Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-08
0ON4R8S SIOMABe
DEBATE ON THE TARIFF.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE &c
MIR. McDUFFIE'S SPEECH.
(CONTIN UED

q, IT.
NIT themselves TO be carried away by distinction
in Names this unequal distribution of the taxes would
strike them more torcbly than il does. III the
whole of the United States raised by an
excise, and instead of evying an impost on the
chandise imported, excise duty 10 the extent
levied upon cotton when sold TO the merchant
and before ii reaches the custom house, the papabe
injustice, the outrageous inequality OF the system,
would be apparent 10 every 1t could not then be
disguised that the Government exactng excise
duty of forty per cent from the cotton planters, while
upon the productions OF other parts OF the Uuon stand
ing upon precisely the footing, and amounting 10
nine times the value OF all the made for eXpor
taion il exaced no duty at ALL Now, as have here
toore shown that an impost duty precisely equiva
lent 10 an export duty upon the same commercial eX
change, il follows from the Of reasoning,
that an excise duty paid upon cotton, when it leaves
the sorehouse of the planter, is precisely equivalent
to export duty pail at the custom house. Both
equally upon the productions Of the planter, and
operate precisely alike in all their bearings, whether
we regard them as throwing the burthen OF the tax
upon the producer or the consumer. And have no
hesitation in saying, that would regard law impos
ing an excise duty Of forty cent upon all the cot
ton sold by the planters in the United States, and pro-
vding al the same time that foreign merch andise
c'ived in exchange Cor it, might be imported free Of
duty, making net the slightest change in the bur-
thens under which labor. How, then let
ashland beg gentlemen to answer me the ques
ton, if with clear consciences they can-how would
law strike them which provided in terms, that an
excise duty OF forty cent should be levied upon all
the productions Of Southern States whereas of the inn
mense amount OF the produ ctons OF ;.hern, Middle,
and Western States, only twenty millions should be
subject TO similar excise and the remaining $3.50 000,
600, expressly exempted from any imposition at all!
Would such law bear inspection? Would not such
invidous and unjust distinction shock the moral
sense Of every in the community? And yet sir,
the law have supposed, would DO nothing more than
express, in words, what actually exists at this moment
in The revenue laws of this Government, wrapped mp
and digu'ed in the indrectedness IT their operation,
AMI the generality of the terms in which they
pressed.
have been recently looking into British production
II Is..lr 4 al
n,oerable weight of British taxation. As conclusive
argument in favor OF reduction Of the taxes, the wri
ter asserts that they amounted Including the laws
and poor rates. to tax OF 80 I-3 per cent the
income Of every individual in the kingdom. This he
regarded as being very oppressive, that no people
could possibly endure it, Now, sir, every cotton man
ter in the United States, pays tax Of az least 80 l3
per cent upon his income to sustain the Federal Gov
eminent in addition TO his contribution 10 the
OF the State in which he resides. IRdSed, as almos,
the whole OF his income is derived from the exchanges
OF foreign commerce, the tax he pays upon the
al amount OF that income cannot he estimated of much
less than the rate OF the duty which is Indirectly laid
upon the productions OF his industry And thus il is,
that while vanly and ignorany Boosting OF
freedom from taxation, the people of a portion OF the
Union are subject TO more oppressive burthen than
the most heavily taxed people the face OF the earth
Thus lar, Mr.. Chairman, have confined myself TO
the confederation Of the mere fiscal operations Of the
Federal Government, and have attempted TO show the
unequal action OF your system upon different
paris Of the Union, without reference to tie protec
ton afforded by the impost duties 10 certain branches
of domestic industry. IL now becomes my duty to
the operation of what has been very inappropratrly
denomnated the protecting system ami 10 ascertain, il
possible how far il contributes 10 increase the inequa
ty of the burthens imposed by the Federal Govern
rnen upon the people of the siaple-growing States
And, sir, it be remembered that revenue sys-
emgrossly and palpably unequal in itself, system,
which, under the most favorable modification wouli
levy the entire amount the Federal taxes from
fifth part OF the productions of the Union, while the
ther four-hiths are entirely exempted from all man
ner OF mposition-let it be remembered, say, that
this is the subsratum upon which has been rear
ed up this monstrous and Ubiquitous superstruc:ure
the protecting system. IL did not satisfy the manu-
lecturers and their conederates, that the whole
pense of supporting the Federal Government should be
sustained by those branches Of domestic industry which
make up The foreign commerce of the couniry-it did
not satisfy them, that they themselves were not only
exempted from all impostons by the Government, but
actually received an indirect bounty from the impos
laid upon other branches of industry for the purpose
revenue. No, sir; all this did not satisfy them; but
they are now making sure and steady, and for any
thing that can be done here irresistible progress
in the system Of legislative warfare by which will be
ultimately swept from the face of the ocean, large
and valuable branch of foreign exclusively
belonging 10 the staple growing States, and which
actually contributes twothirds OF the of this
Government And this, sir, is what they are pleased
TO denomudte system OF protection.
! This system, which has been gradually built up, as
FAR as 1t has gone by successive acts of Congress- up
on the ruins OF Southern commerce., has BOW become
! in the estimation Of some gentlemen, an Object Of
idolatry too sacred 10 be touched without profanity
to introduce bill to modify the existing tariff by very
moderate reduction Of the duties, very linary
excitement was manifested by gentleman from Penn
sylvania who in his place. and, if great in
dignity had been offered against the majesty of the
protecting system, approaching TO the guilt OF treason
| the measure unceremoniOuslv Condemned, and
srangled at the very threshold, without the common
forms OF parliamentary proceeding. The gentleman 10
whom alludc. Mr. Ramsey as for
so unusual and uncOureous stated that hc had idea
OF having the repeal of the tariff of 1928 discussed or
! we bv who
Their il really injurious had been represent
ed. Mr. Chairman, should be very unwilling to per.
init an ignorant physician, wholly unacquained with
my constitution and habits, TO indulge in experimental
qackcry, at the imminent hazard and almost certain
sacrifice OF my life For the same reason, cannot
consent that the vital interests of my constituents should
be put 10 hazard upon the result of experiment in po-
ca quackery, which nony end in the ruin of those
interests The gentleman says give il trial. not reflect
ing That when the result is aScertained, the patient may
be dead.
What has taken plscc, fotcbly reminds me, Sir, Of
the mode Of trial adopted in times not quite enlight-
ened the present. for ascertaining the guilt nno-
ccnce Of certain venerable old women charged with
the dreadful crime of wi'chcran In the dark ages Of
Jurisprudence, those predesnaed victims sulect-
ed 10 species Of trial. denomnated believe the wa-
ter ordeal The mode OF trial very siGpe. and. as
was no doubt supposed perfectly fair and equitable
large s.one tied around The eek Of the person
accused, and she cast into deep water, under the
very natural belief that il she really guilty Of deal
ing with the devil, lie would not permit her to sink
W lille, therefore, humanity cried out for the of
The struggling and sinking victim, the stern Justice Of
the times replied, 'e her alone let her alone If she
tie really witch she certainly will not sink" need