Recollections of Forty Years in the House, Senate and Cabinet: An Autobiography.Sherman, John
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Recollections of Forty Years in the House, Senate and Cabinet: An Autobiography.
Sherman, John
Sherman, John, 1823-1900; Statesmen -- United States -- Biography; United States -- Politics and government -- 19th century
"And having thus chosen our course, without guile and with pure
purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear
and with manly hearts."
Secretary Chase also submitted to Congress, on the first day of
the session, a clear statement of the financial condition of the
United States. He estimated the sum needed for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1862, at $318,519,581. He recommended a large
increase of duties on imports, especially upon such articles as
were then free from duty; also a direct tax of $20,000,000, to be
apportioned among the states according to population; also a tax
on distilled spirits, ale, beer, tobacco, bank notes, and other
articles of domestic production. He also suggested the property
of those engaged in insurrection or in giving aid and comfort to
insurgents should be made to contribute to the expenditures made
necessary by their criminal misconduct. As the receipts from
taxation would still be inadequate to meet the expenses of the war,
he discussed the best mode and form of borrowing money, including
bonds running for a long period with a fixed rate of interest, and
treasury notes bearing interest, payable on demand.
Kansas having recently been admitted into the Union, twenty-three
states were represented in the Senate by forty-six Senators. Eleven
states being in open war against the United States, twenty-one of
their Senators withdrew, but Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, remained
in the Senate, making the total of Senators forty-seven. Some of
these Senators were new in congressional life, and some had been
transferred from the House of Representatives. This transfer of
a Member, though eagerly sought, is not for a time agreeable.
However conspicuous the Member may have been in the House, he must
take his place in the Senate at the bottom of the ladder, and,
according to Senatorial usage, must be reasonably modest in expressing
his opinions. The withdrawal of so many Senators in 1861, however,
gave the new Members better positions than usual. I was assigned
to the committee on finance and on naval affairs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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