Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-23
Eighteenth Congress.
On tie Bill to amend the several Acts imposing
Duties on Imports.

On tie Bill to amend The several Acts imposing
Duties on Imports.
MARCH 80 AND 81, 1924.
The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Rarbour)
has embraced the occasion produced by the
proposition of the gentleman from Tennessee,
to strike out the minimum price, in the bill, on
cotton fabrics, to express his sentiments at large
on the policy of the pending measure and it is
scarcely necessary for me 10 say, that he has C.
WINGED his usual good temper, ability, and deco
rum. The parts of the bill are SO interrniDgled
and intcrwoven together, that there can be no
doubt of the fitness of this occasion to exhibit its
merits or its defects. 1t is my intention, with
the permission of the committee, to avail myself
also of this opportunity, to present to its consi-
Iteration those general views, as they appear to
me, of the true policy of this country, which i'm
periously demand the passage Of This bill. lam
deeply sensible, Mr.. Chairman, of the high res
possibility OF my present situation. But that
responsibility inspires me with no other appre-
hension than that shall be unable to fulfil my
duty with no other solicitude than that NAV,
at least, in some small degree, contribute to re-
-calny country from the pursuit of fatal policy,
which appears to me inevitably to lead to its
VInpOPeT1SnfileHt a'lt TulIl. DO Ietl most aiF-
fully this responsibility and, if it were allow
able for u.s. at the present day, to initiate an
cent examples, [ would invoke the aid of the
Most High. would anXiously and fervently
implore His divine assistance that He would
be graciously pleased to shower on my country
His richest blessings and that He would slls-
tain, on this interesting occasion, the humble in
diyidual who stands before Him, and lend him
the power, moral and physical, to perform The
solemn duties which now belong to his public
station.
Two classes Of politicians divide the people of
the United States. According to the system OF
one, the produce of foreign industry should be
subjected to no other impost than such as may
be necessary to provide public revenue and
the produce Of American industry should be left
to sustSin ITSELF if it can, with no other than that
i7cidental protection, its competition, at home
as well as abroad, with rival foreign ARTICLES
According to the system of the other class, whilst
they agree that the imposts should be mainly,
and may, under any modification, be safely re-
lied on as a fit and convenient source of public
revenue, they would so adjust and arrange the
duties on foreign fabrics as to afford gradual
but adequate protection to American industry,
and lessen our dependence on foreign nations, by
securing certain, and, ultimately, cheaper
and better supply of our own wants from our
qually sincere in their respective opinions, e.
qually honest, equally patriotic, and DESTROYS of
advancing the prosperity OF the country. In the
discussion and consideration of these opposite
opinions, for the purpose of ascertaining which
has the support OF truth and reason, we should,
therefore, exercise every indulgence, and the
greatest spirit of mutual moderation and forbear-
ance. And, in our deliberations on this great
question, we should look fearlessly and truly at
the actual condition of the country, retrace the
causes which have brought us into it, and snatch,
If possible, view OF the future. We should
above all, consult cxperenCe-the experience OF
other nations well as our own, as our truest
and most uncrriDg guide.
In casting our eyes around us, the most promi-
nent circumstance which fixes our attention, G.
challenges our deepest regret, is, the genera!
distress which peryades the whole country. 1t is
forced upon us by numerous facts of the most
inccatestablc character. 1t is indicated by the
diminished exports of native produce; by the
dcpressc! and reduced state of our foreign nayi-
cation; by our diminished commerce by sue
cessive unthreshed crops of grais, perishing in
our barns and barnyards for the want of market;
by the numerous bankruptcies, not limited TO
the trading classes, but extending to all orders
of suciety by an universal complaint of the
want OF employment, and consequent reduc-
ton of the gesof labor by the rayenous pur-
suit after public situations, not for the sake OF
their honors, and the performance oftheir public;
duties, but means of private subsistence :
by the reluctant resort to the perilous use of pa
per money; by the Intervention ofiegislation in
the delicate relation between debtor and credi-
for; and above all, by the low and depressed
state of the value ofalmost every description Of
the whole mass of the property of the nation,
which has. ON an average, sunk not less than fif-
II per cent. within fow years. This distress
pervadcs every part ofthc Union, every class OF
society; all feel it, though it may be felt, at diE
ferent places, in different degrees. 1t is like
the atmosphere which surrounds us--all must
inhale it, and none can escape it. In some pla-
ces, it has burst upon our people witnadt SIM
Gle mitigating circumstanceto temperits severi-
~. In others, more fortunate, slightallcviations
haze been experienced, in the expenditure Of
the public revenue, and in other favoring eau
Sos. a few years ago, the planting interest
consoled itself with its happy exemption bat it
has now reached this interest also, which ex-
perienccs, though with less severity, the general
gufIering 1t is most painful TO me TO attempt to
sketch or dwell on the gloom Of this picture.
But have exaggerated nothing. Perfect idel-
ity to TIE original would have authorized me to
have thrown on deeper and darker hues. And
II is the duty of the statesman, no less than that
of the physician, to survey, with penetrating,
steady, aud undlsmayed eye, the actual conditi-
on Of he subject on which he would operate