The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-31
CONGRESS-.

Rives wa, referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary, but Mr.. Fillmore refused to give way
and accordingly the House went into commit
tee, with Mr.. Ward in the chair. MIR. Ather-
ton, who was entitled to the floor, went into an
argument in reply to reasoning adduced IN favor
of the Distribution law. He gave history OF
the mode in which the public lands were ac
qured, and argued against the equity and Pollcy
of the Distribution act He also gave his views
on the question frequently discussed in relation
10 the party on whom the responsibility OF the
present national Indebtedness should rest
The hour of two having arrived, the speech
of Mr. Anterior was brought to an abrupt close
Mr. Cooper, of Georgia, then offered an amend
ment to Mr.. Wise's amendment, which the
latter refused to accept. MIR. Sprlgg offered
modification, which was accepted, authorizing
the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase the
stock under certain restrictions. This modlfl-
cation was rejected by vote of SO to 80. MIR.
Campbell, of South Carolina, offered an amend
ment to the fifth section, to the purport that
when the amount of duties should exceed TWEEN
ty per cent. on any article, the nett proceeds
from the sales of the public lands should be
also pledged for redemption of the debt This
was pronounced out of order; and the Chair
decided that according to the practice of the ex-
ira session no debate on the point OF order could
be allowed. An appeal was taken, and the
Judgment of the Chair sustained by vote of 81
to 38.
A motion not materially different from the
last was offered by Mr.. Wise, and rejected by
vote Oft to 104 Mr.. Roosevelt proposed an
amendment, that the proceeds of the lands pur-
chased from France and Spain, by money paid
out of the Treasury Of the United States, should
be pledged for the payment of the loan. The
proposition was rejected.
Various other amendments were offered by
Messrs Roosevelt, Mckay, Anterior, Barnard,
and Cooper, of Georgia, and were, for the most
part, rejected. At about half past three O'Clock
the Committee rose and reported the bill to the
House.
Mr.. Fillmore gave an exposition OF the neces-
slty Of selling the bonds at the market price, and
without taking any question, the House ad-
journed.
The amendment of Mr.. Rves to the resolu-
tons of Mr.. Clay was yesterday rejected in the
Senate by vote of 81 to %, and the resolu-
tons were, with the exception of two OF them,
referred to appropriate committees.
WING URES-DEMOCRATIC MEA-
SURES-PATRIOTIC MEASURES.
We have truly been made sick at heart to
observe, in such trying times as the present.
that when measure is suggested by our Re-
publican President to meet the painful exlgen-
cies of the country, the leading Wing and De-
mocratic politicians and presses, approving or
condemnng his recommendation by the test OF
party consistency.
The Intelligencer says the Distribution bill
was a leading Wing measure, and therefore 1t
condemns the Presidents motion to suspend
its operation. The Globe says it meper should
have been enacted and therefore 1t taunts and
mocks the Chief Magistrate with racaAat1om,
repentance, &C. Mr. Barrow, having once de-
cIared war of determination against the De
mocratic party, denounces the proposition be-
cause it will be supported by that party Mr..
Marshall voted for the act at the extra session,
therefore he will sanction no change, no moil-
6cation of the provisions of the bill
The country, in its paralysis, we trust, can
see the conduct of its physicians. Though
PROSTATE and agonsed, we believe It's reproach-
ful gaze is fixed upon its murderers.
Party consistency rigid, unyielding party
consistency is the cry of politicians, while the
credit of the country is PROSTATE in the dust,
and the grooming People are beseeching their
Representatives for patriotic remedies ! Party
chO ho
consistent, immutable, eternal-but endctments
of erpediency should be adapted to the times.
Times change, and so must measures The
man who would always be consistent in mere
matters of policy, must either become an idiot
or a statue The seasons change-there is
seed time and harvest-foods come, and again
the earth is parched by the scorching sun.
Change is the order of Nature. And shall
man be mmutable :? He must first become i'm
mortal.
Shall not the herdsman whose habit it is to
drive his cattle forth to the green forest, change
his policy when the Of an approaching lion
is heard? Shall the advocates of universal
peace yield nothing of their consistency when
the cannon of an invader is laundering against
the Capitol!
We tell our statesmen the sooner they change
their policy the better for themselves and the
country-we mean party policy The man who
acts with the most promptness and decision, in
bursting asunder party letters, and applying his
shoulder to the wheels of the Federal Govern
ment at this crisis, will win bright circle OF
glory, while the stickers for party consistency,
do
be branded with indellible infamy