Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-27

1
crowded with memorials for and against the
measure: but it would be task to read one
half of them--yet he couldnot vote blindEld.
| He thought that there would be time to digest
the report before near all the speeches now in
embryo on the subject, had reached their birth.
1t had been said, and he wanted to know if it
was true, that the bill would strike of. at blow,
great sum from the revenue.
Mr. Trirnblc, of Kentucky, thought nothing
would be gained by the resolution. He must
correct an error into which gentlemen had fall
len. They seemed TO represent it as q thing
conceded by the friends of the bill, that it was
to diminish the revenue. He protested against
any such idea. The friends Of the bill made no
such discussion. On the contrary, if he could
not demonstrate that it would increase the reve-
nue. from three to five millions of dollars, and
beat down completely all arguments to the con-
trary, he should think he had taken leave of his
senses. On that subject, weak as were his pow
ers, he was willing to meet a Hercules, (and he
knew that this House contained such. IF gen.
tlemen hardened their ears, and would not be
convinced, there was, to be sure, no convincing
them. The measure had been before the House
since 1889, and no reference had ever before
been proposed to committees, to learn its opera
tion He had the deepest respect for the Chair
man of the Committee of Ways and Means, but
|
bill would impair the revenue, he would not be-
levc him. He would bow TO no mans calcula-
tons. Even those of MIR. Madison, when laid
before this House on former occasion, were
not received rs being w.ioy correct, or as final
authority. But if gentlemen wanted the opi:,-
| ION OF an individual on the subject, the proper
officer to apply to was the Secretary Of the Trea-
sury. He was at the head of the finances of the
country, and ought to be competent, if anv man
should be, to give the information now sought
| iOr
Mr.. Ingham, of Pennsylvania, then rose and
said, that although disposed to accord with any
gentiemon in seeking to obtain important and
necessary information, he thought that the pre-
sent resolution proposed TO go out of the ordina-
ry and settled course. He conceived it to be
IN contravention of the principles on which the
standing committees of the House were organ
ICED. They were appointed to devise the means
Tor eiectnS any end proposed by the House
especially the committee of WAYS and Means
whose name appropriately described the ends of
its appointment. If any measure determined
on in the House should be found to effect the re-
venue, 1t was the duty ofthat committee to pro-
pose the rem ely. But while e measure was pend
ing here, the duties Of that committee, in rcla-
ton to 1T, were suspended till the House had
acted. AS to decrease of revenue being pro-
III
| bill went to increase the actual wealth OF the
country, he was under no apprehensions for the
| revenue. The BILL in that case, could at most
only change the mode of collecting it. The
| usual reports on subjects of revenue had hther-
to been received from the Secretary of the
Ireasury-and should the House agree to apply
to the Committee of Ways and Means, that
committee would have at last to GO to the Secrc-
tary of the Treasury for the facts.
| Mr.. Owen here said he was willing to modi-
| fy his resolution In any manner so as to attain
| his object
MIR. lngham replied, it was not his intention
to move such an amendment, nor could he sup
port the resolution, even ifsomodifed. The re-
suit could be nothing more than vain specula-
tons. Who could TELL whether the amount
imported Or consumed would remain the same
as now ? Besides, there was one large class of
articles on which no specific calculations could
| be made-he meant those on which all vaioyem
duties were imposed. Cotton baggine for in
stance, belongs to large class ofhempen goods
and cannot be separated in its result from the
rest, with any accuracy at all. The bill, as now
shaped, was compound of a bill for revenue,
and Dill for protection. He somewhat doubt
cd the policy of an amalgamation, but it was
now done, and he should not oppose it. All the
changes which it proposed, from all ralore,n to
specific duties, belonged to that part of the bill
which went to increase the revenue. The mea-
sure, nearly III its present form, had been before
the nation sincc 1890, and if gentlemen wanted
| Information, they ought to have asked for it at
an earlier stage of the discussion.
Mr.. Garnett said, that though the information
was important, the mode of obtaining it was not
so; and since tie gentleman from Kentucky
had so kindly proffered demonstration upon the
subject, he proposed that the House should ap-
PITY to that gentleman, in preference either to
the Chairman or Committee of Ways g. Means,
or the Secretary of the Treasury. He prefer
red certainty to speculaton-and, as the gen.
tiernan had it in his power to give tie House de-
!nonstration, he should think very hardly of
hum ifhc refused it, The gentleman has told us
that an increase Of duty produces an increase
OF tar-a principle for which the House were
certainly indebted to hin. But as the effect of
juty upon reuenue--we had an example before
us in the case of England, from which it appear
ed, that an increase ofdaaies did not always pro-
duce an increase OF rerenue In the case of
teas, AMI he believed several other articles
when the duty was raised, the revenue was d-
minIsbcd, when the duty was afterwards dimin-
lshed the revenue increased. The experiment
had been several times repeated, and with the
satnc result.
lie presumed the gentleman from Kentucky
would not say that duties absolutely prohibtory
would increase the revenue; but, as he was
possessed OF full information on the whole sub
ject, and prepared 60 demonstrate, the Hous,
certainly needed nothing from the Committee of
Ways and Means.
Mr.. Iriinbc said, Ulat the only reason why
he had not gone into the demonstration, was.
because the general effect of the bill had not vet
come up for discussion. He could not well in
tToducc it on a motion a5om figs md oyunres.-
But if the gentleman from VjTrnia vonId o,o