Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-06-13
CONGRESSIONAL.

CONGRESSIONAL.
Remarks of Hon. G. W. BROWN Of p,rgin.o
in the House Of Representatives,. May s, le4o
on the Bill 10 amend al act entitled, an ac
to raise for limited time an additional Wth
tary Force. AMI for other purposes"
Mr.. BROWN said:
MIR. CHAIRMAN: My remarks shall be con-
fined principally 10 the vindication OF The lead
ing measures of the present Administration, all
of which have met my hearty appreciation and
.uppor,: so that in defending them from the as.
sauits made by the Opposition, VIII Out oeieno
nv own course on this floor, and place myself
in a right position before those have Inc hohor
10 represent.
When I first came to Congress, found the
people had returned to this body oeoat.ns
talent equal to any emergency; ana oehefing
this arm Of public defence sufficiently s'rons, !
have been content with being numbered among
tho .;len, members of this House, always ready
10 cast nv vote on any question Or measure 50
coon az il could be rescued from the great Vor'
"a, of oublic discussion. In this am happy 10
know that | have met the appreciation oil my
constituents who not only returned me 10 the
,birtieth Congress by an unprecedented mslo'
r;,v bu, in their very recent county meetings IN
INV d;s,r;ct most generously and freely tender
ed me th.;r thanks, and expressions OF conn
dence and appreciation. For this marx oil KIND
ness | can only respond 10 the silent language
of the heart. that can be better felt and under
stood than expressed.
hv constituents will pardon ne, know, Tor a
departure from my usual course, when ask lie
privilege of communicating 10 them my views on
coming poll ical events, in which our common
country is deeply Interested None, afer hear
inc the debate on the motion 10 print the cores
pond-nce between General Scou and the war
Department The other tay, can be blind 10 the
strong. aud, tank unfair Efforts that are 10 be
made. on this f1oc and in the country, TO reverse
ami change ali those saluiary and valuable msa-
sures and reforms broush! about by The freScn:
Administration. Mankind have ALWAYS been,
and always will be, until the millennium arrives,
divided into two political divisions. They are
now 10 BE- found in France-in Europe-in all
the Old World, and in This country. The one IS
in favor Of strong, cumbrous, and complex 60
sernmen'; the other ncincs 10 free and simple
government, placing on the shoulders OF the Peo-
pie no greater burdens or restraints than ave ne
cessary TO secure good order, the safely OF the
person and property OF the citizen. They are
sometimes oenomnaed he trlends OF Qespousm,
and the tfien Is OF liberty.
The advocates of strong government nno
many subjects about which TO leeislate; and IN
this country even written constitutions are MOI
sufficient to control them. They 6nd ample pow
er in the Constitution Of the Unired States 10 in
terfere 10 The Industrial pursuits OF the people
and think il very wise 10 exercise II, b? which
the earnin. g of one branch OF udustr y,or OF one
section oil this Union. are transferred 10 anolher
They are Tor regulating commerce and building
j, up to the highest puch of prosperity, by laying
heavy restrictions and burdens upon it. Asri
culture. too. is 10 receive the fostering care o.
this great central G lvernmen'; the strong arm o
the law is 10 interfere with The markets abroad
and reduce The consumption OF her mighty pro
ducls almost exclusively TO home market; hei
prosperity (by very wise legislation! Is 10 De
vastly enlarged BY crcumscribins her markets
and reducing her consumers. But, to cap the
climax OF earthly wisdom aud love for the
tillers of The soil, all that they consume of the
products of the rival branches OF industry art
10 he highly protected in the shape of high
Tariffs, with view Of reducing the prices
o, such fabrics and articles in The market for The
esoec,al ben, FL OF the iarmerl But not satisfied
with This, uuaer The power given TO Congress "tC
coin money, regulate the value thereof, and OF 10
reign CON-" or some m re mysterious lmpae6
power, they claim for Congress The right OF resu
lating The paper currency Of the States, or The ere
dit systems generally OF The United States; ant
that, 100 by deicga'iag that precious power to z
great corp ration, whose "boweis are moved viii
COMPASSION" TOR the people, and who Is sur" Il
expand its issues in an easy money narei, ant
contract them 10 hard one. All this is don;
p-ofessedIy to aid The Country and enable II a. de
yhope lis growing resources and better The condi
liln o. the governed.
Now, sir, am opposed to all this Legislative
linketins with the private affairs oil the poop,
bs this Governments; ii was created for no sucl
purposes aud nothing but mischief can resul
i:om he exercise OF suck powers. Heresies 81
nonsruuS can never meet the appreciation OF hi
pso,.r # this country when the issue is fairly
preserved 10 them. But, sif, the advocates o
power 30 ne,imes argue thai there is something
mysterious about The science OF government
that the ordinary routine OF reasoning i;ou
cause TO effect will not produce correct re
snlls in The political as in the natural O.
physical world, and they not unireQuenty il
lusra,e their argument by referring 10 The fact
that high duties make low prices. Now, ira
an iron-master or large manufactured might be
able 10 reason himself into belief OF this strange
he erodoxy, is natural enough; but that men
looking through disinleres,rd medium should
fall into SO lnonstrous an error! seems TO me pass
ing strange Oilers point to the valuable result,
of the legislation of Great Britain on The subiec
Of tariffs and banks, and in directing the labor q
that country. Sir, the policy OF Great Britain i:
no model for me. She presenls-wba, depre
cale-a splendid government aGd a starving PEG.
pie. ! met with an article from The London
Times OF The Dist of March las', which shows
the views of the friends of strong Govern.
ment, as well as anything that have ever
heard 10 our own country on that suSjsc;
After speaking OF the forces sent by the Go
yernment TO suppress tie popular movements
in Ireland, he congratulaes the Crown on The
quiet slate OF England, and gives the reason for
such good order, as follows:
"The State is wise, and good, and grea, in the
eyes OF humble men. They tear it, they worship
it, they love il! VIVA, childlike confidence does
the honest laborer repose in the gentleman pho
rules the des,inies OF his little sphere! The Bri
fish laborer is taught from his childhood 10 look
up for counsel and aid. For our part, we have
continually urged that 1t is The duty OF The Stale
10 fulh such expectations"
Now. sir, on this subject, am probably vastly
behind the age; bur, after careful examination
am bousd 10 conclude that this Government
canno! legisate into existence an additional bar
rel Of -four or bushe of orn; but can easily
see hundred ways in which il can transfer them
from tue granary Of A 10 the granary of B. But
there will be private lareeni&s enough of This kind,
without the Government embarking in il and lie.
galizing il on large scale. For man 10 be
L1l Ill IL = -