The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-02-04
ID o ItttcaI.
SPEECH OFTHE EON. LEVE WOOD-
EURY, OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

SPEECH OFTHE EON. LEVE WOOD
EURY, OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Delivered in the senate Of HE United States,
Jan' q, 1912, upo" lie proposed Boad Of Erchel-
Uer.
The President pro tenn. announced the unlnish-
ed business, which was the proposition to refer to
select committee oGnine the project of the Sec
Rotary of the Treasury for IL Board or ExciIequei
Mr. Woodbury. observed that he was in favor of
the motion before the Senate to refer the bill to a
select committee. lie thought the importance Of
the subject matter Of the report was such as to re-
qune 1t, seli-respect on the part of the Senate,
ana parliamentary usage authorized the reference;
and in addition 10 this, the source from which the
measure emana,ed rendered this course peculiarly
proper 1t Is an imposing plan, and having al
ready attracted much public attention, full con-
slderatlon of it was expected. lie agreed with the
Senator from Kentucky, MIR Morehcad,] that it
was ut and proper occasion, on motion of ref
erence, for discussion on the principle and ,enden-
cy Of the measure proposed TO be rclcrred-pnr-
tlcuary measure coming from so high source,
and relating to an important subject. But, at the
same time, he felt il incumbent on him to say he
did not anticipate that any important plan Of COM
promise was 10 be expected from the report Of Il
committee, or that any such report should recon-
Gle the conflicting principles of this nil. lie n
greed that there nrht be much distress in many
parts of the Union, and that much dHcu,tv and
embarrassment had grown out Of II dcrnnpeJ enron
CIV: but he did moi cnlc,pate that ,nuch relief
would result from any such measure as that pro-
posed. lie believed the disease Law much decper,
and spread much wider than it was possible for
this measure TO heal, and that il was n di,eose
which affected not only this Union, but every conn
try in the commercial world.
He was, however, willing to approach any pro-
posed healing measure with view of candid ex-
animation and fair consideration. And if what
was contained in the report was indeed enable of
administering relief, he would be as wiIIiny MS the
Senator from Rhode Island. TlIr Simmons. l or
any other Senator TO seek 70, and find in il. some
standing GROUND ON which all could mite fnr the
common rood. II there was nny princ;ple in i,
upon which all could unite, it was certainly more
likely TO be found through the medium of the con-
sidera,ion and report of Il committee than in dis
0usiiions ON the mere techncalities of the name TO
be given to the institution Ii could tend TO no good
to dwell upon such technicaIics, and he thought,
therefore, it would be much better to scrutni2e
the matter, with a view of discovering what there
was in it that could be laid hold orus practical. and
at the same time unobeclionube, lie cared NOT
who were its parenls-whc,her il had SIX, or only
one-but viewing the report which is now the sub
ect of reference merely as proposition to carry
into effect important functions Of Government; no
matter from what source 1t came-it seemed TO
have in itself elements wholly lrreconcilabe with
the constitutional functions OF this Government
Who was the author oil the plan, was question,
lie conceived, oil no material Importance, and he
should therefore throw the subject OF lis origin, ont