Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-12

sion that there any portion of the Union which
expected that the Constitution would be amended
III season Tor the next election. That was rendered
impossible by the necessary process through which
the amendments proposed must pass, and such, he
was satisfied was the understanding of and there
was, therefore, arising from that .onside-
ration which would render 1t proper to stop now, a
ter so much progress had already been made in the
| subject.
! Without taking the question on the motion to
postpone,
The Senate adjourned till tomorrow.
MONDAY, March 6.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
REVISION OF THE TARIFF.
The House then resolved its.lf into a commit
tee of the whole, MIR. Condict in the Chair on the
bill to amend the several acts laying duties on
imports.
And the question being Oh the resolution sub
united on Saturday, by MIR. Forsyth, to strike
out the third section of the bill, which is i'm the
following words:
"That from and after the thirteth dav of June,
one thousand eight hundred and twenty -four, to
the duties on all goods, wares, and merchandise
hereinafter mentioned, or any other there shall
DC added, and shall be collected and paid the fol-
lowing amount OF such bounty or premium, or al
of similar articles may be given, paid, or allow
ed, IN the country or place from which the same
shall be exported, or in the country or place
wherein the same shall be produced or rnanufac-
tured; which shall be calculated and ascertain
ed under such rules and regulations as the Sc
cretary of the Treasury shall from time to time,
fix and prescribe"
The debate of Saturday was renewed, and con
tinued till past 4 o'clock.
The motion was advocated by Mes.rs. For
syth, Randolph, p. p. Barbour Fuller, Bartlett,
Toss, Mercer, LiYernore, Cambrcleng, Steven
son, and Foot of Connecticut, and opposed by
Messrs Clay, Stewart and Tod, the latter two
OF whom offered amendments, which were moi
agreed to, and the clause was finally stricken
out.
The ground taken by those who spoke in IA
yor OF striking out this section of the bill, was
that Its operation will be direct infringement of
our treaty with Great Britain, of 8I5; thattrea
ty expressly provides. that articles imported mt
tins country from Britain, shall be charged with
no NOR dutytha3 those coming from other conn
tries. But, as England grants to her exporters.
bounty on certain articles on which other conn
trles grant none, and this section proposes to in
crease IN all cases our duty, By the amount OF
the bounty granted IN the country from whence
the goods imported its operation will. in fact
n
duty than articles of the same kind brought from
elsewhere: and it will, therefore break the trea
ty and compromit the faith and honor of the ma
ton.
10 tins, It was replied, that the principle o!
this section beng. like that of the rest ofthe bill
10 protect the domestic industry of this country
by preventing the foreign article TO be brourht
INTO the market at such price as to destroy our
own manufacturer, that object could never he
attained, and the whole bill must be rendered
nugatory, If bounty granted by foreign. natl.
on on the expectation of its commodities might
not be met by an equivalent duty here 1t was
well known, that England grants bounties for
the express purpose of forcing her goods into
ioreign markets; and if the objection to this
section of the bill is held valid, she will still be
enabled to do SO with respect to this country.
But it is not valid In that article oftbe trea-
ty winch this sectiorpf the bill is said to violate
TWO objects were Intended. The first was TO
secure a perfect rcciprocityb between the two ma
IONS, with respect TO their navigation Prefer
ence mad previously been given, both bv Franco
and England, which threatened altogetber IN
deprive America of the carrying trade-wbicb
course of things led to the adoption of what has
been called the American policy on this sub
Ject--a policy which has proved completely FRI
uinphant, and has brought both England and
| 'Ni"o " tcruiS Dut thlS section of the bill
leaves this reciprocity naturalization no differ
ence is made in our duties, whatever merchan.
disc is imported IN British or American boftorns
The second object aimed at, in the article of
| the treaty alluded to, was TO secure to British,
Soouo an entrance into our country on as oood
terms as those OF any other naton nor does this
section make any discrimination to their preiu-
dice; It's provisions, are general, no more direc
TED against the goods Of ono country than ano-
ther. 1t adds the amount Of all FOREIGN bounf;es
TO the duty on those goods on which the bount,,
IS granted; and If, in consequence of this gene
raj measure Of self-deience, British goods have
more duty to pay than French, it is not the re-
suit OF orr legislation, but of her o,on, and when
two parties make a contract, no act of one of
them IS, OF ITSELF to constitute violation of tbc
| contract by the other party.
10 TINS, 1t was reioined, that the increase n
duty IN that case was to be attributed TO o,. acf
OF legislation, and not to that of England, for if
was our act That added the amount of her bonn
" to our duty, and thereby caused her goods TO
pay more than those of her neighbor, a thing we
! expressly promised by the treaty not 10 do.
| britain has right TO grant what bounties she
WIZ mat is her own affair; part of her M
niciPai regulations; thing bet,vheen her peo-
| gie and her government. II was We who now
interfere, and make her municipal regulations
part OF our law, and found duties IN, tben,
| contrary to the treaty.
AS to the policy Of meeting her bounties nv
countervai6ng duties, it is question from which
we are precluded, BECAUSE we have alro,J,,
f.fIr- aIt-