The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-01-10
From the Baltimore .fme,'ican
THE EXCHEQUER BILL.

The course of debate in the U. s. Senate on the
new bill from the Treasury Department VIII be re-
garded, we presume, with some surprise by many
people in the country.
The thing to be remarked upon is that an opposi-
ton, unqualified, absolute and peremptory, should
have started up against the bill motion OF re-
ference before the subject had been considered by
committee and brought fairly before the Senate.
1t usual, we believe, in legislative matters less
important than this to bestow upon new PROPOSE
tioii the courtesy of consideration, at least the
semblance of it, according to the forms OF paria-
mentary proceedings, Is there any thing in the bill
now before the Senate 50 improper in itself SO I'M
constitutional in its character, manestly impo-
lite as to forfeit fol the whole measure its claims
TO ordinary observances The country will ask this
There are laws of necessity in the political world
as well as in in every other world that human beings
have to act in. In all Of them it holds good as
maxim of wsdom--if cannot get the best, to
make the best of what we can get While prlnc-
Piles are to be held sacred discretion may find much
/ room for exercise within the circuit OF eXpediency
| Whatever may be the faults of the new EXchequer
plan there is this to be noted in it, that lis features
disclosed openly and without reserve II the powers
which il asks for too great, the precise extent Of
them at all events may be seen and wherever dan
ger is apprehcnded it may be guarded against. We
are not prepared to hold the plan IN all respects as
I,.f,s -heen submitted but its claims to a fair and
1t s urged that all no obposed -tnef .,sasu,,
on account OF the great power which it gave to the Ex
ecutiNe must reject the Exchequer plan because
It coniers greater that the germ of Government
Bank contained in the one appears in full blown ma
turity in the other that, in short the new system
with its developed scheme of operation is in fact the
old one, advanced beyond its chrysais state and en-
dued with the vigor of an enlarged growth.
If these things are so, then is there the need
of full examination Of the project at the hands OF
committee So that the condemnation which it shall
metlt may come with due weight, To srn( ence
without fair hearing is To bar the idea that Justice
has been done And if this measure is to fail hy the
force of denunciatory speeches IN advance of regu
lar consideration, there will b. for the suspicion
that something besides patriotism has been in
| the business.
We like much the tone and spirit exhibited by Mr.
Simmons, of Rhode Island, in the debate OF w ed
ncsday 1t will not be forgotten that it this gen
tleman who stood up with SO much manliness and
good sense on the constitutional question nyol,e ed in
the first fiscal agency bill the extra session His
opinion will,have lis weight.
1t is easy matter for those W o determined to
oppose thing to find objections enough against it
But would it not be more commendabe task in con
sldering an important measure, to seek out what
parts in il are really good to strive remove such OBJ
jecons are fairly TO be found, and to adapt it, if
such adaptation is practicable to the ends it proesses
to aim at--the good of the country, and the common
interest Ii every statesman il, the Senate or every
one who thinks himself such is TO have the forming
of his own plan of finance and to stand out against
all proposals that do not coincide with his views the
country will doubtless have plans enough without be-
ing the better of any.