Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-29

I Quenl dlSscTINIIOn OF Tue SenaOF ItuIH IIe'''H
on such variety Of subjects; for he could hardy
have thought IL necessary to waste so much learn
ing, rcSearch and eloquence, on little temporary
/ bill, the existence of which would be but ono
| month.
The only refutation he thought necessary TO offer
to the Senator's arguments, was reference 10 a.;
own speeches; he would, II time permitted, only ASK
| TO oppose the Senator TO himself lie would set ~
his vote In favor OF the distribution bill OF last ses-
sion, as n complete answer to his Arguments TO day
| Mr. RlVsS reminded the Senator from Kentucky
| that he had been induced 10 vote for that measure
10y the solemn stipulation of the suspension clause
| Ills arguments 10 day were in favor Of carrying
out the provisions OF that hill in good faith.
| MIR CRlrrENDEN said that was only small
part Of the bill, and did not affect the mann prin>
ciple OF distibu,on; and did not the Senator vote
| for that distribution at a time he knew there was
no surplus in the treasury, aud there was no pros
| pect that there would be7 What, then, became OF
his argument that il iutionaI TO dlstri'
butte anything but su' plus7 But the gentleman
says it is not constitutional to distribute revenue
or loans; yet he voted Tor the twelve million loan
| OF last session, 10 supply the treasury which was
to disburse this distribution; and also voted FOR the
distribution ITSELF Now, II no ndjton,l tnriii was
imposed, would not the distribution go on iron mo.
ncy in The treasury; and would the Senator say he
did not know whence that money was 10 be obtain
edl Yet, with these rCcollccions fresh in the
minds Of all present, they had heard the reiterated
argument and denunciatons OF the Senator, ms II
he was not a participation. Surely the Senator
would not shelter himself under the declaration
that he did know the condition of the treasury
| when he gave such votes and he WAS certain he
would not state that he meant TO mock tho States,
| by giving them his vote for what he knew would
be imperative and delusive.
Here MIR G.. entered into heightened review OF
the grounds taken by the Senator from Virginia
MIR Rves relative TO the national right Of proper
| ty in the public lands.
He next reverted to the subjects ofrevenue and
national credit, and decred the idea that gren,
La n
wealth, and with such population Of enterprisng
and industrious citizens, could be dependent for its
credit on the possession of source Of income yield
/ ing not a million and half of dollars, while 1t had
a hundred millions Of dollars worth OF imports 10
rely upon for any conceivable amount Of necessary
| revenue TO meet the wants of its Government. II
il should ever 10 that, that direct taxes should
be rcsorted TO- he would tell the Senator frankly, he
would bc as ready ashe was to take back tho land
fund; for he could then see no difference between
giving much TO the people with one hand, and
taking il back with the other, under disadvantage
Gus circumstances. There was nothing in the Sem
ator's arguments about the ha,efulness of tax gath
erers entering every cottage, that was not equally
applicable to the tax-gatheiers of the States, Us
well as the tax-gathefers Of the General Govern.
men and If the distribution saved the necessity OF
visitation from State tax gathercrs the people would
have TO be grateful TO that extent, and would
hail the measure OF distribution as great blessing.
| As TO breach of faith he would be glad TO know
whose good faith was pledged. Was it that Of the
friends of Distribution They did not want any re
striciive clause. Ii gentlemen talk Of stpulations,
he would be glad 10 know who made them. Ac-
cordng to the Senator's own showing, no s;ipulu-
ton was made with him-he, at least, cannot say
any faith was broken with him.
He never regarded this distribution oct in any
other light than that Of act of common and ordi.
nary legislation, subject 10 future revision and cor
recton. |, is very that, ut the time Of passing
it, the friends Of the measure in order carry il
eorer than they otherwise could carry II, were, for
the present, content 10 modify it go TO insure
sufficient number of votes for its PASSAGE but sure
ly that was rot to preclude them, whenever they
| should have majority strong enough TO amend
the act from expunging the obnoxious clause forced
| upon them by the circumstances of the moment.
Did the Senator mean 10 contend that an act IS to
be perpetual, or 10 continue moment longer
in full force than Congress chooses, when prepared
TO repeal or modify it2 There was no pledge
no violated faith. All parties got by this act
just what they could get, and no more. Such. too,
must he the case now, in relation TO any modfica-
| ton Congress may choose 10 make.
| II seemed to him strange that any doubt should
be entertained as to the import of the proviso now
under consideration.
What is the factl That Congress is called upon to
passa law continuing the revenue laws row existing
Tor one month. What is fair, on such an occasion,
with regard TO the friends and opponents OF dstrbu
toni That tire operation Of the act OF 1871 in re-
lai'on 10 distribution, should be merely suspended
during the rise of revenue after 3Oih OF June, 1872
ipI one TOutn nenulng the adjustment oil Tie WhO,c
question. Ii the compromise act were 10 he osrred
out, m full. on the LIST Of july would not the duties
lie . =, or per cent higher than 20 per cent under
the home valuation and cash duties?
! IL was hut fcr one short month. And was il right
that this temporary act should be allowed 10 sus
pend the operation OF great national distribution
act so long nsitated and so solemnly enac.ed} The
proViso will continue IN opsrltionsO will the dis
trihution act How, thea. could gentlemen contend
that It would have the effect Of a repeal This &c
will expire on the list of August. II then the duty
should be higher than 30 per cent? how can the dis
ribution lie made after that, without some fresh
actment, or duties fall down TO 2O per cent?
1t was impossible, he conceived, TO have any Other
view Of the matter, If gentlemen would but oollale
oil the laws IN existence on the subject. He hoped
the bill would be passed to-day.
| The debate was continued by hessrs. Walker
Buchanan, Archer Kerr, Huntington, Preston, and
| Woodbury..
Tie Bill was read, as follows:
AN ACT to extend for limited period the present
laws for laying and collecting duties on imports.
Re hSnaetsa by the Senate and House Of R,p,e-
ssniafires IF me United States Of .insyiea 10 Con
grsSs assembled That oil laws in actual operation
on the FIRST OF June, eighteen hundred and forty
two, regulating and fixing the amount and rate Of
duties TO be levied and collected on goods wares,
and merchandise imported into the United States
and prescribing the mode ofcolcciing the same and
all provisions relating thereto, shall continue and be
IN force as they existed that day until the FIST
Jay OF august eighteen nunureQ ana iOrty-tWO, al
which time, Il there be further legislation on the
subject, the laws for laying and collecting duties
shall be the same rs though this net had not been
passed; anything in the act entitled IAN Gci 10 mo-
dy an act Of the fourteenth day OF July, one thou
sand eight hundred and thirty two and all o.herac
imposing duties on imports" approved March I'd,
eighteen hundred and hrty-ihree, 10 the contrary in
anywise notwithstanding; PTopidtd, That the dis
tribulion Of The proceeds Of the public lands, Gutho
rizcd and directed by the act OF Congress passed
the f'h of September, 1884, entitled "An act 10 ap.
proptla.e the proceeds Of the sales Of the public
lands, and 70 grant pre- emption rights" shall be-
and the same is hereby, suspended and postponed
until the lst day Of August, 1875 and the said act
Of the 4;h September 1871, shall be no Otherwise
or further affected modified, than merely u post
pons to the said is day Of August next the dislri
button Of the said proceeds directed by that nci 10
be made on the LIST day OF July, 1912 anything
contained in this act or the said act Of the i,h OF
September, 1871, to the contrary, notwithstanding.
The bill was posed by the following vote:
YEAS-Messrs. Archer, BIrrow, Bates, Bayard
Choate, Clayton, Conrad, Cats, Criitcnjen. Evans
Graham, Henderson, Huntington, Kerr, Mangum
Miller, Morehead, Phelps, Porter Simmons, Smith
OF indiana, Tallmadge, White, and woodbridge
la
NAYS--Messrs. Allen, Benton, Beuien. Buc
hanan, Cuihbert, Fulton, King, Linn, MeRoberts
Preston, Rives, Smith OF Connecticut, Sturgeon
Toppan, Walker, Wilcox, Woodbury., Wright, On,
Young-l9.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVE
SATURDAY, June 25, 1912.
INTH ~ A - M ~