Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-05-28
GOM4R@S ST0TAIs
DEBATE ON THE TARIFF
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE &c

the expediency of providing for the faithful collection
OF the revenue but differing very widely with that
gentleman, as TO the best practical mode OF eff citing
the object, he begged leave 10 submit the amen lmen
which he had prepared for that purpose. propos =
said Mr. Med to secure strict and honest observance
Of the revenue laws, not by arbitrary penalties imposed
at the discretion OF the officers of the customs, but W
rendering the laws themselves Just, and moderate,
and equitable that the great temptation to evaie en-
which is held by the high rate of the dnii,s
will he. in great measure, removed. AS the amend
men have offered obviously opens Tor discussions the
policy Of the entire system Of prohibition and proteci,
will now proceed TO offer some cons,le aions to the
Committee, which, trust, they will find unworthy
of their and solemn consideration. shall pass
over, with bare allusion to them, many OF the topics
which have been heretofore urged on this ,or TO show
th- nexpediency Of the system considering.
The inevitable tendency of this system, TO destroy TO-
reign commerce, and consequently commercial ma.
rine and naval power has been repeatedly urged and
on very recent occasion with such conclusive proofs
and triumphant arguments, by my friend rsm n. York
(Mr Cambreleng) that will not atemp, to add any
thing to What he has said on the subject Neither Sir,
propose to go into an investigation of those abstract
principles Of political economy, 10 which have of
ten and vainly appealed, for the purpose of con.
vincing the majority Of the ineSpe,>ency and injustice
OF the course they have been pursuing. That equal
ly nnwis and unjust, TO attempt iii ec the of
national industry, by Government restriconsthat in
dlvidual sagacity and intre't, will niably find out
ana pr sue those employments that are most proh'a
bleare petitions, in which the enlightened writer's
] the science OF political economy, in every part Of the
world almost unanimously concur. Yes, Sir il is
singular and striking proof OF hi sounness of the doc
trinee, Tor which ming that for tho Ia
hall century, almost all the philosophers ard political
economists OF Great Britain and France in the midst OF
commercial restrictions imposed by heir Govern.
ments, have boldly maintained the folly and Justice Of
those restrictions Theirs the di,inere s,sd tes.mo-
ny Of enlightened pi2ls, seeking only for truth and
having M motive TO pervert H. But pass that over
Nor shall now enter into sny argument Ia have
done in former discussions of this subject fto prove TO
-ntlemen from other parts of the Union that the in
,erest o! majority Of their own constituents would
be better promoted 10y reducing the duties they have
beer so anxious to increase will barely state that
do most sincerely and conscientiouv believe that even
in those parts OF The Union, for whose exclusive adj
vantage, the existing high duties have been imposed
the interests oil nine men are sacrificed where that OF
one is promoted by them. Nothing can be more clear
y demonstrated. in my opinion, than that even in Mas
sachusctiI, and Vermont, and Pennsyvana the great
mass of the community, the small ia mers, and the per
sons engaged in hancraft empoyments, are suhi-cte
20 unus, and injurious bur,hens promote the interest
Of comparatively small number Of large capitalists
'ut Sir IT now too late TO urge this view OF the sub
lect and perhaps il would not be very becoming in me-
TO attempt to school gentlemen from her part. Of the
Union, in what relates to the peculiar interest of their
own constituents. shall therefore take Il for grant
ed, that the existing system of commercial rctions
has been established by the majority of Congress- from
deliberate conviction, that il is calculated promote
the interests OF their constituents, and that there no
probability, that The opinion of that majority will under
{ 60 change. Now, Sir, however much may be dis
posed to question the rights and the powers of the
i,ry, in other respects, agree that they have
the undoubted and exclusive right to determine for
themselves what will hest promote their interests
How tar they have right to decide upon the interests
=
asaume then as the basis of the remarks intend to
of>r, that The system OF prohihtoy duties which aims
at the ultimate exclusion of all hoae articles of foreign
merchandise which the Southern States have an inter
ca, in impor ting, the fixed unaltera policy of
Congress sincerely depore the fact; hut should he
guilty OF exciting false and deusve hopes in my con
stituents, if did not declare it, Sir who will
rehec upon the Of this system for the last IL
years car indulge the slightest hope, that it will ever
he abandoned by those who have imposed it upon us
From year to year. the duties have been increased and
the system exen led; and at each successive enlarge
ment Of the circle Of monopoly, the majority in Com
gress has uniformly increased So far from percevng
any indications of reaction here, it seems obvious 10
me- That the more oioms and oppressive and inolera
hle the system is rendered to the people of tina portion
OF the Union, whose right. it grossly violates and
whose Interests il is calculated destroy the more
determined and obstinate the majority in ad.
herring to it, and extending its operation. Plac.
ing the nt'ion, then, upon the footing on which
II is placed by the advocates of this system--con-
c-ding to them the right and the capacity to Judge
Of heir own in'erests-yieding the point as
peeh 10 do that the prohibory system does really pro-
mote what they regard their true interests, shall
proceed 70 demonstrate. as think can mos. concIu-
sv"iy That the interest OF The majority thus to BE- pro-
NOTED, contests in the absolute dnDihiation Of the rights
and interests OF the minority.
In This state of facts very grave and momentous
question irresisiby forces itself uron The
Of this body how lar il is the right of The majority 10
de'iroy the separate and peculiar intereds OF hr mi
nority and how far the minority under any con,'
tutlonal or moral obligation to submit 10
an outrage?
Sir am well convinced that the people Of the u
States have not realized in partial degree the
nature and extent Of the oppression under which tho
people Of the Southern States are laborinr I shall
proceed ther,f fore 10 inquire in the first place what il
The operation Of yOue system OF mpost duties upon tho
various portions OF the Union, regarding merely as
system OF revenue9
Has IL any preension 10 be regarded IS iu.t and
equal system Of taxation? IL the fact undcnisble
that almost the whole bsrihen OF federal taxation is
+ thrown upon those branches Of productive industry
which furnish the exchanges Of foreign commerce.
while all the other branches Of dome production are
Tree from taxation, and large portion OF ITEM derive
considerable bounes, indirectly, from the very bur
hens imposed upon those productions. which constitute
The staples Of foreign commerce? II have not entire
~ mistaken In the operation OF The laws OF the
U. States, there never unequal aud unjust
system Of taxation devised by any Government of an
Gent or modern times.
reference 10 The Treasury statements Of The com
meTee OF The United States. will show hat the whole
amount OF the domestic productions Annually exported
foreign countries taking average OF years IL
Thing lees than fifty eight-milions Of dollars. Taking
this TO he the aggregate value Of tie domestic exports
Of the whole Union, II may I've estimated that those por-
tons OF the Southern and Southwestern States, which
are engsgfd in the production of the great agricultural
than ene-,hrd part Of the Uniou-exrort 10 the amount
oil tbyseven millions of dollar; ard those PORTIONS Of
the States Just mentioned, which are engaged in the
production Of cotton and ricecOns uing less than one.
bih part ol the Unon-export to The amoUn' OF thirty
millions Of dollars Now, Sir, IL would be difficult 10
Imagine proposition In political economy, unde
nsbie, than That the amount OF iinposts, witch belongs
to each respective portion OF The Union must he proper
toned 10 their exports II is wholly immaleral who