The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-31
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF MIR. McCLELLAND,
OF MICHIGAN,

SPEECH OF MIR. McCLELLAND,
OF MICHIGAN,
In the House of Representatives. February y, ls47-on
the three million appropriation bill.
The House being in Committee of the Whole on the
state of the Unon and having under consideration the
three million appropriation bill
Mr. McCLEfLAND said
Mr. CHAIRMAN 1t is well known to YOU that seldom
trouble the House the committee with set speeches.
and can assure you should not now have struggled for
the floor had not imperative OF duty impeed
me- There several votes given by me in Silence, du-
ring the session, upon which desire 10 make few pass
ing remarks, and then shall proceed, rapidly as pos
sbe to consider the several topics that have been INTRO
duced into this discussion.
To all the great and leading measures of this admins
ration have thus far given cordial support and my
intention is to withhold nothing that can give consistent
with my duty to my constituents, which will have ten
dency to sustain and support II. The war now waged
with Mexico is which all desire to be brought to
speedy and successful termination. Nothing unjust or
dshenorabe is sought for by And did Mexico mani
fest the pacific spirit shown by government, the diff
Guilty might be anicaby adjusted. We not con-
tending against powerful and wealthy nation, having
vast and great experience IN war; Yet the dlf-
hcutes TO be encountered in carrying on with success
are not to be despsed The peculiar character OF the
country, the want of subriy the climate and the m
domabe obstinacy of the Mexican people combined
may protract the beyond all our calculations But
actually exists and will be continues until the enc
my is conquered,Io honorable peace is secured 1t
behooves us, therefore, to cooperate with the Executive
far of proprety will permit in MAINTAIN
ing arms and sustaining our country. we must ad-
yanCe-we cannot recede.
The Secretary of the Treasury, in the early part of the
session. recommended the imposition of duty upon tea
and coffee, for the purpose OF securing more means Tor
prosecuting the war, and strongly commended it to the
favorable consideration OF Congress: resolution was
offered by the gentleman from Illinois, [Mr. WENT
WORTH after, declaring II ineXpedent to levy such
duty, impose such tax and Immediately demanded the
previous question, which was seconded and thus all de-
bate cut off and each member was, by our rules
compelled to give his vote without explanation. was
DESTROYS of making known my views upon the question:
but being thus precluded, my vote was gwen IN accord
ance with the dictates of my own judgment In this
acted all subjects that require action, IN con-
formity with what believed to be the wishes and the
best interests OF my constituents southern writer says
in regard votes the and harbor bill at the
last session, Executive patronage ALSO seems to be OF
but little avail against the pledges of members OF Con-
gress to the people especially IN the west where appro-
priations for internal improvements are most eagerly
sought And this may, with great force be applied to
the votes OF western men, in regard TO this duty, be-
cause question has there been manifested more
unanimity among the western people 1t must be eX-
ceedlngly gratifying to western members to be mus
censured' for redeeming their pledges TO the people,
even at the expense of executive patronage. duty
upon tea and coffee would IN It's OPERATION be onerous
and unequal The poor man, to whom 1t has become a
necessary OF life, would be obliged pay much and in
most greater tax for the support OF government
and for carrying this than the wealthy and opu-
lent citizen. In this the millionaire would be placed on
an equality with the day aborer and yet according to
all just principles OF taxation he should pay thousand
fold more Thus YOU make the poorer classes of cit
liens bear the burdens OF the and at the same time
fight your battles, for few others found in the ranks
The hardship is not the same with the duty on sugar
1t is article that the rich various ways besides
the to which tea and coffee applied and the dis
proportion in the quantity used by families is far greater
But, if it otherwise, 1t would be no valid rea-
for the imposition of the duty proposed, because II
would be, that view, merely adding to the unequal
taxation The better mode would be TO select the lux
ues and extravagancies of life and levy tax on them
and this would not Cypress those who in moderate
circumstances nor materially affect those who indulge IN
and enjoy them. Some have proposed direct tax, but
my epugnance to this is greater than the other It must
be levied according to the census and representation
and although the eastern States possessed OF greater
wealth and have more property than the western, yet
they would not, under the constitution, pay greater
amount of taxes BY this tax tea and Coffee 1t Is sup
posed that two and half millions annually may
be raised; and, although it would be sensbly felt yet
the difficulty would not be experienced IN raising 1t,
as in collecting the amount by direct taxa
ton. have prepared table, showing the proper
ton each State would have to pay if ten millions were
raised under the constitution, and all Will at once per
ceve the utter nposslblity OF inducing the people TO
submit it, unless from the most patriotic motives Inc
cost of collection not item of much consequence, as
am informed in the last war it did not exceed five per
cent, and many of the States does not now amour,
/ to more than four per cent Whenever am convinced
that it is absolutely necessary to tax tea and coffee, IN
order to obtain loan to carry on the war; and pay the
interest Indebtedness, my objections are not so IN
superable induce longer TO oppose It, law has
been enacted authorizing the President TO negotiate
oan issue treasury notes to the amount OF twenty
three millions of dollars which, with the revenue from
mposs, and the avas of the sales OF the public lands II
is estimated will defray all the ordinary and extraodlna
ry expenses of the general government until the mex
Congress portion of this loan has already
been obtained and the balance WILL in all probability be
taken at premium This, together with the previous
Indebtedness of the government OF little moment to Sc
great a nation After the the expenses OF the gov
eminent can be retrenched Reduce them in the aggre
gate the appropriations of 1874 and 1872 and me rev.
enue arising from duties and the public lands VIII pay
our ordinary expenses, and the interest on the pupc
debt and in few years liquidate the debt itself.
The other vote upon which desire to say few words
is that in regard TO the Office of lieutenant general nc
facts were stated developments made, and no valid
reasons were assigned, which could induce me to V0te
for the creation of such Office. If understood the
object correctly it TO combine in tins olicer hlgf
military and civil functions, and to confer upon hun pow
ers never before conferred any other person No one
will contend that this should be done, except under ht
most extraordinary circumstances. when the once OF
lieutenant general created in 79S, and gwen 10 ben
| Washington, it purely military, and had no othe
character He was the OF all others that the Amer
lean people would have selected in such an emergency
and no officer the army would have objected TO 1t; DE
cause it was but few years before when he was h'
leader of all our armies and his talents and quahca9n
had been fully tested Moreover, he was to command ~
defensive war, and all his acts would have been undo
the eye of the President The person who might have
been selected by the Executive, had the measure beer
adopted by Congress- may have fulfilled his highest eX
pectatons but confess feared the experiment Gases
Estates. No of Representatives. Amount of tax
| Florida SB,NS -
| . Arkansas AZ, l7S 26
q Delaware 43 I7S 26
| L. Rhode Island Sb9ob ~
g. Texas so,91O oZ
| 4 Iowa SO $50 50
7 Wisconsin So $50 50
u Mchgnn 3 I3043i ~