The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-11

at last n voice " No neyer!"l And what
was IL la substance that the General Government
OF this country shall in aid OF the States of this
Union, which, ia the pursuits Of iaudable bscts,
and useful purposes, involved themselves in debt TO
such extent that they cannot be relieved from IT,
And The memorialists came here aud asked Congress
to assist them to discharge these debts. lie repeat
ed ihat lac intended 10 impute improper motives
TO the gentlemen composing the Committee Of Ways
and Means As far as he had become acquainted
with the contents of the report OF the majority and
that OF the minority, II was plain to his mind that
they had not considered, TO any extent, the PROPOSE
ton Of the gentleman from Maryland (Mr, Johnson
lie dad not wish by this remark although the Speak
er had placed him on the select committee TO be
considered committing himself 10 the support OF
The proposition Of the gentleman from Maryland, nor
did he wish TO be understood as being responsible
Tor the proposition of the gentleman from Ma
ryiand but be did claim, In behalf of the honor
OF this nation that when memorials were presented
asking for this sort Of aid from the representatives Of
the I'm on, they should be fully fairly and impartial
~ considered by this House. and not set aside in this
way by side-blows from the Committee of Ways and
Means. However either party, Wing or Loco Foco,
North or South, or any party in the House, may
dread the proposition OF the gentleman from Mary
land, they will have to come TO serious costempla
on OF the subject before they detnvely decide upon
it, II was marvellous thing to him, il surpris-
ing that the Wings of this House, the Wing party
should exhibit such an extreme anxiety to avoid an
impression that they favored the object. One would
suppose that the Wings thought that the Loco Focos
In the glow of victory and triumph, would try them
Tor treason fthey expressed their appreciation of the
proposition and make application of "the second
section" 1t appeared as if the Wings, who, in their
race had made their report to the House, seemed TO
think that their seltpreservaton required that they
should never consent to give aid to the sepa-
rate States which involved in burdensome
debts. They had before the House decara ion
from one State of the Union, that the people of Mis-
sissippi ,couH sooner endure than pay their deb.
MIR. THOMPSON, of Mississippi, Immediately arose
and remarked that that State had yet refused
to pay debt which it owed. [Laughter.l
Mr.. ADAMS observed there in existence a
letter from Governor McNutt, containing this decla
ration. If the gentleman thought to be necessary
he would send to the Library for it, that il might be
read TO the House. Governor McNutt, in that let
ter, stated that
MIR. THOMPSONsaid that he would rather have
the letter.
Mr. PlCKENS rose to question of order The
motion pending was to print and, if debate should
be permitted the merits of the reports, they would
not be able, at present, to take the question.
The SPEAKER overruled the point of order The
motion to print, he said presented broau question
on the entire merits of the reports.
MIR. ADAMS proceeded. If he had time he would
produce the letter; but he hoped that the gentle
man from Mississippi would read it for the sake of
his own character. Governor McNutt declared
that there two representatives in the House who
concurred with him in opinion.
Mr.. THOMPSON desired the gentleman to read
the letter and he wished him to understand that it
was not an official, but privae letter. The Legs-
lature of Mississippi spoke out this subject-her
voice was known TO the world and he trusted that
the gentleman from Massachusetts would look to the
action of the Legislature.
Mr. ADAMS repeated that Governor Men utt had
said that the majority of the people Of Mississippi
would prefer war to paying her debts.
Mr. THOMPSON made distinct and explicit
Governor Ike of
debt, he did not mean to controvert airy which Mis-
sissippi owed and that, before she would acknow-
ledge debt which she did not owe she would resort
to any means 10 avoid its payment.
Mr.. ADAMS remarked that Governor McNutt
said that there two Representatives on this floor
who concurred it'll him.
Mr.. THOMPSON observed that he did concur
with him, and would add that before the people Of
Mississippi would acknowledge a debt which they
did not owe they would resort to any means
Mr. ADAMS said that he would not enter into the
question: whether Mississippi bound not to
pay. She would not depend the judicial courts
TO decide whether it was debt not, but would
sort 10 her sovereignty not to settle it, The gen.
tleman had said that The letter of Governor McNutt
private Que but as he coDcurred in the senti-
ments expressed in it, he would, therefore prefer
to the payment of the debt. lie would not en-
ter into the question whether not Mississippi had
been deirauded by her agents-it sot nm eral
TO the point. But he would ask the Clerk to read
~ y
which the gentleman asked should be produced. He
desired that the letter should be read and read loud
ly.
The letter was then read. II is dated Jackson,
Miss, Nov. 10, lS4l, signed A. G.. McNutt, and adj
dressed TO the editor Of, and published in the Rich
mond Enquirer After giving the election returns, it
states that twothirds of the Legislature and anti
bond, and contains sentence 10 the elect that
demand would probably be made on the General Co
vernment for The payment of the bonds, but Misss-
al.
consequences what they may, that four-ffhs Of her
people would prefer war TO the payment OF either
the principal interest of the bonds, and that
Messr,. Walker, Thompson and Gwin, concurred in
this opinion.
Mr. ADAMS remarked that, as the letter had been
read he left IT TO the House TO determine whether
lac had misro presented its contents The letter pre-
SUI posed that a demand would come from abroad
for the payment of This debt and asserted that four
6flhs of the people OF that State would prefer
war to its payment But suppose, for instance,
Holland, Great Britain, any other nation, should
declare against Mississippi, and send her steam
ers to Natchez, if they could get tbere-he would
ask If the State rights Of Mississippi would prevent
her from calling upon the General Government for
assistance lie thought that the obligation Of tins
Union 10 stand by its members IN case Of war and
invasion would, in that event be asserted for they
could not consent TO any State Of the Union In
the possession Of the enemy Suppose she should be
required TO pay not only the amonn Of the debt, but
all the expenses OF the TO the enemy. Twenty
one million of dollars bad been exacted by England
from China IN addition TO the debt due 10 the British
subjects, and this debt was not Of dissmiar cha
racier Suppose this demand should be made was
this Union TO submit Could esay that the wsrwas
between Mississippi and foreign power; and that
we could not therefore, interfereS The issue would
come TO us this form, unless do something to re-
lieye not only the State of Mississippi but other
States Of the confederacy. This a question OF
morality and honor, and Government and Congress
bound TO take up the subject seriously, and see
in what manner they could come TO the aid Of the
States without mourning the dangers aud horrors OF
war for the purpose Of sustaining the safety Of the
nation and shielding it from the imputation of dis
honor.
! The SPEAKER responded to one or two imputa
lions OF the gentleman from Massachusetts on th,