Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-08-01

should be called what he considered raw ma
tea his answer would probably be raw hides but
shoemaker asked what raw material his reply would
be tanned leather And nternnabe succession
through ali the branches and OF labor How
could the committee undertake fulfil these instructions with
out the requisite information, and without the necessary time
and opportunity procure it Still he would on and en-
deayo to do it, the Senate after due deberaton, and after
hearing what the committee had to say should still determine
so to order it, He could however, do but of two things
either such Of time the proper perform
of would require, make botch OF the work
He brought this alternative obtain the Of the Senate
They had now at length come up to the point They were
called vote finally this BILL and every gentleman
give such he should be prepared to stand by
Mr. HUNTINGTON said that the request Of the chairman
of the Finance Committee had placed that body in attitude
which he believed had occupied before He doubted
if single instance could be found in all the recorded legsa
ton Of the country where committee had been ordered do
specific act and had refused without even making an at
tempt to do it,
Mr. LEWIS said the committee did refuse they only
asked to be discharged.
Mr. HUNTINGTON, resuming, said that the committee
had been directed make certain alteration in this bill and
they had reported the bill back to the Senate without even at
tempting to make such alteration As to the reasons Wnch
they had stated he should consider them afterwards what
il the Senate had done yesterday The Senate had de-
cided that the bill should be amended and amended IN par
tcuar way Did they not And they had written down on
paper the particulars in which the committee should amend
the BILL and they had that paper the committee 1t
direction them inquire into the exPedlency OF SO
amending the bill not left with the committee to Judge
|
ORDER pcremptory its any order directed the
Secretary Yet the committee instead making
the amendments they had been directed to makes reported back
the bill without any amendments at all They declined TO do
the duty assigned and Mr. H. insisted that this unusual
unprecedented and extraordinary Mr. Bssros was here
say that he could produce pecedents OF similar
proceeding. B.I
What had been the reasons assigned by the chairman ohe
committee doing his duty The first, and indeed the
only given by him, except suggestion at the close of
his remarks that the committee had not had time Not
ime-to do what In the first place. the Senate had de-
cded that the committee had time for they had directed them
do and they good judges Of the time required as
the committee The Senate had not directed the com
mee report this morning The Senate knew just well
that committee what day they had fixed for adjournment
and how many legislative days and other days INTERVIEWED and
with full knowledge of these facts it had directed the Com
Finance do certain thing and the chair
of that committee there and very modesy told the
that they ought have required the committee to
perform this task because the committee Of opinion that
there time to do II.
The Senate had decided that the bill should not pass with
out amendment but should be ended The committee
had brought back into the Senate without any amendment
and asked the authority Of their opinion that the bill
should become law just STOOD without any amendment
at all Now, with all personal respect Mr. H. insisted that
this report Of the committee should be accepted the Senate
would sanction of its committees dsegardng and
refusing comply with any order the Senate might give The
committee had not time, and they did not make effort
comply with either branch OF the instructions. No time
Why, what the first instructions given To amend the
bill in regard to those articles of material which
poyed in the manufactures of the United States. Now who
did practically know what the meaning Of such d.
recon The question too plain to admit of dispute but
the committee had not gone into any inquiry to what such
materials Had they asked the Senators from Maine,
Maryland whether hemp article Of raw material and
whether wool another No., not word. But they
back here and pleaded ignorance They did not know
what a material meant. What pity But how long
would have taken them comply with this first branch of
the instructions All they would have TO do would be to take
up the of AZ and it to find what articles of
material there free of duty and such articles there free
taxed the BILL take them of the class of taxed
articles and put them into the class of free and such
article taxed in the bill higher than in the act of A.
reduce the the level OF the old Would such
an operation take half hour There not
that chamber who could make the whole alteration
| quirod in Ices than an hour's tino
But what the second branch of the instruction II
that the committee should lay such duties articles
material should produce sufficient to meet the
exigences of the country. Had they time for this Had
the Treasury Department stated what the
which the Government would need And had not the chair
told the Senate what he expected this bill raise Now
If the alteration the material would produce reduc
ton of revenue all the committee had do impose
that amount in addition to the duties the other articles
And the committee competent to do this they
report upon the bill in the first instance Was
his friend from Mississippi (M SPEIsHT as competent to
make these alterations the bill judge that the bill
| fit and proper TO be passed in its present state
Mr. SPEIGHT said that he would frankly the gem
eman from Connecticut and say that he could not do any
such thing in the space of eleven days. could any other
| member of the committee.
Mr.. HUNTINGTON resumed, and said il the gentleman
could do il, must be owing the inirm state of his
health (and regretted than he did that the
health of the honorable Senator better but if the
gentleman thought that he himself quite incompetent
such task here a gentleman from Maine him Mr.
EyASs) who had been long enough familiar with questions Of
to know something about them He thought that he
had asked him he could have presented him with such
would enghten him in the task But the committee took
good give him chance. Neither his friend from
Maine, (Mr. EvASs,) his friend from Maryland, (Mr.
JoHNsoS,) both of whom members of the committee,
had had opportunity Of making effort to perform
the duty assigned them by the Senate majority of the
committee had decided that they competent do it.
and therefore, their opinion, nobody could do it. Mr. II
would submit to the Senate whether they would sanction
course like this in Of their committees He thought 1t
due the dignity Of the body that having instructed
committee, should insist that least effort be made
obey such Instructions The Senator from Missouri (Mr
BESToS had indeed said that if he again instructed he
would set TO work INSTRUCTED again Was it necessary
then, that the Senate should reteate its instructions That
should require, and insist, and compel before of its
committees would even attempt to do what directed to
do He repeated it. this unusual state Of things,
and he hoped the would be back and charged
TO obey the instructions Of the body.
Mr. JARNAGIN here rose and said that he thought it
his duty himself and his country that hs should put
end to this affair. He fully satisfied that no
amendment could would be made in this BILL and it was
therefore useless insist keeping before the committee
The only effect of such must be smother the bill
When he had voted yesterday for the he had had
such purpose in contemplation Had he resorted such
mode Of destroying the bill he should have considered
himself dchargng his duty according his instructions
He had time thought his duty, under the insruc
tons to vote for the bill just il from the House, not
- l.. - a