The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-10-21


constituted their objection against it, made it moro
acceptable to hiu'--indecd. alone made it possible
for him to vote. or,
At the extra session of the last summer, n rev.
enue bill and loan bill! were presented; and ,dn-
ring the present session, two previous revenue bills
and loan bill had been brought forward, against
all Of which he had been compelled " record his
vote, because they were connected with prov!s.
ions for distribution, or buro such intimate rea-
tons TO that policy, that he could not, us Il matter
ofpinciple, give his vote In their favor. Now, Tor
the first time, Il measure Is presented, which not
only does not aid distribution, but positively puts
an end 10 it, and for the reasons he had suggested
and briefly assigned, he Felt bound to give 1t his
vote, Objectionable as il was in its details
Another reason had operated upon his mind,
which he had omitted to assign in more nppro-
pirate pnce His State was one Of the heavily in
debted States. Her legislature and her people
were now making bold, manly, and vigorous
sruggle-und he earnestly hoped that 1t would be
successful one-to retrieve her impaired credit
and to sustain it upon its former high elevation
One Of the greatest obstacles to be encountered is
the universal want of confidence in the pnblic and
private credit of the country, and no one step can
do so much towards the restoration Of that conf
dence AS a measure which shall resure il to the
credit Of the nation. This bill, he hoped would
have that tendency, because it would show n dis
position and determination on the part Of Congress
TO supply our exhausted treasury, aud TO continue
its ability to meet the public hbiIltles whereas,
an adjournment Of Congress without any legislation
for that purpose, could not fail To have most ia
ta influence in the contrary direction. In this as
rect of the case, it seemed to him that his State,
MS State, must he deeply Interested III the pas
sage, at the present session, Of some competent
revenue measure; and he would again repeat, that,
as one Of her representatives here. the only choice
presented TO him was between this measure and
none ut ALL
A friend had kindly suggested to him that he
should have voted to limit the operation Of this
bill as to time, il he had intended to vote for it.
lie had given his vote against proposition 10 linl-
il it TO two years-vcly likely mistakenly. Ills
reasons, however, for that vote were, the appre-
hension that, at the expiration of the period, Con-
grcss would again find itself in the precise condi-
ton il is in at present; and that others might find
Themselves forced as he now was TO act under
coercion, and choose between the disagreeabe al
ternalives of n very bad bill and no revenue and
no collection laws. This was one of his objec-
tons 10 the compromise act made at the time of
its passage though he gave that law his vote, lie
then foresaw that the expiration Of lis term would
be likely TO fall upon Congress unprcpared, and
that hasty and dangerous action would probably
be the consequence.
lfe had only To repeat, tina, he Eel, NEST deeply
the responsibility Of the vote he was about to give;
hut, as his conclusion had been formed after all
the reflection lie wns capable of hestowins upon
the subject, he must meet those responsibilities as
he might; and upon him, und him only, should
they rest.