The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-07-07

| not have said word about their misfortunes. HAD
they pursued magnanimous course, and not exuited
fallen foe, he should have remained silent on
this occasion. But they were reaping the irut
of the policy which they had pursued.
The President occupies the same opposition which
was assumed by Gen. Harrison in his inaugural ad-
dress, in relation to the Veto power tie has oniy
exercised 1t on the same occasions when were ,aiu
down proper for its use by Gen. Harrison Did
you expect him to forget all his principles, all his
past political associations, merely Tor the sake Oh
preserving harmony in the universal Wing party
When that party came into power, they attempted
10 carry every thing by caucus When any matter
came up in the House suddenly, an adjournment was
moved, and caucus held in some OF the lower
rooms of the Capitol order to see If the reiracto-
ry members of the universal Wing party could not De
whipped in. Laughter. The next day the edict
always passed within the twinkling OF an eye.
1t amusing to the Democratic minority to see the
facility with which the refractory spirits were
brought to toe the mark.
Yet there was little band-the guard-who could
not be whipped into the traces. They had some
notions of repubcansm still left and they resisted
the tests which were applied to them. From that
day to the present. the guard have been kicked and
cuffed from all quarters. l4aughter.l 10 see
small body of five six men standing up against the
universal Wing party, was, indeed, enough 10 excite
admiration. Mr. w. referred TO the history oil events
at the extra session. and the efforts made to induce
the President to sign bank bill. The party-many
of them--admitted that the bank might be unconst-
tutional; yet it necessary to preserve the unit
rersaI Whig party and therefore they asked the RE
sident TO yield to the mandates Of their caucus
These caucuses were held every OCCASION
even on points of order. When tariff bill had to
be proposed, two threatened to vote against
the WHOLE if the interests Of their districts were not
included in the protection afforded. He believed the
gentleman from Rhode Island <Mr. TillnghasD stood
up and demanded the protection OF pins. Great
laughter
Mr. TILLMGHAsr said there was no pin manufac-
tory in his State.
Mr. WELLER thought the gentleman had presented
memorial to that effect last year.
Mr. TILLNGHAsT said it was true that the Commit
tee on Manufactures had directed him to report ab
for the protection of pins but the petition came
from New York. and not Rhode Island.
Mr. WELLER said he might have been mistaken
Some gentleman near him, however, suggested that
the gentleman might have made movement for the
protection of pills [Laughter] Be that as it might
there interests enough in the caucus to demand
protection
He referred to the manner in which the land bill
gotten through at the extra session. and the Provlso
which was attached to it; and without which the
President would not have signed it, While dwelling
on this subject, member near him mentioned the
bankrupt law. Mr.. w. said he would not speak OF
that law. Suffice it to say, that never was such an
outrage committed respectable legislation as was
afforded by the manner of its passage
They had lately passed junior tariff BILL and en-
deavored commit the President to the principle OF
unconditional Distribution thinking that, should he
sign this he could not refuse to sign the larger tariff
| bill. But the President held them to the compro-
| mise, and vetoed the little tariff. Did any one be-
lieve that he would have done SO if he could have
| avoided the actl The veto power was one of the
| conservative principles of the Government, and
there danger of President going out OF his
way to exercise it. This measure was not passed
with sufficient deliberation. The chairman,of the
Committee of Ways and Means endeavored to take it
out of committee and pass it in half an hour.
| Mr.. FILLMORE said he desired it to be understood
that the Committee of Ways and Means was not re-
sponsbe for the resolution he introduced for taking
the bill out of committee That resolution was en-
tirely his own, and offered on his individual re-
sponsbility. He also took the present occasion to
correct an assertion repeatedly made in one OF the
papers of the city, and on the floor of the House, that
he had endeavored to have the provisional tariff bill
passed in half an hour. The truth was, when he
offered his resolation the bill had been under discus
sion whole day, [laughter,] and unless decided
| then, would have to go over to the next week
| Mr.. WELLER said his recollection of the crcum-
stances was this: In the afternoon of the day,
the gentleman from Virginia Mr.. Gilmer] got the
floor, and the committee rose when the gentleman
Mr. Fmorel offered his resolution for disposing Of
the bill in half hour 1t might have been debated
three or four hours that day but was that sufficient
time to examine bill, important in its consequences
and to which many OF us were opposed If that was
not hasty legislation he knew not what was. More
over after the bill passed the Senate it brought
back here, and passed under the application of the
previous question. The majority, though they had
the power to silence debate could not take from the
| President the right which the Constitution gave him
to intercept its passage If they could, he (Mr. W.
had no doubt but that they would even gag him. Did
the President refuse to sanction any measure of the
party here, he was denounced as traitor. Would
any charge him with being traitor to his coun
try; No. but traitor to the universal Wing partly
because he would not sacrifice his principles, and Vi
olae his conscience. He was willing to let the peo
pie say whether or not the President was guilty.
After some further interesting remarks from Mr.
WELLER
Mr.. CARUTHERs obtained the floor, and moved an
adjournment; which prevailed.