The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-15

representatives OF the people, addressed to the chairman
OF the Committee OF Ways and Means the following let
| ter:
TnEAsueY DEPARTMENT December 81 1876.
SIR Permit respectfully to call your attention
the views submitted IN last annual report in regard 10
! imposing dates on tea and coffee.
These duties suggested in view Of the necessity of
feels bound TO communicate the opinion entertained by H.
that in the absence OF these duties At viii probably be
wholly mpmeticabe 10 negotiate the loan on such terms as
would be permitted by Congress
! Most respectfully, your obedient servant
Sir could stronger appeal than this be made to the
representatives of the people TO provide the necessary
means for the prosecution OF the war; How was i re-
sponded to by majority OF this bo1y' gentleman from
the northwest, INF WENTwoRTnj who stands very toll
ull six feet seven) in his party processing TO be friend
OF the administration, in his place. and offered the
| following reson luton:
Resotped, That nexpedient to evya tax upon tea
and cofco.'
| Mr. WENrwoRTH here rose and said Will the gentle
man from Alabama allow me to refer to the report of the
Secretary of the Treasury
Mr. PAYNE could not give away. The gentleman could
take some other opportunity What WAS the result Of
the introduction of the proposition Why, majority OF
the House voted for the resolution thus giving negative
answer to the letter submitted to Congress by the Sece-
tay OF the Treasury Such action IN the British para,
ment would have been, matter of course, followed
by the resignation of the ministry What NEXT lmme-
dately upon the adoption of that resolution gentleman
traordinary vote given by The House of Representatives
upon the war, rose and introduced the following resol
ton:
|
patriotic refuse any necessary tax in time OF war"
| This resolution was adopted unanimously thought
it meant something and supposed Congress designed TO
give the resolution practical utility; acting under
this impression, rose IN my place q speak OF myself
with becoming modest) and offered the following eso-
luton:
.Reovea That ii is erpedat to levy and cocc, duty of
twenty per ad vaorem upon all imported articles.
buon and coin exceped) not taxed by the tariff bill Of
And the House refused to entertain the resolution
Now, what is the conclusion to which Just and en-
lghtened minds must from the adoption OF these
two resolutions by the House of Representatives. Why
that the people patriotic enough to bear any tax
cessary successful prosecution OF the war, but that
their representatives have not the patriotism TO lay ia
sad, but JUST legislative commentary upon the patrlesm
| of this body. ."'
Mr.. A. JOHNSON here and said By the permission
of the gentleman from Alabama would like to call the
attention of the House to paragraph in the report OF
the Secretary Of the Treasury the subject of the tax
and coffee He is striking at the Secretary OF the
| Treasury.
| The CHAmMAN Does the gentleman yield the hoor'
| Mr.. PAYNE. No. If in the discharge of his public
duty there honest endeavor to procure the neces
sary which might be demanded for the prosecu-
ton Of the war to successful and honorable close
should be his (N Ps misfortune TO strike at the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury or any other individual in the ma
ton matter how elevated he might be- he could not
help it. His duty must be performed, regardless of con-
sequences But he knew that, in this instance at least
he s e s a ana
there was upon this subject the most perfect concurrence
| OF opinion.
| i
gsaton equally important, and no less ominous in con-
cIusion, than the one have just reviewed
| On the Goth December, lsi6, the President of the
United States sent message to Congress from which
the following is an extract
Gin order prosecute the war against Mexico with
vigor and success necessary that authority should be
promptly given by Congress increase the regular
and TO remedy existing defects in its Organization With
s vew yor ctasT al Wap r % s M
of the 9Th instant in which lac recommends that
additional regiments of regular troops shall be raised
10
''of additional regiments of volunteers which have
promptly raised but this has been the in regard to
all the existing law requiring that they should be organ
lied by the Independent action of the State governments,
has occasoned considerable delay and
it uncertain when the troops required be ready
for service in the field.
cit settled policy maintain, in time of peace,
small regular army the exgences of the public service
will permit In state of war, Notwithstanding the great
advantages with which volunteer citizen soldiers
be broug into the field, this small regular army must be
increased in its numbers in order render the whole force
more efficient"
What has been the action of Congress upon this prop
ostion' The chairman of the Committee on Military
Affairs reported bill, in conformity with the Presidents
recommendation to raise ten regiments OF regulars The
House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole for
the purpose of considering that proposition When in
committee, the gentleman from New York Mr.. RATH-
BUM moved an amendment substituting volunteers IN
place of the regular troops asked for by the President
This amendment was defeated in committee by one vote
only.
II the proposition of the gentleman from New York
had prevailed would have amounted to denial OF any
The President had thea, and has now under existing
laws, authority TO call into service fifty thousand volun
teers This power had not been exhausted He required
no additional authority to raise volunteers 1t already
existed TO the most ample extent The proposition of the
gentleman from New York defeated in committee by
vote only, amounted, therefore, Just nothing all ex
cep TO say to the President, We will not allow you the
kind of force you dee necessary for the public service
The bill, however, passed this House authorizing the
President to the regular force he desired, and was
sent to the Senate for concurrence where it now is
Whether il will pass into a law, we know not
Perhaps at future day. when the patriotism OF that
august body shall have aroused from Its sumbers the
President may be allowed the force he deems necessary
TO successful prosecution OF the But must be
permitted to add that greatly fear the passage OF that
bill will be delayed to period late in the season that
dH instead of spring campaign will be forced upon us
in Mexico If that should be the the consequences
will be most unfortunate TO the brave officers and men
the periodical diseases of the climate than will perish
by the OF the enemy. This delay SIR, is not the
kind of support in the prosecution Of the war, which the
Executive desires the country expects at the hands OF
Congress-.
Sir, proceed now TO another which has sig
naly failed for want OF legislative action. In the same
message of the Executive from which have already
mendations:
additional officers well "a men, then, become inds
pensabe Under the Of service, pecu
liar proprey exists for increasing the officers especially in
the higher grades. The number of such officers who from
age and other causes rendered incapable of
vice in the field has seriously impaired the efficiency oil the
army.
"Fom the report of the Secretary of War; appears that
either perm anenfy disabled necessarily detached
from their commands other duties The long enjoyment
of peace has prevented from experiencing much enbar
from this cause but now i'm a of war;
in bae pl