The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-12

those MEANS the amour, of debt. Qf any exists and in
n word the financial condition OF the country at the
termination oil war; is, repeat, the Hiost important paIl
L of It's public concerns.
shall not undertake to say sir what has has not
been decided by the recent presidential election Il leave
the revelation of that, TO be made when those powers
shall be installed who derive the benefit OF that decision
But will undertake to say that ii is due to the present
administration and the party who responsible for
the pesent tariff that the financial condition OF the
tv now resulting from that policy should be fairly and
fully spread before the county Is our custom, coeval
with the government whenever the report OF depart
ment peculiarly important, arising out OF any state
contingency OF public events, to give greater publicity
10 that report, than do TO the reports OF other depart
ments the other reports OF the same department. at
| less important periods. Such the with the
nou of the Secretary of War; the last of Con-
4 gress believe, when it became interesting to the whole
country TO know the details OF the campaign; when IT be-
came interesting the friends OF the gallant that
fell there to know where they fell when they fell, and
under what circumstances they fell; then, and for that
reason, sir published an extra number OF that docu-
4 nent
As government is about to change hands admin
istration is about 10 expire whose policy has had
huence upon the country, and main part OF whose poll
cy consisted in the present financial SYSTEM the results of
which thus far are embodied in this document is due
10 that party. and is due to the American people, that
this document should be spread before them IN great
abundance, that all may and all may judge, whether
not the pohcy oil the democratic party mas Deen wise
MIR. CAMERON We have ordered, believe but
wear there were -, 900 printed Now, | see no rea
son why the report OF the Secretary of the Treasury
should be selected for greater favor than other documents
coming from the departments. Ten thousand, should
think are enough II we print more. must be for other
reasons, aside from the information they contain The
substance of the report will be published IN all the news
papers Long before the documents ready these
ports will be distributed throughout the country 1t is
waste, 10 my mind TO multiply copies.
Mr. NILES. | am disposed to act upon this question
as upon every other and without knowing what this re-
cannot show 1t special favor am not prepared to
treat the report OF any of the subordinate officers
and members OF the cabinet with more respect than we
treat the messages of the President himself. think it
is rather irregular to go into the merits of this doctrine,
and TO make that the basis of an argument here with
respect TO the number OF copies OF report to be printed
have II done before and will not be drawn
into that debate. 1t will probably up during the
session My friend from Mississippi, ii appears TO me,
II the particular system which he cherish is to
be sustained by argument surely his friend (the Secrea
Ty) has LAID before the country arguments enough to sup
port any system that can be supported by argument He
made report preceding the tariff of 1916, and very
luminous one and at every session he has made
elaborate report containing his views upon the subject
time, and have doubt received the consideration to
which they are entitled presume that this year he has
followed up those arguments which he has hitherto pre-
sented to the country hope they will be fully consid
ered and no doubt they WILL and that they will have
that influence the public mind which they are emit
tied II agreed with those views, should not wish TO
officer OF government Neither would refuse to that
member what would vote Tor in the case of other SINH
lar documents. ! would treat this bike all Others and
should deem 1t very improper TO regard the views it
contain as an argument one way or the other When
that question comes up, may have something to say
upon the subject Perhaps facts will entirely sup
port the peculiar views of the Secretary as my friend
seems to suppose. think not find that our
ports amount TO three hundred millions, to be the
case according TO the report year ago st will not
respect as any other would vote to order ten thousand
copies
Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi. The senator from Con-
nectcut has done injustice in charging with going
into the merits OF the report. 1t is those who have
fused the printing who have gone into It's merits have
only asked that 1t may be laid before the country, not
That wished to treat this report with respect than
Others, members to suppose, but because of its
peculiar interest, its peculiar historical interest. 1t
forms, think the most striking instance presented
10 the world, OF government carrying on It's financial
principles during foreign war, without aid from any
other source than the of the country without
suffering any loss In the disbursements of the country
without any system OF exchanges 10 act IN and OF such
operation When the of the country has increased
notwithstanding all representations to the contrary 1t
rs here jaets' and not arguments and it is these facts
which wish to lay before the people, in order to be pre-
pared Tor that powerful argument which the senator from
Connecticut is to make
MIR. FOOTE lsuppose the only good reason for PRINT
ing the documents at all is, that valuable information
may be distributed through the country That reason
must OBTAIN always IN proportion to the value of the in
formation TO be distributed. The already adduced
large number OF this document sufficient to show its
great value beg leave to say, not in spirit of fulsome
aduation, that reason with for desiring TO print
the largest number of this particular document the pre-
sumption which all must entertain from the former pro-
ductlons oil that officer upon the subject that this
particular report will be of immense and incompatible
value, only to this country, but to all countries
Such has been the character of the reports of that Secre
1ary heretofore and various considerations combine
show that this particular report if marked with the ab
ty heretofore manifested by him, must be i'm
portant 10 the country and TO the world than the former
productions of his pen.
If the fact be, sir suggested by the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, that the people have lately settled the
question OF free trade against the doctrine well known
TO be advocated by the Secretary of the Treasury there
Is an additional reason for supply and for the largest
supply that the Senate could under any circumstances
thlnk OF publishing there is evidently want of ilum
nation in regard to this natter aughter) sad want of
ability.
am very glad to find that it is democratic senator
from the Stale of Pennsy with whom this sgecs
tion has originated | that no member Of that
party lately triumphant in the presidential election would
have venued upon such suggestion for the fact OBJ
vous and undenabe, that in two thirds of the States OF
this Unon where the names of Taylor and Fillmore have
been triumphant the doctrine of free trade not gain
SAID by one single advocate of that ticket That being
the case think the senator from Pennsylvania has reck
oned without his host, in mstaking his own State Of
pennsylvania for the whole Union have yet to be-
come satisfied and trust that shall have occasion
10 become satisfied by conclusive evidence that the
State OF Pennsylvania, gifted it is with intelligence
and PATRIOTISM has made so gorgeous blunder as that
suggested by its senatorial representative upon this floor
al this time shall believe, for one, that the peo-
pie OF Pennsy lvania much in the dark upon this
subject, unless upon conclusive evidence than that
which the senator has suggested. ! shall still more
taitly hap hat nfu nca1 fha lat