The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-10
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

Pursuant to call read by the Clerk of the
House at the adjournment Tuesday, lst Februa-
~, caucus, composed of members opposed to
a modification of the tariff, assembled. About
fifty members, chiefly from the Southern States,
were present The whole Democratic delega
ton from Illinois was present, as were two
members from Minnesota, one from Ohio, and
two from New York. No member from Penn
sylvania was in attendance.
Mr.. j. Cochrane, of New Cork, was called to
the chair, and Messrs. CavaAaugh, of Mime
sofa, and Ruffn, of North Carolina, were ap
pointed Secretaries.
Mr.. Millson, of Virginia said that he was not
inclined to be bound by the action of the eau
Gus.
He thought that the House was the proper
place for settling the question.
Mr.. Garnett, of Virginia, offered a resolution
appointing committee of five, to take into con-
sideration the subject of retrenchment and re-
form in the expenditures of the Government,
and declaring against a modification of the
tariff.
Mr.. Stewart, of Maryland, said that he was
not satisfied that he could properly attend the
caucus. He was now, and had always been, in
favor of judicous tariff, for purposes of sufi
cient revenue
Mr. Crawford, of Georgia, read the call under
which the caucus had assembled. All opposed
to a change in the tariff we're invited to attend,
but it was understood that all Democrats were
welcome, whatever might be their opinions on
the subject under discussion.
Mr.. Houston, of Ala, was not inclined to at
tend an adjourned meeting of the caucus.
Those present fully represented the force and
opinion of those opposed to change in the
tariff
Messrs Barksdale, of Miss, and Miles, of
South Carolina, declared themselves opposed
to any modification of the tariff. They were
pledged to and in favor of free trade and direct
taxation.
Mr.. Lamar, of Mississippi, opposed change
in the tariff, and thought that the time had
come when it was necessary for the Democratic
party to take decided position ON the subject.
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, referred to the in
creasing expenditures of the Government, and
said that much larger appropriations were re-
CURED now, in time of profound peace, than
during the expensive Mexican war. With a
proper administration, the Government ought
to be carried on with the present revenue
Mr.. Morris, of Illinois, asked the Chairman
of the Committee of Ways and Means Mr..
Phelps, of Missouri whether the committee in
tended to report u bill for an increase OF the
tariff and suggested whether it would not be
better to prepare such bill, and submit it to
the inspection of the caucus at an ad iourned
meeting
Mr.. Phelps replied that he had for some time
desired to introduce bill to modify the tariff,
for the purpose of increasing the revenues but
he had to inform the gentleman that the Com
mittee of Ways and Means had come to a
" dead lock" and there was little hope of the
committee reporting bill which would find
favor with the House.
Mr.. Crawford, of Georgia, thought, from in
formation derived at the Treasury Department,
that sufficient relief to the Government might
be afforded by extending the Treasury-note law
of 1858 for one or two years, authorizing the
100000, 600 now outstanding to be reissued. He
submitted two resolutions substitute for
that of Mr. Garnett, of Virginia-frst, that it
is inexpedient to modify the tariff; secondly,
that a committee of FIVE be appointed, to report
at an adjourned meeting a mode by which the
public expenditures can be materially reduced.
These resolutions were adopted almost unan-
imOusly. Messrs. Phelps of Minnesota, Taylor
of New York, Taylor of Louisiana, and others,
participated in the discussion.
We understand that the caucus adjourned
until Saturday next.