The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-20
TWENTY EIGHTH CONGRESS-,
FIRST SESSION
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1874.
SENATE.


A communication was received from the Trea-
sury Department in reference to lighthouses
Two from the War Department, one Of which
was from the Commissioner Of Pensions, In REFER
ence to naval pensions.
The following petitions were presented:
Messrs. WRIGHT and HUGER, for the re-
mission of duties on railroad iron.
Mr.. FAIRFIELD, in reference to French spo-
liations.
Mr. HANNEGAN, for the reduction of post
Mr.. DAYTON, from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, made favorable report in the case
of Mark Simpson.
The Senate bill for giving lands to improve the
Fox and Wisconsin rivers was taken up; and, to
obviate the objections raised by Mr.. Haywood,
Mr.. TALLMADGE moved some verbal amend
ments, changing the word grant for the word
"appropriate."
These were agreed to, and the bill passed in
formally by.
MR.. McDUFFIE'S BILL.
Mr.. EVANS moved to take up the report Of
the Committee ON Finance on the above bill.
Il MIR. McDUFFIE. If one Of those who framed
our Constitution could have been present in the
debate yesterday, he would have been struck with
utter establishment at finding one of its provisions
set up as barrier to the repeal of the most mon
strous, unequal, and oppressive systems of taxa
ton that ever disgraced the legislative annals OF
any enlightened country. He presumed the Sen
ate would not think that the illustrous trainers
of the Constitution meant to deal in mere idle
words. Their intention was that no bill should
originate here for raising revenue by imposing
taxation--to raise revenue to put money into the
Treasury was one thing, and to impose taxes
was another.
The Senator from Maine, (Mr. Evans,) went
against all power of the Senate, in connexion
with the subject. The Senator from New Hamp-
shire had cited numerous cases where the Senate
had exercised the power, and the Senator from
Connecticut (Mr. Huntngton,) had answered,
and truly, that these were not cases OF raising
revenue by the imposition of taxes. Suppose we
had secret power OF raising revenue-suppose
if you please, that of necromancy, that we could
call down treasure from Heaven, or to strike the
earth with naked wand and bring il up from
beneath our feet--this would be raising revenue.
Our ancestors clearly meant that we should not
have the power Of imposing taxes upon the
people, and regarded in any"other light the clause
8 in the Constitution as idle and frivolous. Look
at this bill. Does it raise revenue ttby its own
inherent vigor," to use the language of the Sena-
tor from Maine? 1t is bill repeating taxes,
vet it is to be secuted out of the Senate, and de-
cried before the people, because we have not the
power of mitigating their burthens. If it was
substantially true that this was bill for raising
revenue, he would give up the argument at once
but what was the fact? 1t repeats half the ex-
listing imports and leaves the other unrepealed.
Mr.. Med. then replied to the objection of Mr..
Huntington, that if an amendment was proposed
to this bill to increase taxes, it would be out of
the power of the Senate to consider it, by remark
ing that any other bill might be saddled with
inconsistent amendments in the same manner.
He alluded to the Compromise Act and COM
plmented Mr.. Clay highly for his part in that
matter, which he declared was an act of high
moral courage--the greatest he had ever known
in all his political experience. He then launched
forth against the existing Tariff, which he liken-
ed to one Of the monsters of antiquity, the head
bale theory was brought up, and protracted
speech was made.
Mr.. EVANS next rose, but on motion Of
Mr.. BAYARD, the Senate went into Executive
session, remained short time therein, and adj
journed until Monday.