The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-11-24

act 10 distribute tho pfocee0s oil the kubhC |
Lands among the Etetes which anhofiaea
such distribution Whenever ihe dulles on iiis-
potts did mol exceed twenty per Oefilam On
their VAlue.
This Recommendation, although evidently
justified by the exigencies Of the Government,
was assalled with great bitterness by the Wing
leaders in Congress, and mel with prompt re-
ject.on by the federal majOrlly Of that body.
The breach belWeBn the President and bis
quondsm allies had nov evidently become ir-
repstsbe and Wo fld the remainder oc the
session Of Congresslwested in the fruitless en-
deavots to place The EFccu,ivs in false po.
itioD. The flsl movemsptlO effect the object
was made by thai arch loader Of the Federal
forces, Henry Clay, Who sigualized bis With
drawa Irmsihe Senate oftss United States by
an assault on the veto power, in which he adj
vocaed such ehaDgein the Constitution as
would aqnu or materially wesken this salu'a-
ry check on Congressional usurpation. HIS
followers in Congress were not, however. ex>
actly prepared 10 adopt 30 Evolutionary q eug.
gestion, and The resolutions Of Mr.. Clay our
etly repose on the table Of the Unned States
Senate, an enduring monument of the folly of
which their distinguished author could be ca
pable.
The next scheme 10 eos+te lhs President,
was an attempt 10 reduce him 10 compliance
with the wIehes Of The Wing party, by virtual
ly threatening to cut off the supplies On The
last day Of July, the duties on all imported
goods were reduced BY lbe terms Of The com-
promise act, 10 twenty per cent, bu the pro-
visions Of the Law were coucbed in language
so ambiguous that doubts were entertained Of
tho power to enforce the collection Of the rev.
enue. The passage OF '0he little Tariff Bill"
legaIized The provisions Of The compromise
act, but provided at lbs came time for The sus-
pension, for th,,y days, of that portion OF tho
distribution law which prevented lhe division
OF the proceeds Of The public lands when the
duties on imports exeeeded twenty per cent.
To sanction lhis Law would have convicted
Mr.. Toler Of gross Inconsistency, while it's
rejection involved Embarrassment 10 iks ma
t'Onal finances, snd endangered the public
credit.
The President promptly vetoed the bill (the
veto message was sentto Congress on the
26ih Of June having wisely decided that the
invasion Of high jShorsl prlnc,pe Is lrrepara-
bic, whi,ethe incoaysnlence crested BY rigid
adherence or,gbi u susceptible Of removal
! oEatuodsdca.ion. 1ts passsgs Of f.hs secaad
tariff bill smbodyibR the same unadcepiabie
features as its predecessors. again eficited
Presidential veto, and the Federal naiofiiy
were lef the unpleasant alternative df aban-
doning the ground they had so vsuntinglv oc~
cup'ed, or Of encOupteriDg the opposition Of
The manufacturers, who were clsmoring al
The doors Of the capital, demanding legislative
protection. The indignant rebukes OF tho peo-
pie at the reckless conduct ofihe CongTession.
al majority during a session OF nearly nine
months duration, al leHglh forced an unwilltnr
action on the tariff question, which resulted in
the passage ofths presen, law. The bill thus
enacted in hot haste stthe close Of The sessiOt
although od'ous IN many Of ns leading provi-
sions, was necessarily approved by the execu-
i've, and became Law. The views Of M.
Tyler on the subject Of revenue, appear from
his published declarations 10 be consonan,
with sound policy, while the principe Of indi.
rec, taxation continues 10 be adhered to by our
Government. The recent indications of re-
turning sanity on the psrt Of 'he British Co
vernment, in relation 10 The expedency of le-
vying prohibilory duties. warrants the hope
that the day is not for distant when the princi-
pies OF free trade will be more generally un :
derstood and recognized, and governments
will learn that uuloosiOg The shackiee Of com.
Terce is the most certain method Of attaining
The higheS, state Of national prosperity. The
odious appeOdsgs TO the appor,ionmen, law,
which was adopted al The close Of The session,
and the repeal Of the salutary provision of the
distribution law before alluded to- followed
by the immediate adjournment Of Congress-
gave the President an opportunity Of with
holding his sanctios 10 those blIls, and thus
defeating them wlhou the necessity Of for.
NAL vetoes. A brief glance al the tendency
Of tho more important measures adopted by
the Wing msjoriIy Of Congress-, and which
were disapprOvod BY Mr.. Tyler, will no, be
here out Of place.
The country was passing through financial
crisis Of unparalleled severity; and to the So
cla aud political evils connected with the es>
lsblishment of Bank Of the United States,
would have been added return Of that undue
expansion Of rhe currency, which in its in
eviiable re-aciop, has carried general pros.
traton and ruin to the trading portion Of COM
munity. But soaring far above all other con-
siderations in lis influence on the welfare of
the peeple, lie the moral pestilence which per.
yades the atmosphere Of a gigantic moneyed d
institution, undermining as Il does, the very
r. a r