The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-06


less TO refer this bill Whyi Because the commit
Tee were equally divided to its passage II was
very easy TO Obviate the force of that objection II
had any force at all. Let another member be added
TO the committee ad interim, in the absence of the
senator from Mississippi. That could be done with
out any difficulty, As the senator from Maine Mr.
EVANS, had properly remarked, if the committees
we're deprived of usefulness from being divided
equally better dlsband them at once. How did the
senator know that the committee were not equally
divided on other measures Were they therefore TO
cease the exercise of their dutlesi
Mr.. ALLEN. As the committee consists Of
five members, it would be impossible that they could
be equally divided other m easures.
Mr.. HUNTINGTON remarked, in reply, that
there were now only four working members, and on
that superstition all the speakers had been proceed
ing II did appear to him that the course proposed
10 be taken with regard TO this BILL not only
absolutely without precedent and entirely without
analogy but also calculated 10 deprive the Sen
ate Of the only responsible source within their reach
OF ob tanning that information which was so neces-
sary TO sautary action on the bill, and that was
through the prior action of the Finance Committee
lie desired 10 know what that committee thought
Of this a financial measure What amount Of
revenue was, in their opinion, likely TO be obtained
by R Whether they thought It was not susceptible
Of essential Improvement How II would affect, in
their judgment, the varous interests OF the
country, manufacturing, commercial, and agricuI-
tural-how it would affect the man that abored
IN the cultivation of the soil, the merchant, the
planter, the manufacturer-a classes OF the
community He wished to obtain from the
committee an expression Of their deliberate opin-
ION with regard To the details Of the bill. The
bill proposed an entire change in their system. II
about three years since Congress passed a tariff
bill which had blessed the country, sustained Its in
dustry, and replenished the national treasury. lie
desired to know what was likely to be the effect OF
4 r -. VkaEka hat
ure would not break down the great interests Of the
country-whether IL would NIL the treasury or
empty ii. All this most needfu and desirable Infor-
nation he wished 10 obtain from the committee
charged with the financial affairs OF the government;
and knowing the gentlemen who composed that
Notwithstanding that another could be added TO
their number if desired, in the necessary absence Of
one Of them, who was unwe-knowing that they
would give TO the bill their prompt and deliberate
attention, he trusted that the reference TO them
would be permitted. 1t was asking only what was
just-just to the Senate and TO the country, which
would be so seriously affected by the bill should 1t
become law
Mr.. MANGUM next addressed the Senate. He
said that there were only two objections urged
against allowing the bill TO take the regular
couTse-frst, the accidental vacancy in the Com
mittee of Finance; and, secondly, the advanced
stage of the session, which It was desirable
TO bring TO close soon as possible In the force
Of the latter reason he concurred and professed
his readiness to aid in bringing the session to a
close, provided that the public business properly
attended to- and none Of the public interests allowed
10 suffer by hasty and careless action. As to
the hrs agume nt was at once reiuted by the fact
that the vacancy IN the committee could at any mo-
ment be filled without the slightest dlscOurtesy TO the
respected member W no was absent account OF ln-
disposition. Ii no other gentleman would move TO
ill the vacancy, he would move that II be fled-lhe
gentleman thus appointed, of course, to vacate his
seat IN the committee when the absent member
turned. There was no design the part of any
senator to procrastlnate action this bnl-nOne at
ALL But of all the bills that had become before the
body, this one appeared To him be pre-eminenlly
worthy of the most deliberate consideration. IL in
voved tyof details by subectIng which to
the attentive examination OF a committee, much of
the time of the Senate would be saved, and its action
greatly facilitated. Although vote might be
changed by the report of the committee yet in his
opinion, it due to the country that the bill
should be subjected to The examination of the CON-
mittee; and 1t was but ust that the country should
have the benefit of the information thus elected In
this country, he reminded senators, public opinion
controlled legislation, and on this, on other ques
tons, however imperative here the debate, interim
nable may be, will at least have the effect Of in
huencing the public mind, and eventually the deter
mnation of this body. He supposed the permits
sion would be given to the committee to sit during
the sessions of Congress, that their report might
be made next Monday; that depended, however the
industry and energy Of the committee, in which he
placed full confidence. 1t seemed to him that nasmuch
as in the event this bill becoming law of which the
senator from Arkansas seemed very certain, it would
produce thorough revolution to the modes of
taxation hitherto known to this government, it was
only just that their committee should have oppor
tunty of expressing their opinion to the probable
effect of the bill upon the national treasury. IL
seemed to him impossible to act otherwise; and if he
occupied the position Of the senator from Arkansas,
who earnestly desired to effect this revolution in
the mode Of taxation-a revolution proposed as far
as he (Mr. M knew, for the first time in the hsto
ry Of this governmenthe should desire to desire to
enjoy all the benefit Of the most thorough investiga
ZION to which the bill could be subjected II he
an advocate Of the measure he should certainly de-
sire that the public mind should be satisfied that the
revolution was effected on sound principles. AS to
the eongation of the session, four five days-and
he thought the reference would not consume more
than that-he regarded it as matter of utter indf
ference when compared with the issue at stake.
Those portions of the community who would be 30
seriously affected by the proposed change, and who
were supposed to be benefited by the system which
now exists, ought surely to be put in possession of
all the arguments, views, and statistics which the
revolution was proposed. 1t was perfectly well
known that the bill had passed through another
House under certain atringent rules known there.
The discussion had been confined to the general
principles Of the measure. Very few Of the details
nau ocen ne therefore nOpe0 now tndt
the bill had come before this body that, acting in
spirit of justice to itself, twoud avail itself of all the
ordinary means of information which it possessed
He would not detain the Senate by enforcing the pro-
prety of this procedure, by reference to the interests
of the country, but would move at that the
cancy in the committee be filed and, of course,
the committees were formed on parliamentary prin-
clples, the member pro tempose should be selected
from the majority in the body.
Mr.. SEWER reminded the Senate that his mo-
ton to make the bill in question the special order
for Monday next was the subject under considera-
ton, and the motion Of the gentleman from North
Carolina, was therefore not then in order
Mr.. LEWIS then addressed the Senate, but his
remarks were not heard very distinctly in the gale
ry. He was understood to say that he was not
present when the motion by the senator from Ar
kansas was made, but had intended himself to have
made that motion, not chairman of the Commit
tee of Finance, but individual member Of the
body, anxious for the passage of the bill without
any unnecessary delay. He had had no opportu-
nifty Of consulting his colleagues Of the committee,
but individual member OF it, he extremely
anxious that the bill should be promptly acted upon