The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-07-14
9Ie*teatt SSar.
SPEECH OF TEEE
HON. D. WEBSTER.
OF the United States Senate.
On the bill TO provide for the Or
ganiZatiOn of the Volunteer
Force brought into the service
Of the United states.

Mr.. WEBSTER said he was not at all
surprised at the introduction Of this bill;
for aught he knew it was a necessary
one; bat it showed, at all events, that the
law which it was intended TO amend and
improve was but a piece of patchwork.
That law was not passed for calling into
the service Of the United States the mill
tia of the country, nor was it passed in
the regular exercise of the power confer
red upon Congress for raising and MAIN
tanning an army. 1t was mixed, an an
onymous, an mcongruous system, as he
would venture to say, this early occasion
for its modification proved it to be, and
as would be made abundantly evident be-
fore the war with Mexico was ended.
| shall not CONTINUED Mr.. W oppose
the progress of this bill. cannot say il
is unconstitutional, though | think ii is
irregular, inconvenient, and not strictly
conformable to the exercise of the consti-
tutional power OF Congress. If those
who are charged with the conduct of the
war, and are answerable for its results,
think it necessary, | shall not oppose it.
But ! will take the occasion now present
ed, sir, of the second reading Of an import
ant bill respecting the troops called into
the service to carry on the war, to make
few remarks respecting the war itself
and the condition in which we find our
selves in consequence of that war. The
war continues, and no man can say def
nitely when it will end-no man can say
upon anv reasonable estimate, what ex-
pense it will have incurred before It's con-
clusion.
We have received very important
mean his message of the 10th of June
setting forth his views and opinions, and
the views and opinions of the Secretary
of the Treasury, with respect to the
means and source of revenue for carrying
on the war. Upon this, sir, as well as
upon one or two other subjects connected
with this bill, have a few remarks to
make.
The executive is responsible for the
conduct Of the war, and for the applca-
ton Of the resources put at his disposal
by the two houses of Congress for the
purpose Of prosecuting the war. For one.
| shall not deny the Government any
supplies which may be considered neces-
sary. Whatever may be thought of the
origin Of the war, the fact that war docs
exist, is itself a sufficient reason for grant
ing the means for prosecuting that war
with effect. Those who condemn the
origin Of the war, and those who most
earnestly long for its termination, will all
agree that the refusal of supplies would
make no amends for what some lament.
and would not hasten what would de-
sire.
The message Of the leth of June in
forms the Senate and the country that,
for the fiscal year ending July, ls47,
there will be, under the operation OF the
existing law for raising revenue, def
ciencv, if the war continues, of twenty
millions of dollars, and suggested the
ways and means by which it is expected
that this deficiency will be made good.
refer TO these suggestions for the pur-
pose of making few observations upon
them
The object is to provide new sources