The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-08-12


be proposed; yet he had no hope that it would be
adoped-none whatever. Let the character OF
the bill be what it might-howeyer monstrous-it
was ordained that it should pass, and without Civ
ing any reasons. He had risen to mark the cir
cumstance which had given rise to the bill, and
which went to establish a principle more daring
than any which were embodied in it. He would
net ascrbe to the bill The origin of the practice by
which it was passed. That practice originated with
another bill which came here from the House land
was passed without consideration, and against the
judgment of the Senate. lie referred 10 the ap-
porlionment bill, which came to the Senate with
its second section inserted by carefully drilled
party vote. In this body, it was referred to one of
the standing commit,ees-a committee selected for
its wisdom and its knowledge of matters apperain-
ing TO the ludciary-a committee composed of Il
majority of the triumphant party in the Senate and
the House, and constituted for the express purpose
Of Representing the will of that majority. After
full consideration, that commtee-acting upon
their oalhs--reported back the bill with amend
mpnts. What did the Senate do' 1t refused to
vote amendments Other amendments were pro-
posed, bul they fell as with the fatality of an ON
| niscIent decree.
Not one of that patty forming the ma jority in
the two Houses of Congress voted for these amend
mems; and why? Was it that they were not ne
cessary or proper Was it that it would be un-
wise to amend the bill No, sir; but as avowed
by the Senator from Iouisiana-ir you amend
single section of the BILL it would render its fate
uncertain in another quarter The Senate, then,
refuses to exercise its solemn legislative faculties
suspendS It's constitutional attributes, and declares
its want Of confidence in the stability of the House,
and its unwngness to trus; the House with the
revision of its own doings. What (sad Mr. Allcn)
is tic character of the bill which it is not permit
ted the Senate TO amend 1t is bill imposing a
tax of S27 900, 900 on the people of this country;
a bill on subject so sacred, rs TO he required to
originate only in that House which is supposed TO
represent the embodied will Of the people; BILL,
which must be considered in Committee of the
Whole to take it out of the reach of the previous
question:; such Il bill "a this, coming from the
House with all the marks of haste, incomplete,
mons,rous in all its Iineaments, recommended by
committee which speaks of the will of the major-
ty in both Houses, referred to the committee on
Finance, and reported 10 the Senate by that COM
nll,oc with various amendments What does the
Senate Go' The bill is called up; but, instead Of
examining the propriety of these amendments, the
panty which compose the majority of that very
committeeman panty which compose the ma ori-
ty Of The Senate and the House--but the party
which represents but one third Of the American
people, if we are to take IA standard the express
sion of popnIar will that we have recently h,d;-
by that pn,,y these amendments are in their order
voted down; and the determination is avowed of
passing the bill rs it is.
Has the Senate of the United States any right to
say that it will not exercise It's legitimate functions,
and make Itself Il mere mindless mass, ready to
receive whatever may be brought to it from the
House, without thought or consideration? 1t is a
bin to impose on vour constituents, sir. tax. the
most odious and onp,essiye tina, has ever been i'm
posed since the Iast war; The universal crv If, the
nation !. relief instead Of burdcns,ond va, Won ore
required 10 vote for his bI ,o fax vonr co,.,;,u-
EMS 10 the amount of twenty seven millions If dol
lars. without eyrripu your r,cultv or reason lest
the bin shoud 20 back 10 The House. And whv
moi let if 90 bnci TO the House, WHY becousc
the bill came here nv n mniorily or bnt ,,yo or
three. and majority no, exclusively a no,tv mn
ioriry--a tax of ,won, y-sovon millions Of dollars
to be imposed wlhour thought or consideration,
under the spur Of the gag in the House, and with
mul'cd mouths and lied hands in the Senate. far
tire reason that the public caInmiics are CRYING A.
loud in our cars This tax i, to be imposed Nv n
Congress condemned and cnshiercd by the peonIe,
THIS Is the sort Of Congress, and these nre the
means, by which bill OF this species is TO be mas
sed--and that, too, sir, in the eighth month of the
session, when want OF time Is made an additional
prcleM for Fastening the adoption of an important
bill of this kind, without consideration and without
examination, under the exercise of the gag in one
House, and IN the other under the operation of n
stern, irrovocahle, ndomilabIc decree. If this is
the way in which laws are to be passed, j, is time
the people should know IT. The people of This
country, are speaking, n hearing, and thinking
people; and they will no, fail to mark those who
apIn,vcr l., prorura tho N, ss,,, ,T M, o,o.,,,.
in this manner.
There is no, Senator on the other sile--,okeu
separately and detached from his party--who
would not be dsposed 10 amend the bin. vet, il i
ratcd 10 pass, with all its mperllcions on lis head
IA bin which continues the distribution of the pro.
cceds of the public lands, and imposes taxes on the
very s,cmacls OF the people, to make nm tho 4.
NOM, Thus nbslructcd.
Un Mr. A hc,sJ srch amendments -, ,,;,,h,