The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-02

H1u, Ming, 1SIHII NIdUguI1I
Sewer, Smith, OF Connecticut, Sturgeon, Tappan
Walker, Wilcox Woodbury., Wright, and Young
pa.
NAYS-MessIs Bates, Choste, Clayton, Crafts,
Evans Huntington Miller, Morehead, Phelps, Porter
simmons, Smith, of la, Sprague, Tallmadge, While,
and Woodbridge-l6.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration OF
the Revenue bill-the question pending being on the
motion of Mr.. Buchanan and not Mr.. Benton az
erroneousy printed in the Madisonian of Monday, J
10 strike out the twenty seventh section, which pro-
poses to repeal that part of the Land act which sus-
ponds the distribution of the proceeds OF the lands IN
case duties imports shall be made TO exceed twenty
per cent.
Mr.. BUG HANAN said that he understood that
the whole derived from the public lands du-
ring the first half year only $3SO,OOO. The
share OF Pennsylvania would therefore, be but 1885,
900, and more. And now, for the sake of this
comparatively miserable pttance, were they going to
continue the Treasury In a state of bankruptcy, and
deprive the vast interests Of the country OF the inc
dental protection which reasonable tariff bill would
afford ihat was the question. The President OF
the United States it was well known, had declared
in solemn and official form, that he will not, under
any clrcu Instances, approve bill which raises duties
above twenty per cent, and at the same time, dis
tributes the proceeds of the sales Of the public
lands.
The CHAIR interrupted the Senator. 1t was not
in order to speak to the views of the Executive;
and upon this point he desired to have the decision
of the Senate.
Mr. BUCHANAN said that he had right to re-
fer to what was called the little veto.
The CHAIR. Not as argument, If my construc-
ton of the rule be correct
MIR. BUCHANAN remarked that he was not very
we'll acquainted with the rules Of ORDER but from the
practice of the Senate, and from his own obserya
ton he had not single doubt that he had right to
refer to the veto message and the principles con-
tanned in it, and to draw any inference he pleased
He had right to refer to any thing but the docu-
ment, but he had always understood that docu lent
was fair subject of debate. He appealed from the
decision Of the Chair
Mr. KING presumed that it could not be the de-
sign of the Chair say that the Sc ator from Penn
sylvania could not refer to public document.
The CHAIR, interrupting him, observed that ac-
cording to the parliamentary rule it was out OF order
to draw from public document any inference to bear
question pending before the Senate, for the pur-
pose of influencing its action, so far as the opinion OF
the Executive was concerned
Mr.. WALKER said that, on former occasion,
when the subject of the recognition OF Texas was
before the Senate, distinguished Senator from Ken
lucky (Mr. Clay did refer to President Jackson's
message in relation to our affairs with Mexico. AT
that time he called the attention of he Senate to the
fact and asked whe her was in order to direct al
tenton to the opinions of the Chief Magistrate with
view to influence the action of the Senate SO
far action taken then, it was against his point
order.
Mr.. PRESTON inquired whether he understood
the Chair to say that any document OF the President
not fit subject of remark
The CHAIR repeated that argument drawn
from the document for the sake OF showing what
was the Presidents views upon the subject now be-
fore the Senate Of ORDER but thai mere ref
erence to the document itself was not.
Mr.. KING said that all the Senator from Penn
sylvania desired to ask effect whether the Ere
sident, unless he had recently changed his views,
sanctioned this measure which was in direct oppos-
ton to his Veto message.
Mr. GRAHAM observed that he knew of no in
stance in the deliberations of Congress where ques-
ton of this kind had been made heretofore Ii was
raised for the first time, he hoped that entire
freedom of discussion would be allowed and that 1t be
the rule.
Mr. HUNTINGTON sustained the decision Of the
Chair.
Mr. BUCHANAN admitted most cheerfully that
he had not adverted the private opinions OF the
President But was he Senator OF the United
States? and was he told that he could not take up
Veto Message of the President, in which he an
nouncel in the most solemn manner that ne would
not sign bill countenancng the distribution OF the
public lands, because, in doing So he drew an nle-
renoo as tho EAeCutlve's future action: When
General Jackson vetoed the Bank bill, could he
not have said that to pass another bill, when they
had conclusive argument that he would not sign 1t,
it would be labor spent in vain He had intended
merely to advert to this subject in passing, and had
said all that he intended to say but he now under
stood that the Chair decided that he had no right to
advert to the public document
The CHAIR remarked that the Senator had mis-
understood him.
Mr. BUCHANAN. Let me finish the sentence
if an inference could be drawn from it.
The CHAIR observed that what he had said was
that it was not in order to aude to the Presidents
opinions with view to influence the action OF the
Senate on the question under consideration.
Mr.. B UCHANAN remarked that he had not the
slightest intention of referring the Presdents ex-
istIng opinions He had little idea of them as any
body in the world He meant TO say that if ne Mr.
Buchanan) had written this document 1.-THE Veto
messaqe] month ago, it was not probable That, by
this time he had changed his opinion.
Mr.. SEWER hoped that the Senator would with
draw his appeal
Mr.. BUCHANAN did SO. He had not stated
what the opini ions Of the President now were, but
what they were month ago a taught; and any Son
ator might infer what they were now, without his
saying anything more upon the subject
Mr.. ARC HER said that the Senator could refer to
he opinions Of the President derived from his public
acts but not from private information If record OF
his body they could draw inference from 1t how
ever he hoped that the opinions of the President were
different from what they were month ago
Mr. BUCHANAN said that he would desplse any
miserable eaves-dropper who would go to the fresi-
dent of the United States and ascertain his private
opinions any subject, and then be guilty OF the
crlme--for crime he would call it-of dvulglng II,
for the purpose of influencing votes. Certainly, ne
should not allude to the private opinions OF the Presl
dent If he did hear them, he would not be guilty OF
the indecorum of making them known in the Senate:
But if the President, in pursuance Of his high oiical
duty, should send in his for vetoing BILL the
paper became public document # the highest ana
gravest character not his private opinions, but an
archive, to go down to after generations. On the
29th of June the Executive declared, in the most So
emn form, that he dsapproved of the little tariff
b and assigned his reasons for the veto that 1t vo-
lated the principle which he laid down Tor ms
own conduct, and that while the duties were raised
above twenty per cent. the proceeds of the lands
were still dis rbuted. This Was the Prcsment's
opinion month ago; what It was now he did not
pretend to say. He would keep himself vii hin The
rule and would not pretend to say but then, In So
Tenn and grave form, the face of the COUNTRY, he
M h.. h.