Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-21

SPEECH OF MIR. WEBSTER,

u Htey UtH Teceisc no attention.
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SPEECH OF MIR. WEBSTER,
UPON
THE TARIFF;
Deiccres, in the House of Representatives Of
the United States, .apyii, 1894.
SPEECH.
FIR. CHAIRMAN: will avail myself of the
present occasion TO make some remarks on GER
tain principles and opinions which have been
recently advanced, and on those consideratios
which, IN my Judgment, ought to govern us in
deciding upon the several and respective parts
of this very important and complex measure
can truly say that this is painful duty. deep
ay regret the necessity, which is likely to be i'm
posed upon me, of giving general affirmative
or negative vote on the whole of the Bill. 1
cannot but think this mede of proceeding liable
to greet objections. 1t cxposes both those who
support, aud those who oppose, the measure,
to very unjust and injurious NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Iney may be good reasons for favoriny some of
the provisions ofthe Bill and equally strong rca-
SONS for opposing others ami these provisions
do not stand To each other in the relation of
principal and incident IL that were the case,
those who arein favor of the principal might
forcgo their opinions upon incidental and subor-
dnate provisions. But the Bill proposes en-
actnenis entirely distinct, and different from
one another, III character and tendency. Some
of its clauses are intended merely for revenue
anal, OF those which regard the protection of
Rome manufactures, one part stands upon very
different grounds from those of other jparts. So
that probably every Gentleman VIII" may ulti-
Inately support the bill will vote for much which
his Judgment does not approve; and those who
oppose it will oppose something which the,
would very gladly support.
Being entrusted with the interests of Dis
trict highly commercial, and deeply interested in
manufactures also, wish TO state nv opinions
ont i,aT paf
it has no entire and homogeneous character
but as on a collection of diforent enactments,
some of which meet my appreciation, and some
ofwc'. 10 not.
And ALLOW me, sir, in the first place, to state
my regret, il indeed ought to express u warmer
sentiment, at the names, designations, which
Elr Speaker has seen fit to adopt, for the pur-
pose of descrbng the advocates and the oppo-
Of the present Bill. 1t is question, he says
between the friends an &C American policy -
ami those of g foreign policy" This, sir, is
assumption which 1 take tue liberty most
directly to deny. Mr.. Speaker certainly intend
cd nothing inYidious or derogatory to any part
OF the House by this mode of dcnoninating
friends and enemies. But there is power in
names, and this manner of distinguishing those
WHO favor and those who oppose particular mea-
s,lies, may lead to differences to which 10 mem
Der of the Honse can submit 1t may imply
that there IS a more exclusive and peculiar re-
on5 than in another. Such an implication is to
be resisted and repelIed. Every member has a
right to the presumption, that he pursues what
he believes to be the interest of his country
with as sincere azeal as any other member
/ claim this in my own case; and, while I shall
not, for any purpose of description, or conye-
nietit arrangement, use terms which may imply
any tiisrespect to other mems opinions, much
less any iInputatons ofothcr mems motives it is
my duty to take that the use of such terms
by others be not, against the will of those who
a iopt them, made to produce false impression.
Indecd sir, it is little astonishing, fit seemed
convenient TO Mr.. Speaker, for the purposes of
distinction, to make of the terms g Ameri-
can polIcy,n and foregn policy" that he should
not have applied them i'll manner precisely
the reverse of that in which he has in fact used
thcfn. Thames are thought necessary, it would
he well enough, one would think that the names
should be, In some measure, descriptive of the
thing; and since Mr.. Speaker denounates the
policy which Inc recommends g new policy in
this country :" since he speaks of the present
measure new era in our legislation since
he processes to invite to depart from our ac-
z.us;o,ned course, to instruct ourselves by the
wisdom of Others and 10 adopt the policy of the
most distinguished foreign states, one is a
littic curious to know with what propriety of
spaech this imitation of other nations is de
nominated an C American pocy,n While on
the contrary, preference for our own estab-
lishod system. as it nov actually exists, and al
ways has existed, is called C. foreign poicyn
This taYorite American policy is what America
has never tried and This odious foreign policy
is what as are told, foreign states have nc
yer pursued. Sir, this is the truest American
policy which snail most uscfully employ Aineri-
can capital, and American labor, and best sus-
tain the whole population. w ill rue it Isl fuuda-
mental axiom, it is interviewer with all my OPT
Mons that the great interests ofthc country are
united aud inscparabc; that agriculture, com
rncrcc, and manufactures, will prosper together,
OF Ian suish together: and that ;illsegsiatiou IS
dangerous which proposes TO benefit one of these
without looking TO consequences which may fall
Il the others.
Passing from this, sir. avn bound to say that
MIR Speaker began his able and impressive
speech at the proper point OF inquiry l mean
the present state and condition Of the country !;
although lam so unfortunate, or rather although
am SO happy, as to differ from him very widely
in regard to that conditions. ] dissent entirely
from the justice OF lat picture of distress which
he has drawn. ! have not seen the reality, and
know not where it exists, Within my obserya-
ten there is no cause for 50 gloomy and terrify-
ing d representation. In respect to the New
England states, with the condition of which |
am, of course, most acquainted the present
appears To nc period Of very general pros
pcrity. Not, indeed, a time for great profits and
sudden acquisition NOT day Of extraordinary
activity and successful speculation. There is,
no GJubt, considerable depression Of prices,
and, IN some degree, stagnation of business.
But the case presented by Mr. Speaker was not
one OF depressiO11 bnt OF distress of universal,