Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-27
CoNGRnssIoNAL SUMMARY.
TmvNspAr, JvLI "a, isi2.
IN SENATE.

AMI against the protective policy, from citizens o
Middiesex eouaty, Virginia. Il argues the Iheore
teal question like professor of political economy
anisppeals to the authority OF General Harrison Il
his GAINESVILLE letter. Which letter Mr. Calhoun ealle
ohth Secretiry TO read, after the petition.
Mr CALuoUs then went on TO comment on IN
letter. insisting that il pledged both General H. an
thos- who supported HIN to the Preservation OF th
compromise act. lie sppealed to the Wings 4
mN'ntso the doctrines OF this distnsu ished eiizen
the levorite OF their party, aud so much the ohiec
Of their regret.
Mr. CRIrrESpEs remarked tht the object O
THIS proceeding was clearly to hold up 10 the coun
ty an authority which the Seaa,or and his friend
hai done every thing IN their power to discred,t
lie could not understand how one who had play.
"a the Senators part AS TO tho iustrous person IL
question, should now, with such parade, come here
10 exhibit his opinions, and teach his friends how
TO interpret and revere them. Has the Senator
always taught this respect for the doctrines o
General Harrison When did he erect that vir.
tnous patriot into an oracle, assume to be the
erpounder OF his opinions Has he. as such,
gone 10 the quarter where those opinions have most
need TO be enforced, and where the Senator himself
would be most gladly listened TOT Has he gone
To ths Presiden Of the United States reminded him
OF General Harrison's opinion to the distribution
bill, and taught him how solemnly he was bound
TO ratify that act, IN conformity with the views 10
which hts great, his lanented predecessor, was so
distinctly pledged Is ii only thus by parcels,
and according to his own convenience, that lie is to
challenge adherence to the opinions OF General
Harfson2 He, sir, Of all others, has the least
right 10 advert as he has just done. to the doctrines
of General Harrison or Of any other Wing. The
opinions of the late President he struggled TO the
utmost to bring into reproach, wherever he him j..
sell had adheents, doing all that in him lay to keep
them down; and now, when the noble, the true
hearted old man is in his grave, and every Wing
hope and all Wing counsels with him, the Senator
comes with this posthumous respect to tell us OF the
deerentinl regard TO which the authority Of General
Harrison is entitled This is now the style of
those who, n llte while ago, spoke OF the great
contest OF 1910 as "the coonskn ar" These are
they who now TO instruct us what General
Harrison said, and how it was to be construed
With a sentence here and sentence there, pluck
ed from the context OF letters and speeches. We the
friends OF Harrison, are now 10 loo told by his enc
mics what we are to think, and what we are TO do,
not that his opinions or his measures may be advan-
ced, but those OF the men who deIded the tormor,
and fought and are fighting against the latter.
There might, in all this, have been some little
more OF decency, some little more ofcandor, II these
gentlemen and that Senator at their head had ever
when the present Chief Magistrate leaning TO
oounsels the most opposite TO the pledges of which
they nos speak, approached him-the delibera,e
violator of those pledges-to remind him of them,
they were now blind enough to do those who
respected and were true TO them. Him, they had
contributed all they could mislead from the very
principles Tor which they now pretended such res.
pect. They had mislec him by every they
themselves And now ihey, the friends and
couragers OF whoever will betray Wing principles
and measures come sraciously TO enlighten, nay
adHonish US, as TO what General Harrison thoughts
But sir, wha, does General IL. say, in that Zans-
willie letter, that has not been often repeated on this
foOr and especially by him whom no rule of this
body can forbid me 10 style, as he is my honorable
my ilusirious predecessor All have here tesl
ned a like desire 10 preserve the compromise act;
nay, have sustained IL, when assaed by the yery
utfh knra thn Sav d
held for it the highest respect that well I've paid
20 a merely legislative act, appealing strongly TO
Ghe feelings OF the whole country, as a measure the
most patriotic 10 It's aim, the wisest in It's adoption
20 the conjuncture, the happiesi in what it accom-
pushed. As law, all assent 10 the duty of respect
ing 1t, until some overriding public necessity, such
os has nov arisen, compes us 10 resort TO other
measures, suited to this, that was 10 its own
c)niUncture.
Ca the genteman's sppeal TO General Harrison.
authority, he would only add that iteem- with an
exceeding III grace from quarter where that honor.
able meme had hardly ever been treated with the
smallest decency. The attempt thus TO turn man
gied letter, 10y tue art OF misconsiruciion into an
evidence OF what the patriotic purposes OF the wti-
ter and his good sense would have entirely forbade
was thing wor,her o. the musings than Of IN,
Senate; and, as for the advice or admonion TO the
Wings, Il was as superserviceable as the nierprela.
tIoG Of General Harrison was superficial.
Mr. CALHOUN, though thus roughly handled
self with some spirit and science. IL would, in-
deed he said Changing his tone,) he extremely
absurd, were he TO offer the opinions he had ci,od
as one advocating them or PROCESSING a general ed
InIration of him from whom they came. He had
no idea of propoundlng them, except = OF acknow.
lodged authority 10 the Wings. de then proceeded
TO argue, from tue GAINESVILLE letter, that n Generai
Harrison were still alive. he would he pledged, BY
shat letter, to veto any bill subverng The compto.
mise act, as that would do which was about 10 be
sntrOduced into TINT IIouse. In etrh n psg.tiyo
his Wing Misunderstanding supported him with
full knowledge oil the avowal IN that leteT-would
be equally bound to concur, unless they would
show an lmpeIious necessity for the abandonment,
Of that pledge.
Mr. ARoHER disavo wed oil wish to interfere be
tween the Senators. lie could no', however. let
slip - apt an occasion Of asceriainng that without
which he might misapprehend the Senator feom
South Carolina, and do him an injustice which lie
should greatly regret TO commit. The Senator a.
YOURS us with frequent TRADES against our Jaring
violation Of those indohnabe and changing princi
pies which are his own guide long as he follows
them, and delight till he abandons them. But will
i not be as well. while we this matter, and
"a order 10 make It up with full understanding
when It comes here, that he should at tells us
hi5 own opinion as TO the obligations Of the compro-
mise actl Would he refuse 10 pass a tariff act Ct
above 30 per cent. no matter what the public ext
gencIesl Of are he aud his friends determined that
nothing OF the shall he done with their consent
Gen. Harrison, whose opinions no was pleased to
CHE aud expain, would have dore lad he found
himself IN the present contingency lie wished to
know where the Senator was about to stand. Did
b.. think that Il would, under existing circumstnn-
ce7 have been q breach o. consistency in Gen. Har.
sson to conform 10 the actuIl financial necessities Of
she country, and sanction act carrying the dute.
Beyond the compromise aep What would the Sc
MAJORS own course bt2
Mr. CALH-US would endeavor to answer plainly,
though succincily. lie was always glad 10 meet
any such challenge Hs to his course, which was
ever perfectly open to al public scrutiny.
He would say, without any hesitation, that he
would never consent 10 exceed tue terms Of the
COMPROMISE act, until the legitimate resources Of the
Government were all applied 10 its support, all
needless expenditures Tctrenched, and every prODsr
reform introduced into tie public service.
Mr. C.'s answer, therefore, comprehends, We SUD
pose, these points: that he Will not 90 beyond 20 rof
cent duties u the present Administration reduces
Expenditures to the minimum t il pUrlfcs al
pablo Offices, and i'll the aud fund IS restored To
thc Treasury. The consequence, then, IS clear
that he would LEI the Government stop.
Mr. CRITTEEDEE resumed. lie had, IL seemed
misspprehendcd the Senator from South Carolina.
who did not mean 20 sanction the opinions which he
urged Others to he guided by. lie mean, them as
q rule for the Wings only. IL was thus only
lecture which the Senator pleased TO read 10 the
Wings lie mir CRITTLEDEs) wos not nvsrse u
learning, Out claimed the usual privilege Of even
Che most ignorant grown.up peopio-ihat Of ch5o
sing their own teachers. Would the gentleman
have me 81 at his feet ard learn wisdom Of MIN
Vs. that his assumption Such claim would lie
rather high, even towards his political allies. To
wards those who are the very contrary, j. is most
extraordinary. Them he might with some facs
lake on himself 10 ndoctinale, " he showed Nc.
ale respect for any Other Of General Hauison's