The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-10-19

Congress in concert with the President that il the I'd
and third is tho Florida fourth, the long series of
administrative ebrts, commencing at the very begin
ming of the Harrison cabinet, for the PER-
feet ORGANIZATION of the civil military, and naval
vice OF the country; and next 10 these came the Ia
riff, settled oy this Adminisiration--'he Tyler Adj
minstration-after pine months agitation upon the
subject And il 10 operating benehcaliy upon all
the industry of the United States. Whose act is IL
Walter Forwards, the Secretary OF the Treasury
not that Of Congress, or any member OF Congress.
The House OF Representatives had referred the mat
ter to the Committee Manufactures, and had OBJ
tanned tariff bill from them; but the House decided
to take up, and passed resolution calling up
on the Secretary Of the Treasury for a tariff He
prepared one which was enacted, and il the bill
that passed II is true that il amended but still
ii was the bill passed.
l know that much controversy has arisen-hat
there has been, or is jealousy in your minds upon
the opinions Of the President upon the subect-and
that much has been said upon the supposIton that ne
adverse TO the measure Whence this idea; Is il
true 7 Ii has been repeatedly urged that he was ia
favor Of compromise act. Ii So be was induced 10
favor and taught to respect that act by its author
Henry Clay himself--and cannot understand how il
lies in the minds Of gentlemen who Mr.. Clay's
advocates TO blame John Tyler for entertaining re-
spect for MIR. Clay's favorite measure But perhaps
Mr.. Clay has changed his mind, and Mr.. Tyler ad-
heres to his for unreasonable length of time But
gentlemen, have here the messages Of the Execu-
tive and there is distinction between the Ian
i
be any distinction, it is that the latter favors now
or did at the last session. that compromise act more
than the former refer you to the resolutions of the
Senate, of the first March, lS42-Mr. Clays own re-
solutions do not mean to reproach him at ALL but
merely to say that If there be distinction in favor
of your interests the preference 10 to be awarded TO
MIR. Tyler. Ia the fourth resolution il is declared:
"That the adjustment of the tariff to raise an
amount Of twentysix millions of revenue the princi-
Piles OF the compromise act generally should be ad-
hered to; and that especially maximum rate of
ad valorem duties should be established from which
there ought TO be little departure as possible
| There is the principle which Mr.. Clay demanded
and on which he proposed adjustment of the tariff
question. But his maximum of duties was thirty per
cent dd ralorenl-a far less protection TO you than
the tariff bill now in force. / put it to you, upon
this review OF the facts, whether there be any
just cause OF exception your part to the views of
the President as 10 the tariff question.
Gentlemen, there Is one other question yet unad.
justed to which the attention Of Congress- as well as
OF the Executive, has been called--that of fixed
currency. This question is not settled-and why?
There are but three forms in which it has been pro-
posed to be concluded--a United States Bank-an
Independent Treasury, it is called and an Exche-
quer, as proposed by the present Administration. L
may assume it as fact undeniabe, that there is
fixed ma orty Of the people adverse to the incorpo-
ration OF United States Bank, (cheers,) or any
chartered company which should have the power TO
discount funds If | entertained doubt upon this
point, which do motif thought it possible to be
mistaken in this posihon--I would gladly poll the
House here upon thR subject l would ask how many
here ready to enter into contest for the
purpose of incorporating United States Bank. |
know that no such opinions exist know that de-
sire no longer to be welded to United States
| Bank
| have ceased to believe that such bank was the
best means of conducting and regulating the curren-
cy and exchange. never entertained any affection
for it, and those who have represented as holding
such an opinion, have been utterly mistaken. AT the
first Congress of which was member stated NV
course fairly-I avowed that would be bound no
longer IN Mezentan bonds to the dead body of the
United States Bank. 1t is true, | voted for the bill
drafted by the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Ew-
ing. And the one or two votes like that which, on
looking back, most regret, were those which gave
only out of extreme anxiety TO act with the Wing
members of Congress- IL / have erred, nv sin has
been not of factous opposition but of conceding too
much to love OF peace. In the words of MIR. Web
ster; the man who entertains the scheme of United
States Bank, "pursues an obsolete idea" But are
there no other means of attaining the end Suppose
Bank of the United States were established with a
branch in Boston. How many of you would get dis
counts or derive any benefit from that branch? Not
the mechanics-not the industrious classes-but only
the great capitalists of Boston, as heretofore and to
the great body of the people it would be of no benefit
whatever.
Well, gentlemen, what do you want of United
States Bank? You do not need il as means or Dor
rowing money but your want of national currency
more convenient, perhaps more abundant but as safe
as gold and silver something about which there is
an /" odor OF nationality"-a universally valuable
paper currency And this is all that any rational
man can DESIRE But you know there are great ques-
tons OF constitutionalty connected with this matter
The question Of bank has been driven three times
head foremost butt aga successive yetoes its very
friends have done all that IN them lay, to render it an
impossiblty, and to render impossible too the at
tempt to establish currency by any other measure
But although the Administration has not set ed thi,
yet cannot but entertain the hope that Congress-
when 1t re assembleswiIl see and acknowledge that
the Exchequer IS preferable to the Sub-Treasury
bank is out Of the question-trampled under foot
spurned by the Government and the Democracy as il
has been, and the alternative is the Sub-Treasury or
the Exchequer?
What then, are the objects of this controversy,
You are urged to go into a quarrel-and what about
or whai reasons Not one practical idea--not one
SPECIFIC FACT other than certain wild crude and alb
surd schemes OF amendment to the Constitution
Onited states Bank IS to be found in profession of
iaiti some illusions have been made to Distrbu-
on, but that question is settled. And YOU are ipyok
ed to engage in ferocious party warfare with no
tangible object. No one will refuse the concession
mat highly important and laudable things have been
done by the Administration and what then is the
quarrel mere personal, party quarrel, having
nothing to do with measures executed or contem-
plated!
desire to say few words with reference TO nv
own position.
Uentlemen, have endeavorcd so far as lay in my
power to discharge my duty and my whole duty
faithfully to this district and to my constituents
Will not enter armativey into an examination of nv
acts or my votes. will be more Just more direct
more precise, to fix attention upon specific aega
tons OF misconduct and defpite complaints What
then, are these specific aIIega ions OF complaint
have desired to ascertain them, and if take as n
means one paper in Lowell, not in queruous spi-
rn-you VIII lind If you look back upon the files of
that and other journals, that all my acts were an.
Proved-an therefore, have receipt in fulfill
The beginning Of the tariff question And unon Thai