The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-15

Daniel Wehster, although statesman, did-not
aim 10 be either popular or parliamentary lead
err He left common afIairs and questions to others,
and reserved himself for those great and infrequent
occasi which seemed to involve the prosperity
or the continuance OF the Republic. On these oc
casons he rose above partisan influences and alli-
| ances, and gave his coun,es earnestly and with
| imprisoned sclsmnity, and always with an unaf-
fected reliance upon the intelligence and virtue of
| his countrymen
| The first revolutionary assembly that convened
in Boston promulgated the principles OF the revo-
luton of l6SS-Resistance to unjust laws 10 obc.
dence to God"-and il became the watchword
throu ghout the colonies. Under that motto the
colonies disnembered the British empire. and
| erected the American Republic. Atan early day,
| it seemed to Daniel Webster that the habitual
cherishing Of that principle after Its great work
/ had been contaminated, threatened to subvert, IN
its turn, the free and benehcent Constitution,
which afforded the highest attanable security
against the passage of unjust laws. He addressed
himself therefore assduousy and almost alone to
| what seemed to him the duty OF calling the Anne
| rican people back from revolutionary theories 10
the forrpaton OF habits If peace, order, and cub.
mission to authority He inculcated the duty OF
submission by States and citizens to all laws passed
within the province Of constitutional authority,
and of absolute reliance on constitutional reIne-
| dice for the correction Of all errors and the re.
dress Of all injustice. This was the political gos-
| pei of Daniel Webster. He preached 1t in season
| and out of season, boldly, constantly, with the
zeal of an apostle and with the devotion, II there
were need, of a martyr. II was full of saving in.
| huences while he lived, and those influences will
last long the Constitution and the Union shall
endure. ~.
of administrative functions. 1t was marked
| by the same ability that distinguished all his
achievements in other fields of duty. 1t was at
the same time eminently conservative OF peace,
and Of the great principles liberty,
ON which the republican Institutions OF his country
were founded. But while those administrative
services benefited his country, and Increased his
fame, all felt never theless, that Dis proper and
highest place was here, where there was field and
scope for his philosophy and his eloquence-here,
among the equal represen taves OF the constituent
States which were at once to be held together, and
to be moved on in the establishment OF continental
power, controlling all the American States, and
| balancing those of the Eastern world; and we
could not but exclaim, in the words OF the Roman
| orator, when we saw him leave the Legislative
Councils to enter on the office OF administration
"Quantis angusis, uestra gloria sc didiri ue!is
| mir. STOCKTON succeeded Mr.. SEwARD,
| whose remarks were not received at the time OF
| our paper going to press
The resolutions were then unanimously adopted.
And, on notion
| The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
| MIR. STUART, of Michigan, has been appointed
a member of the Committee on Commerce, in the
| place of Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, who was yes
| terday excused from service upon 1t.
| THE PRESIDENTS MEssAaE-THE TARIFr.
| The House resolved itself into Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr. STUART in
| the chair,) and resumed the consideration Of the
reso utions heretofore submitted, to refer the va
| rious branches OF the Presidents annual message
| to the appropriate committees.
| The following proposition, offered by Mr. BROOKS,
| was pending:
| Except 80 much of the message relates to the
| tariff and the revenues from customs, which shall
| be referred to selcct committee OF seven, with
| power to examine witnesses and collect testimony
here and elsewhere, and with instructions to report
by bill otherwise, on or before the 25h OF Janu.
Mr.. MEADE, of Virginia, said that his State was
extensively engaged in a system Of railroads, and
that therefore, the exemption of railroad iron from
duty would benefit the State to the amount, proba-
| bly of two or three millions of dollars within the
| next ten years And what he said Of the State Of
| Virginia might be said OF the whole South, the
whole West and the whole Northwest. He gave
notice that he should vote against the proposition
| submitted by the gentleman from New York Mr..
Baooxs) 10 refer the subject Of revenue from Gus
toms to select committee, because he believed that
| the matter requires more consideration than can
be given to it this session, in consequence Of the
| multitude of important bills now pending, in
| which the whole country are interested; yet when
an opportunity shall occur-and he should endea,
| vor to obtain one-he intend to introduce a bill
to relieve railroad iron from the present duty
| which Expresses 1t.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania. Mr.. JoNss,)
| who addressed the House yesterday he said, would
find himself somewhat puzzled to draw distinc
ton between manufacturing corporations and rail
road corporations, and in demonstrating how the
| community would be benefited by extending privi-
Ieges the former and denying them to the latter.
He (Mr. MEADE) thought he should be able to
show that, while the admission into the country
free of duty of dyestuffs, woods, &c. would
| enable the manufacturer to make goods at less
cost, it does not follow that the community who
buy would get them cheaper
He remarked that he thought he should be able
to show that the admission of railroad iron, either
free Of duty or with light duty, would benefit
every one. If we had as many railroads extend
ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific as there are
States along their shores, there would not be man
or woman east OF the Rocky mountains who would
not be benefited He then argued these points;
and in the course Of his remarks, contended that
the taking of the duty on railroad iron would
eventually benefit the iron master. In conclu-
son, he said be unwilling that the surplus
venue should remain in the treasury, believing
that it would be appropriated improvidently; and
| rather than 30 much money should be locked up,
he would prefer that fifteen twenty per cent.
even should be given in the purchase Of the United
States bonds.
| Mr. STANTON. of Ohio, stated his objections
to the accumulation of q surplus revenue in the
| treasury, which, he conceived, would lead to the
most wasteful extravaganza and pervert the moral
sense of public functionaries and bring them into
disgrace and contempt. There were two promi-
nent points connected with the subject now before
the committee. The first, making pro rata re
duction all imports which now pay duty; and
the second, abolishing entirely the duty on those
articles OF importation which do not come into
competition with the products Of this country
The first ia the Democratic. the second the Wing
side of the question. He was willing for modif-
cation of the tariff provided the industry of the
country shall not be thereby affected He had al
ways been in favor Of protection for the sake Of
protection. In the course of his remarks he advo-
Gated home market, and specific instcad of adj
palorcm duties.
Mr.. MILLSON replied to gentlemen who pre-.
coded him, and conrended that the abolition OF du
| ties on the material without a corresponding
| abrlCs.
the came as paying bounty out of the treasury to
manufacturers to enable them to sustain them
selves against foreign competition. He then ex
aminod the views of the President expT essed in
the recent annual message, on the subject Of the
tariff
SLAVERY QUESTION.