Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-03-16

no leaders, whom she is willing bndy to follow in any
course oil policy The "Carolina doctrine" in relation
10 the American SYSTEM have been expounded TO Us
by the resolutions of her legislature and the remon
stranccs oil her citizens upon tables and when
the gentleman shows of her dstngui sons
expressing different sentiments he neither changes her
principles nor subjects the state a charge of nconss
tency. Sir, no man entertain higher respect than
do for the distinguished talents, high character and
manlv independence of the gentleman alluded to- r.
cDuiie) hut II he now entertans the opinions ari-
bucd TO him, in relation TO internal improvements and
the public lands, there be doubt that his senti
nents, In these respects, differ widely from those of
large majority OF the people of South Carolina; while i'm
relation TO the tariff and other questions of vital impor-
lance he not only goes heart and hand with us but is
himself a host
The gentleman considers the tariff of 1876 and the
bonus bill, as the foundations of the American SYSTEM
and ntimates, that the former would not have prevailed
but Tor South Carolina votes. Now the Tariff
oil lSl6, think great mistake prevails throughout the
country, in regarding il the commencement of the ex
isting policy That bill for increasing but for
reducing duties. During the double duties had
been resorted TO- for raising the necessary for
its prosecution. Manufactures had sprung up under the
protection incidentally afforded by the restrictive mea-
sures, and the On the restoration of peace scale
OF duties TO be established adapted TO the situation
in which the country was by that event. placed. All
greed that the duties be reduced and that this
reduction must be gradual We had debt on our hands
OF $40 or l50,000000. Admonished by recent expe.
rience Navy was to be built up, and ex en-
sive system of Publications be commenced The one
ration, too of sudden reduction Of duties upon the
nuacures which had been forced into existence bv the
war; and which then bore their full proportion of the
rect taxes was also TO be taken into consdera tom and
under all these circumstances, il was determined TO re
duce the duties gradually, until they shout. reach the
lowest amoun' necessary for revenue in time of peace
Such, sir the true character of the Tariff law of
1916. BY that bill reported sir by the lamented
Lowndes steady opponent Of the protecting system)
oulieS woollcn and cotton goods at once re-
duced TO % per cent with provision, that they should
in the of three years, be further reduced 10 :wcn
ty per cent? WHILE by the Tariff of 1924 the duties on
the same articles were at once increased 30 per cent
and were 70 60 on increasing TO 81 l-2 per cent? nd
by the Tariff Of 1928 have been carried much higher
And yet the Tariff of lS6is quo ed as an authority
for the tariffs of 1924 and 1928; by which, duties all
mted 10 be already high enough for all the
ot revenue are 20 on increasing, year af'er wear
/ Tor the avowed purpose of promoting dome site manu-
Gciuras by preventing importatons Suppose sir the
New Englan gentlemen now to Join the South
in going back TO tariff for revenue and were 10 pro--
pos" TO gradually TO reduce all the existing duties
so q at they should down in three wears
to bfieenor twenty per cent.-wonld the gentleman
consider us as sending in adhesion the Amcri-
can sy'tem, by voting for such reduction? And il not
how can he charge the supporters of the Tariff of 1916
with being the fathers of that system In this vie
the sui ec is not at all material, whether the Repre-
sentaves from Carolina voted for that MEASURE or
not; whether the passage Of the bill depei dtd on
their votes Ga looking into the Journals however il
will be that the ti!l actually passed the IT, of Re-
presenatives by vote OF SO TO 81; and would have
succeeded If every member from s. Carolina had voted
against it.
| The gentleman next mentions the "B,aus Biu' a.
the first step in the system of Internal Improvement
fixed sum-Ohe Bank Bonus) Tor Internal I'm pray -
ments. to he distributed among the States on principes
of perfect equality, and TO be applied "by consent OF
the States Themselves. Though Mr. hIaJi.on NH,
bis that bill, il was supposed at the time ~
be in the spirit of his own message and though mus
express my dissent from the measure, no doubt Can
ia, that il the system OF Internal Improvement had
heen ro'ecued on the principles of that BILL much
the inequality and injustice that have since ION
place, would have been avoided. But. ain hv No
means disposed TO deny, or TO co.v-ai The fact, NAT
faEa nj, ia
States go south Carolina in particular in relation
10 internal Improvements. since that asure was rel
preached, at The close of the last war. Sir when US
were restored TO 'te OF peace, the attention of ouu
promn' mt statesmen directed to plans for the re
st ration of the country from the wounds of the war
and the public mind received streng impulse towards
Internal improvements. TIE minds of the eminen
men Of the South had, by the events of that war re
ceved for the time direction rather favorable TO III.
enlargement of the powers Of the Government The,
had seen the public paraized by the opposition Il
that war, and was quite natural that they should
that time, rather he disposed TO strengthen than to wea
ken the powers OF the Federal Government Interna
Improvements spring up in that heated soil and bav,
no Doubt that question, hardly examined an,
very little understood, the people Of the South for
short PERIOD took the belief that, certain extent
aud under certain guards the system could be benof
cially and constuiionally pursued. But sir beor,
time had been allowed for the forna lion Of any fxet
and settled opinions the evils of the system were Sc
fully developed the inus ice, the ne quality the cor
rup'ion flowing from il, and the alarming extent o
powers claimed for the Federal Government, by il
sat
~ the SOu'h, that the sytem Of Internal Improvement
on the principles which il was to be ADM nis(ered
was not only unequal and unjust but moyt ALARMING
innovation on the Consi uon.
Il The gentleman has alluded 10 my own vote on tbe
survey ILL oil 1924. Sir, 1 have 10 return him my
thanks Tor having afforded by that alIu,ion an on
po tunity Of explaining my conduct in relation 10 ia,
; system of Internal improvements At the time that
was called 10 seat in This House, had been for man,
ye'rs removed from political life, and engaged in III,
ardunus pursuit OF profession, which absirac ed m,
afio nf al
tions. The gentleman tells he had not made Nd hi
own mind this subject az late as 1917 Sir. Ina,
not even fully examined it in 1928. Bat even AZ tina
time, entertained doubts, both to the constitutional
iiy and evpediency OF the system. came here wit,
these feelings. AMI before yet warm in my seat
the survey hill Of 1921 broughtu We were fher
exprf ssy told by its Advocates that lie object was no
to establish system Of Internal improvements bur
merely to present 10 Congress and the country ful
view Of The whole ground leaving IL hereafter Il be de-
cded whether the system should be prosecuted, anC
il 90, what principles! Sir, I was induced TO be.
lieve, that great work would he undertaken uni
the OH cts of that survey hill should he accomplished
that il 10 say, until the President should submit tbt
whole scheme IN one 1ected view, that shout,
have before at all the measures deemed 10 be-
"naiiona importance" TO which the attention OF Con
gress might be directed.
Sir, I did suppose that few great works in which
all the = ates would have common interest and which
might there fore be considered OF Irrational import
snce were alone intended to be embraced in that bill
and hat in two years, the whole Of the surveys
would be completed, when Congress would have IL IL
their power to decide whether the system should be
carried on at all, and il So on what principles Sir
know that more than one gentleman who voted for the
surv NJ atpd flo fI,a