The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-02-04

The Chairman OF the Committee of Ways and Means,
in the House. spent his hour yesterday in declaming
against direct taxation as mode Of sustaining the
Who proposes any such thing Certainly not the adj
ministration They have presented their plan of finance,
and frankly assumed the responsibility both OF its
cess adopted and of its approval by the people The
plan embraces particular form of loan, temporary
war tax on tea and coffee, and wise regulation of the
price of the public lands In its main features the plan
has already been tried with complete and unprecedented
success The form OF loan proposed placed at the last
session of Congress than fifty millions of capital
at the disposal OF the government above par Presented
in time OF war, it lifted the credit of the treasury higher
perhaps, than it stood before, in time OF peace
created the slightest embarrassment in the money
market It gave the treasury all the money wanted
on the most favorable terms, and it sent millions away I'M
accepted The government asks authority TO make SINH
lar loan now for similar purpose The Committee of Ways
and Means, instead OF granting the loan recommend
ing the small temporary duty tea and coffee, refuse
both present to the government bill authorizing the
of naked six per cent stock and then its chair
man gets up full Of ZEAL to denounce direct taxation
In this state OF facts the plain If the wings of
the House wish to furnish supplies to the treasury
sustain the country in the war, they know how TO do
ithow to do it without embarrassment to the money
market without burdensome taxation upon the pee
pie, without the slightest dsparagemen of the pub
lie credit. If they do not mean to furnish the sup
pies-if they to break down the war; and with it
break down the rights and character of the country by
Withholding money from the government,-then let them
say so openly and distinctly They do this sooner
or later No pretences nor subterfuges will long
save them from looking the issue straight in the
face. The people know their position-that. as par
chapter OF accidents, they majority in the popular
branch of Congress Will they then vote the govern
men the facilities which it asks and deems requisite for
the supply of the treasury and the maintenance of the
public credit in view of the expenditures necessary to
save the lus,re of army from tarnsh and the cause
of our country against her enemy from failure and shame
They can by their votes answer this question fatty in
the negative, and then face their constituents on that
issue They can answer it in the affirmative, and put
the responsibility upon the administration and those who
support it, by passing the measures which the admins
raon has already tried successfully and now again rec
ommends But they cannot dodge the question by voting
measure which is not the government measure So
voting they take the responsibility away from the adj
minstraon and for themselves In that case, if
the langushes and drags for want of they
will stand responsible for it before the people If the
treasury embarrassed the money market deranged,
theirs will be the blame of ia blame incurred against
the clearest teachings of experience and the earnest
concentrations of the Executive. In such the PEG.
pie will be cheated of expeden mode of raising
supplies for their by INSCRIPTIONS opposition
they will understand the cheat The people
trcked into position of national failure and WI" "
ment and discred and dishonor-ana e'a
through the trick!
We put these views on reco-
20 ro,or % ,ber ,c,;n and ID now, because we mean
Wv. ~ -, keep them before the people
..,, -, It omlnous whispers already
among the whg leaders a, Wash
" ct that it will never do in view of their
and prospects, to pass the loan measure as
last session and recommended by the Executive
That measure, it is said in high wing quar-
IS, will repenish the treasury quite too readal
and too easily and with far too little embarrassment to
the monetary interests of the country and on far too
favorable terms to the government TO meet the views of
the opposition The measure recommended by the gov
eminent is too aoiss neassre to suit their purposes