Mr. VOOD RIDGE. No, sir. The gentleman can make that motion atterward. tis very popular and very acceptable, doubtless, to agriculturists for gentlemen to get up here and say that we ought not to oppress that honorable class of men who do so much for the welfare of their countr. Well, sir, I am an agriculturist myself, an most of my constit nents are agriculturists. They constitute at least one of the most independent, intelligent, and patriotic class of men that the sun ever shone upon; but, sir, I am informed that farm ers, as a class, pay less taxes, in proportion to their means, than men engaged in any other occupation. You get but ittle income from the farmers who own high priced sheep, or from those who cultivate 1,000s of acres of our western prairies. Honorable and high minded as they are, they are not the men who yield the money for the support of the government. It is the manufacturers who return the income that rolls the wheels of Government, and yet gentlemen say we must strike the tax off this and the other article because the farmers use them; and our legislators do not always seem to be independent enough to actin accordance with their ownjudgments, but rather pander to what they suppose tp be the popular sentiment, so as to have the farmers say “This is the man who looks after our interest; we must return him to Congress." Sir, I will never lend myself to a cry of that kind, whether I come to Congress or stay at home; I respect the farmer, because he is manly, and is at the very foundation of society. His is the earliest and noblest occupation known to civilized life. But, at the same time I do not believe in giving up principles of right merely for the purpose of coaxing and flattering those who have so much to do in electing members of congress. Now scales are used, it is true, on farms, and every farmer wants one to weigh hisbeef, his hay, his wool; but it is not merely because the farmer wants them that I propose the amendment. [Here the hammer fell.]