The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-07-09

Mr.. WELLER followed in proof of his asser-
ton that dismssiois had been made from the
Post Office, especially, merely on party grounds.
He narrated at length a case in which a post
master was dismissed by Mr.. Granger, merely
on party grounds.
la the Senate, Mr.. PHELPS remarked that, some
days since the Senator from New Hampshire, (Mr.
Woodbury. asked leave to introduce two bills in
Iaton to the revenue. On his motion the question
of leave then laid the table; and now, at the
suggestion of that Senator he would ask the Senate
to take ii up
The motion was agreed to; and the question re-
curing granting leave TO introduce the bills
Mr.. LINN asked for the yeas and nays, which
were ordered.
Mr.. WOODBURY. said that if these bills were
not permitted TO be presented 1t must be on the
ground that they impose revenue or duty, and be-
cause it is supposed thai duties cannot be collected
under any laws low in force. If that be the case,
the country will understand the attitude in which
Senators placed themselves, and their hands de-
voved the duty of carrying on the Government.
Mr.. PHELPS remarked that he was not disposed
to detan The Senate on the question as TO whether
they had or had not system to collect revenue,
nor was he disposed to debate the question
whether the Senate was the proper place in
which to consider the bills brought forward
by the Senator from New Hampshire. His own
opinion that of these bills, at all events,
could not be originated in this body. However, he
thought that the most appropriate would be 10
ask leave to introduce the bills in order to refer them
to the appropriate committee who would have the
whole subject before them, and could examine into
the subject, and ascertain whether we have system
under which revenue can be collected, and II would
also be competent for them TO examine whether the
Of a could
As the question admitted Of argument and doubt, in
his humble udgment the most appropriate course was
to receive the bills, refer them to the proper commit
tee and let them report then opinions thereon To the
Senate. With this view, he would vote for the refe-
renee.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN remarked that the Constitu-
ton explicit in saying that all bills for raising
venue must originate in the House of Representa-
tives This power placed exclusively in their
hands Therefore he would be obliged, although
with reluctance to vote against the motion OF leave to
introduce these bills.
AT the request of Mr.. PREsToN, the first bill was
read, viz:
A bill to extend for time the laws for laying and
collecting duties imports.
BE IL enacted by the Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatires Of the United States Of America in Com
gress assembled That all laws existing in force
The Both June A ID, 1912, regulating and fixing the
amount and rate of duties to be- levied and collected
on goods, wares, and merchandise imported into the
ing such goods and collecting such duties and ii pro-
visions in relation thereto, shall continue and be in
force they existed that day. until otherwise pro-
vided by law hereafter passed.; except that till
such arrangement the duties assessed shall IN case,
after The SAID 3Oh June, 1872 be higher than what is
equivalent to 20 per cent the value OF the articles
imported.
The other bill is in the following words, to wit
bill to provide for a system of home valuation
goods imported into the United States.
Be enacted by the Senate and House Of Representa-
pes Of the United Stat Of fine, lea in Congress
bied That hereafter the valuation of goods imported
into the United States shall be ascertaned and regu
lated at the port where the shall be entered, as
follows lst The value abroad at the place of expor
aton shall be fixed in the manner prescribed IN An
to alter and amend the several acts imposing du-
ties on imports" passed July IA, 1889 and with
view to cover CHARGE freight and all matters usually
increasing the value here that abroad there shall
be added twenty per cent in ofmports from be-
yond the Cape of Good Hope, and fifteen per cent, in
all of imports from this side the Cape of Coop
Hope. And the valuation attained and made
shall be considered the home valuation of imports, or
the value thereof at the port where entered for all
purposes of assessing duties thereon.
Mr.. BAYARD observed with regard to the first
named bill that he should feel himself constrained by
the same necessity hch had been pointed by the
Senator from Kentucky, (Mr Critienden) 1t seem
cd TO him, whether i; was revenue bill or not, it
must be tried by the bill ltselt-they could not have
eference external circumstances to ascertain the
fact. The Constitution expressly prohibited the ORR
pina,ion of such bill this in he Senate of the
United States. They could not look to collae-
raj mattcr-they must take he bill as it APP
peared on its ace-and THIS bill on its face, did
appear 10 him TO be revenue bill Believlng there
fore, they had no power to originate Oil like thus, he
would be compelled to vote against it, If the second
bill did not iavolve the question of imposing duties
but merely regulation for collecting duties it was
another matter be considered separately from this
Mr. MERRICK SAID that this bill bill to
raise revenue, or 1t was not. III laws Tor imposing
revenue in force the 3Uth of June they were
still in f,ce and would continue until superst ded
by a law to be enacted by Congress If there were
no revenue laws in force the 3oh of June, then
this bill would enact revenue law. However, he
altogether out of temper with the whole state of
the question.
Mr. WOODBURY. observed that if the Senator
from Maryland had been in his seat when leave was
asked to introduce the bills, he would have heard
statement Of the grounds on which they were offered.
This bill was not 10 impose new du'ies, nor to IN
crease them, but, there being doubts as 10 whether
they could coec duties, it merely declared wha, re-
gu alton shall be in force for the purpose of appraisiDg
importalions and collecting duties
Mr. PRESTON remarked that if the laws for i'm
posing duties terminated the 30th Of June, then
this was revenue measure and could not be intro
duced in the Senate He would prefer that the House
should first in this matter, for is power with re-
gard to originating revenue was undoubted
If the House delayed too long he saw no reason why
the Senate should not avail itself Gifts poweIon this sub
ject but the conflicting powers of the two bodies was
nice question, and they should act scrupulousy and
dclicately He desired to know If leave be granted
for the introduction of the bills, whether it was
for the Senate, at any time to make and de-
eide the question to the propriety OF proceeding
with their consideration
The CHAIR was understood to say that the ques-
ton had never been determined.
Mr.. KING said that IT. at any time during the
tendency Of a measure, IT should be supposed that
they iranscending their powers the attention OF
the Senate could be called To the fact and they could
then postpone the consideration OF the bill ndef-
DeIy.
Mr.. HUNTING TON replied to the remarks of
the Senator frem New Hampshire, and con,ended
that they Inhibited by the Constitution from on
gnatlng bill similar TO that which had been present.
ed, and that it for raising revenue, and de-
signed and calculated TO effect that object
Mr.. WOODBURY. rejoned in further expana-
ton of the object of the bill