The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-20
THE THREE MILLION BILL.

Al his request he said the honorable senator from Mis-
sssipp Mr. CuALMERsl obtained the ioor on yesterday,
IN order 10 afford HIM the opportunity OF expressing ms
views upon some of the questions which had been ds
c,ssel by The Senate. Some weeks OF almost unremlt,
ting bodily atcton had deprived HIM OF the pleasure Oh
Listening 10 the debates and OF casting ms vote upon lhe
measures which had engaged the Senates deliberations
He had however, endeavored, he sad TO keep hhsei
informed OF their progress by reading uay the Reports Vi
their proceedings.
The range which the debate upon the question then
under consideration had taken, would enable hum to rep
resent his views that might misundersianI ms o
son The honorable senator from Norm Cafoliha'
mir BADGER in his able and ingenious speech OF yes
terIay made grave and serious charge against the
President of the United States. The senator declared
that the conviction had been forced upon his mndyes,
Jjcei-tha the President OF the United States sought to
prevent the discussion of Executive measures by Con-
gress by State legislatures and by the people at large
This a grave charge, and intended TO go before the pco-
ple of this country established fact that the pres
emf Chief Magistrate affected 10 usup dicatorla powers
and by preventing discussion conceal his wckedness IRON
the public Such charge, made by senator so distn-
gushed urst, accompanied by the repeated declaa
ton that to his mind the proof which established 1t was
conclusive well calculated to alarm the fears OF all
who loved their country. This proof which was so con-
elusive the mind of the SENATOR and which, IN despite
of his desire to believe otherwise forced the amentabe
conviction upon him, was prodnced and his best trends
must doubt his sincerity or pity his credulty WhM was
the proof? small book, in which was past
ed few extracts from a newspaper friendly 10
the President. The extracts themselves, II 1t Were
established that they had been written by the Presl-
dent, wholly fail to prove the grave charge so re-
IctonAv forced upon the mind OF the senator.
They are toleraby bold articles, expressing The opn-
ions of the writer upon the Importance OF particular meas
,es censurng the tardy action OF Congress- and con-
demnng the conduct of the Legislature OF North Carolina
for public act of that body Sir, suppose these articles
had been written by the Presidents do they prove that he
desired stnc debate, either in Congress- IN the State
legislatures, or among the people? 1t might prove that
he des red that important measures should be passed.
through Congress with reasonable despatch, without
being cogged by the wrangngs of party and the sell
ishness Of individual members II might prove that
he did not approve the resolution passed by the
legislature of North Carolina, and wished to denounce
but surely such proof could not force any unpreIuced
mind to conceive that the writer of the articles (Which
the senator carefully preserves IN his noe-book,) ever
dreamed of preventing the Legislature of North Carolina
from discussing Executive measures or interfere IN their
discussion by the people at large This upon the snpHo
son that the President penned the articles himself But
what must any we-normed, unpreludiced man, say 10
the proof upon which the senator confidently relies
when he learns that there is evidence whatever, that
the President the articles ESQ carefully pre-
the able senator from North Carolina makes this grave
charge against the President and with almost fearful
eye declares that with great reluctance he has been
forced to the conclusion OF It's truth But toIsooh lhe
editor OF the Union is the friend OF the Presidentis the
organ OF the admnisratonand came to this city shortly
after the Inauguration of the PRESIDENT Surely, no
doubt therefore, that the President wrote the
articles or had them written, in order to lash Congress
into obedience, gag the Legislature of North Carolina,
and shut the mouths OF the people at large" This may
be beautiful reasoning, and logic so torcbe rs to force
connection upon the reluctant mind OF the senator
from North Carolina but satisfied that there are,
in this republic vast number OF very honest men who
too silly TO believe that the evidence produced estab
fishes the very grave charge which he makes even against
the writer of these articles and vast number that will
fail to understand why the President shall be held respon
sbe for every article written by the editor of friendly
press without proof that his eyes ever rested upon 1t
either before after it written. The senator from
North Carolina has followed the example sci him by the
senator from Florida, MIR WEsTcoTT,] by holding the
President responsible for the articles which daily appear
IN the Unon--indeed by making the administration and
The editor of the Union identical. Thu senator IRON
Florida, proessed democrat, charges the administration
with having made wemedated attack upon the distn
gushed senator from South Carolina MIR Calhoun and
his friends; and the conviction, | suppose has been
forced upon his un1cing and reluant mind, by the Of
ensve article for which the editor OF the Union
PEELED from the privilege of being listener to the debates
Of the Senate If the senator from North Carolina, [Mr
BADGER and the senator from Florida, Mr. NEsTcoTT]
do sincerely believe that these articles to which they OBJ
ect and which they deem offensive and reprehensble,
were the acts of the Presidents them must say that the
resolution passed Saturday would have exhibited
magnanimiy 10 have been moved against the Presi
dent himself rather than against his humble and passive
instrument. 10 my mind. apart from the posuon IN
which the resolutions passed Saturday are placed by
the senators to whom have alluded, the whole proce
dme was impolitc, peulan and ridiculous; and take
the liberty of saying that had sought 10 be present
IN order to record my vote against their passage. While
listened to some OF the heightened remarks made BY
senators extollng the dignity, intelligence, and purity OF
tins very honorable body OF which am member; and
The expressed Indignation at the wickedness of those
who would dare breath thought that we were not
each and all perfect specimens OF humanity could but
feel proud of the GRATED fact while wondered by what
singular process, made spotless and pheria
after their election TO the Senate, whose previous lives
and characters had been frequently marked with mani
esl imperectons, Without determining the problem,
concluded that, we the very proper Judges Of
our worth and characters and the very proper and
summary executoners OF all unreasonable denquens who
should feel disposed TO question pertectabllty,
we might have compromised with "Fatber R,tchie" by
passing unanimously resolution, for which every
tor OF course, from due self-respcct would vote,
that we are the most digniied intelligent, and
patriotic set OF men the world ever beheld; that
so notion speech, or vote has will be made
on given here, tainted is any wise by party feelings self
interest, or ambition II we had done this and could
have prevailed upon the veteran editor" to have given
his endorsement, might, without any disparagement
whatever, have still permitted the old gentleman in a
quiet and polite way 10 have had an occasional sea,
somewhere IN our rear.
1t is true, SIR that this assumption of superiority bv
exposing vanity, might have subjected US in the
eyes OF the unnitiaed 10 ridcue, but we should have
been free from disgrace will have done with this
topic which has been made necessary TO notice. by the
attempt 10 identify the editor OF the Union the pres-
dent, the President the editor This identity was
particularly Necessary the honorable senator from
North Carolina in order 10 have pretext for his grave
charge against the President No communication has
been made by the President TO Congress- to State egsa
lures, the people, but has been courteous, deyenta
respectful, and able Why, then, this charge, wholly
goundess viii leave the honest throughout the land
todecde
The senator from North Carolina will pardon me when
say that his speech fell upon my though II
intended alone for his own noble State He must have
e the necessity of making scape-goat to screen the
legislature OF the State from the Indignation of patriotic
constituency. BY the aid of the mighty influence of party
spirit be has sought make the President that medium
OF escape from public odium and comments with be-
coming wisdom and sagacity, upon extract cued from
aG article in the Union The senator does not seem will