Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-08-19
Mn. TALLMADdE, OF New YoRK.

Mr. TALLMADaE, OF New YonK.
But he was far from inferring, as gentleman do,
the fate of this bill from that of the minor, the tenn
porary measure, lately negatived. The magnitude
of this BILL the heightened elaboration of which 1t is
the fruit and the fact that belongs TO the peculiar
and especial care of Tie more popular branch OF the
Legislature only, are things which must give the
Executive pause, and compel him TO yield to this
measure a consideration the very gravest. From
such renewed examination should infer any thing
but what these gentlemen apprehend, Certain am,
that any of the former Presidential Fathers of the
Rep ibic-Gen. Washington for instance-were now
in the chair that he had ncgaved, for some reason,
bit OF but momentary purpose; and that second,
OF the very weighost consequences, thus deliberately
adopted, thus appropriately a matter of legislative
discretion only, and thus presenting no constitutional
objection, were presented to him, would he not at
say Let the will of the People take effect and
let this bill become lawF'
Mr.. CRITTESDEN, OF KENTUCKY.
That Senator (NIr Buchanan) haG argued that
revenue and incidental protection were great good,
and. distribution another, in the eyes of the Senator
from Kentucky. Now, it was clear that the Presi-
dent would not lei him have both: would it not
be better to give up the inferior one and secure the
other e!
Mr.. Crittenden answered, that the country had
need OF both these goods, and decisive right TO
them. 1t was not for It's Representatives, by tame
acquescence, to suffer it TO be stripped of either
Neither is to be bought with the sacrifice of the
other, because both are our right. Still less would
he ever consent to see either purchased bv the aban
donmont of those high legislative rights and that
legislative independence which guard all other rights
public and private.
But will not the Senator himself when, hereafter,
in a retirement crowned (as trusU with ease and
public honors he shall review whatever is most last
ing and noble IN public career, will he not look
back with an especial pride to his place III Senate
which, in the midst of whatever could shake men 5
firnncss TO their duty-aempts to lead them by Sc
uuctIDu them nv ipuIucInIpu. calm
ny, the discussions and the reproaccs of party, and
public suffering and mischief of every sort-s held
It's firm course, and maintained its principles and lis
Independence?
If our ancestors had reasoned as tho Senator now
wishes us 10 do-had they thus stopped TO counsel
themselves INTO timely cOmpance>-f they had not
preferred any alternative 10 submission TO klngly
usurPntoi-we should not now be sitting here to de-
lberate whether or not shall repcl like INVASION
Of the liberties Of this Legislature.
Wchave here moment IN which we have con-
sttutlonal power 10 act; and il, not through our
fault that legislation is made nucatefy, let the re-
sponslblty be upon his head who shall obsruct us in
our duty, and mar every effort for the public
VICE
to persuade himself that respect for the repeatedly
expressed opinions of the Peoples Representatives
would at last pr vail
Mn. ARCHER, OF VIRGINIA.
Sir, said Mr. A. it is no extravagant and extreme
opinion of an individual which advance when say
that your entire system OF the collection of public
revenue was then at stake, and is yet in extreme
doubt. Gentlemen cannot, nay l will deliberately
say dare not affirm that put the case too strongly.
The opinions of the ablcst men in either Houses of
Congress, of the members of the bar who have the
widest reputation, and (wha is of little inferior I'M
port) Of the most intelligent merchants completely
vcrscd IN such matters are all in concurrence on h,
point There can be little doubt that, since the Both
June, your entire revenue laws have become void
Yet the Executive tender as he is of every cons,tu
tlonal scruple and "cavlllng the ninth part of
har'' of whatever Congress does-tlus functisnnry
so made up of distinctions and dIilicucs-whosc
apprehcnsivc eyes detect flaws erywhere-proceeds
here at once to cure by his own Interpretation and
the supplementary legislation of his Secretary, the
failure OF law and the absence of regulation lie de-
cdes sngy what law ls in force, how 1t Is to be m
tcrpreed, where is incomplete who to supply It's
dcfecs and all this in the face of the concurrent
action Of both these Houses, alarmed at this state of
things and Fastening TO provide for it by the preser
vaon merely, the lcgaIlzng preservation OF previous
law, all which he sets aside 10 substitute for your en-,
/ actncnt his own fiat. This strange, uneXampcd
sort OF law now constitutes your entire system Of
laying and collecting taxes. Nor is that the worst
, event. The law which these bodlcs-the competent
power over whatever regards revenue questions
are now about to make, is almost certain to be mega
tlvedby him, and the present incredible condition of
things TO become permanent, unless we the cglsla-
tive succumb to the terms he openly imposes upon us,
an surrender, al discretion, 10 what our known prin-
ciplcs disavows and cur whole sense Of public duty
iorbhs.
/ dismiss, sir, all useless invocations of that
spirit which party seems to have utterly cXtn-
| gushed-the spirit which once, in this country,
knew no sect or form OF opinion when the high
est public interests were at stake, or when it
was barely imagined that invasons of the gen.
era freedom, or of the legislative privileges,
were about to be attempted. speak 10 longer
as to Senators around me, but simply to declare
my own feelings, as the delegated agent OF
! those who sent me here. Until few days
since, would have voted as to this land ques-
| ton in any way that might secure revenue to
/ the public necessities and redeem our endan-
gered national faith. But all this past. aban-
doned all moderation, in view of assumption like
! this.
1t is, Mr. President, no longer question of a
lesser supply of revenue from this nconsidera-
bic land fund, and a full and adequate supply
from a loan bill /; or between the value OF this
/ petty portion of revenue, and the main provision
on which all adequate public income must re-
pose. The question has now taken a shape OF
far higher import, character OF far deeper inter-
est and alarm than any matter of mere revenue
can wear. The great rule OF free institutions,
hatM PeOpie alone SHAFT Ian tdceS-a vital prin-
ciple of all constitutional governnent-an es-
sential guaranty of all safe puddle adminisra-
tion-has become involved, is at stake; that SOL
eill canon Oh republican cTeeus-that nlgn lul-
danental law--no, sir, not law, the mere part
of code or a constitution it is itself a consti-
tuition; for give but that, and a real constitution
must follow take it away, and there is an end
of all pratica freedom.
Such, sir, is this attempt and this by Chief
Magistrate who had Just little while before
informed you in another message that he
stood prepared 10 surrender, and had surrender
ed even his constitutional scruples in Difference
to legislative opinion on point thus set apart
and sacred to the representative will alone. II
is he who now, Oh a question of mere cXpeden.
cy, and a question of supplies, defeats all legis
lativc acton, and puts a reto on the most mature
and deliberate provisions of your prudence, OIL
ground which he himself admits to be a mat
ter of temporary expedency alone And thin
he does with the most obvious purp use OEtima
, tons of which are multiplied all around us) o
forcing you by those hazards of public dsaste
f and disgrace OF which he himself is totally in
sensible, to turn your legislation into the shift
ing and winding track Of his personal opinions
, and interest! The appalling necessities of the
/ public service are to 90 cropping about the coun
| try thrOuuh HEDGES and ouaumlres in pursuit o