Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-07-30
Mr. BentOn's Speech.


entire conviction, is he had doubted previously,
that the new Tariff Bill, which, if it pass at all,
will become a law by his vote, ought to be prompt
ly rcpudiated, and secuted from the Senate cham
Der. This is strong language; but il is not
stronger than the character given by Mr.. Benton
TO this i-dgested ban,ling Of the financial cox
comb, who presides over the Treasury Depart
ment, authorizes us TO use. Look at the terms by
which this bill is characterized by the Senator
from Missouri. Referring TO that section ProPos
ed to he stricken out by MIR. Webster and which
he nevertheless, if the bill should pass, seemed
DESTROYS of retaining, he pronounced it lone not
suitable 10 the genius Of our Government, or per
haps consistent tcih the Constitution. " He az
firms that the bill is contradictory and incompre-
hensibie :" that "FRAUD was never before RE-
wARDED, except by this bill is the first bill, in
the annals of legislation which rewards fraud"
lin this remark, however, the Missouri Senator is
mistaken. The various Presumption bills, of
which he has been such a strenuous supporter,
have been the source Of innumerable frauds, in
consequence of the temptations to robbery and
perjury held out by their provisions. And, final
ly, he eIclaims, "Verily we live in strange times,
when such novelties brought forward
And vet after thus holding up the Administra-
ton scheme TO the Just adherence of the coun
try. Mr.. Benton, with n want of firmness not al
WAYS Characteristic of the man, but which on
more than one great occasion he has disPlayed ed
shrinking from the frowns of the Executive, or
trembling under the uplIfted Party lash-declares
his int ton To vote for measure to which he
deems such unmeasured denunciation applicable
He declares in effect. that he shall vote for the
bill. because the auspices under which il has been
introduced and the circumstances under which its
passage is pressed upon Congress, leave him no
discretion, deprive him of the ability to deliber-
ate, and render him unable to "act up to the ee-
vatlon Of the fortunate circumstances in which
the party now fiRds itself" !! He Proclaims to
the country that the members of the Senate are
so trammelled by some strange and mysterious
infiuence-so paralyzed by some potent spell
that they cannot act like Legislators. and there
fore he declines 'to bring all the contribution ofhis
knowledge and industry to perfectng the details
OF a bill" which he admits is alike odious in prnci-
pie and monsrously defective in some Of its leading
provisions And yet, with this ayowal, made
under these circumstances, the Senator from Mis-
souri,. with remarkable facility of selEdeceptIon,
attempts to excuse a course Of action so utterly
inconsistent with his reasoning, by the declara-
ton that he will not consent to "be worked a.
machine" in dvesting this bill of its OBJ ctona-
BILE features and in supplying its not less obvious
deficiencies. Not worked as a machine ~ What
but machine is he, when in despite Of the con-
vIctions of his judgment, which he has the candor
10 utter, he is induced to vote for measure, to
which applicable such formidable objectionsl
If he were really DESTROYS Of escaping the impu.
tation of being thus "worked" by some extra
neous influence, he would have endeavored to
remedy the glaring defects which he has had
the candor and firmness to expose. What more
passive instrument could the Administration de.
sire upon the floor of the Senate than Mr.. Ben
ton shows himself to be on this occasion, when he
avows his determination to sustain a measure by
his vote which he condemns by his speech
We have fallen upon evil times, surely, when
revenue bill, which, in the better days of the
Republic, originated, as the Constitution requires,
IN the House OF Representatives, shall be swal-
lowed, however crude, imperfect and monstrous
in form and feature, without an attempt to per.
feet il, because the Executive has usurped the
prerogatve of framing it after fashion to suit its
own peculiar views-and when opposition to any
material provision Of it, on the part Of those re.
cognsed as the supporters Of the Administration
to subject the individual who dares to throw of
the collar, TO the foul epithets of "apos,ate deser
ter and traitor" and TO the gross imputation of
having been bribed to "betray" his representa-
tive trustl When men are required to give such
evidence this Of fidelity 10 "the powers that
be-" well may Mr.. Benton proclaim that they can
no longer "act as legislators" In truth, they no
longer deserve to that proud appeIaton.
They are. to all intents and purposes, mere "ma-
Chimes" destitute of will of their own and ODE.
dent to that of men whom they may not call their
masters, but who are so, Just surely as they
are slaves, and they are contributing, by their
ignoninious submission, to prepare letters for
their countrymen.
Mr.. Benton's speech leaves no doubt If the Ia.
riff bill shall pass, that it will do so against the
Judgment Of majority Of the Senate. Is not the
bare annuncatlon Of so strange a fact well cal.
culated 10 starlle the county, A bill like this
affecting not only the public revenue, but touch.
ing every branch of business in tho country
not, as the "Unon" seems 10 think. designed
alone 10 keep The Administration ahoat. but cal
rulatcd TO strike blow under which the whole
country will reel and stagger like a drunken
man''--such BILL It IS now admitted, will be-.
come law, (f it shall pas-,) not in accordance
with the deliberate judgment Of the body by which
Il will be enacted, but in despite Of the conviction
Of some Of those who intend 10 vote for It, that 4
~ CRUDE, CONTRADICTION, iNcONPREHgNsgIg
FRAUDULENT measure, "unsutable TO the peniu
Of our Government and perhaps not consistep
with the Constitution :" The people will re-
spond 20 Mr.. Benton's declaration that men VIII,
will thus degrade themselves into machines.
are unworthy alike Of the appellaiion and tb
,Tl md fhry 4 "a
perceive ia the circumstances which have led L
result so derogatory to the character Of Sena
tors, tho overshadowing influence Of the ESecu
tive department, which "has increased, is increai
ing, aud must be diminished" or the whole pro
cess Of legislation will be ridiculous mockery
NJ. An ,nim.,.d di.,u..,on }. nov uninr ON in d