The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-23


which could alone originate measures required by
the condition Of the country and the country required
some denie day for adjournment than to remain mere
dong nothing and awaiting the action Of Others WI"
| may not act His honorable friend from New I ork
(Mr. Talmadge) willing to stay here as long us
there was hopes that something would be done, wheh
this thing could only be done IN the House but
when would they know that any Thing Was TO De
done, when all was involved In doubt In his opih
iOn the Senate could arrange It's business as To De
| able to adjourn by Wednesday or Thursday. Let
| the resolution then be amended and returned to
the House For his own part, he would prefer We'd
nesday Another word on the subject he thought
that he regarded the condition OF the country as much
as was compatible with his public duty-he regarded
| also the condition of the Treasury. tie would viii
ngIy extend all the relief in his power. II was said
that they could not justify themselves by going home
in tie pre- sent condition OF things he should be with
for further action; but if the question was that they
would be justified in going home a, this time, he
would feel himself perfectly justified in doing If
| the country suffering for want of a tariff and
supplies, whose fault was 1t he knew that
| the blame had been attached to Congress but
Whose fault was it Who to bame2 Were
they2 ere those who labored here for the purpose
of supplying the means with which to carry on the
GOVERNMENT and who had their efforts defeated by the
Executive' Ifthey to adjourn to-day, he would
be willing 90 home, and could justify himself be-
| fore the country without fear Although his friend
| from South Carolina MIR. Preston) had made use of
language which might be interpreted injurlously to
the Wing paIty-that they were playing political
game--yet he was sure that such interpreted on
was unjust. He disclamed, for his part, any
| such motive or purpose He had voted for measures
with appIehensions and fears that the President
would defeat them with the veto, but he had voted Tor
no which was not required by the necessl-
ties of the country and deserving of the signature of
the Executive. What was tie condition THE Wing
party, which now called upon 10 aci2 What
the condition of those who called to vote
for tariff? What was the prospect! There WAS an
Executive power defeat and prostrae on side and
| on the other they had opponents IN the Senate,
who in solid mass, came forward to oppose every
measure proposed. Gentlemen INDUCED hopes of
passing satisfactory measures with the appreciation
of this body But had he not heard one gentleman,
who had been connected with the Treasury Depart
ment, (Mr. Woodbury. of large experience and
knowledge in the Senate, and high IN the confidence
of his party declaring that ancestors never de-
signed duty of more than nine or ten per cent? and
that, in going up to twenty per cent we transcribed
the views entertained at the adoption OF the Const-
luton and that with twenty per cent by precept
and example, all duties must vibrate' Had they not
also heard another gentleman, from South Carolina,
(Nlr Calhoun at the conclusion OF an able Speech
up all the arguments which he attempted to il
ustrate by declaring for " free trade" in the pre-
sence of the Senate and the whole country, and who
said that he would not vote for revenue until retrench
ments made without pointing out what they are,
and until the lands were relinquished When, there
fore, he Mr. Crittenden, appealed to fr tariff
to prevent the country from being filled with foreign
goods and when he was told that the Senate might
agree upon some measure to prevent this calamity, on
what ground could he rest hope that there could be
nything like concert of action upoh any subject
One of these Senators was for free trade, and the
other against all protection, unconstitutional
With this Of hostility what could they hope for
How far the Executive was initiated in these doc
trines, and what may be his principles policy he
did not know. Here, then, was the Wing party,
laboring and toling for the good OF their country,
and supplying it with to sustain its honor and
its credit, and in laying duties afording incidental
protection, with gentlemen OF adverse opinions on
one side and the Executive the other The efforts
of the Wing party had thus been parayzed and pros
trated and they had found language to the extent
which the veto goes, adopted as the principle of
ton. Congress had been frustrated in its action and
Inundated, and the representatives not permitted
to tax themselves. One man was set up as
an Executive officer, claiming also to be re-
preventative of the people, and better than
the Legislative representatives. and undertaking to
troll their action. Notwithstanding all this they
called upon submit themselves to This authority,
and make themselves nothing to become gv-
betweeners between the Executive and the party to
which they opposed! They were told, too, that
they dare not go home without eglslating and even
the fear of personal punishment had been held up to
| sanction this threat 'You dare not 90 home you
| are Obliged to stay here !" Were they bound to the
wheel Of Executive authority, and required turn it,
and turn it until every sinew and nerve cracked, and
obliged to stay here and leglslate Was it not sub
price Of the Executive; and could they not legsate
without having system of measures dictated by the
| Executive branch ofthe Government? If there was
any prospect OF tariff bill, he would toll on, he
would still toll on, but he confessed he had but
| little hope Their constituents had interests to pro-
tect and at the time had rights to maintain and
principles to withhold but measures required for
their interests should not constran them to make
crifces of their rights through their Representatives,
| If the House was determined to do moth ng let Con
| 90 adj inedh here tOO nnU
already and they could desire to stay here longer
/ than it necessary for the public service Let.
then, the resolution be amended by fixing the day of
adjournment at Wednesday or Thursday, and send it
back to the House. If they do any thing, let
them do it. He hoped therefore, that the resolution
| would not be laid upon the table.
| Mr. RIVES rose to move to lay the resolution on
| the table. From what had already occurred, it was
evident that it would lead to fur her discussion. He did
mean say word with regard the topics referred
to by gentlemen; and he was determined not to with
draw his motion. In order to excuse himself for any
apparent want of courtesy, though otherwise
he would have had much to say, he would remark
that there special subject of great Importance to
be considered; and hence he had made the notion
The question Their taken and decided in the af-
frmative-yeas %, nays 25 as follows:
| YEAS-Messrs Bates, Benton, Berrien, Bucha-
nan, Calhoun, Choate, Conrad, Crafts, Cuthbert,
Evans, Fulton, Huntington, Kerr King Linn,
Phelps, Porter, Rives, Sewer, Simmons Sprague
Sturgeon, Tallmadge, Wilcox, and WilIiams-25.
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Archer, Bagby, Barrow,
Bayard, Clayton Crittenden, Dayton, Graham, Hem
derson, Mangum, Merrick, Miller, Morehead, Pres
ton Smith, of Conn.,, Smith, of Ia, Tappan, White
Woodbridge Woodbury., Wright, and Young-23
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of
Executive business.
In the House, Mr.. JOHNSON, of Maryland, COM
mented briefly the remarks made the preceding
day by Mr. Bidlack, respecting the memorials from
rnvinp fho Of he Cfofa
debts. He thought the object of that gentleman was
to dscredit these memorials before the House and
the country. In conclusion he said that he had
other to present, which he moved should be referred