Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-04-07


all Of them most pressingly urged upon
the consideration Of Congress by the Ex-
ecutive. Every proper exercise of the
legitimate constitutional influence of the
Executive upon the government was re-
sorted to, 10 sustain them. Happily for
the country, three Of them already stand
upon the statute book. The additional
Revenue Bill has failed, and we are well
assured that the people deeply regret, and
have the hes, reason 10 regret its failure.
In permitting it to fall, the democratic ma
jority Of Congress, both in view of their
patriotic duties and Of their partisan inter-
ests, fell into a most grave and serious err
ror. The measure was demanded by the
credit of the country; and the people will
not easily suffer that credit 10 be put in
jeopardy in time OF war. Small politi.
clans have much to say of tho unpopular
ity OF moderate war-tax upon tea and
coffee. They do not know the people
First of all, the people Of this country 1e-
mand from their representatives. in Con-
gress such legislation as will keep tile ma
tional credit above all chance and all sus-
picion. In comparison with this great OBJ
Ject, no temporary war-tax within reason
able limits will be for one moment con-
sidered. And especially is this the fact,
when in aid Of other inducements to such
legislation, comes the cardinal question OF
enabling our national treasury to second
efficiently The valor Of cur arms in The vim
dication of our rights against foreign
foe, 1t is not enough that the Loan Bill
has been tkillully framed to rescue the
treasury from immediate embarrassment.
The people know that orr existing reve-
nue. 81 stem has been adapted, and proper
ly adapted, TO a state Of peace. They
know that when it is left unaided to sus-
tain the credit of the country in time OF
war, it is put to an ordeal which it was
never intended TO endure. They will
therefore demand, and justly demand, Fl ON
their representatives., full and satisfactory
reasons for their failure to provide for an
additional war revenue.
In the passage Of the army bill, Con-
gress has done its duty; bu! it DELAYED the
doing cfthat duty too long. Had the ur-
gent recommendations OF the Executive
been complied with, our additional forces,
embodied under that measure, might have
been, even before the rising of Congress,
already in the field, and marching victo-
riously onward to great results. The de-
lay will cost much in treasure, and it may
be, much more in precious blood. Heavy,
indeed, will be the responsibility Of those
who paralyzed the country's energies, and
lost the irreparable hour by procrastina-
ton, at time wien prompt and vigorous
action was the policy alike of wisdom, OF
honor, and of mercy. That same misera-
bic "inactivity," which sat like an incu-
bus upon the progress of the Oregon ne
collation., performed at once its pettiest
and most pitiful work, when it seized up
on constitutional distractions about the
appointment of officers, as pre,ence for
aIlying itself with Federalism, to endaneer
and impede, if not to destroy, measure
looking to the seasonaLle reinforcement OF
our army in Mexico. ...
We are among those who hail the pas
sage of the three million bill with the most
sincere qualification. 1t dehooves the char
acter and position of this country to do
every thing which can honorably be done
to aid the conclusion of Satisfactory trea-
ty Of peace with Mexico. We entertain
no doubt whatever that this measure will
conduct to such a result. Proper in it.
self, AID sanctioned by presidents of the
highest authority, it has from the first
strongly commended itself to the favorable
consideration of the people. Had j: been
complicated with no other questions, few
men could have doubted its expeGieney.
And that the Wilmot proviso discussion
has at last resulted in nothing, we believe
that little effort will be made hereafter to
conc al the unseasonabeness and insult
ablrness Of the proposition. The line may
come when the question embodied in that
proviso will have TO be considered. 1t will
then have practical bearing. 1t will be-
long TO the subject, and to the OCCASION
1t will he leftIn the hands of the cons,i-
tu!ional majority in Congress; and we fer
ven,ly hope that, with all its difficulties,
and all its agtaiions, it will be met and
settled in spirit of wisdom, and of jus
tice, and Of compromise, and in full view
of its high bearing under the constitution
IF the United States. But to bring up the
Wilmot proviso now, and in connection
with the three million bill was a manifest
departure from every principle, both Of
sound policy and Of patriotic duty. Ii
passed, it could avail nothing. 1t would
leave the whole question just where it
now stands, in the hands OF the Congress
which should lcgislate for the territory We
may hereafter acquire. AS presented and
pressed upon Congress this proviso sought
to legislate not over territory, bu, over a
future contingency. It's advocates tell us
of It's "morai force" We hayd yet TO
learn that any cause gains moral force by
ill-timed or injudicious advocacy espe-
cially when such advocacy, by convulsing
our own country aud arranging against
each other the different sections Of eur
Union, IN o;ioance af all necessity for such
discordnnce, virtually strengthens the arms
Of our foreign foe. Candid men OF all par
ties and Of all sections will, We think, ere
long, admit thai our war with Mexico
should be settled first. and that the rhole
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