Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1842-03-17
, = Il ID 4 d u q IL L. y y Z.
SECOND SESSION.
SPEECH OF MIR CLAY,
Upon has Resolutions concerning The 7s,g and other
geo. objects Of public policy
IN SENATE-MAncn |.

MIR. President: The resolutions which have lust been
read. and which are 10 form the subject Of the present
discussien are Of the greatest Importance Involving IN
forests OF the highest character and s,s'em of lcy
which, IN my opinion, lies the bottom Of an, r,,tora
toh oil The prosperity NJ the country In Discussing them
| would address myself to you in the langu &c Of
pianness, OF sobcIness and truth. did not coc mere
as II were entering garden full of flowers and Of the
richest shiubbcy 10 Gull the tcaroso the aponicas the
Jassinnes and woo'bnes, and them into garland
oi the eaytsi co'os that by the beauty Of her ass
mcni and by their fragrance | may CRAFTY fair ladies'
MOI is II my wisli--ll ~ lar. far from wish-to re-
vive any subjects Of party character or which miphl
he calculated To renew the anmoslcs which unhapply
have hitherto prevailed between the two great niral
parties IN the country. My is far difrn nj from
THIS IL To speak 10 YOU OF the cad condition of cuu
tfyto pom, out not the remote and original but the
proxinaic tho immediate causes which have produced
aud are kel, 10 continue dstresscs and 10 suggest
remedy II any one IN or OUT Of the Senate has i'm
agined il TO be my intention, on this occasion To INDULGE
IN any ambitious display of language 10 at,cmp, any
rhetorical flights, deal in any other figure Than flo
urcs of arlthmciic he will find himself greatly disap
pointed The farmer. he il u,icious man. does not
begin 10 plough I'll he has first laid of his land and
marked II on a, proper distances by planting stakes by
which his poughmen are TO be guided in their move
inens aud the pouahman accordingly fixes his eve up.
on the stake opposite 10 the end Of the destined urow
and then cnoavors 10 reach by straight and drec,
iurrow. These resolutions are my stakes.
Bn', before proceed to examine them, let me first
lncct certain objections, which, | under
and have been or may he urged against them generally
learn that is SAID OF these resolutions tina, they pre-
sent only general propositions and that instead of this
should nj once have introduced separate bills and en-.
tered into detail and shown IN what manner propose
accomplish the Object. which tho rcsolu pripo,cs
Let mc here say reply, that the ancient principles and
mode Of legislation which has prevailed from the
foundation Of this Government. has been fix first upon
the general principles which guido US and then
carry out these principles by detailed lcgisla ton
Such has been the pursued, not only tho
country from which derive our legislative institutions
hu, IN Our own. The memorable resolution offered In
the British House oi Commons ty the celebratcd Mr.
Dunnng ia no doubt familiar the mind Of every one
that tho power OF the Crown (and II ~ equally true Of
our own thisi Magslrac) had increased was incrcas.
ing, and ought 10 be diminished" When | WAS n
member Of another Legislative body which meets in the
opposite extremity Of this Capitol, II was the course IN
reference 10 the great questions ofntcrna improvement,
and other cang MEASURES of public policy. propose
SPECIFIC rcsolullons going To mark out the principles Of
action which ouut to be adepca an. lie. - carry OIL
these principles by subsequent onacmeuis Another oh
ccuon IS urged, as understand against one Of these res
oluons, which 10 this. that by the Constitution no bill
t raising revenue can originate any whore but in tho
House oi Representatives. 1t is true that We cannot OF
lgnate such bill but, undenb.cdly, in contemplating
tho condition If the public affairs the rs considcra
ton Of all questions touching the amount Of the revenue
and the mode in which shall be raised. and involving
the great questions Of expenditure and rcrenchmcnt and
how far the expenses Of the GoyernncU may safely and
properly be diminished. II is perfectly rillnato for us
to deliberate and 10 act az duty may nand. There
can be no question hui at during thc present session
Congress, bill Of revenue will he sent us from the
other House; and If. when comes shall first have
gone through with consideration Of tho general subject
fixing the principles Of policy proper 10 hc pursued in re-
laion toli, IT Will greatly economist the time OF the Sen
ate and proporonaby save large ofhc public
money.
Perhaps better mode eau be pursued Of dscu,,no
the resolutions have had the honor to present. than 10
take tiom up in the order Of their arrangement az
presented them 10 the Senate after much deliberate
sdcration.
! The first resolution declares
"lha ii is the duty Of the General Government, for con
Quoting its administration, topfoyids adequate revenue
within the to meet til. expense Of the year
that eNpedenent, either by loan Treasury notes
supply in tune of peace deficiency Of revenue especial,
during successive years unw-e, and must lead to penicsu
consequences.
have heard ii asserted that this resolution is but
rusm. II So, regret to say that il one from which
Governments too often depart, and from which this Gov
eminent especially has departed during the last fv,
years Has an adequate revenue been provided within
each of those years the necessary expense of
same years2 No. tar otherwise.
In 1897 Al the called session, instead Of imposing the
requisite amount Of taxes the free articles according
to the provisions o the compromise act, what III,
resort Of l,c Administration To Treasury notes
And the same eNpcdlent Of Treasury notes was eve
since adopted, from year year. supply the dohc
accruing. And OF necessity, this policy upon tho
Administration succeeding unasccrianed uniqu
dated DEBT, inducing temporary necessity that Ad
mnlstatun TO have the means of support
do not advert 10 these facts with any purpose Of
terminating. Far from 1t. For We have reached that
o. the public affairs when the country lie bco ding
at every pore, and when, as earnestly hope and trust
VIC shall by common consent. dispense with our party
pcIudces and agree 10 look at any measure proposed
for the public relief patriots and statesmen. say
then. that during the four yeas of the Administration Of
VI Van Buren,, there Of expenditure over
the income Of the Government Ia the amount Of between
seven and eight millions Of doars and say that il was
the duty OF that Administration, the moment they fonnd
this deficit TO exist in the revenue 10 have restored Ia
the adequate rr,cdy by laying the requisite amount Of
the free articles 10 and supply the def
cheney.
/ shall say nothing the first resolution, be
do hope that whatever the previous practice OF
this Government may have been. there i. Senator
here Tho Will hesitate TO in the truth Of the gen
era propositions II contains
The next three resolutions all relate the same rener
al subccissubects which consider much the most i'm
portant OF any here set forth; aud shall for that reason
cor der them together.
! The second resolution asserts
1ha such adequate cannot he obtained by du
tics foreign imports without adopting higher
twenty per cent, provided for in the compromise
which, at the time of its passage supposed
rate that would supply sufficient for
Domical administration OF the Government"
The third resolution concludes
That the rate of duties foreign imports ought to aug
mented beyond the rate OF 10 per cent, produce
nett oi enty six millions Of dollars
for the ordinary Of Government for the pay
of the existing debt millions a reserved funt
for contingencies"
The fourth resolution asserts
Chat, in the adjustment of tariff to
twenty.ix millions of revenue the principles Of The coupo