Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-02-16

.oncss. q The Honse was this: From what occurred
between the honorable gentleman and himself the
other day. when he catechised him as to his opinions
of the ways and means of the Government, y wonld
be remembered by the House that whether the gentle
man intended to evade an answer or NOT ne was most
successful in not answering When he (Mr. W) ask
cd him what was the opinion OF the COMMITTEE OF
WAYS and Means with regard to the opinions OF The
Secretary of the Treasury that there would be sur
plus of debt, surplus OF bonds, and surplus Of out
treasury notes. the gentleman gave no definite
answer He (Mr. W. wanted to ascertain whether
the Committee Of Ways and Means (whose appointed
duty it vas, by the standing rules of the House, to
ascertain for themselves whether the Executive reports
were correc thought that the Secretary OF the Urea
sury had given true statement OF the condition OF the
finances but he could not get an opinion from the
honorable gentleman on the subject. He would now
ask the honorable gentleman tor an expression OF his
opinions on this important SUBJECT Did he, or DID ne
not nuree with the calculations of the Secretary OF
the Treasury He (Mr. w veniured to sny-and The
gentleman might contradict him If he dared-that be
did not anree with the Secretary OF the Treasury in his
calculations as 10 the means of supplying the wants OF
the Treasury.
Mr. FILLMORE observed that there
mari; in the message just read which was undenIabiy
true and that was the declaration ina. was 'he GUY
of the Executive to inform Congress if there vs. likely
10 be deficiency in the revenues lie believed that
the usaue of the Government: had been invariably, not
only for the Committee OF Ways and Means TO look to
the Secretary Of the Treasury for information on this
subject but for Congress to do SO also. Now, IN an.
swsr to the gentlemans question, ne would say that
the Committee of Ways and Means had been waiting
for that communication ard had not come TO any set
tied opinion in relation to it.
Mr. WISE. Do understand the gentleman TO
say
Mr. FILLMORE One word more.
Mr. WISE. OH I'll wait.
Mr. FILLMORE resumed. The gentleman from
Virginia had charged him with answering that gente
unsatisfactory, with evasion. The gentleman
from Virginia, however, when he (Mr. ftimorel gol
through his explanation, said that he was satisfied
Mr.. WISE said he was satisfied then, as he was now,
that the gentleman evaded the question.
Mr. FILLMORE said, if the gentleman did think So
he must submit the question between them TO the coun
try But he told the gentleman from Virginia that he
had formed no opinion, but had been waiting Tor nor
nation from the Treasury Department on which 10
form an opinion.
Mr. WISE asserted, in the presence Of that House,
that the other day, he asked the gentleman from New
York what his opinion was; and he declared, as he did
to day, hrs that was the duty Of the Secretary Of
the Treasury inform the Congress of the u S. upon
the condition of The finances. With that he agreed
The Secretary, at the beginning of the session, did IN
form them the state of the finances; but the gentle
from H. York, had called for additional informa'
ton, which he told hem the other day. the Secretary
had not yet Finished But, Friday or Saturday
lasi the Secretary furnished the gentleman from New
York with statement (Which was, in substance, con-
6rmed by the message receivedD and on that
statement he (Mr. W put several interrogatores to
the gentleman from New York on that floor; after
which, the gentleman from New York came TO his seat,
and asked him fine thought he Mr.. Fllmore had an
swered him TO his satisfaction. He (hlr W. told him,
and he trying to demonstrate, that he thought ne
did not wish to at ALL and he then put TO the
gentleman from New York, at his desk, 10 know what
his private opinion was, Chairman of the Committee
of Ways and Means; and whether he agreed with the
Sacra taru off ha Tranc md ID.
mtted that he did not agree with the Secretary in his
general conclusions.
Mr. FILLMORE. MIR. Speaker,
Mr.. WISE. Will the gentleman deny that:
Mr.. FILLMORE. Yes, Sir.
Mr.. WISE. Sir,
Mr. FILLMORE. told him that had no opinion
to express.
Mr.. WISE. Did not the gentleman admit that he
agreed with me, that the Secretary was not correct IN
his conclusions,
Mr. FILLMORE. No, Sir.
Mr. WISE. | affirm it before Heaven and earth
TGreat sensation
Mr. FILLMORE. | care not who aifirms lit is
not SO. Cries of "order."l
Mr.. WISE said he would not call upon witnesses TO
confirm his ment; for he should call upon
to back his word; but whoever denied it, mght-and
might, according to his own munner-be responsible
for il.
After some further conversation between Messrs.
Fillmore and Wise
MIR. WISE said he should like TO have an explana.
ton.
Mr. FILLMORE explained that he meant he had
formed opinion independent of Executive commu-
nicatons.
Mr. WISE asked the gentleman if he believed the
communication of the Secretary of the Treasury was
correct
Mr. FILLMORE replied that he had no means of
showing its incorrectness, and he had TO be-
eve that the Secretary was dishonest man.
Mr. no from
believed in the data of the Secretary
Mr.. BOLTS rose to question Of order The gen.
teman from Virginia, had no right 10 poll the mem
bers of the Committee Of Ways and Means in this
Mr.. FILLMORE rose to explain.
Mr.. WISE begged the reporters to take note of the
gen,lemans explanation. And what was it, II was
this 81 have opinion, independent of the nforma
ton of the Secretary of the Treasury. What is your
opinion about the information Of the Secretary Of the
Treasury? 81 have means of showing that il is in.
correct" Well, now, what was the gentlemans OPT.
MON at last Nothing al all The gentleman from
New York said, the other day, that if the data Of the
Secretary were correct why, ihen his calculations were
correct
He, (Mr W. asked if the secrenry's data were
corTeci-and the reply was 81 have means Of know
ing whether they are correct or Incorrect And this
came from the Chairman OF the Committee Of Ways
and Means, who confessed that independent of The
Secretary of the Treasury he had got opinion at all
| Di0 they oeIleVe tnat ne nad got no opinion Inc
gentleman did not say he had got no oplnion-but,
though he had got specific opinion, he, (ir W.
believed he bad general conclusion as to the correc
ton of those data. Now, he asked for the motive for
the concealment Of those opinions. He asked why
there not report from that committee
Mr.. FILLMORE asked the gentleman from Virginia
if he believed the report made by the Secretary OF The
Treasury, as he nearer the Executive than he,
(Mr F.,) could be-or, whether the gentleman from
Virginia had any means Of knowing that II was false
| Mr.. WISE. This is not question of falsehood.-
(Laugherl He begged gentlemen to wait for
swer before they laughed. flc told the gentleman
from New York that he differed wholly from the Sc
cretary of the Treasury Had they got their answer
laughter Now, would the gentleman answer him
a question: Did the gentleman from New York be.
leve in the correctness Of the Secretarys report'
[Cries of "Thats fart Now, let gentlemen laugh.
He (Mr. wy differed from the Secretary Of the Trea.
sury, and he believed his data would be found to be
sandy foundation, and that the suPerstructure based
upon it must fall necessarily
The gentleman pursued these remarks IN this strain
tme and expressed his dread OF an extra session,