The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-29
THE REVENUE SYSTEM REFORMED.

| not taken.
THE REVENUE SYSTEM REFORMED.
| The long agony Is now oyer-the act of l842
is cancelled from the statute book--and the
new revenue law has finally passed the House of
Representatives to-day, by agreeing to the only
amendment which was adopted by the Senate. On
the test vote before the House the majority was 10
Ills to s6-precisely the same majority which car
rsd the bill on the Sd Of July, being two more votes
than were" given on that occasion, viz: ia to S.
This bill is based upon the revenue principle alone
II abolishes all deceptive minimums, and all specific
duties, Ii proceeds upon the ad yalorem rule alone
II lisa proud day to the country and to the age it.
self and well may those be proud Of it--that nu-
merous and interchangeable host who have borne the
brunt and battle Of the day among whom we can
not forget the able ohairmen Of tho Committees on
Finance Of both houses-Generai Mckay, of the
House of Representatives, and Dixon H. Lewis
esq, Of the Senate.
The struggle in both houses has been very severe
The scenes in the Senate, for the two last days,
were among the most exciting which have ever pass
ed within the walls of Congress, considering the
importance Of the question at ISSUE the position of
the actors, and the suspense which lowered over
the denouement increasing almost at every moment
of the drama The resignation OF Mr.. Haywood,
Of North Carolina, had thrown the result into the
hands of Mr.: Jarnagn, and on two occasions, when
he withdrew from the hall, into those Of the Vice
President. The democratic party possessed de-
clded majority in the Senate. That body had been
full for several days All the Sc members were
present. OF these, rs were wings, and 81 repub-
cans. But the two senators from Pennsylvania
and Mr. Niles, of Connecticut, were opposed to the
bill, running them up to g. Mr.. Haywood, Of the
democratic side, resigned his seat on Saturday,
leaving the democratic friends Of the bill at 81 Un-
less one wing senator, therefore, voted for the bill,
it was lost. This delicate division of the Senate
made the fate Of the bill turn upon Mr. Jarnagn of
Tennessee. He came from a State which had al
ways respected the right Of instruction, and the last
legislature of Tennessee had adopted the following
instructions:
| RESOLUTIONS
"Of the legislature Of Tennessee approving the re-
concentrations Of the President, in his annual
| message to Congress, in opposition to a national
bank, the assumption Of State debts by the United
States the distribution Of the proceeds of the pub
lie lands, and in favor of reducing the tariff and
extending the laws Of the United States over the
| Oregon territory.
Resolved, That the late annual message of Presi-
dent Polk to the two houses Of Congress is every
way worthy the Chief Magistrate Of the American
people. The temperance, frmness dignity, and
beralty manifested in its discussion of our foreign
relations, and Its luminous exposition and patriotic
recommendation Of the great principles of domestic
| policy upon which the administration was brought
into power, mark il as one among the ablest and
most American documents ever issued from the
| executive department.
| Resolved, That senators in Congress be, and
they hereby instructed, and representative
requested to sustain the principles of the message
by their votes, by all their energies, and by all their
| influence.
"Rssoipsd That our senator's in Congress be- and
they are hereby especially instructed and our repre-
sentatives requested, to vote against any proposition
or bill which may be introduced in Congress hav-
| ing for Its object the establishment of national
bank, the assumption of the debts of the Individual
States, the distribution of the proceeds of the sales
OF the public lands among the States, whether ac-
CURED by cession or otherwise, impolitic anG
constitutional.
"Re'oiued, That our senators in Congress be in
structed, and our representatives requested use
their best exertons to modify the tariff of lS42
as to reduce the duties it imposes to revenue
standard, and to abolish the minimum and specific
duties, and to establish in their place ad vaorem du
ties, as the most fair and equitable mode of levying
a tax on imports.
/
Their instructed and representatives requested to
use their best exertons to extend the laws and u-
rsdlctlon of the United States citizens in
the Oregon territory, and to adopt the most speedy
means, consistent with treaty stipulstons, to term
nate the Joint occupation of that territory by the
United States and Great Britain"
No man could have acted better in this delicate
| emergency than the other senator from Tennessee
Mr.. Turney. His speech on Monday was one of
the most direct, forcible, and efficient efforts we
have ever heard. 1t powerful appeal to the
principles of his State and to the feelings of his col
league. Mr.. Jarnagin proved true to himself, and
to his State and the positive instructions of her le-
gislature, and voted for the bill On two occasions
he withdrew from the hall for the purpose of pro-
ducing tie vote, and calling out the Vice Presidents
| constitutional casting vote; and noby did he meet
the occasion, and delivered speech which deserves
to be inscribed on the same tablet with the celebra-
ted speech Of old George Clinton, of New York,
when from the same chair he gave the casting vote
against a renewal of the first bank of the United
States The bill passed the Senate on Tuesday
yesterday by a majority of one, and was sent
back to the House with single amendment, striking
out the 9th section of the bill. The opposition on
the part of the whig senators was conducted with
great ingenuity, energy, and with little dignity of
manner. The reply of Mr.. Mangum to the suppo-
sition that they were waiting for new senator from
North Carolina, and a remark Of Mr. Berrien in
the very whirlwind of yesterdays proceedings,
produced the most favorable impressions upon the
mind of every spectator.
The bill cameup early this morning in the House of
Representatives. The opponents Of the bill strug-
ged hard against its success, as they had right to
do; but we congratulate the people that amid all
the anxiety of the occasion, there was no
passion, no violence, no disorder, to disturb the
dignity Of this distinguished representative body of
free people. The test vote was finally pronounced
and the bill carried by majority Of 10, 1.-TWO
wings only voting for it; one was Mr. billiard, Of
Alabama, who had voted for il on the 81 July, and
the other was Mr.. Rockwell of Connecticut, who
voted for il under mistaken impression that il
Ii, IL, h, 81