The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-13
MR.. CLAWS SENSE OF AMERICAN
PATRIOTISM.


| tional Intelligencer, which appeared in that
paper ON the L th inst. This correspondent is
well known TO be Mr.. Robert Walsh, late OF
Philadelphia, who distinguished himself among
our editors by his able management OF the
National Gazette and American Quarterly Re
view Like a true American, he expresses his
disapprobalion, in severe but just terms, OF
the allegations OF Mr. Clay in his labored val
edctory speech that the People OF the United
States would immediate any statesman who
would venture, on any national emergency
whatever TO propose evying from them direct
tax When Mr. Clay pronounced in the Senate
this libel on the patriotism of his countrymen,
we felt indignant at his audacty, and could
not avoid anticipating the effect upon the cha
racter of our People and our institutions, which
has been witnessed in Paris with SO much re-
greet by the correspondent Of the Intelligence.
Let every American who values the good name
Of his country, read and ponder on the extract
we lay before him, and then ask himself whether
the reckless man who could in the face of the
world make such charge against her People,
be fit to be their President; or whether any
party, worthy of being called American, ought
not TO be ashamed to adopt such a candidate
for the highest office in the Republic.
Most of the Americans here, and some of the
principal French politicians, have conned MIR. Clay's
able yaledictory speech on his important resolutions
One passage of it-well founded, doubtless, and cor
roborated by kindred declarations in State Legisla-
tures-produces an impression uniavorable to the
sense and patriotism of the American People. re-
4 a. Va f,.np will
rise here in his place and say that we TO rely Ell
Their on direct internal taxes. Who has the tie
mery to meet the waves OF popular indignation
which will flow round and bury him, whoever he
may be- that should propose to raise a revenue by
direct taxation 7" 1t is argued by the European po-
lticar morasts that honest and proyident commune
ties would not hesitate to pay crying debts, to restore
national credit to yindicate national character, to
remedy the various evils OF insolvent public eXche-
quers, by submitting to any kind of taxation con-
ributon which should appear most ehicacious for the
present day, and the surest resource for all time.
And if resoute probty and ready sacrifice might be
expected for such purposes from any communities it
would be from Republican, pretending to superior in
elligence and virtue, and protesting the strongest
love of Justice and country. Europe at this
ment that in a Monarchy, with free constitution,
with a representative system Prime Minister has
yenured to propose the most odous OF direct taxes,
and to stake his Office and the recent triumph of his
party, on the success of twofold fiscal scheme ss
disrust class interests and party passions to violent
animosty Sir Robert Peel's income tax and modi-
fed tariff together evidence of what states
of lofty spirit and direct action, dsdaning the old
palliatyes and doubtful expedients may dare, in or
der to prevent the incfease of public debt and pro-
vide Government for the exigences whether of peace
or war. | cannot refrain from offering you in this
place the commentator which Mr.. Roeblck, the
ablest member and true leader Of the Radical party
in the House of Commons, pronounced on the Pre-
| in thatH IN he NJ thp
23d ultimo.
Mr. Roebuck observed that the right honorable Ba-
ronet had not received that need of Appreciation either
from friends or enemies, TO which he was entitled; he
had been criticised by his own ranks and those
among his general opponents, from whom support
might have been expected, had not realized expecta-
ton. He had brought forward plan which TO him
(Mr. Roebuck) appeared straightforward, honest and
easy of comprehension; it could deceive nobody and
the country would understand it. twas intend
ed to raise certain revenue and, that the people
should distinctly know in what manner they Were TO
pay it, they were not to be cajoled or deceived in or
der to obtain the large sum required The deficiency
was great and was admitted, and two plans of sup
plying il had been stated. One was, that of raising
The money directly from the community; the other
was that of evyng it indirectly as tax upon com
modts. The first was the plan of the right honora
BILE baronet; the second was the budget OF the late
Administration Il but justice TO the right homo
rable baronet to take his project whole and he
was moi now going to fix upon any portion which he
might approve or dislike, but to consider 1t as one
comprehensive scheme. lie would presently cncise
It on various particulars but in the outset he was
hound to admit it was clear straightforward and hon
est. He did not think that II lay in the mouths OF
those who felt with the right honorable baronet re-
garding the deficiency, to crtclse him for endeavor
ing 10 supply it, The deficiency existed, and neither
side of the House was to be separately blamed the
fault was on both sides. 1t was not hig nor
Tory, bat House of Commons deficiency cheers
People might talk of the expensive war IN Syria, but
it was the war of both parties for the increased ex
penditure both sides Of the House were responsible
All were intent spending, and nobody thought OF
saving; expenditure was the rule, and saving the
exception lie would tell the House, the country,
and the right honorable baronet that his chlet rea
son for appaudng the present frank scheme OF
financial reform was, that it could not fail to make the
peole feel and understand at whose door 10 lay the
blame Hitherto the finances of the empire had only
been tempered with attempts had been made to boch
the business and to put temporary end to the diff
cues Ivy articles that ought to have deceived nobody
He, therefore, thanked the right honorable baronet
for saving that he would no longer be party to this
pary chcanery for he told the people plainly, 81 am
not going to create oan to resort to any other
expedent by which your postcrty will be taxed but
| | am going to tax you hear, hear, hear. The
| crime of deficiency belonged to the House no man
bad denied its existence; no man had exaggeratedlts
amount no man had disputed that the money was
wanted; and no had asked for reduction of ex
penditure At the door of the House, therefore, lay
the blame of expenditure and consequent deficiency.
Then came the question, how II was to be met Was
the country prepared to pay the money IN a direct,
stra ghliorward manner? or was 1t willing to resort
again to old contrivances tinker the difficulty, and
under the prrtence of relieving commercial distress,
to add new taxes and increase prevailing embarrass
ments BY far the preferable course was that which
was the bodest--to tell the people that the money
must be raised, and to only the short integible
phrase "pay it." [cheers The honorable member
Tor Liskeard (Mr. G.. Buller) had said that the tax
was likely to drive capital out of the country. He
| (Mr Roebuck) thought that his honorable friend had
aspired to the character of a political economist
| VIVA, could lie the difference, regarded capital
whether the money taken in one way or in ano-