The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-03
In CONGRESS OF THE u. STATES.
Thirticth Congress Session
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY ., Isis.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE,
The journal having been read

The journal having been read
ABERrs REPORT
Mr. THOMPSON of Kentucky, from the Committee
on Printing, reported the following resolution
Resolved That 1000 copies of Col J. Abert's report
which was communicated on the 18Th December asi il
be printed for the use of this House
Mr.. McCLELLAND moved to amend by adding
And that $50 of the said extra copies be for
the Typographical Bureau"
| Agreed TO.
! And the resolution, amended was carried
| Mr.. HARALSON asked leave to make personal ex
PLANTATION which was objected TO.
Mr. HUNT gave notice OF bill for the relief OF tn,
legal representatives OF Abraham Hogeboom
| Mr.. PlLSBURY asked leave 10 make personal ey
! PLANTATION objected to-
REFERENCE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
The House then resumed the consideration of the reso
lutons distributing the Presidents message
Mr. CALEB b. SMITH, who entitled to the floor
and addressed the House al length in opposition
the administration policy generally with aspect to the
war. The House, he said had decided that the com
mencement OF the war unnecessary and unconsttu
tonal and he had the good fortune to record his vote
favor of the condemnation which thus passed upon
this He desired to say more in regard TO the orr
gin of the than to express his with the
Judgment OF the majority that occasion; for he be-
leved fully that it was Judgment which, after the
elements of the shall have passed away would be
sanctioned and endorsed as the Judgment Of the whole
people He would speak to questions of practical
utility than this. For, however the may have been
begun, whomsoever its responsibilities may rest its
evils were now upon and amongst us and it became
us, representatives here to devise some means by
which these evils may be arrested, and 10 If the war
may not be brought close and its calamtous
quences in some degree curtaled and prevented
Mr. s. proceeded 10 inquire into some OF the evils 10 fol-
low upon the continuance of this war And first he
looked at the state of the finances The public debt at
this time was above I5OoOooo and by the estimates of
the President the 30th of June, lSi0 this debt would
be increased to $Si $4,000 But he proceeded at length
to show that little reliance could be placed upon estimates
emanatng from that source, by examination and re-
view OF the errors in the estimate heretofore submitted
The estimates for the last year erroneous, and fell
below the amount of the debt incurred by the sum of
1896 and from this basis of erroneous estimates he
proceeded show that the public debt in lsi9 instead of
$sl 900, likely to amount to the sum
of more than $03 900 900, the interest which would
exceed six millions per annum
! If the war was to be continued he in favor of
direct taxes for its support AT the very commencement
OF the government, the principle was laid down by the
administration OF Washington, that no public debt should
be contracted without providing at the same time, the
means for its liquidation that the national credit might
| be made immortal During the last session OF Con-
gess the proceeds OF the sales of the public lands were
pledged for the payment of the loan then called for and
fifteen days afterwards, they passed law cedng away
sixteen lions of acres of the public domain in the shape
of bounty lands.
The expenses of this already extended greatly
beyond the expenses of the late war with Great Britain
For the three wears of the late war; the expenses were
SIS while the estimated cost ' Of the present war
to the 3oth of June, is49, 900; showing
cess the expenses Of the late of s97,672ooo.
-.
that the gentleman from North Carolina [NIr MCKAY
mistaken in his idea, that if the should be brought
to close the ordinary revenue OF the Country would be
sufficient TO pay the public debt The ordinary revenue
could not be more than thirty millions, while the ex-
penses if the war should be terminated, would be equal
TO thirty millions; which, with the interest on the
debt, would be raised to fortyone millions annually.
Mr.. s. inquired what was to be understood by the cab
aisc phrase of indemnify for the past and security for
the future :" He supposed it referred to ter,,oy and
show that, indemnity for the past, the admlnstra
ton had attempted TO force upon Mexico the sale OF
the territory of New Mexico and the CALIFORNIA;, which
he denounced as tyrannical. He avowed his belief
that ii was not the desire or expectation OF the IN
ecutve TO obtain treaty OF at presents but that
till the occasion should be made ripe to announce the
conquest and absorption of the whole of Mexico; and,
TO show the ground for this opinion, he read from late
speech in the other end of the Capitol by the char
man there of the Committee on Military Ataus, Mr.
CAss The indications OF peace still as unsatisac
tory as ever. We have had the cry OF "peace, peace,
1t was to be nursed And he ventured TO make the as
sertion that denuncatons would be hurled against the
head of Mr. TrsI for his part in the peace negotiations
which had just transpired. He had already heard i as
serted in certain circles that Mr. Trst ought to be hung
for even talking about peace.
Mr. s. believed that Mexico ready TO accede
to any honorable and equal terms of peace which might
be proposed to her by this government
Mr. SAWYER (interposing) said The gentleman says
he believes that Mexico would accept of peace honor
able terms. ] would like to hear the terms which he
would be willing to consider honorable. :,
Mr. SMl Til. | would be glad to see the party with
whom the gentleman from Ohio acts come forward
with their terms OF peace instead OF conceaing them
under cabastic phrase.
He was glad to hear the gentleman from North Caro-
lima say that he willing to appeal to the pockets of
the people for the justification of this war but he pre-
dicted, with confidence that the aXg atherer
should come round, the popularity OF the war would
vanish.
Mr. vINTON said, other important business seemed
to demand that this debate should be brought to closes
but one or two propositions had been elected in its pro-
gress within the last day or two which he desired to
tce In the part which he should take he desired refer
to the amendment proposed the motion OF the gentle
man from Pennsylvania [Mr. WuMoTl The resolu-
tons under consideration propose to refer the subjects OF
recommendation in the Presidents message; and the
message contained auson whatever 10 the subject
matter of the amendment; and It also matter
tirey foreign to the subject which agates the House.
But he had other objections to the amendmet
The gentleman from North Carolina Mr. McKAyl had
declared in the event that this should not be brought
speedy termination, his willingness to appeal to the
pockets of the people to maintain IT, Mr. V desired to
know whether by this declaration the gentleman meant
to say he was in favor of direct tax
Mr.. MCKAY. I said so, if the sbou Id continue.
do not see what right the gentleman has intenogae
me. will explain at proper time.
Mr. VINTON This appealing TO the pockets of the
people language unknown to the constitution, lie
supposed however that the gentleman meant that if the
war should not be speedily brought TO close he would
be for resong direct tax, for the purpose of carry
ing it on Mr. " thought he could perceive that, TO
some extent this had become popular doctrine among
the democracy and he had heard that il had been
thrown out particularly by distinguished gentleman
from South Carolina. Now Mr.. V. had risen at this
time for the purpose OF saying, that he should never
vote for direct tax, while there were any other
means left by which the revenues OF the government