Litchfield enquirer., 1841-09-16
CUNGlkEsBEON1Es

WAsH1NoroN. Sept. @.
In SENArR.-The Revenue Bill has been
Ihe only question Of interest before Congress
lo.dav-unexpectedly, too, the question Is
not vet disposed of, though all the Senators
feel an anxiety to get rid of the subject ana 70
close the business under consideration, WIN
a view to an adjournment. Mr.. Benton ana
Mr.. Calhoun, however, seem determined Ina'
Congress shall wait the motion OF the sen,
ate, snail.paced as it is in its movements. ana
that the Senate shall be at the mercy Oh the
two Senators. Mr.. Benton is IN no hurry Ior
an adjournment, being year in ana year OUT
n regular housekeeper here with his family
around him, and every thing comfortable
He remembers his per diem, and protracts the
business of the session in every conceivable
way imaginable, but mainly by spending all
his leisure moments in preparing amend
ments for whatever bill may be under con-
sideration. Each day he puts his wits to
work to make trouble, and being OF pecul-
lar frame of body, and a constitution TIT tor
hard labor, he is enabled to do more mds-
chief than dozen ordinary men. Mr.. Cal
houn is governed by no such contemplate
money making notions as these. His ele.
ment is faction, opposition, discord-aIl OF
which produce delay-no man loves to spin
a yarn better, or to throw into the Senate
Chamber whatever may excite feeling OF
opposition. He loves mischief for mschiet's
sake, and having but one object in view, and
that to delay and resist the public business,
he acts accordingly. To-day he has uttered
hon,ilv upon homily in reference to the prin-
ciples of the Compromise Act, Free Trade,
Protection, and all the hobbies upon which
he has ridden for so many years with Je-
hu speed. Hour after hour consumed in
this wav to. dav has been but one example OF
the whole session. Most of these debates
have little or no interest to the general reader.
need detain you but moment or two
with the seven hours talk of to-day. "Salt,"
and "Gunny Bags" were the questions
pending at the adjournment. Whether they
should be admitted free from duty, or pay
an ad voiorem duty of 20 per cent was the
immediate matter in controversy. Mr:Allen
of Ohio rode the hobby, and Mr.. Calhoun,
Mr.. Benton, and one or two others mounted
with him and rode for two or three hours,
when little coaxing and little threatening
brought the salt journey and the gunny bags
to an end, neither 10 be admitted free, and main
ly for the reason that it would DO IA violation
Of the Compromise Act, that it would break
up the domestic manufactures, and throw
the trade Of the country into the hands OF the
foreign manufacturers. Mr.. Clay, Mr.. Hun
tington, and other Senators, sustained these
views in opposition to the motion, and the
only answer was, the poor dear People,
Aroused at length by these appeals, made
for mere partisan effect ut home, Mr.Clay
argued the question very briefly. He con-
tended that the universal consumption of the
article was an additional reason why it
should pay duty. Without prating about
the "poor people," he believed he was as
much their friend as those who had the
80 l. @t~r> %ls,.o
In our country all were poor, and all were
them, but in legislation the poor and the rich
had more to be regarded. Mr.. Calhoun, in
reply to all this, betrayed his true disposi-
ton. In the first place, he said, he. should
do all he could against the bill, and vote
against it; and in the second place. he would
so act in reference to the amendments as If
he ,Sgss Q G s756GRa enbarrass the measure all
he could-propose as many amendments as
he could-and finally vote in the opposition.
This is an every hour occurrence, and the
smaller men of the party, like Clay Of Ala.
and Smith of Conn.,, are ready to bark or
bite, as their masters may direct.
The "salt" and "gunny bag" amendment
being disposed of, Mr.. Calhoun made dead
set at u the free articles in the bill, moving
10 put them among the articles paying 20 per
cent. "This." said Mr.. Calhoun, dis the
letter Of the compromise. The answer of
Mr.. Clay was, that the spirit of the compro-
mise act was to be preserved. 1t was impos-
slble to preserve the letter of the act. This
was we'll understood at the time the
act became law. 1t was well understood
now-and yet although all this was obvious,
and Mr.. Calhoun himself had voted to admit
tea and coffee free from duty, and other ar
UcleS with them. he was ready now tn mint
his finger ut Mr.. Clay, and to saw that he
had violated the compromise act. Nothing
could be more untrue or unjust,aEd unless the
actual necessities of the country require the
augmentation of duties beyond 20 per cent,
they will never be increased. Mr. Calhoun
was foiled in his attempt to make all articles
pay duty. Many of his friends were
against him, and the vote stood almost three
to one.
Then came the Railroad Iron amendment
OF the Senator from Pa, and here there was
Hcompromise and modification, the result
OF which is the repeal of the act admitting
Railroad iron from duty, except so far as to
admit the Iron for Railroads commenced
since the passage of the former act. This
amendment gave general satisfaction.
Mr.. woodbury., of N. H., then proposed
an amendment to make coarse woois-those
valued at eight cents a pound, pay duty of
~ per cent. A warm debate sprung up on
this motion, in which several Senators took
part. The Representatives of the farmers.
as well as of the manufacturers, opposed the
motion. MIR. Clay resisted it, Mr.. Hunting.
ton also. as we'll as Mr.. Tallmadge and 9th.
ers. Mr.. Benton and MIR. Woodbury. were
loud in its favor-hut it was lost, and then
modified, SO far as to make all woods, except
N amt