The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-28

Taxes n Peace ana Low Tnxes III ""''
nisnow well known that during the extraordinary
session of Congress in 1911, tariff bill, OF which
urxpy CLAY was the father, was introduced INTO the
Senate bv federal committee, and that one of its prov
SONS levied tax OF twenty per cent 1--WE beleve) upon
the articles of tea and coffee.
We have had coatel from the Congressional Globe
bef summary of what sransped in the Senate respect
inc the tax on tea and coffee.
II will be seen by referring to these extracts, that Mr.
Woodbury., then distinguished senator from New llamp-
shire moved to exempt tea and coffee from taxation
This amendment violently opposed by Mr.. Clay,
bu after an animated discussion the motion OF Mr..
Woodbury. prevailed The list OF yeas and nays exhibit
be fact that EVERY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR PRESENT VOTED
70 FAVOR OF ExEMpTING TEA AND COFFEE FROM TAXA
oy and that the senator's who voted for taxing those
articles were ALL FEDERALIsTs
In the course OF the debate will appear below, Mr.
CLAW said she thought tea and coffee the most desirable
article, on ptich to raise revenue, for reasons mt'ch he
had piren on another OCCASION"
And again, when it was proposed to exempt salt from
taxation, Mr.. Clay opposed the amendment, and SAID
that thc ccry circumstance Of the unnecessarily Of ITS use
ras a reason should in for its share Of taration"
Let il be remembered that these proceedings took place
at time of profound peace and that the tax on tea and
coffee was advocated and voted for by MIR Clay and the
other distinguished federasts, not only during period OF
peace but when hosties were not anticipated
from any quarter whatever
Let it be also borne IN mind that after Henry Clay
had advocated and voted for tax on tea and coffee in
time of peace, he was proclaimed throughout the
Union as the embodiment Of 1rhig principles" and
received the unanimous nomination of that party for
the Office of Presiden--not single delegate from the
north south, east or west voting in opposition to him.
Be it also remembered that had not the republican
press throughout the country together with the great
men of the democratic party, denounced such burden
being imposed upon the people in time of peace, tax
on tea and coffee would have been levied by the fed
erass during their brief ascendency in the 9th Con-
gress.
Now, mark the change
The country has been plunged into by the inva-
sion OF SOIL and the murder OF our citizens, by
the base and treacherous soldery Of Mexico Our
my has nobly driven back the invaders, and has ad-
vanced into their territory TO demand reparaon for the
manifold outrages committed upon people, and to
conquer from the enemy just and honorable peace. A
necessarily augments the ordinary expenditures of
the government The Secretary of the Treasury has
expressed the opinion to the appropriate committee of
Congress- that temporary tax on tea and coffee Ito
tnue only during the war; is necessary to enable his
department to raise money upon the best terms, TO
feed and cohe brave soldiers and to the other
expenses incident to state OF war; And now-with
scom and Indignation be it spoken!-the of the
leaders of that same party which unanimously nominated
for President the great champion Of tea and coffee tar
in time Of peace who had declared that tea and coffee
are the most desirable articles Wh,h to raise revenue"
are opposing, when the country is involved in war; the
very same tax which they advocated in time of peace
Had the opposition heretofore been unfavorable to tea
and coffee tax their present would admit of ex-
planaon might be alleged they were, in principle
opposed to the measure unless in the last extremity but
having declared through therpresdenal candidate that
ea and coffee are the most desirable articles on which
10 raise revenue" their conduct only be explained
upon the ground of thcir being opposed the best in
teress of their country and by the harsh supposon that
the overthrow and buchey of troops, by the barbar
Gus and reacherous Mexican, would be to them
for midnight jubilee and banquet!
1t will be seen that the distinguished and interchangeable
Secretary Of the Treasury himself among the number
of senators who voted against tea and coffee tax in
time of peace; but the expenditures of the govern
ment have satisfied him that such duty must be levied
to be in existence during the continuance of hosttes
and he has therefore felt called upon to urge the subject
upon the attention of Congress. And large majority of
the democratic members OF Congress, however much OPP
posed to tax tea and coffee in time of peace have
lad aside their opposition to the measure and agreed TO
vote for war duty those articles as means necessa
y to the energetic and successful prosecution of the
campaign and we feel perfectly assured that if be hal
ance of the republican members (than whom none ro
more patrotlc) become convinced that sufficient revenue
can be obtained on the best terms from other source
they, too, will waive, for the time being their opposi
ton TO the measure and cheerfuly vote for a war duv
on the articles referred to.
What proud contrast between the two parties is here
presented The one, sacrificing for the time their cher
shed policy, for the sake of sustaining their beloved
country IN her present emergency the other desertinr
the measures they have heretofore advocated because an
adherence to them would place the hands of their gov
eminent additional means of conquerng the sworn enc
my OF the republic
Who can say that this language is not demanded by the
cnss' When the opposition are seen (no content with
furnishing reasonable speeches and ESSAYS for publca.
uen IN the journals of Mexico denouncinc their o,n
government and holding out hope to, and EXPRESSING
sympathy for, that OF the enemy, bu) travelling out Of
Their accustomed path expressly TO cripple the energies Of
heH own country, can it be expected that an eptbe less
marsh than that of moral treason should be applied
10 such conductl Expected or not, we shall con.
unae to denounce the enemies Of the republic with