Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-01-20
0OggGl2Ln 9So
Debate in the Senate
MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 1871,
ON THE

PROPOSED BOARD OF EXCHEOUER
The question of referring the bill and report OF
the Secretary of the Treasury coming up for con-
sideraton as the unfinished business
MIR. HUNTINGDON said that, if amy apology
Were necessary for dctoining the Senate upon this
question, IL might be found In the magnitude of
the subject presented. 1t had an important con-
neXion with the currency of the Government
with its business and its powers; and in his
Judgment TO all questions relating TO public lib
erty. 1t was not his object to e.ter into the
examination Of all these matters. He proposed
very briefly TO examine of the features of
tn BIZ which had been submitted TO Congress
now nearly a mont, since by the Secretary Of lie
Treasury. In his judgment, he would state, first,
that some OF the principles Of tie bill had not
been understood, or Were misunderstood, in those
sections Of the country where the bill had met
with favor. in the second place, he proposed to
submit his views TO the committee upon the plan
as it came to Congress for consideration.
lie did not agree with the Senators from New
York and Virginia, (Mr. Tallnadge ana Mr..
Rives) that this was not the time to discuss these
matters. lie considered, the contrary, that it
was the most proper time TO enter upon thciE dis
cuSsion.
One Of the very first acts Of the venerable
President now deceased, after his inauguration,
was to aihX his signature TO proclamation con-
vening Congress i'll extra session, OH the last of
May last He who has justly been called tie
s'good President" and who had called US here,
was not here to meet us when we came at his
summons. Death had called him to another
sphere, and he oboyed the summons. But our
! Constitution easily provided a remedy, and the
/ distinguished individual now at tue head OF the
/ Government, called TO occupy she place
| made vacant by the death of the President He
| called our attention, at the commencement Of the
! extra session, TO the Subje, which now forms Il
| part of the features of this bill. He submitted
the question 10 Us. and we acted as duty dictated.
! Our efforts failed, and we adjourned, also i'll the
! hope and promise that some wise and saluiary
measure would be proposed, which would restore
the currency, improve the exchanges, and do the
public some service in an improvement of thC
! times. We went home fearing, but hoping 70
the best; and we came back with the ardent wsl
that tho wretched state of things which now eX
lists would be remeled ,aui that, instead fthem
some wise, safe, constitutional measure submit
ted, considered, and matured. We now hav
this plan before US; we have treated it wit
great respect; examined the bill, accompanie
by the report, which is drawn up with consur
mate ability, and presented to with all tn
plausibiity which could favor such pianas til,
proposed. 1t is this plan (said Mr.. H.) no.
r propose TO examine. And what do we find 7
appreciated currency from the Hudson to Il
Floridas; our labor not meeting with lis adequa
! reward; confidence lost IN our State sccuTile
: and general apprehension that worse is TO COM
: And the remedy proposed for all this is an a
G ! entitled San act to amend the laws establishii
n a Treasury Of the United States.' This act "
o proposed for our adoption by those who had be
t, contending for twelve years against Execuii
s power Executive influence, and Executive &C
/ troll. 1T was presented 10 panacea for
20 jsling disorders. 1t was said by the Sena
N from Pennsylvania (Mr. Buchanan) that we h
e this scheme Swallowed forth in 1887. ii ~
Swallowed forth long before that time; and
j. 1881, as an humble member Of the other Boz
Ne he had distinct recollection that it was u
ut Swallowed forth by the Chief Magistrate.
I'd then thought and said that there was not a II
&c who would stand forth and hazard his politi
lis reputation by the support Of such measure.
was then stated that there not a membe
ut be found who would favor it upon commit
lis and once he remembered to have heard it s
that, ii the Speaker expected to find any frent
dy any such measure, he would have to go out of
a House of Representatives TO find one; he CT
not be found there.
ler In discussing this measure, Mr.. VI. said ht
tended TO impute motives to no one. He pr
! sed 70 analyzc the bill and report, and TO