Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-03-25
in SENATE March |.

The resolutions having been read
Mr.. CLAY rose and addressed the
Senate nearly as follows: Mr.. President.
The resolutions which have just been
read, and which are 10 form the subject
of the present discussion, are Of the
greatest Importance, involving interests
Of the highest character, and a system
Of policy which, in my opinion, lies at
the bottom of any restoration OF the
prosperity OF the country. In discuss'
ing them, | would address myselfto you
in the language Of plainness, Of sober
ness, and truth. did not come here as
If were entering garden full Of flow
ers and OF the richest shrubbery, to Gull
the tea.roses, the jaPonicas, the jas
mines and woodbines, and weave them
into a garland Of the gayest coIors, that
by the beauty OF their assortment and
by their fragrance | may grati(y fair
ladies'. Nor is it my wish--it is far,
far from my wish--to revive any sub
jects OF party character, or which
might be calculated to renew the ami
mositieS which unhappiIy have hither-
to prevailed between tho two greet po
liticaI parties in the country. My
course is far different from this; it is to
speak 10 you of the sad condition Of our
country-to point out not the remote
and original, but the proximate, the i'm
mediate causes which have produced
and are likely 10 continue our distress
es, and TO suggest a remedy. If any
one, in or out OF the Senate, has imagln
ed ii to be my intention, on this occa
sion, to indulge in any ambitious display
OF language, TO attempt any rhetorica
flights, or to deal in any figures thar
figures of arithmetic, he will find him
self greatly disappointed. The farmer
il he is a udicious man, does not bogir
to plough ill he has first laid off hI'
land, and marked it off at proper dis
tances by planting stakes by which his
ploughmen are to be guided in theil
movements; and the ploughman accord
ingIy fixes his eye upon the stake op
posite to the end IF the destined furrow
and then endesvors TO reach it by Q
straight and direct Gurrow. These re-
solutions are my stakes.
But, before proceed TO examine them
let me first meet and obviate certain OBJ
iections, which. as understand, have
been or may be urged against them gen
orally. learn that |! is said Of these
resolutions that they present only gen
eral propositions, and that, instead o
this, | should at once have introduced
separate bills, and entered into detai
and shown in what manner | PROPOSE
to accomplish the objects which the re-
solutions propose. Let me here say, ii
reply, that the ancient principles anC
mode of legislation which has ever pre-
vailed from the foundation Of this Gov
ernment, has been to fix first upon th
general principles which are to guide US
and then TO carry out these principle
by detailed legislation. Such has eve
been the course pursued. not only il
the country from which we derive OIL
Legislative institutions, but in our own
The memorable resolution offered i
the British House Of Commons by tn
celebrated Mr. Dunning is no doubt ia
miIar to the mind Of every one-tha
"the power orthe Crown land it is equaI
ly true OF our own Chief Magistrate
had increased, was increasing, " ough
TO be diminished" When was mem
ber of another legislative body, whc
meets in the opposite extremity Of thi
Capitol, it was the course, in relorenc
10 the great questions of internal i'm
provement and other leading measur e
OF public policy, to propose specific re
solutions going TO mark out the prime
pies of acton which ought to be adopted
and then to carry out these principle
by subsequent enactments Ano'he
objection is urged, as | understand
against one of these resolutions, whlc
is this: that by the Constitution no bl
for raising revenue can originate an
where but in the House Of Representa-
tives. II is true that we cannot orig
nate such a bill; but, undoubtedly,
contemplating The condition OF the put
lie affairs and in the right considerable
Of all questions touching the amount
the revenue and the mode in which
shall be raised, and involving the gre'
questions of expenditure and relrench
ment, aud how far the expenses Of ii
Government may safely and proporl
be diminished, il is perfectly legitimar
for US to deliberate and to act as dul
may demand. There can be no questic
but that, during the present session
Congress, a bill OF revenue will be eel
IN us from the other House; and