The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-05
CITY OF WASHINGTON FRIDAY NIGHT, FEBRUARY s. 1917

ed resolution declaring that lit was inexpedent to
give the officer recommended BY the President Of the Uni
ted States to take command of all their forces in Mexico
Now, he (Mr. P) asked if that was giving to the Elk
ecutve all necessary support in the prosecution OF the
war; He (Mr P.) was not one of those who was dis
posed to adopt recommendations of the Executive with
out proper investigation and due elaboration
Mr.. CARROLL here asked the floor
Mr.. PAYNE could not yield the floor. He maintained
United States had right TO expect from Congress OF
the United States processing 70 be democratic and large
y IN the majority Nor did he believe that that
the just expectations of the people. When in
errupted by the gentleman from New York,
he was remarking that he not of those who be-
eved that Executive recommendations should be adopted
without proper investigation. II the solemn duty OF
the representatives of the people to examine all such
propositions. But whilst he entertained that opinion he
must yet believe that the recommendations of the Pres
dent OF the United States and the heads of the various
departments. whose peculiar duty it was to look into and
ascertain what just and proper in regard these
measures, were Justly entitled to great weight and con-
sideraton Here the honorable gentlemen reviewed the
conduct OF General Scott and his celebrated correspon
dence, which he expressed his appehensions Of fire
in the rear; and conended that political partisan,
avowedly looking towards the Presidency not exact
~ qualified to command the forces in Mexico He next
adverted to the letter of General Taylor He depored its
publication for the sake of the general himself 1t
matter OF great regret that just when his fame its
meridian and all hearts prepared 10 do him homage
General Taylor should be found uttenng little things cal
cuated to excite prejudice against the administration But
he could hardly believe that General Taylor did write that
letter. He could not believe possible that who had
been bred IN the camp and who pded himself in the pos
session OF all the high qualities which make up the char
acer OF accomplished military commander could write
such letter. declaring TO the world that he did not intend
TO move beyond certain point, and avowing his opinion
in favor OF the withdrawal of the troops OF the United
States from Mexico when in either house OF Con-
ton He could not believe that General TAYLOR was the
man to publish plan of the campaign which unfolded
to Mexico all the designs of future operations To sup
pose that General Taylor had written that letter would be
O stu as not n w hat
would have most deleterlous effect upon the inter-
ests OF his country Assuming, however that the letter
was authentic, and in view OF the of General
Scott, was 1t not apparent that it was matter Of the
utmost Importance that the recommendation of the
President should be carried opt' He (Nlr. P.) had
heard 1t objected that the appointment ought not
to be given to civilian He should like to know
what employment in that land of freedom, entitled any
set OF men beneath the sun to the exclusive right of gov
ernng and forcing others to submit TO the humble right
OF being governed? He should like to know by what
right such an appointment should be confined TO gentle
men who wore gilded epauets upon their shoulders
Were the treemen OF the country to be told that they
were to be all excluded from such an appointment be-
cause the patent right was vested in gentlemen with gid
ed epauets1 He himself submitted that that was
to be the case 1t said that many officers would
sign. Well, so be it. Ii would be happy radiance TO
the country, They would thus deliver themselves Of
swarm OF vampires who hung upon the bosom of the
body polite. The honorable gentleman then went on to
point out in forcibe manner, the utter groundlessness
Of the often reiterated charge of the wings that his
is the Presidents war" Their continual ringing the
changes that phrase, reminded him Of green parrot
which friend OF his had seen the other day in coming up
the The bird kept constantly screaming out 'the
Presidents war'-''the Presidents warw His friend did
not exactly go into argument to show that the country
had declared the war, but he tried to teach the bird say
The parrot looked very wise as i were studying the
weather. and then screamed out still louder than
"the Presidents war" A taught Just il with
the wings The honorable gentleman entered
elaborate and able argument to show that the tax which
had been recommended and coffee was justified by
every principle of expedency, of sound financial science
and Of patriotic feeling. He could not suppose that
selfish dread the part Of any gentleman in that House
the sentiments OF his constituents would operate in
inducing him to refuse that tax. He (Mr. P) was
WINGED that the patriotic people of the country will
ling to adopt such plan of meeting the eXigency of the
fee tax would operate with equal weight against the
duty on SALT which universally used the iron
of which the implements of industry manufactured
He then went on to show that additional could
be safely raised by increasing the duty certain articles
He did not doubt that the present arifwould bring the
highest possible amount of revenue But il was difficult
to fix the precise point of taxation, which he illustrated
by the mpossbty TO obtain the square OF circle, which,
nevertheless doubted He would advert, he said
in order to illustrate his views, TO the tariffs from 1900 TO
1907 Here the hour eypired.1
fNlr p. intended to demonstrate, by facts and tables
that after every increase Of duty upon imports from the
low duties of $500, to the high tariff of lS42, there
regular decrease OF revenues compared with the popu-
aton at the time OF the increase OF duty and hence the
revenue Judging of the future by the past would increase
under the notifications OF the tariff of 1915. To in
the duty therefore upon protected articles would
diminish the revenue From similar facts and tables, he
intended TO show that exports dimshed IN cores
ponding RATIO with the decrease OF thus show
ing that, by diminishing IMPORTS you diminish exports ;
which, at this time, would be most serious evil to the
country not to be esorted when the required amount
Of revenue can be raised by duty on free arcles
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