The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-19

declare in the face of truth, that he Mr. Van Buren,
had withheld the estimates of the Cumberland Road
and that he was opposed to all improvements, wher
here is the recorded evidence that Mr. Clay, the gen
tiemah paragon IN politics, Is guilty oil the very ac
which he Mr.. 50 said MIR. Van Buren, was, and thai
was opposition 10 the Cumberland Road.
HE gentleman from Pennsylvania had said that
under the present tariff the revenue had increased
S4,OOO,OUO, and that under this system the country
was becoming again prosperous. Does the prosper
y OF the country consist in low prices for the pro-
ducts OF the soil Under this very tariff (Which the
gentleman had said was again making the country
prosperous according TO the report Of the Secretary
of the Treasury, there had been falling off since
lo4l- IN the exports Of the country, of SIT 600 900
lie then read a statistical view, and showed clearly
that the products of the soil commanded higher and
better prices under the Compromise act, than have
been procured under the present high tariff; yet that
gentleman tells the country, that under that system,
the prosperity OF the country was, indeed, great.
Mr.. w. said he would pass 10 the gentleman s
declaration that during the last year. $40 600 600 of
revenue had been received by the Government under
the present tariff, and what it worth accord
ing to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury,
from which he read, and it appeared that only &c.
600 900 had been received from the customs yet,
with these facts staring him in the face, he had the
hardihood TO state this untruth.
Mr.. STUART: Send me the book--it is not oor-
rect.
- WI. w El-LER: Iere Is the secretary Oh the
Ireasnry's Report, who is much wiser man than
you are except in your own Imagination
Mr. w. continued. The gentleman had also stated
ihat, IN Inc last nine years, not as much money mad
been expended on the improvements of the country
as TINS capitol cost. Is this true? Let me examine
the records They tell us that during the last nine
years, S3 600 900 had been appropriated for various
improvements and that this capitol-this edlhce in
which we assembled-cost only 81 900 900 /;
and that during the last twelve years, Sl2 0OOO
had been appropriated for improvements, and among
them the Western waters Here is another talsehood
take the brand
Mr.. STUART: What the gentleman states is I'M
true; and shall not apply epithes with him like
fshwoman.
Mr.. WELLER: After the gentleman has pocketed
WI at have SAID, | shall not deal in ePthets with
neither ishWoman, nor tishman
Mr.. WELLER resumed. He said that IN
the second year Of Mr. Van Buren's admins
tration he found, from the estimates that he
had sent in to this House estimates for the
Western waters. So the gentleman's statement up
on that point is untrue-take the brand. He Mr.
w had said the other day, and he now repeated it.
that the gentleman from Pennsylvania was an econo
miser of TRUTH and that he had made statements on
this floor unbecomng gentleman, and without even
shadow Of truth.
MIR. NORRIS: Does the gentleman say that my
colleague has stated a lalsehood'
MIR. STUART: return the epithets.
remarks are clear and explicit, and | mean what
have said.
Mr. w. continued. When the gentleman from
Kentucky Mr.. Thomasson had brought forward
his resolution, and which required the speedy action
OF this House to the lives OF our feow-citizens
from watery graves it was insult for the gentle
man from Pennsylvania to have come forward at that
time and inflicted upon this House an old exploded
political stump speech" To satisfy the gentleman
upon this subject, he read the speech and the reply
OF Mr.. McDufie, delivered seventeen years ago, and
said he wished there were q few McDufies here
now to unravel such sophistry.
If the gentleman from Pennsylvania was under
the impression that he MIR. w was disposed to
stand by and swallow such base ISLANDERS upon
his conduct and motives, he had mistaken his man
he had said in the beginning Of this controversy
which he hal neither desired nor sought that if he
dld not dlsproye all of the gentlemans assertions or
differences if he peases, that he would take the
brand; but as he had triumphantly proved to every
intelligent and impartial man. that what had been
stated about Mr.. Van Buren, and his friends by the
gentleman were untrue, he should wear the brand
There, take it and go to thy political master, who
will reward thee for it,
Mr.. WINTHROP called the gentleman to order.
Mr.: WELLER. Sir, you allowed the gentleman
from Pennsylva to open this debate, and lam
guage which invited this controversy.
Mr.. WINTHROP said he was not aware that the
gentleman from Pennsy vana had used such language
Mr.. DOUGLASS He did use the same language.
and was not interrupted.
Mr.. WINTHROP. If he did it escaped my me
mory
Dir. WELLER. Sir you the last man in the
world whom | would insult; and if il escaped
your memory, let it pass Although he was in a tr-
umphlnt majority, he the last man in the world
who would encroach on the rights of a minority, Tor
he had high respect for the rights of all but when
one OF minority was so lost to selfrespect as TO
place Others IN false position before the country he
iet bound TO defend himself and his friends from such
untruths as had been uttered by the gentleman from
Pennsylvania.
There were gentlemen on the other side Of the
House Tor whom he entertained the kindest feelings
and who had never made such an attack Of stale cal
umnies against their opponents; and he hoped those
feelings would continue TO exist But to the gen.
tleman from Pennsylvania he had fixed the brand
and he may wear il in the presence Of his master, TO
whom he is but an echo.
MIR. BRINkERHOFF next took the floor, and Just
after he commenced his argument he tainted, being in
delicate health.
MIR DROMGOOLE moved that the committee
rise, which was decided in the affirmative.
The SPEAKER resumed the Chair.
MIR. WINTHROP, the Chairman, reported to the
House that the Committee Of the Whole on the state
Of the Union had had the Union generally under
sideraon, and part cularly The Presidents Message
and had come to no conclusion thereon.
Mr.. W. J. BROWN moved that the House ad-
journ.
And the House adjourned.
OPINIONS OFTHE ATTORNEYS GENERAL.
OFFICIAL OPINIONS and DECISIONS of