Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-04-25

motion should 'e taken by yeas < nays, and laey
were ordered by the House.
MIR. Canbrcieng, thereupon withdrew his mo
ton; but it was Immediately renewed by Mr..
Lumpkin, and the yeas & nays were again demand
ed bysMr. Taylor, and ordered.
The Speaker then stated TO the House that he
would cheeriuily have afforded information to
| which this resolution referred, to any gentleman
who had requested it.
| The question then taken on ordering the re-
solution TO lie on the table, and decided in the at
hrmative, by yeas & nays, 81 to 90.
THE TARIFF BILL.
The House proceeded TO the orders of the day,
viz: the consideration of private bills. On motion
| oil Mr. Malary, the private business was postpon-
ed, and the Tariff Bill came up for consideration.
The motion pending that of Mr.. Randolph
| that the bill be indefinitely postponed.
| Mr.. Alexander (who had the floor from Friday
then rose to address the House, but yielded the
\ floor at the request of
MIR. Barbour, who said, that IL had been his in
ention to have taken part in the discussion of this
subject; that, under that expectation, he had ia
ken some pains in preparing himself, particularly
IN relation to some practical views of the question::
Tor he mad heretofore, on former occasions, exhaust
ed himself upon the general reasoning, and the
principles of political economy, applicable to it,
believing, however, as he did, that there was a
strong current of opinion in favor of taking the
| question, he had determined in Difference TO that
| to decline going into the argument. We had now
been, he believed, some seven weeks eneaped
IN this single subject, to the almost entire cxcIu-
sion oil all others. He thought it was now high
time to apply maxim, which, though in its ORR
gin legal one, is equally true in relation to DO
iiticai affairs: " Ii is beneficial 10 the Republic
that there should be end to this CONTROVERSY -
In pursuance of the moral of this maxim said he,
dismiss the question before the House. with
this declaration: that now, as heretofore, am op-
posed to the system of protecting duties, now
called the 4" American System in every aspect
on which il can be presented; on every principle
on which It is attempted tobe supported: in word,
to speak alter the manner of ogicians, am op-
posed to il both in the abstract and the concrete
But, sir, the purpose for which rose was diff
ierent one IL was to correct an error in public
opinion, as understand, prevailing to consider
able extent, which does me the greatest possible
injustice.
Whilst, said Mr.. b. occupied the Chair which
you now do, it became my duty, in the organiza-
ton oil the House, amongst others, to form a Com
mittee on Manufactures. understood nv official
duty perfectly, and designed faithfully and no.
nestly to perform it, / intended to compose the
committee OF majority favorable TO, and a minor
Ity opposed to Legislative aid to manufactures; that
thus, whilst both sides of the question were repre
scnted there might yet be majority to presen,
such measures as they thought right to the consi-
deraton OF the House. Mr.. b. said it would at
once occur to every one who heard him, that there
would be an improperly in inouirine of the indi-
vldual members what were their opinions upon par
tcslar SUBJECTS all that the presiding officer could
DO was, TO select such members as, from their pe-
ographical situations, might naturally be supposed
to be favorable to the interests of those sections
country. in which they resided Pursuing this
course, he said that, amongst Others he selected
member from Rhode Island, which, he consider
ed, emphatically, the most manufacturing portion oil
I the Union. That member, however contrary N
ms expectations, did not concur in the measures
which the other members Of the committee, favor
able to manufactures, would have reported: and
hence, he presumed, the opinion that had been
taken up, that he had designedly formed an anti
!Hrin
would, upon the floor of this House, whose ORGAN
he then was, appeal to the Chairman of that Com
mittee, Mr. Baldwin, and to all those gentlemen.
now members OF this House, who were then mem
bers, and there were many, to bear him witness
that the statement which he now made was well
understood, nay, was matter of public nctoriety
mere. He was, indeed, as he had said, violently
opposed to the American system; but he should in
dscatc that opposition by meeting il openly, frank
ly and tearlessly. He thanked God he was inca
pablo ofprostituting the dignity Of his own cha
racter; he was still incapable of prostitutinpr
the power OF high and responsible Office to the
attainment OF any earthly object whatsoever He
had felt il TO be but act of sheer Justice to him
self to make this statement, upon this floor and In
presence oIthose who were coteInporary with the
incident; that this correction of an in public
epinson, so injurious and unjust TO him, might be
co-extensive with the circulation of that opinion.
and might carry upon its face the stamp Of uncues
tionable authenticity
Mr. Buchanan said he was glad the gentle
exclamation
which he had done, to the House, and to the ma
ton Mr.. ID. said, was then a member of the
House, and heard at the time, that the Speaker had
been mistaken in the opinion which the gentleman
from Rhode Island Mr.. Durfeel entertained in re-
lation to the tariff. II cannot be denied however
that an erroneous impression has prevailed TO a
considerable extent, in Pennsylv ania in regard to
this transaction. That impression will now be
removed by the explanation of the gentleman: as
his high character for integrity will give sanction
to his statement, which will carry conviction to
every mind.
Mr. Burgess briefly added his confirmation to
4 the statement of Mr.. Barbour The member from
his State, to whom that gentleman had alluded,
was understood TO be friend to the Tariff, until
his course in Congress proved the contrary.
| Mr.. Alexander now resumed the floor, and. aC
! ter passing compliment on the speech delivered
| by Mr. McDuiiie, observed, that, as that gentle.
man ha, 7iTposely omitted the constitutional ques-
ton which sy,,s involved in the Tariff system, he
should direct his re1af%s on the present occasion,
/ 10 that branch Of the SUI i;ect exclusively. Mr..
A. then went into regular discusstnn of the al
( legged constitutional right Of Congress 10 lay du-
ties Tor the encouragement and protection OF a. NJ!
uiactures, which right Inc strenuously denied.
| When Mr. Alexander had concluded his argu
ment
Mr.. Hamilton took the floor, and delivered 4
speech in opposition to the justice and policy of the
OH, the consequences of which, in the Southern
States, he represented to BIO Of the most serious
KIND lie abstained from any direct threat but
adVerted to the subject of taxation as having pro-
duced the separation Of this country from Great
Britain, and the danger Of calculating TOO far ON
the submission ofthose who believed themselves
/ TO be free.
Mr.. Turner next rose, (aftcr an Intellectual at
tempt Of Mr. Tucker of South C,rot;,,. A., -.