The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-07-04


Mr.. FILLMORE called for the orders of the day,
and Mr. SMITH, of Virginia, who was entitled
10 the floor, addressed the House. Heapproved
the Message. He regarded the Compromise
act as new bond of union established at the
period of an important crisis, when the compact
among the States had been threatened with dis
solution. That il was a solemn treaty formed
between the conflicting parties for permanent
settlement Of their differences, was not an idea
exclusively his Mr.. Clay evidently took the
same view of the question. In proof OF this
position, Mr. S. quoted sundry passages from
Mr.. Clay.
Secondly, the vetoed bill rescinded the proviso
IN the Distribution act-and indirectly, therefore,
lnerfered with the sanctily Of the compromise
bond
The history of the passage OF the small bull
manifested a design 10 trap, if not TO head, the
President. The 3Olh of June was rapidly APP
preaching the little bill was introduced into
the House on the 9th, and passed on the 10th OF
June--n the Senate it was suffered TO slumber
for some days, then modified and sent back to
the House for concurrence. Amid the doubts
about the meaning of the revenue bills, II was
thought fine plan had been adopted for trap
ping or for heading the President Suppose he
had signed the bill, things would have remain
ed in the same state as they are now. What
is that state2 Why, it is confidently asserted,
that no revenue can now be collected-and II
that view be correct, no revenue could be col
Ia,,aI H. ion
of distribution, Mr.. Tyler had been accused Of
inconsistency. In proof of the assertion, speech
es of his had been quoted. Such extracts from
speeches as had been made, possess but lite
authority. An isolated sentence might bear
the sembance Of meaning entirely inconsistent
with the general context. But the condensed
language of resolutions could rarely be misap
pretended. In the oft-quoted resolutions, the
opinions of President Tyler evidently restricted,
controlled and limited distribution. Conse-
quently with the principles avowed in the reso-
lutons, the President signed the Distribution
act, with the proviso considered as an essential
and inseparable part of it, AS the bill evidently
infringes the compromise, it was therefore We
toed
The gentleman from New York made an in
terestng display of eloquence. He enumerated
the atrocities of the President, and called on the
manufacturers TO stand firm to this principle.
Mr.. GRANGER explained.
Mr. SMITH declared his ignorance of what
are Wing principles.
Mr. GRANGER again explained, that he
thnuoht tho intereStS IF tho countrv reonired a
high tariff and the distribution.
The Wing principles, continued Mr.. SMITH,
according to the representations just heard,
amount to two in number, and they are OF the
spoils character. The ex-Postmaster General
had carried out the princi pies when he was a
Cabinet officer. He had turned out, confessed
ly, LOO, and had told the story here with the
cool satisfaction of thorough disciple of the
spois school.
Mr. FILLMORE had charged the President W it'll
forming treaty of coalition with the vitupe-
rated Locofocos. He had said he would speak
with respect of the Presdent-but it was the
respect of the assassin, who struck his friend
cooIIy under the fifth rib, and addressed him
with the kind title of brother When the
gentleman, said Mr.. S. accused the President
of the corrupt act of signing bill merely to
conclliate the Democratic party, did he utter
the ebullitions of spleen or disappointment, or
did he speak his convictions founded on evil
dence2
Mr. FILLMORE would not answer categorical
ly yes or no, to question so put.
The gentleman from Ia, pursued Mr. SMITH,
expressed hi preference for the Government OF
France or England. One quotation, too long
for repetition, was all, the only answer necessa-
nv in reply to such declaration. After com
mentinp on certain remarks of Messrs. Stuart
and Summers, Mr.. SMITH turned to the obJec-
ton. that Veto made on the grounds of mere
expediency, is unwarranted and unprecedented.
He quoted the Veto of Washington, of Feb
ruary, 1797-nCt in case any way asslmllated
TO bond of agreement like that of the Com
promise, but on simple question OF the expe-
diency of reducing the army.
The Veto power, Mr.. S. considered, most
important feature of the Constitution, the exer-
else of which had never failed 10 meet the APP
probation of the People In conclusion, he must
say that he felt strong sympathy with the Pre-
sident. We have differed on many points, said
Mr. S., but in this case we accord in principle,
and |. therefore, feel a strong desire that he
shall be firmly supported in the stand he
has taken.
Mr.. PAINE, of Alabama, was astonishod at
the denunciations against the President on ac-
count of the veto. To person unacquainted
with the cause Of the vituperaton II might be
supposed that he had been gully OF some afro
c,ous crime All he had done, was the exer
else of a constitutional power. The Consttu-
ton gave the Pre- ident not only the power TO
veto, but imposed upon him the duty to veto a