Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-01-06

From Ae Independent
CONGRESSIONAL ANALYSIS.

hOlSh VI
Observation-Disclosures were made, by
several Members, at the opening of the
House this morning, to suppress the debate
upon the tariff, temporarily. IN order 10
get in petitions (; but the House manifest
ing no disposition 10 accommodate them,
at this time, and the order Of the day be-
ing this debate, Mr.. Weller took the floor.
This gentleman began by lamentiog the
course which the debate had taken, par.
ticuIar ly its harsh and denunciatoiy char.
acter, which was so prejudicial to the dig
nity Of the House before the country. He
hoped these scenes would no, be repeated;
but apparently lost sight Of his wi coun-
sci . for he denounced, in the hefcest lam
guape. the zone hour" rule Of the extra
session: calling it the odious gag-law,
which might be contrasted with the worst
despotism OF the French Revolution, when
the ruillotine was the instrument oil blood
and slaughter. Hecondemned The Report
of the Secretary Of the Navy, and also Of
the Secretary Of War; contendlng that
the proposed increase ofthese branches oil
service would necessarily create a large
national deb:, and would bring about the
necessity for high protective duties.
Mr.. C. II. Williams adveiteo to the de-
sul,ory STYLE Of the debate, and the fact
that. whenever this subject of the tariff
was before the House, party lines were
lost sight of, and the occasion was pounc-
ed upon, by members, TO bring forward
their own peculiar interests, or those Of
their respective districts. AS 10 the doc
trine Of a high protective tariff, which
was made the subject Of so much yltupe-
ration, the whole system was long since
exploded and abandoned no one, at this
day, entertained it. Mr.. Williams de-
scanted, at considerable length, upon the
existing state Of parties the course of the
President, in reference to the currency ;
the rupture Of the late Cabinet and con.
cIuJed with passing a high eulogium upon
the retired members while, of the one
who remained, he spoke with much feeling
and forbearance he had always enter
tanned the highest respect for that gentle
man /; but could not help thinking that his
great in,ellec, was, at the period IN which
he referred, somewhat beclouded and
that he now occupied an attitude, before
the country, in which his best friends
found il difficult to sustain him.
Mr.. Hudson, of Massachusetts, was next
recognized by the Speaker. This gentle
man brought back the debate 10 lis legiii.
mate point and entered upon an exami-
nation OF the whole subject OF the tariff, in
detail. He directed the tenor Of his re-
marks chiefly in reply to those of Mr..
Rhett, OF S. c.; answering what he term
{, ID that gen,leman's abstract views of the
Constitution. He also exposed the moor
rectness of the propos ton that revenue
ceases where protection begins )" affirm
ing, for example, that the duty Of 20 per
cenium upon silk would afford a large
amount Of revenue, and protection precise.
y to the extent OF the duty. But il is i'm.
possible, in q brief sketch, to give any
idea OF the ability and research with which
he maintained his position the whole
speech ought TO be read in ertenSo.
TUESDAY, Dec. 2S.-Several gentle
men we're again DESTROYS Of presenting pc.
%titions but objections were made, and
Mr.. Hudson took the floor to conclude his
Yesterdays speech. Mr.. Mckay wished
the gentleman to give way, for a moment,
TO enable him to move a reconsideration
of the vote of yesterday, 10 print certain
information from the Treasury Depart
m, ut, called for at the extra session.
Mr.. w. c. johnson asked what his in.
formation was; and having ascertaincd,
by the reading Of the Clerk, that it was
concerning outstanding appropriations on
the 4th OF last March. &c., he objected.
Mr.. Hudson then went on, and finished
n speech, Of which we observed before,
that its minute detail and practical demon
%stration could only be appreciated in a full
report.
MIR. Payne, Of Ala, spoke with much
en- n stncss against the whole doctrine OF
protection. He took occasion 10 express
his entire approval of the course taken bv
his State Legislature with regard 10 this
subject. I1o spoke, in strong terms, of
the distinction which had been drawn be-
tween free and slave labor. He declnred
that the South had reflected long and deep.
" upon the subject Of the Union and
that whenever the question between the
maintenance Of slavery on the one hand,
and the Union on tne OlheT, WIS brought
10 an issue, their course was already de.
cided upon.
MIR. Burke, of N. H., read a speech in
an almost inaudible voice, to an almost
empty house. From SOM statistics, read
at the Clerks table, shelving the compara.
tive resources Of Tennessee and New
Hampshire, we conclude that his speech
was mostly aimed at Mr.. Arnold, Of the
former State. Mr.. Burke was succeeded
by his colleague,
MIR. Eastman, who began by Directing
to the proposed reference, upon the ground
that all the members Of the committee on
manufactures were avowedly in favor Of
protection. MIR. T.. then left the main
subject, foran excursion among the States;
citing various members, from dtferen;
parts Of the country, whose places, he con-
tended, ought to be supplied with good
democrats. Before he concluded, the
House adjourned.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 29.-Tho Journal
being read,
Mr.. Gushing suggested to the House a
suspension Of the debate, in order that re-
ports might be made from committees.