The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-15

~ s da were correct, hs cohciuooh must DC cor
rect and When asked Il the data were correct, lac
said he had no means OF correcting them. la short
the gentleman sald that Independent or dependent
the Secretary OF the Treasury, the gentleman had
no opinion al all
Do you, exclaimed Mr.. W., beiiere that he has no
opinions lie says he has no specific opinion. be-
leve he has general opinion and now | ask the
motive for this concealment} Why is il that no
opinion can be screwed out Of this Committee Of
Ways and Means The reason is this If they are
honest and tell the country that they do differ from
the Secretary, and do not believe there will be the
balance he says there will in the Treasury on the
first Of January next, then the duty will be incum-
bent upon them TO submit plan OF ways and means
TO meet the wants of the Treasury. Their object
therefore, Is 10 escape that responsibility by evadng
all expression Of opinion touching any expected de.
felt.
Mr. FILLMORE. desire to know of the gentle
man from Virginia whether he believes the report of
the Secretary to be well founded' or whether he
has the means OF knowing that it is false Sensa-
ton aud some laughter
Mr. WISE. will tell the gentleman that differ
wholly from the Secretary, Has the gentleman got
an answer And now | say to the gentleman, will
you answer my question: IA laugh and cries Of
THAT'S iair"l Do you believe in III Ii is a fair
question, have answered now come, toe the
mark t"Fair"-a fair."l believe that the Sec
retary's data, much of it, will be found sandy and
the superstructure erected upon such foundation
must fall VIII the gentleman be as honest with
me say he did honestly express himself at my
seat lie did not indeed say how far he differed
from The Secretary, nor whether he believed there
would be any surplus or not. | tell the gentleman
mat tough do not impugn at all the yeracity and
sincerity Of the report of tn Secretary, believe
that instead OF surplus of $500 900 on the lst Of
January next there will be deficit TO that amount
or more. If the Secretary's statement be true and
proceeds on our appropriations being equal to his
estimates, and we have cut down the appropriation
baf iba,. t..h .t.,
and four millions in the Treasury the LIST Of Janu-
ary The chairman knows that very well aud the
editors OF the Intel igencer told him and all the
world that such result would follow from the pre-.
misses and II puts forth this statement to prepare
The way for the prediction that there will be no call
ed session. wish TO avoid n called session. dread
Inc very name-l dread II to the country :;
out there are gentlemen who wish there may be
called session, that they may cast the entire odum
and reproach of it upon The President Of the United
States.
The committee seem to wish not only that they
may escape the responsibility Of providing the neces-
sary ways and means, but that the President may be
driven to the necessity of calling extra session
les mat hereafter i may ring long and loud from
the stumps round Buffalo that the Secretary of the
treasury mad made so great a mscalcuation. Is
not that the PLAN But feel that in this question
there are public interests involved far far above all
Poltical and lactious conrvances and that sort of
contemptible trickery that so i'll becomes Commit
lee OF ways and Means. If it be- indeed, true that
the chairman is ignorant he says he s-if he ha.
no opinion the finances then saw il is high time
That he and his committee were instructed in the
manner propose to instruct them Ii is true that
thcy ala form an opinion, and report the ways and
means requisite to support the Government.
why do they object TO the instructions The duty
IS already incumbent upon them the instructions are
intended 10 draw the attention of the country TO the
state Oh the case and to elicit expression Of OPT
mon III Inc law excuses no man for being ignorant,
none surely will excuse this chairman for being so
grossly ignorant as he here avows himself | do not
believe gentleman who has his industry, ntelli-
gence, and powers of investigation is thus ignorant
But choose not TO be involved in the perils of con-
lroVersy with the gentleman, and therefore felt
delicacy In abiding to what he said to me here at my
seat had certainly expectation of meeting with
The Hat and apparently frank denial we have heard
now mold the gentleman responsible for the duty he
IS bound by the rules of tbs House to perform. | |
regret that my word has been thus publicly and fatty
denied as 1t has been, and say to that gentleman
lhat no man shall, in the spirit he has here shown
rise IN ms place and fatty deny what state and af
forwards tell me he means me disrespect
l now conclude as began that the gentleman did |
ieciare 10 me That he did not concur in opinion with
he seer iary what the difference between |
hem know not nor what was the extent of it; but |
ucn were ms declarations to me- and will maintain
1 by any ordeal earth.
MIR. FILLMORE. have not desired to have any
PERSONAL controversy with the gentleman rose to |
et myself right; and if in any heat of expression
ave gwen cause OF offence 10 the gentleman, re- |
,ret it.
Mr.. WISE IL the gentleman had used that ex-
PRESTON although might have differed from him as
o The TACT, should no, have complained; but when
he fatty den ed -
Mr., FILLMORE ] remarked that the gentleman
nusl be mistaken. That is all the explanation have
o make, and feel that is due to myself
But as 10 this debate both on the former occasion
'nd Tie present, admit that did not understand
What was the object Of the gentleman in putting his |
INQUIRIES, and called upon the gentleman purposely
o inquire. But now | discover what | could not
men now the real object is dis. losed and | do not
egretit His object evidently was to pare The uau
or an extra session. and throw the responsibility of that
Measure, II possible on the present c ngress.
Mr.. WISE. Did the gentleman understand that
o be my object
Mr.. FILLMORE. That is what now understand
( TO be.
Mr.. WISE. If there is any one measure wish to
reyent, and wish my friends to cooperate TO pre-
eh., IL IS the necessity Of having called session
80 lar from having the way for it, my object is to
make IL cerhln, by the action OF the Committee Of
ways and Means, that 1t may be prevented. That is
ny OBJECT But ayow II as my firm conviction that |
Congress shall adjourn that report Of the Secre-
airy, Government will be driven into the necessity of
hat measure
Mr.. FILLMORE said he was much grat6ed to
earn mat the gentleman was opposed to a called |
esson, because he was understood TO speak accord
ng 10 The mind OF The Administration Mr. r. did |
'ot himself believe in any such necessity