Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-04
CONGREGATIONAL ANALYSIS.
SENATE.

Oovernnent. in conducting its administration, to
provide an adequate revenue within 'he year 70
meet the currcnt expenses Of the year. and That any
eYno5i.n, either by loan or by Treasury notes, TO
.upply in time Of peace. deficiency OF revenue,
especially durn g successive years, Is un"ise' anu
must lead 20 pernieious consequences.
q P,sslped That such an adequate revenue cam
not lie ob,ined by duties on foreign imports, with
out adopting higher rate than 20 per cent as pro-
vided for IN the Compromise act, which,u the time
offs passage, was supposed and ASSUMED as ratio
that would supply n sufficient revenue for an Geo.
nomical administration oC the Government
3 Rssolrsd therefore, That the rate OF duties on
foreghn imports ought TO be augmented eeyonu the
,rteof 20 per cent. = as TO produce nett revenue
of96 millions Of dollnrs-22 for tho ordinary eXpcn-
ses OF Government, for the payment OF the exist
ing debt and , millions as preserved fund tor con-
tingencies.
4 P,s7ir,d That in the adjustment Of a tariff to
raise an amount of PC millions of revenuc the prin
ciples OF the Compromise oct generally should be
adhered to; and that, especially, maximum rate
OF al valorem duties should be established, from
which there ought be little departure as posi-
bic.
S. Reso!red, That the provision in the act of the
extra session, for the distribution OF the proceeds OF
the public lands, requiring the operation Of that act
to be suspended, in the contingency OF n higher
rate OF duty than twenty per cent ought TO 0e re-
pealel.
6 Resolped, That it is the duty OF the Govern
menta at all times but more especially in season
such now exists Of general embarrassment and
pecunary distress TO abolish all useless institutions
nud Offices TO curtai all unnecessary expenses, and
20 practise ris1 economy.
:. ResclreG. That the contingent expenses of the
two Houses Congress ought TO be greatly redueet
and the mileage of members Of Congress ought TO
he regulated and more clearly defined.
: Resided. That the expenses of the judicial
department Of Government have, oflate years, been
greatly Increased, and ought to be diminished.
Q. R.,olrsi, That the diplomatic relations of the
United States with foreign powers have been unnc-
c,5slry extended during the last IL years, and
Uugnf be reduced.
10. Rssslred, That the thanking privilege ought
20 o., further restricted, the abusive of it re
strained aud punished, the postage letters re.
jlccl the mode of estimating distances more clear
" defined and prescribed, and q small addition TO
postage made on books, pamphlets, and packages,
Transmitted by the mail. 10 oe graduated and in
creased according 10 their respective weights.
u. ReSS-ed. That the Secretaries of State, %
the Tr-asGry. OF tho War, and OF the Navy De. !
pirtmen's, aud the Postmaster General, be seve-
rally directed, as soon practicable, to rcpor, |
vast Offices can be abolished, and what retrench.
risu' OF public expenditure can be made without |
pub }, ietriment in the respective branches OF the |
pub service under their charge.
Ma Cay addressed the Senate in support Of |
tiss' reso'utions for about two hours and a half
The following sketch will give general idea Of the
grounds taken 10y Mr. Clay. He commenced by |
stating nat the resolutions just read, he considered
az great importance; involving interests of the high
character; and the system Of policy proposed in
them, ay AZ the bottom OF all efforts 10 restore the
prosperity Of he country. He had not come TO the
rate today to Gull the flowers of oratory, for the
purpose cf Tecang the eyes OF fair ladies. Ne Their
was u his wish to revive anmostes heretofore ex-
is,i-- between political parties. His object was TO
c7-1s on the SAD condition OF the country, and to
suggest some remedies.
ID any persons had come under the expectation
Of hs,uns f.om him. on this occasion, an ambitious
display at oratorv, or expecting him to deal in any
o'ucr iJopes and figures than those Of arithmetic
tnev would he sadly disappointed.
These resolutions were the stakes 10 which he as
O. .CvoEr1an Amino make q atrainht fur ]
would direct his attention.
]; lad been urged against them that they were !
SCI -1 not practical; and that, If in earnest, the
measures proposed ought 10 have been brouoht nj
once under discussion in separate bills. But he I
argued ,hst the practice OF the British Parliament
iion which this country borrowed its pariamena- q
~ usage, was 10 mark out the general principles
fi1' 90 great leading measures OF policy and then r
10 carry them out by special enaetmenIs. 4
Aro,her objection was that no measure of reve. I
ru-, or ctecting purposes OF revenue, originate
my vhe.e hut in the House Of Representatives - ,
lie, however, maintained that the Senate had I
Te'i TO control, not only the amount OF expend- 7
lures ond appropriations suggested w The other
House. but to carry cut such alterations of existing
ne'su.rs and such Teirencl.ments az the public
service 'sht justify, s
lie considered that no mode was so ct for discus
sing these resolutions that of taking them in
re.-', ard 10 the order in which they have been
s0hmlued ,
IAg f-st resolution is based upon the urincip,e :
thai IS The duty Of Congress 10 provide adequate {
revenue TO meet its expenditures. Ii has been said
his o. no,hIns new; II IS mere truism Certainly
ltisi but has It been carried QUIT During Mr. Van
Rureu's Administration, instead of resor,ing 10 re-
venue, what was the oxpedient 10 meet exoendi
lures? Treasury notes; the effect Of which has
been 90 cast upon succeeding Administrations
deot incurred by his administration. There was an
oy-s.s Of expenditures over income Of between
seven and eight millions OF dollars annually and il
the duty Of tat administration, US soon Is that
excess became apparent, TO supply efficiency Of
revenue by On increase OF tafiff.
The next three resolutions relate 70 one subject,
md he would therefore consider them together.
TIE first (.le steondin the setes,) assumes that
on adequate revenue cannot be obtained Ivy duties
an foreign imports, without adopting higher rate
,tan twen,y percent ss provided in the compromise
lc'; nd then supposed sufficient for an economical
administration Of the Government
The second, Qhird in the seriesO assumes that
tie rate ought to be augmented beyond twenty per
cent so as TO produce nett revenue Of twenty.six
millions.
The third. Fourth in the series assumes that the
principles of the Compromise &C, should be sdhered
TO- and maximum rate Of cd yaloTem duties should
be established.
Tie first question suggested 10y these resolutions
wos, what ought 10 be the exact expenditure of the
Government Hc did not pretend to give q pre-
else answer. IL depends on circumstances. All
thnt can be DONE wos to make an approximation
20 what ought to te the expenditure.
Il had been stated that the Wing party, when
on. of power, asserted they would, when they
c.mo into power reduce the expenditures to thir-
teen millions. lie denied that ony such assertion
had ever been made; and he challenged the proof
that such pledge had been given by the Whg
party. What they did say, was, that during Mr.
Adams administration the expenditure Of his 90
vernmcnt was thirteen mil ions; and that the party
succeeding him pledged themselves to lessen the
expenditures; instead Of which they carried them
up 20 al unprecedented amount lie admitted Mr.
Mclean had suggested fifteen millions a reason
abb expenditure Of the Government; but the Wing
piry never did pledge themselves to come down to
either thirteen or fifteen millions; but they did piads &c
themselves 10 ocorom 10 ard reuerch, and that
process YVES now going on ns would be proved by
The elors Of the committees sitting in Congress
On ihc subject.
Ile knew Of no other course TO pursue in reaching
rst-cnchm-nt than TO look beck to past eKpendi.
tufrs, uud ascertain from examinations in detail,
whlt eEsarg charges on the Government can be
reduced.
Pc rn1mstatad The annual expenditures Of Mr.
Won b"'tn's four years Of administration, and
Struck 600 avernse ~ W'ry.hve mil ions. The rate
proposed 100 oihyso resolutions WIS but twenty, 70
millions, showing o. reduc, ion Of thirteen millions
-rqlel % The expenditures OfjMr Adams admins.
u1uon. iio knew that various ressons scre NJ.
signed ior The extraordinary expenditures Of Mr.
Ven Burcn's ndminisIat on. But be maintained
that every Administration could mike such ptetertu
-nl ffmins'mton7 had their "cKtreordnary oc.
crrrercc1' and be denied that such could be nny
excuse. Buthe insisted thot, making ol reasonable