Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1844-06-07
Speech Of Mr. Stewart, of
Pennsylvania,

NpCCCAH OS NBFA 9dOWHEts Ol
Pennsylvania,
lC defence OF The Tariff and Distrbu
,ion, delivered IN the House of Re
Presenlarives Of the U. States, Msrcf
l3, lS44
Mr. Stewart, Of Penn. rose 10 inquired
OF The Char whether the previous ques
iion, which had heen called on the en-
grossment OF The bill, would preclude
discussion on the question now pro
pounded by the Chair, Shall this bill
passF
The Speaker having replied in tht
negative
Mr. Stewart said: However unpre,
pared, | am nevertheless glad sir, oil tht
opportunity thus Unexpectedly acquired
oi saying few words on this mportan
measure before lie final passage. Or
coming into the hall few minute,
since, was surprised, SIR, 10 learn 1ha
this bill 10 repeal The Distribution Law
reported by the Committee OF Way
and Means within the last hour, had al
ready been read a first and second time
under the previous question, and wa
now on its final passage. Sir, is ,hit
fart is 1t right, that this bill, by far the
most i'm mporlani that has occupied the
attention of the present Congress, shouIt
thus be hurried through all its stages
and finally passed, under the gag, with
out amendment or debateG Why lhi
hurry and hasteS Why post with such
dexterity 10 this destructive deeGf WHY
is This important measure to be thus
despatched in an hour, when days and
months have been spent. in the discus
sion OF matters Of comparative insgni.
ficance2 The motive cannot be misDa.
ken; lis friends are afraid Of discussion
they fear tho developement of facts
which must PROSTATE them before lht
people; but they cannot escape, sir
They may, by the gag, suppress debate
here, but they cannot, thank God, gag
the people and the press; they can snt
will speak out, in tones OF thunder, q
ganst the doings Of this day.
The proceeds OF the sales Of The pub
lie lands OF this country belonged 10 hi
States Of this Union. Itlsa fund which
this Government holds IN trust for the
people oI the States; and a period ha
arrived in our history when, by lhs
ma-sdm instralion of this Government
state OF things has been brought abou
in which the States are involved in
debt, a debt which was not only crush
ing the people OF the country undel
taxation, but was driving some Of the
States 10 reputation and bankruptcy
Is this Government TO furnish no relie
10 tho States Of this Union? Does i
owe 10 obligations to the States and lc
the peoplsH
, Are we to sit here calmly and see tht
States and the people OF the Union cruSl
ed under the weight Of direct taxation
see the character Of the country dis
graced, see reputation stalking forth
throughout The, land, and this House
and this Government. which had tht
power TO relieve the people from lhei
burdens and redeem this Governmen
from disgrace, do nOthingY THIS was
matter in which this Government Wa
deeply Interested, The interest an,
honor Of this Government must be sus
tanned or destroyed with the interest an,
honor of the States-they are lnsepara
be-we are one people in he eslima
ton oil mankind, and share in the sam
glory and IN the same disgrace,
Sir, you will have o surplus 10 th
Treasury. al the end Of the year, deriV
ed from The existing tariff, if lei alone
And what will you do with il2 Why
no, give the proceeds OF the land 10 The
States. to which it justly and fairly be
longs? II you do moi, you will be dri
ven 10 the necessity Of another Djstri
button Law TO divide The surplus reve'
nue. among the States.
Gen. Jackson in tGror of DistribudOn.
This policy was strongly recommend
cd and urged by Gen. Jackson, moi il
one, but in three OF his annual message
aud it had been adopted 10 Congress BY
e majority Of more than four to ono, l5I
10 38 in the House, and "a 10 6 in lh'
Senate. Yet gentlemen nov couIent
that this measure is not only highly in
expedieut. but unconstitutional; and N
Van Buren, in his lndiana letter, de