The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-04-07

and unsuspectng people of all parties read this beau
tifia illusion, SO becoming chairman oil the hfst
committee of the House, and learn why it is and how
is that their best and dearest interests sacrhced
by partisan leaders.
And even now, sir that | am exposing these things
to the country, hired letter writer's abricaung
fasehood to poison the public mind, and to conceal
the real denquents, and will doubtless charge me
with wasting the time of this House, and purposely
misIepresent what say in my own defence.
Sir, what must be situation of an Administration
with such head of the Committee of Ways and
Means How can it be expected TO act efficiently
with such an organ of communication between 1t and
this House2 How it maintain the honor and
credit of the Government when its every effort Is para
lyzed by who under the garb of fairness, strike
their envenomed daggers to its heart ?
| will call the attention of the country to another
remark of the gentlemen; for deficient he proves
himself in courtesy, and prudence, and lberality OF
sentiment, he is wanting in ingenuity to con-
ceal his real enmy to the Administration. The gen.
tleman says:
"The Committee of Ways and Means had shown
as much regard the honor and credit of the Govern
ment any finance committee that had preceded
them and in fact they had been induced to offer the
bill before the committee only by the ertreme urgency
Of the Administration itself"
There sir is the incautious admission of the gen
teman himself an admission that Indebted
to the earnest, pressing, Xious solicitation, and
peated Importantly of the Administration for having
any loan bill presented to us. This accounts for the
criminal delay which has aslonshed the nation
matter of such vital Importance. The Secretary Of
the Treasury as all know, has, from the com
mencement of the session. urged upon our attention
the deplorabIe condition of the Treasury. He has
repeatedly warned us of the consequences of delay
Message after message has been sent on the sub
jec not only from the Secretary, but from the Pres
dent and now that the emergency is no longer avoid
Government
are selling below par when large amountof them
have been actually protested 70. non-payment; when
they who have loaned large sums to the Government
to protect its honor are beseging your doors, and sup
plicating return of the money they generously adj
vanced its necessities then and only them the chair
man of the committee is aroused from his lethargy.
And even he informs that he presents this
bill eniy at the urgent solicitations Of the Admins
tration" taking good make at the time,
party speech, repete with insnuatlons against the
Administration and its friends.
How have the Chairman Of the Committee of avs
and Means and his peculiar friends" been amusing
themselves during the four months that have elapsed
since metz lie has the eye Of the Speaker and
the support of his political ren Is whenever he chooses
engage the one or ask for the other. But he has
been engaged in the reputable and highly important
business of 'retIenchment" as they vauntinely call
it, and which in reality is nothing but waseful ex-
pendiure. Weeks have been spent in dispensing
with the services of two clerks four pages, one or
two messengers, and WATERS and gravey debating
how few ounces of sand quire two of paper, or
few WATERS may be saved, or whether we should
have letters brought to lodgings go to the1
post Office ourselves. Very eloquent speeches have
been made on the subect of desks and chairs, and
whether the seats now occupy, or benches, or no
seats at ALL most BETTING grave leg islators. he
gentleman took very great interest in these matters
doubtless conceivng them of infinitely import
ance than the wants of the Treasury or the annoying
opportunities of the Secretary. And even after this
House had formally resolved that they could dispense
with these pages, messengers, &c. and members were
congratuating themselves on the past amount saved
the country, resolution was introduced declaring
that the pages, messengers, &C., should be retained
duri ng this session. | would ask the gentleman if
the friends of the Administration countenanced this
petty legislative farce ?
| will presently contrast the acts of the gentleman
with those of the friends Of the Administration AT
present will notice other subject which he has
thought fit to alude to.
He says ''that one Loan Bill has been tried and
that it had failed because the term of the loan was
limited to three years" And he further says "that
voice had been listened to- advising this Limitation of
time, as consulting public opinion"
Let the gentleman inform us tola voice it was he
listened to. There may be voice which whispers
in his ear and which does speak the voice of the
People. | deny that public opinion had any thing to
do with the reduction of the time allotted for the
loan. The People willing to let your loan bills
run any length of time necessary for the obtaining OF
the money for legitimate Government purposes
But would you believe, sir, would the country believe
that this gentleman who complaningly speaks OF the
limitation to three years. and laments its consequences
the very ,cho proposed the reduction and poed
torit?
A gentleman here exclaimed, care you sure of
that'"
Mr.. PROFIT said Yes, sir, am sure of hold
in my hand the amendment which reduced the loan
to three years. 1t was handed to me by clerk OF
the House, endorsed with the name of MIR. Fillmore
as the mover. And yet, sir, thatgeneman complains
that this very reduction made at his instance and vo-
ted for by him. the of the failure to obtain
the loan authorized at the extra session and he now
takes us to task because will not bow to his
mand, and sell the bonds of the Government to the
highest bidder.
Mr. FILLMORE here rose and said, that he offered
the amendment limiting the loan to three years by
order of the Committee Of Ways and Means and
that, if he mstook not, MIR. GILMER proposed the
amendment in committee.
MIR. GILMER said that if the gentleman undertook
to report him, he would thank him to do correctly
he did not make the motion.
To be continued