The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-30
CITY OF WASHINGTON, TUESDAY NIGHT, MARCH 80 1S47


Sons and that Is that the people wholly L
the doctrine avowed under the sanction and authority O
heir name In anticipation of any requisibon IRON the
Executive, this ieeler OF the public pulse thrown
out under the gag, sencng all discussion upon the sub
lect by which the people might have been enlightened
upon It's necessity, and their sanction to the resolution
Voked; and all without success. Did not this speak
volumes in condemnation of the resolutions Did il not
proclaim trumpet-tongued the generous sentiment EN-
braced in the resolution of his colleague, MIR SIMS ]
that the people OF this country too patriotic TO refuse
any necessary tax to support arms Yes, sir, he
would go farther, and say, that if it demanded by the
country there sufficient patriotism the people to
yield up everything even to their blood, To vndicate her
honor and glory.
1t was sufficient, sir, to show that the people had not
responded TO the unpatrohc avowal made IN their name
that they would not be taxed in the present emergency
their ayore beverage but he designed TO go little
farther and If time would permit him. overwhelm the
projectors OF that sentiment Sir the people had respond
ed through their press, through their legislative halls
through their public meetings, by every popular demon
S,ton by their rlying shout these halls to prose-
cute the war with vigor-tay everything necessary 10
hat object To instance he would invite the aten-
non OF the committee, directly in point When
that resolution introduced by the honorable member
from Illinois, portion of his colleagues array ed them
selves against such avowal, the sentiment of the
people OF Illinois. The honorable gentleman from the
southern district mir McCLERNANDl was peculiarly ac-
tive in repeing it, as rejecting the sentiments OF that
State The Issue thus made up. What has been the
response of that patriotic State, through her legislature
1t the table there 1t had been published in the
'Union Has that State endorsed the assumption, that
meet the crisis! No, sir; no. Her response one
that did eternal credit to the patriotism of that gallant
ter OF the west She spoke the western sentiment She
told Congress to tax anything, everything, for
to maintain the honor and glory of country
in her struggles against foreign foe. This her
sponsea response that deserves 10 be written in letters
! of gold.
But he was not yet done with this celebrated resolu-
ton. He had not yet forgotten the in which ii
was sprung upon them--the application of the gag, by
the previous question: its by drilled MAORI
| cOntemnatOrV
measure OF the administration rendered necessary by the
war; and sustained by those who would not boldly and
tearlessly declare their opposition Tea and coffee had
been free articles, rendered upon principles of sound
policy, whenever the necessities OF the country would
permit IT, articles altogether of foreign import and of
almost universal consumption No man would go farther
to keep them free, in times of peace and public prosperity,
than he would Indeed, he believed that the sent
ment OF nine tenths of the democratic party But there
another sentiment of the democratic party i'm
peTatve than the mere utility of Of any kind, and
that was, every and all emergencies TO support and
maintain, at every cost the honor and dignity OF the
confederacy Then sir things occupying this position
before the administration had asked thus tax and explain
ed the reasons why it was asked-before the country
was prepared, by proper information, showing the i'm
peratlve necessity OF change in matter OF great ma
tional pocy-this resolution thrust upon them,
and, under the application of the gag, forced to
vote without information and explanation; Such is
a brief history of this resolution, and the manner
in which ii was forced through the House, 10
go to the world evidence OF their enlightened
judgment. But this attempt to forestal investigation
ndu met ilS ItUlke UeIOTe people lhtT very ST.
lence is whitening condemnation OF the whole al
fair. That this resolution not designed TO GRIP
pie the energies of the administration and impair the
credit OF the government he was bound believe
originated with avowed friend of the administration
but that the wings who violently oppose the prosecution
OF this war, as unholy unrigheous, and unjust, fully
understood that to be the effect of it, he just
peratvely compelled to believe He would far in
suit their intelligence as TO suppose for moment that
they did not understand the effect of their vote and that
ii strengthening the administration for the
| CeSsu the when thew rallied har-
moniousy for free tea and coffee From this vote the
inference might egtmaely be drawn that they are for
taxes upon tea and coffee when the country is at peace
and has extraordinary demands upon the treasury but
when the country is involved in harasslng war; and re-
curing every resource to prosecute 1t vigorously then
they against it. They are, then, not to the
tax, but to the additional supplies il would furnish in
time of need The democratic doctrine is just the
they for free tea and coffee in time OF peace
and full treasury but would cheerfuy tax it and pay II
whenever il is required to vindicate the honor OF the
country This was the true distinction between the two
parties upon this subject illustrated by past and present
history, and upon that distinction he, for pre-
pared to go before the country. Even the preudces OF
the old ladies' OF the country support OF their iavonte
beverage, had been appealed to in the effort TO get up
spirit OF disapprobalon upon this subject In the country
and it rebounds TO their glory that the appeal made
in vain Sir, the gentleman who took that appeal knew
but little OF the parotIc fire that burns In the breast OF
farthing tax No. never, while drop OF the blood
of their revolutionary matrons circulated in their veins
The man who would make such charge in their pres
patriotism, with their ''bare bodkns"
Having said thus much upon the tea and coffee resou
tons, their effects, objects, and designs, he would
call the attention of the House to the bill ITSELF which
proposes increase of by laying additional du
ties certain imports, and graduating the price of the
public lands IT proposed IN brief to lay duty OF - per
cent upon tea and Coffee an additional duty of 10 per
cent upon loaf and other refined sugars, additional
duty OF 10 per cent upon variety OF classes oil iron,
per cent upon certain fine cotton fabrics, and then to
graduate the public lands; reducing those in market be-
tween ten and fifteen years. to one dollar; between fifteen
and twenty ve to seventy-tve cents; over twenty-five
years, TO fifty per acre This is the substance OF
the bill, the principles of which recommended to rs
from the President of increasing the revenue.
The necessity of increased apparent to all,
unless prepared to abandon the and stan
disgraced in the eyes of the civilized world The Sece
ary OF the Treasury whose position enabled him to Judge
accurately upon the subject called upon by the Sen
ate for information regard to increasing the revenue
This bill, he understood it, embraced the principles
and items which he had designated necessary to accom-
psh that object The Secretary had pointed out the ari-
cles that would bear taXation-an increase OF duty with
increase of revenueand also the adoption of principle
in relation TO the public lands that would enhance the
from that that the principles of this
bill endorsed to with all the lights that experience
could throw around it. But before he proceeded to nves
tgae its principles, particularly the last clause of IT. 10
which he desired paying some special attention, he
! would pause to notice assault made upon this bill
commensurate with its appearance in this House.
Sir, there an idea prevailing to considerable EXTENT
that the best indirect method OF destroying good
ure is by calling it bad names In doing this compll-
ment frequently paid 10 the Justice of the measure
which ought be highly appreciated because 1t Is
not designed is always ac acknowledgment, that
It's principles unassaabe. They of the west were
used to that kind of guerilla warfare for owing to the
geographical coniguraton of their country in which ev-
rything tends TO common centre, they can scarce