The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-03-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF MIR. GILES,

the WuMoT proviso
me oi 10 appropriate three millions of dollars to en-
torahon OF peace with Mexico, being under consldera
ton; as ", " Committee I OF the Whole
Mr. GILES addressed the committee as follows:
Mr. SiiARMAN: rejoice that have been fortunate
as TO ooian the floor to-day, because the of my
health IS 10 pecarlous at present not afford me
strength 70 have continued the struggle. And was
anxious, s coming from OF the central States OF the
Unon--a State which holds peculiar position in refer
ence 10 TINS agtating questiontha should have the
feel the responsibility OF the position that occupy;
Tor although wha! may say to-day may not be heard
by more than one hundred persons BY the glorious agen
cy of Tree press that which utter here, before
row can se cad by one hundred thousand persons.
feel neresore Sauf in speaking to this great question,
am not speaking to the empty benches here but to the
great council OF the American people. And, In refer
ence to the great question which has been thrown into
this discussion by the proviso of the gentleman from
from Georgia INV CoBBl in his bold, manly and states
manike appt the politicians the people of the
States Ii was appeal worthy of him, as he stands
glorious representative OF the land OF the heroic Oge
thorpe.
Mr.. Chairman, before to the discussion of that
question, permit me to address few remarks to the
mittee upon the position which the State of Maryland,
by her whole delegation upon this floor, has held during
the present session OF Congress. Sir, whatever may be
political differences at home, upon every question that
has had reference to the vigorous and successful prose-
cuton OF the war; Maryland has presented undivided
front and her delegation entire, wing and democratic,
has been willing and anxious to give every means within
the unhappy contest IN which this country engaged
And am happy see, Mr. Chairman, by the resolutions
of our legislature now convened at our seat OF govern
Iment-although | differ with them in reference to the
causes of this war, although differ with my wing breth
rem of that State IN reference TO its orgn am happy to
see that they support and affirm the position which the
representatives from Maryland have taken in reference
TO all the measures for the prosecution of the war, in
resolution which has been adopted by one branch of the
Legislature, in the following words:
That this legislature approve and applaud the
the representatives OF Maryland in both houses of Con-
gress in their prompt cooperation towards the supplies OF
and for the vigorous and successful prosecution
of the since the country has been involved in it, and
ey nope ny a m 70 III
which shall be calculated to sustain the glory of the
American arms and promote the contamination OF early
and honorable peace"
| Why sir, would have been'unrue TO eonstitu-
ency to have taken any other What, sir, the
country engaged in contest, her now upon for
eign SOIL the honor of the country at ISSUE and rep
resentatve OF Maryland refuse to supplies of men
and money! He would be untrue to the past character
constituency Why, Mr.. Chairman while | speak, the
wall of the funeral march and the sound of the mutfled
drum has scarcely died away upon the breeze which told
that mortal Of her heroic to sleep beneath the
shade OF her lofty monuments Her sons have been in
the hckest of the fight; some have fallen where the
great and the good of every land have often desired
to fall, in the front OF freedoms phalanx but in their
death and in their funeral obsequies they have beautiful
y illustrated what has been said by one OF the gifted
sons OF genius:
+, 4sThere is tear for all who die
"A DER the humblest grave;
But nations swell the funeral cry,
Aud beauty weeps above the brave"
Now, sir not only has Maryland sent her TO the
battlefield not only there now in that State hundreds
her brave and patriotic painting for service under
the bill which yesterday became the law of the land but
sir, they willing to contribute OF their to
tain this war. Whatever other gentlemen may say of
their constituencies far have been able TO learn
the public sentiment in Maryland, it is unanimous in
reference to the question of tax upon free articles to
sustain the credit OF your government The press OF the
,,y, hatro fha art tn
believe of the whole State, have come out in favor
this pressed upon your attention by the Execu
tive OF the country they are anxoas. fubllc OPINION
legislature. They will welcome with pleasure tax up
and coffee 10 sustain the present credit of your
era government, and thereby carry more vigorously
the operations OF your army IN the field
Why, told upon this floor, in reference to this
question: that we are taxing the necessares of life Is i
not strange Mr. Chairnan that when had the tariff
question up weeks and weeks during the last session.
gentlemen, who averse to tax on tea and
coffee, as war tax not found as deeply soicous
in reference taxing other articles that may be
properly denomnated the necessares OF lie Why look
at the bill of last session, sir, which IS now the law
of the land The first great necessary of life is food
necessary for man and beast Food is taxed. The next
great necessary Of life is clothing clothing is taxed thir
" per cent The next great necessary of life, to civil
lied and uncvllized man, is iron is taxed thirty per
cent The next great necessary, and, SAID in regard
to other articles both for man and beast IS salt and
struggled here through long days session, last summer
10 place salt among the free articles salt is taxed twenty
per cent sugar thirty per cent And when you are
called upon not in time of peace Mr. Chairman, but
in time of war, for extraordinary taxa tax to meet
the expenses of the WARM the face of this tariff which
was sanctioned at the last session; when your govern
asks for small tax of twenty per cent upon these
large articles of import, met with the objection,
that we are taxing the necessaries of life.
Whatever may be the condition patriotism of the
constituencies of other gentlemen be it tax upon the
cessaes of life or not my constituents have the patriot
ism to bear war; 10 bear il they bore direct taxa
ton in the conflict of 1912. They will bear every mea-
sure that is necessary to carry this vigorously
and obtain for us speedy and honorable peace vindi
cation of the wrongs of the country and OF her invaded
territory
Mr. Chairman regret exceedingly that in reference to
one of the great of this session. measure
which place within the power of the executive of
the country the OF negotiating for speedy and
honorable peacethat having voted the money and hav-
ing voted the means necessary successfully to prosecute
the war, when to discuss and pass upon this
great measure, which looks 10 peace were not left TO
discuss and act upon IT, independently OF this agltalng
question, which is brought up before us by the amend
ment of the gentleman from Pennsylvania regret, sir
that engaged in the discussion OF this question, you were
not permitted to act under the glorious light of patriotism
and animated by the feeling OF brotherhood which has
ever made as people butthat we must be swept by
this movement from all that was calm, all that was ele
vatel all that purifying in reference to common
country beneath the poisonous shade OF this bohan upas
tree of our goolly heritage. And regret that as this
shaft TO be evelled at the institutions OF the south,
was offered by my friend from Pennsy lvana, [Mr VIII
MOTT who, in reference to the tariff question: stood by the
south; who, on that great question OF the present admin
istraon, from amid his whole delegation,
"Faithfu found, amid the fiithless
Faithful only he"
But il has come; and must decide upon it. 1t will
be offered this committee must pass upon IT and know