The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-02


tous national issues.
MIR. Bayly ON Deliberate Legislation.
In his recent speech on the resolution
in regard to the expenses of collecting the
revenue, Mr.. BAYLY alleged that the bill
of the last session restricting those ex-
penses to $3.50, 900 was deliberately
passed" after "three years. consideration"
The argument drawn from this statement
is, that Mr.. MEREDITH ought to have COM
menced the reduction of expenditures i'm
mediately on coming into the Department,
because he had no right to suppose that
Congress would suspend or repeal law
so T" deliberately" passed.
We undertake to say that there was
never bill passed with less delibera-
tion," or one with regard to the effect
and operation of which Congress were so
entirely uniformed. We say further,
that if there had been single WING
member of common intelligence in either
House, acquainted with the fact that the
bill in question contemplated the with
drawal of $40, 900 from the amount ne
cessary to defray the expenses of collect
ing the revenue, the bill would not have
passed at all.
We have learned something of the pri-
vate history Of this bill. After it passed
the House of Representatives and went to
the Senate, it was arrested for six months
in the Committee of Finance, and was
not reported till very few days before
the termination of the first session of
the last Congress. Mr.. ATHERroN, the
chairman of the Committee of Finance,
made no effort TO call it up during that
session. At the next session, being aware
of the improperly of passing the bill in its
then shape, Mr.. ArHrRroS moved for its
reference back to the Committee of Fl
nance, for amendment. There it remained
for ipo months. The bill was suffered to
sleep in the pigeon-holes ofthe committee,
and il was Mr.. ATHERToN's intention not
TO move in the matter again, but to let the
bill die natural death. No Senator &C.
quainted with the bill was disposed to
disturb it. On the I'd of March, Mr..
Gn.LETT, the late Solicitor of the Urea
sury-who was always Of a meddling
turn, and who survived the fourth of
March for period that seemed exceed
ingly tedious TO all who knew his party
history-busied himself in procuring the
resuscitation Of this bill. Mr.. ATHERToN,
who had been made acquainted with the
character Of the bill, did not or would not
take the responsibility Of reportingit. Mr..
HUNTER reported the bill on the ID Of
March. twas accompanied with no writ
ten report from the committee. No oral
explanations or statements were made.
II laid over to the Sd of March, the last
day Of the session. II was then taken up
amid the press Of business, excited no at
tention or remark, had avery unobjection-
able title, had slept so long in committee
that the real point Of il had been forgotten,
and slipped through the Senate without the
asking Of single question. II then wen,
to the House. II was there amended on
the motion Of gentleman who could
have had no knowledge Of its true charac-
ter-for he was not in the confidence oil
Mr.. WALKER-and went back 10 the
Senate. There we understand il was re.
ported in the midst Of an exciting debate
as an amended bill from the House; the
amendment was concurred in as a matter
Of course, and the bill passed without I
word Of observation.
This Mr.. BAYLY calls the " deliberate
passage of bill cater three years. con
sideration." In the Senate, the bill nevel
had three minutes consideration at any
time, nor three words of explanation. Ir
the House, on it's first introduction, there
was discussion on some of its provi
sions, but not word was ever said as q
the adequacy Of the amount appropriated
At that time, the expense Of collecting
| the revenue was only known TO the Secre
tary of the Treasury and to his confidential
| friends, If il was known 10 any body--ant
we presume that no man ever for momen
suspected that Mr.. WALKER was al thai
very time actually expending s64o, 900 I