The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-09

ava OF INDIANA,
Dslipsrsd in the House Of Repr sentaftpes ON the io"
March, the Loan Bill
(cONTNUED)

him. he was member OF the Commiltee Vi w ays
and Means, and although he stood as one to eight,
he must expect be held solely responsible just as
his few friends upon this floor deemed answera-
Bile for the action Of the whole House.
1.-THE chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means really believes that all those who oppose
the amendment he offers actuated by facuous
feeling, how it that he does not notice the oppo-
ston made by his own political friends3 Why does
he not take the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr
UNDERwooD) to task? Why does he spare the gen.
teman form Vermont? (Mr. EvERETT) Why is
another gentleman (Mr. MARsHALL) entirely over
looked in his denuncations That gentleman spoke
fully and earne thy against the proposition lie even
ventured to give his political friends little whole
some advice which would INFORM my irend from
Kentucky was much too sound Tor the chairman OF
the Committee OF WAYS and Means to follow. Sew
eraI other political friends of the gentleman have ex-
pressed sentiments adverse to the amendment and
yet he unblushgly charges all the opposition to the
friends of the Administration, and calls upon the
country to witness that if this bill fails is delayed,
the "peculiar friends" of the President alone
ponsibe.
shall now, Mr.. Chairman, the charge
made by the gentleman, that the peculiar friend"
of the President have arrested the business of the
House during the present session. 1t is absolutely
necessary that it should be answered for Ihold that
whoever has done it, is justly liable to the severe
censure of the People.
And f1s will ask who was it that occupied all the
first part of the session in attempting to alter the
rules OF the House, by repeating the 2lst rule thus
wishing to open wide door to interminable difficult
ties and exciting discussions the abolition of slave
ry' The gentleman, and large majority of his po-
litical friends.
Who when they found themselves thwarted in
their designs occupied day after day in presenting
abolition petitions, drawn up by concert with MEM
bers of Congress, and having for their object excite
ment and agtations The gentleman and majority
of his political friends
Who presented petitions to dissolve the Union, and
thus occupied for days the time which ought to have
been devoted to the good of the nation rather than to
the destruction of its institutional
Who when the general appropriation bill
der consideration, contrary to all precedent and for
party purposes, introduced an amendment on the
subject Of printing the laws, and wasted days in
profitable discussion: The gentleman himself; and
in this he was supported by his peculiar friends"
Who moved to strike out all the contingent
penses of the Departments, &C., and occupied days
in declaimng about the most triAing expenditures
and have at last resolved that there shall be APP
preparation bills instead of one The gentleman and
his friends. And predict, sir, that twice as much
time will be wasted the contingent bil' as it
should require to pass upon dozen of the most inn
Portant measures of the session.
Who, when the Presidents Message was under
consideration came into this House with long Sc
ries of resolutions-concocted suppose in caucus
and insisted that the subject of the Tariff should be
referred to the Committee Manufactures, instead
of the Committee of Ways and Means, protesting at
the same time that tariff for revenue all he
discussing abstract questions and in making tariff
speeches, which properly should have been withheld
until the subject came egitimaely before the House
Sir, the Chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means is responsible for that waste of time
Who moved to strike out from the app opriation
bills the salaries Of officers still in the discharge of
duties assigned them by law, and then in making
party speeches occupied days in useless debate'
But will cease to torture the gentleman with
recaptulation of the acts and dongs of himself and
friends. hope he may, from this slight reference
to the record learn in future how dangerous it to
make charges SO utterly groundless as those he has
; preferred.
The People from this can learn why it is that the
Loan bill has been smothered until this late day in
Sthe Committee of Ways and Means, and why it is
that nothing substantially beneficial to the country
has been passed upon.
could, sir, if time permitted, or if were actu-
ated by any thing like revengefl feeling portray the
gentleman's conduct in colors still more sombre.
From this time FORTH he may dispense with the gilt
tering veil with which he would conceal his partisan
deform ties. He may spare us his doleful amen-
tatOns for the condition of the Treasury He may
to excaim that he is sorry very sorry for the
Administration. His sorrow is understood. 1t is the
sorrow of the crooked Richard, with the mangled
corpse of Henry at his feet, who the purple drops
course down his murderous blade, smilmgy exclaims,
See how my sword weeps for the good Kings
death!n
I will now appeal to the Committee to bear me
witness to the in which the friends of the
Administration have discharged their duty during
this session.
The gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. Wise,) as
Chairman of the Committee Naval Affairs, has
been laboriously engaged in the important duties of
his station and none will deny but that they arduous
in the extreme. The naval appropriation bills are
ready for the action of the House. His colleague
(Mr Mallory has presented an able report on coast
defences, &c., and, with Messrs. Wise and Gushing,
stand three out of five the Committee for investi-
eating into the coast survey.
Nv c-,ool NJ
unaided and alone, has, uader instructions OF the
House, submitted report of herculean labor on the
subject of reforms in every depart ent of the Gov
ernment; and this too, without any ostentaous dis
play or absence from his Congressional duties
The interchangeable and talented Chairman of the
Finance Committee (Mr. Cushing) and four other
friends of the Administration, have performed the
duties imposed upon them by the House, and have
submitted report and bill providing for the estab
lishment of Fiscal Agent Of the Government. The
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Cushing) has
also reported several bills from the Committee
Foreign Relations.
But why should pursue this matter furtheri-
Scarcely day will elapse before we shall again be
charged with arrestng the public business and with
factious opposition 1t is necessary for the party in
power on this floor to abuse person, and to
coin some excuse for their want of action and doubt
less they find it convenient and agreeable to exhaust
their spleen on the friends Of the Administration
And cannot fatter myself that they will be induced
by any exposition advice of mine to abandon their
petty policy or puerile pastime.
will inform them, however, that /, for one, I'M
derstand full well leading object of their daily
denunciation 1t is not so much directed against all
the friends of the Administration as against one of
them-the honorable gentleman from Virginia, { Mr.
WIsE) They feel the moral effect of his unmpeach-
able private life They know that his virtues as
man gives unassaable strength to his public charac-
ter The unwavering devotion to principle; the un-
ceasing opposition to party tyranny and legislative
legerdemain; the ready and impressive eloquence
the manly independence; the uniform denunciaton
ofcorruption; the pure American feeling-whch have
marked his public career, all tend to give influence
to his opinions and strength to his position He