The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-28

A
| il was for this reason that the bill was
smothered in the Senate copmittee for STA
months in The hrst session, apd to months
ia the second session, that il might be
hugger-muggered through Congsess on the
strength of its meritoriods sitls, without
reference to the injurious provision which
we have been discussing.
Does any person suppose il this bill
had been fairly before Congress, and il
had been understood that it proposed to
compel the Vine ADMINISTRATION to do,
with $l,56O,OO0, work that required
80, 100000, that it could have passed the
two Houses by general acquiescence, OF
with general neglect, on the last night Of
a session. olg eiaalss
Have we not proved then, by the his
tory of this bill, what we have alleged
that the passage of it was shabby Loco
foco trick, designed to embarrass the in
coming Administration Mr.. WALKER
knew perfectly well that the sum contem-
plated by the bill was altogether made
quate, and for this reason kept the bill
suspended in the Senate until the result OF
the Presidential election was known. He
then had it referred back TO the committee,
and there kept snug and dark till the last
day Of the session, when it was sprung
upon Congress and run through without
examination or discussion. ai
The facts make manifest the motives
with which this bill was passed The
facts show distinctly that the men who
knew any thing aboutthis bill-Mr. WALK
Err and his confidential friends on the com
mittees-knew perfectly ueH that the sum
of $780, 900 was altogether inadequate
for the objects proposed. The facts show
that for this reason the bill was held back
in the Senate committee, and kept sus,
pended till after the result of the Presi-
dental election. The facts show that,
knowing this inadequacy, they kept the
bill hushed up in committee, till they
thought the time favorable for slipping it
through Congress without observation or
discussion on this point. The facts show
ing these things are patent to all the
world-arising from the character of the
bill, the manner in which it was dealt
with in committee, and the manner of its
final passage.
If Mr.. WALKER recommended this bill
in 1915, he took exceedingly good care
that it should not be passed in his time.
He had no objection, however, that the
mercantile community should suffer under
his successor; for the suffering would sug-
gest favorable contrast for Mr.. WALKER.
Let it not be said that we have no right TO
impute motives to Mr.. WALKER and his
friends. We have said that by the pas
sage of this act they designed to embarrass
and cripple the WHIc administration. 1t
is always fair TO assume that men contem-
plate and intend the inevitable conse-
quences of their acts. If gentlemen de-
sire that their motives should not be i'm
peached, they should take care that their
conduct is above suspicion.
No man can believe for moment, in
view Of the facts above stated, that the
bill in question would have been suffered
to pass, if General CAss had been elected
to the Presidency. Was not, then, the
passage Of it designed TO eInbarrass General
TAYLOR, and to give some color to the
Locofoco outcry that the Wings are not
capable of administering The government
to the satisfaction of the peoplci