Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1847-01-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
Tea and Coffee.

Tea and Coffee.
The following copy Of the letter addressed by the
Secretary Of the Treasury to the Chairman of the Com
mttee of WAYS and Means Of the House of Represen-
tatives The "Union" accompanies its publication with
paragraph urging the speedy adoption Of the
proposed.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT Dec. 81, l346.
SIR-Permit respectfully call your ate n
ton the views submitted in my last annual report in
regard to imposing duties on tea and coffee
These duties were suggested IN view of the necessity
Of obtaining the loan therein proposed, and this depart
feels bound to communicate the opinion entertain
by that the absence of these duties. will prob
ably be wholly mpracticabe to negotiate the loan on
such terms would be permitted by Congress.
Most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Secretary of the Treasury.
Hon JAMES J. McKAY
Chairman OF the Committee of Ways and Means.
On tho I'd inst, Mr.. Wentworth offered a res.
olution that it is inexpediont to lay duty on tea
and coffee. motion TO lay on the table failed
and the question recurring on tho adoption OF tho
resolution. it was carried, ayes ll5, nays 4S!-
VIVA, will Mr.. Walker now do! He says he
can't "raso tho wind without a tax on tea and
coffee! Will tho administration, through its Sc
cretary Of tho Treasury, ask Congress to impose
a direct tax on the people-or, in what other way
do they intend to raise money to carry on Polk
war! Mr.. Sims, Of Missouri, offered tho follow
ing resolution upon which no demanded the pre-
u. States too patriotic to refuse any necessa-
nv tax in time Of war" This passed unoni-
mously, and tho locos mado no political capital
out Of it-what pity!
On the 4th, in the House, tho difficulty which
had occurred previously between Messrs. Baily,
of Va, and Davis, of KY, was settled by their
friends; both gentlemcn making explanations and
Withdrawing all offensive words. THIS IS tho only
duel that has taken place; and is the only kind OF
duel that should ever occur between GENrLEME'.
On the 4th, in the Senate, message was re-
ceive6 from President Polk, recommending the
passage Of tho "ten regiment bl,'' and the ap-
pointmcnt by law of Superior Officer to take
command of all the forccs-referred to tho mil
itary committee. In tho House. the message was
read and referred to tho military committee
The House then went into committee OF Inc
whole upon tho bill for tho increase of the army,
by adding ton regiments to tho regular army Zone
Of dragons and nino of Infantry to DO enlisted
for five years during tho war, at their option.
Mr.. Houston was called to tho char. and tho
House for the day was occupied with an interest
ing debate upon tho bill Mr.. McGaughoy, OF
Ia, was opposed to tho war IN its inception ana
in the manner of its progress. II was an agSrcs-
sive war, a Presidential war, and war OF con-
quest. Flo coniended that tho President had ia
ken possession Of tho conquered territory IN vlo-
Iation of tho Constitution. The longer tho war
had progressed the worse it had become. Ito was
opposed to adding another inch OF territory. north
or south, to the Union, and if tho Union should
ever be dissolved, it would be the fruits OF this
aggressive policy. AS for Texas, we had It, and
he was in favor Of making the best of a bad bar
gain. Mr.. Owen, Of Ia, defended tho right OF
Texas TO maintain hor independence. and tho ne
cesstv of tho war. Mr.. Hann, of Me-, was IL
favor of increasing tho army by aiding to the
volunteer torce Of tho country, and not as pro
posed, to the regular regiments. He was also op
posed to the enormous increase of power which
gave to the Executive tho right to add four hun
dred officers to tho army. Ho was for giving th'
States the power to choose their own otflcers.-
Mr.. Johnson, Of Tenn, moved that tho commit
tee rise, and without other important business, tn
House adjourned.