The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-04-27

Nv. boa the LIST OF December only few days be-
fore the meeting of the Hartford Convention, he vo
ted against bill to provide additional revenue for de-
fraying the expenses Of the Government and main
tanning the public credit"
This reference 10 the Hartford Convention is mere
ly for effect and 10 make unfair and false impressions
il is known to ALL who not wilfully ignorant
that Mr.. Webster had nothing to do with the Hart
The opponents of Mr. Webster have been, again
and again challenged in vain TO the proof that he was
in any manner connected with the Hartford Consen-
ton It's origin, or proceedings. No such proof mas
been or can be presented And yet the charge 90
falsely made and often refuted, continues to be re-
peased.
A. for the rest of the fourth allegation, il only APP
gears that Mr.. Webiter was in very small minority
against bill laying taxes on various articles to some
OF which taxes there very serious objections how
everSmporant the object, while money coudlbe raised
in other modes.
This bill proposed direct tax upon various articles
Il laid duties upon sales at auction the postage Of
letters ON licenses 70 retail wines on licenses TO retail
spirituous quors and foreign merchandise on carri-
ages for the conveyance Of persons and plate har
ness &c. IL is but fair TO ascrbe MIR. Websters vote
against this bill TO his objection to the form Of of
the taxes because the Journal shows that few days
before he voted in the affirmative proposition To
increase other taxes.
The yeas and nays given in the Journal show that
the vote the tax bill referred 10 not, by any
means test OF parties, party vote-most OF the
leading Opposition members having voted n the aii,
shows that Mr. Webster proposed and voted for some
of the taxes provided for by this BILL but as he disap-
proved of othertax contained in H. he voted against
the whole bill.
v. "On the 10Th, he voted to postpone indefinitely
bill authorizing the President Of the United States
call upon the several States for their respective quo
as of militia defend the frontier against invasion.
vi. On the 18th, he voted against the same bill
The answer 10 these stands on the same ground as
A. - -
given but the debate shows reason, fair and honest
at least whatever may be thought of its strength and
validity. MIR. Webster never gave vote against de-
Tending the country, against repelling invasion, or
against executing the laws. lie was as ready to de-
fend the country the warmest patriot and we have
it stated what is doubt true, that when Ports
mouth, the town in which he then lived, suppos
ed to be in danger Of Immediate attack by the ene
my, he was placed on the nomination of John Lang
don the head of committee raised for its defence
In MIR Webster's speech, 2lst March, 1885, in reply
to Mr.. Calhoun, he challenged that gentleman 10
show that he gave unpatriotic vote during the
war, or at any other time He admitted that, Nth
Mr.. Calhoun, he had preferred to carry on the war
with England the ocean, and had indicated that pre-
ference BY his votes as had Mr. Calhoun and others.
1t is well known that the occasion referred TO, Mr.
Calhoun who has served with Mr. Webster for nearly
thirty years in Congress, and who well knew what his
votes during the war; was perfectly silent when
this challenge was made.
VII. He also voted against bill to provide addi-
tiona for the support Of the Government and
the public credit and also against appropriation for
rebuilding the Capitol, which had been destroyed by
the enemy"
The unfarness and faIsty of this charge are shown
by an examination Of the record. The Journal shows
the following legislation in respect to rebuilding the
Capitol. 1t is to be remembered, however, that in
consequence of domestic calamity Mr. Webster did
not take his seat in Congress in 1914 until the 10Th
day Of October On the Goth September, Mr.. Fisk of
New York, distinguished friend of the admin'str
ton of Mr. Madison, moved for committee " to in
quire into the expedency of removing the seat Of Go
vernment during the session of Congress to place OF
better security and less Inconvenience" The motion
prevailed ayes IT, noes 81 This was not a party
vote as the record shows
On the Sd October the committee reported that 1t
inelpedien at this time to remove the seat of
vernment" but Mr.. Fisk himself moved to amend
the report by striking out the word ine1pedienf
and substituting expedient." On this motion the
vote stood GO TO 6S, and the Speaker Mr.. Cheves)
declaring himself for the amendment it was adopted,
and the amended resolution referred to commit
tee OF the Whole House.
October A. The order Of the day on this subject
being called for, Mr.. Newton moved its indefinite
ffsss'ivnemont This was ncgativcd yeas 81, nays
October 6. The report of the committee, having
been reported back to the House from the Committee
of the w hole House, taken up; and the ques-
ton to agree to it, the vote stood ayes 70 and II
So the report recommending the removal of the seat
of Government from Washington to some more con-
venient place was agreed to, and committee was APP
pointed to bring in bill
October l3 Mr. Fisk reported bill for the TEN
porary removal ofthe Seat Of Government
On the 18th October, Mr.. Webster took his seat for
the first time for that session. and this day the ques
ton was taken upon motion to reject the BILL and II
was negatived ayes rs, noes 10, MIR. Webster voting
in the negative; that is to say he voted against the
rejection Of BILL brought in by leading friend of the
Administration, and on which there had been, in nc
stage of it, party vote providing for the removal
| the Seat of Government from Washington. The
bill not being rejected read second time, and
committed to a Committee of the Whole House Being
reported back from the committee to the House, il
moved to amend the bill by inserting section which
provided that the Presidents House and the Capt.
tol should be rebuilt their former sites in the city
| Of Washington, which rejected without div
sion.
In the Committee Of the Whole the bill had been
amended; and one of the amendments to name
the place to which the Government should be removed
The place does not appear upon the Journal, but is
believed to have been Lancaster, Pennsylvania. y
The question then being put upon the engrossment Of
the bill, it passed in the negative, ayes "a noes Sd
And so the bill lost. Mr.. Webster voted in the
| affirmative. This was not party vote; the North
ern men generally voted the Government to
| Lancaster and the Southern against it.
The next proceeding that appears upon this sub
ject took place the 10Th October, when Mr. Lewis
of Virginia, (whom Mr.. Jefferson called the residuary
legatee Of all the federalism of the State of Virginia
moved for q committee to inquire into the expediency
of rebuilding the Presidents House and Capitol, and
the necessary expenses for that purpose The resou
ton was adopted without objection, and committee
appointed, which reported on the Dist November and
that day Mr.. Lewis obtained leave to bring in bill
making appropriation for repairing or rebuilding in
the city of Washington.
IL does not appear that any further proceedings took
place in the House in regard the bill introduced by
! Mr.. Lewis; but the 9Th of February a bill frou
the Senate, to provide for the rebuilding of the Pre-
sident's House and the Capitol, being under conside
ration in the House of Representatives, it moved
that no part of the money should be expended unit
the President laid before Congress report stating the
principles upon which the Capitol Presidents House
and the Post Office should be rebuilt with an estimate
/ of the cost. This motion was rejected. Then Mr.