The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-10
EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH OF Mr..
HOLMES. or SOUTH CAROLINA.
In rHr HOUSE, Oh RErKEssSrArrIs,
WEDNESDAY,, February ..


the present session knowing that the revenue wouiu
fall on-neyer dreaming, however, that IL "ou'' "
reduced one-hall from the calculated ahout ~
had supposed that before that party went OUT OF P"
or, who came ia so triumpfanty' they "ou'a -,
some memorial f'not OF their doings at least oil to'
undoing, and that those who, no doubt with hones,
intentions but under mistaken calculations had ia,a
on the commerce Of the country weight eou'u
not bear would do something to relieve IL from us
present distress. but not single proposition hau
emsnated from that party for the purpose oil resusc'
tating the Exchequer, aud that which had been pro
posed had been treated with contempt was ~ NOT
the duty Of that party TO have proposed some mou.
BY which we might be relieved from our dimoui3
They tell you (said DIR. H. that they nave ho' s"e
Executive with them and, therefore, that they arc
free from the responsibility Call on The Deniocfa
cy, and say, Come for that once, and endea'or
with all your power before this Congress closes 10 10
something TO hold out hopes for the future anu
their answer is the responsibility is others and we
cannot act And the result was lbat The Executive
could not act because he not Congress Congress
could not because ii was divided into parties ana
parties would not act because they were PRESIDENT
max ng; and while they were engaged in the ques-
ton whether Northern or Il Southern man was 10
be raised to the Presidency, the Government, which
was to be presided over TO be left decaying and
decaying until the sceptre would not be worth Weld
ing when placed in the hands OF the victorious can
ddate.
Mr.. ii. had come to the conclusion that he should
less they would carry the matter out into total or
general reform, and he wished the members oil TINS
House would come TO that conclusion. A general
reform was essential. Look at the proposition be-
fore the committee. II to cut down the navy
The reasons given were that they were lying on
shore that they were spending their time in idle
and dissipation when every nerve should be ex-
ercised to protect the Of the country II,
this argument they went on and passed this TWEEN
y per cent reduction, the construction of it would
be that they passed censure on them, and by lowering
the spirit Of that gallant band if they pleased, idle
band as they were called by some, they would de-
stroy that which had given heart and efficiency to
for the defence Of the country in lis most dark and
desoiate hour. An idle band There was not
greater mistake than to suppose that they must be IN
continual action that at the hour of the countrys
need they might be triumphant. Now they must be
kept in readiness, and they might repose as long rs
they pleased, provided the potential there in
the hour of alarm to fly to the rescue. Mr. IL. told
two anecdotes illustrative Of this truth, and
said il was entire mistake with gentlemen to be-
leye that because our naval officers not conn-
ually ON the sea, like Nantucket whalemen, they
less able to conduct ship, that the navales-
Enlistment should be broken up on his account
Were gentlemen prepared to go back to the Chi
nese pocy-to dismantle our navy and trust hereal-
ter to a passive commerce, Did they expect if our
navy was dismanlled, that merchants contesting
with British merchants for the sale Of those articles
in South America which had been such source Of
profit to the British, and for the carrying trade, we
were TO remain exempt from the evils that had visit
ed the Celestial Empre' II we did not prepare our
selves like giant TO run in the career Of glorious
emulation with the other kingdoms of the EARTH did
they believe interests would be regarded
Let them look for a moment at the state oil tins
country and of Great Britain. The Western mem
bers on this floor, whenever the navy came up, said
they had nothing to do with il. They did not look
at the fact that vast portion of their commerce
protected by it they thought themselves just as
secure from the British PaiXhan guns II encased
in tortoise shell. That at the last war, but
he now declared as hi. real belief that in another
contest there was not single point in land,
tered by river or by ocean, that would not be assa-
| ed by British canonry. lie spoke of the Atlantic and
the Gulf assaiable and added that the NJ ssissip
pi aud the mighty Aledi,erraneans in the North,
| embosomed in Pennsylvania and New York, not
one of them safe Mr. II. referred TO the
means OF access OF the British by the Weand canal,
&c. and said let break out, and our lakes would
be covered with British steamers. Every point
| would be taken possession Of, and we should be an
IntreDched camp. Where would be rihenen
| who executed so much former occasions As
well might they attempt TO assail the fortress of Glib
ralter with the Of Indians, to attack these
floating castles with our rinemen
He now proposed that each and every member Of
this House put his hand on his heart and come for
ward to the rescue Of IS country before IL too
late and that n committee be appointed al once 10
examine vigorously and report 10 this House the only
mode If $ adapting the tariff 10 the state Of the
country, without any regard 10 its operation on Pc
sident-msklng, as TO furnish adequate remedy TO
existing evils. But did gentlemen think that there
was danger that tins country would actually per-
ish Of lapse after the gres, exctemen, respecting
its currency lie put the question 10 every gentle
men, how would they raise the money 10 carry on
the g Government If our duties fell below expen-
druresi Did any one believe, with that conviction
flashing on the minds Of those from whom we Dor
cd thutx we he ahl N ali
dit Look at the state Of our finances. We now
had eleven and a half millions of Treasury notes
outstanding. Every Treasury note was redeem
able for dues 10 Government, and any alarm
Treasury notes would be pressed in. Now stood
with a revenue Of sll 500 OOO and floating Treasury
notes 10 the amount Of 81 500 000 which might be
poured in in payment-one aancng the other; and IL
they now passed on TO appropriate So OOJ OOn for
the present ear al its close should find ourselves
So, OOO, 900 in debt. That was our situation.
He now called on the members Of this House in
the soberness Of statesmen, not regarding any other
considerations than those Of the country, TO proceed
at once to look the danger IN the face, and 10 take
measures 10 avoid the alternative which he said must
otherwise arise, suggested by the gentleman from
Georgia OF dsbandpg our navy and our army, aud
Of leaving our great empire without any means Of
defence except the tender mercies Of foreign nations
They we're entrusted with the salvation, with the in
terests with the glory Of the country The question
was not whether the country should flourish, but
whether II should eNIst ana Nlr. H. sald euphau-
caly that the existence Of the country involved
IN the very debate they had. Gentlemen could
| scarcely believe it, Nothing was 80 difficult to be.
ieye as that which they had from their youth up
so appsreuuy stable, was just lettering TO ITS fall
But this was the situation Of our country II would
have been utterly impossible for the peopls of Tyre,
when its merchants, like princes, we've clothed in foe
purple to have believed that that city should have
become a rock on which the fisherman should spread
his nets when Venice, the admiration Of the world,
had thin itself all the gems and rcbesof the
East the prediction that the time would come when the
naughty Austrian should wave his banner m IT umph
over her walls would have been considered idle and
row the prophecy which he uttered might be alike
UNDECIDED that unless immediate remedy was de-
y.ed this country, wi all It's ass Citations, with all
its hopes and with all its glories, would 60 down
did Tyre, and the mighty Carthage and the great