The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-04-01
ID o ! tttraI.
SPEECH OF MR.. WRIGHT, OF N. YORK.

SPEECH OF MR.. WRIGHT, OF n. YORK.
In Senate, UciaeSlay, March 2, lsl2-On I!r
CLAY's resolution in relation to the revenues and
expenditures of the Government.
Mr. WRIGHT said he entered upon this Discus
sion under state of preparation so hastily and I'M
perfectly made, as not 10 permit him 10 feel even
his usual degree Of confidence ofbcing able to give
TO the Senate the views he wished 10 present, in
manner which would enable the members TO listen
to him. or to understand him if they did. lfii were
his Object to make reply TO the able address ofthc
honorable mover Of the resolutions, made TO the
Senate on yesterday he should feel and should be,
wholly unprepared, as he had not, to any extent.
consulted the documents necessary TO enable HIM TO
follow that learned Senator through his various sta
tistical and financial calculations. Such was not
his object, as would be already seen by The u
mcndmcnts which he had had the honor TO offer,
and which were now upon the tables Of the mem
bers. The original resolutions did no, appear TO
him 10 present with sufficient disuclRess the great
points involved in them, and hence he had pr0pos-
ed the amendments; and the uIec, Of his remarks
would be rather to open the debate upon the other
side oiihese great questions, than to follow and re-
ply 10 the speech Of the honorable Senator, (Nlr.
Cay.)
That honorable gentleman had appealed 10 the
Senate 10 come to the consideration olihese resola-
tions without the preiudICes and passions which
politics and par,i2an feelings Too often involve and
Nlr W. had remarked, with unleigncd pleasure,
The almost entire absence ofobseryaiions in the adj
dress Of the honorable Senator calculated to excite
such feelings. In that respect he could AM would
initiate the honorable gentleman though he lIld not
the vanity TO expect to be able to initiate him in
other respects. lie would make no remark with
the intention to arouse and excite party feeling or
prejudice, 10 bring either into the discussions or
the aciions Of the Senate upon the resolutions
The honorable Senator had anticipated, as from
the character of his mind, his great legislative ex-
percnce and intimate knowledge of the Cons,itu-
ton and powers Of This body, to which his reso =
uions are presented, he could not have failed TO
anticipate, preliminary objections TO the resulu-
tons themsel,s. They relate almost exclusively
to the subject Of raising revenue to meet the ex-
penses of government. Their object is 10 pre-
scribe the modes in which that revenue shall be
raiSed TO point ont the descriptions of property TO
be taxed, 10 fix the amount of revenue 10 be raised
and recommend mGrimum of taxation upon any
article. In other words the resolutions propose 10
set bounds and limnis TO The exercise Of powers Of
the legislature over this delicate and difficult sub
jet, and that they propose shall be done here,
where bill 10 raise revenue cannot be originated
under the CONSTITUTIONS that the Senate, which
cannot constiiutionaly propose tax in the shape
Of law, shall prescribe TO itself. and consequent