du-
ties hut without, the benefit Of declaration from hn,
believe am sufficiently acquainted WIN h.s h,'r'n'
49,. hoI;oy. can name il for bim. think have
heard enough upon this floor be abe to name IL lisa
- man Iuynres-upon silks and wines-upon French
silks and French wines-which Is intended to supply
the place of the land revenue. ms . nc resort ana
ia;n J, ON luxuries But let say to the Senator,
,b,, N po;nt Of unconstitutonay, there is no differ
amce between taxes Injuries and on necessarcs-
The point of expedicncy Is open between them; but
:, constitutional authority there is difference. 1t
= ;pst as unconstitutional 10 lay taxes upon silks and
vines. for The sake Of raising revenue for the States,
rs i would b.. to raise the revenue by tax on