The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-08-22
CONGRESS.


TO take up the joint resolution from the House, de-
signaling Monday, the 22d instant the day for the
adjournment, sine die, Of the two Houses of Con-
gress. He said that he did not intend discuss the
question, but he merely desired to amend the resou-
tion to afford them little more time for the
transaction of the public business
The resolution was taken up, when
Mr.. PRESTON observed that he thought il imPos
sble for the Senate to concur in the proposition
the House, and therefore he desired to move an
amendment, fixing the day Of adjournment ior Mon
day week the 29th instant. The resolution, as II
read proposed that by the joint action OF the two
branches, they should adjourn the 2sd but they
were not in a condition to do sothe public business
would not permit it, He trusted that it would not be
improper to say that they had two treaties be-
fore them, which would unquestionably occupy the
Senate the entire day and in all probability afford
sufficient business for Monday they contained
principles and details of much importance, and should
not be hurried through without deliberation This,
if no other, reason why the resolution should
be amended according to his suggestion. There
were thirty-nne nominations Of the Executive to be
acted on, many of which were controverted, and
some of which had been before them since the
undoubtedly necessary this mass Of business
Besides there forty fifty bills from the House,
and about the number of those OF the Senate,
several of them relating to the army, and also eight
or nine bills for the reorganization and advancement
of the navy. All Of these had yet to be acted on.
Therefore it seemed to him that they would not be
true to their duty under these circumstances, they
did not allow themselves few more days OF intense
labor for the purpose of transactg the public bus-
ness By the Constitution, the House alone could
ori.r hills and syStem oil revenue
measures must there commence.
Considering the condition of the Government, the
embarrassment Of the Treasury, and the situation IN
which the loan stood, he thought that he might truly
say that nne-tenhs OF the members OF Congress be-
eved that adequate income for the next year was
not provided and further, the were hardly fur
nished for keeping the Government In operation until
the first of January next For one, therefore, he
was not disposed to adjourn, until the patience OF
Congress was exhausted in an effort to perform this
paramount duty. any thing could be found IN the
sacrifice of individual convenience and party policy,
it ought to be resorted to, as due to our COM
mon country In this disastrous condition OF
our affairs he had objection to mtgat-
ing their action down to the lowest point, even
if it would allow the Government no more than its
daily bread and he hoped that he might be permit
ted to say that he would consider it great crime If
they denied under these circumstances, this feeble
sustenance, which was necessary for Its daily preser-
walton. There was little difference between that le
gslation which arrested supplies at the commence
ment of government, and that system which ar
rested it in its progress. They were, then, call
ed upon to do every thing which they could
to relieve the Treasury. There had been strong
array of party feeling pressing upon Congress,
but in his opinion it should, to extent at least,
be relinqulshed and they should proceed to perform
their duty to their country. He would put it to the
Senate, and far as his voice could reach, to the
country-suppose it should turn out that Congress
had adjourned without providing any system of
nue., how should they answer for the neglect to their
bleeding countryi how answer to their constituents?
IA voice Answer it with veto. Answer it with
veto, the gentleman says. But would this be sulfi
Gent answer Would it be sufficient for
their responsibility Should they play game of
party when the country at stake and the game
lost9 No: he could not indulge in this chase and in
no game of this kind could he stake his country He
thought his duty to remain here to do all that he could
to furnish the house with an extended opportunity to
mature some measure to answer the purpose desired
IL they abandoned the country without revenue, how
would it stand The great weight of authority, and
which preponderated on one side, was, that there
were now no laws under which revenue could be col
lected. Merchants had so decided, without an ex-
ception all the leading lawyers had decided, and
as far as he had heard almost every had given
similar decision. Ever since the first Of August, du
ties had been paid under protest; and this remained
q subject for judicial decision On this floor, with
one or two exceptions, this was the general opinion
and it was so in the other branch 1t seemed to him.
therefore that, as there was doubt this subject
they should have farther time to remove and settle it,
If ever they were called to put themselves in a
position to do their duty without reference to any
thing personal or partisan, this was the moment He
could not help the expression OF the belief; he could
say that he was allowed to know that those who I'M
der these circumstances, would permit themselves to
rise superior those considerations, would receive
the appreciation of their constituents in consideration
of the sacrifices thus made on the altar of COM
mon country. He then moved to modify the resou-
Gvinu thaI au fad, ION pup Mt Fpr pIay eel
the 29th instant,
MIR. TALLMADGE remarked that if the resolution
should be amended according to the suggestion of
the Senator from South Carolina, and the House of
Representatives disposed of their business before that
time, he supposed they would propose earlier
day.
MIR. HENDERSON. Say Wednesday.
Mr. TALLMADGE was of the opinion that the
Senate not prepared to fix any day for the adj
journment but he believed that they should, y-and-
by be able to do so, with much better understand
ing thnn they had whether the time shorter or
longer than that proposed He concurred in what the
Senator from South Carolina had said as to the inn
portance of action certain subjects. He would
not undertake to say word in relation to what
had already TRANSFERRED but he felt it to be duty to
himself and his country not to leave here as long
there any hope Of passing measure OF revenue.
He not sufficiently informed to say whether the
House would originate one or not However, he was
for waiting longer to see what the other branch
would do and he hoped that it would be
able to agree upon system of revenue
In the meantime they would act wisely by lay
ing the resolution on the table, while it was in their
power to take it up at any time they might desire to
do The magnitude of this question could hardly
be realised. If they adjourned, and left the country
in its present condition, the result would be really
appalling. Even allowing such duties as are, on one
hand, supposed to exist and concedng that there
laws sufficient for their collection, there would be
influx of foreign goods. And how could it be ex-
pected that this of things would be better at the
next session than it now In the interim for
want of action, the country would be filled with these
goods, and the interests of the domestic manufactu-
rer FRUSTRATED; and even if they passed adequate
tariff under low duties, they would receive sup
plies from abroad sufficient TO the demands OF
consumption for four or five years to In thi.