Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-08-31
POLITICAL.
From the Charleston Patriot. /
ESS

proach oil the period when the payment of the public debt
was anticipated, was naturally expected and desired
That the late Congress before its adjournment woud re-
wise and modify the tariff of 1928 as TO reduce
s'deraoiy the amount OF the revenue which il provided
ior and also the rate OF the duties which were levied nm
derit, upon the importation of protected articles As
y as January 1882 resolutions of the House OF Re
representatives. directed the Secretary the Treasury o
as TO certain manufactures in the United
States, and TO communicate the same 10 the House with
such suggestions as he might think useful, with a view to
me adjustment oil the tar and with such tariff of
duties on imports, as might, in his opinion be hest
adapted 10 the Advancement of the public interest
In the report made by the Secretary of the Treasury
IN compliance with these resolutions he remarked
that the impost system 'of the United States has been
Tor many years. incidentally, but intimately
WIN the growth and protection of American capital and
aoo as 10 nave raised up great national interests inds
pensabe TO the prosperity of the country and which
oe lost sight oil IN any new adjustment of the system In
he circumstances which require, at present general
reduction OF the revenue il is deemed practicable To
pursue, Tor any length of time, the degree of protection
hitherto afforded 10 those interests which have grown nm
under the past legislation. The state of public felinT
throughout an important portion of the country which
win greater or less intensity calls for revision of the
existing ta is not TO be disguised Both patriotism and
wisdom dictate that this sentiment should be respeccJ
ana as lar as may be compatible with the common veal
uas De saShed' not from any unworthy motive, but
uhuer hat obligation OF duty which requires that all be
regarded with equal eye that all be borne upon with
an equal hand; and under that less solemn obligation
10 preserve by any reasonable concessions our nesfmo
bic Union. In the spirit of these sentiments which rc
dound so much TO the credit of the head and the heart of
n secretary he prepared bill for Congress- which with
cunarly adapted 10 meet the eXigencies of the
ms bill was referred to the Committee ON Manufactures
rouse OF Representatives, who prolesscd make
II me basis OF bill reported by them which, after having
received various amendments, became law on the lith
OF July, 1892. " VIZ ~
For the vote which was given by me upon tbe final
passage of this BILL all the neyysp3per thromoon ,h
State which attached the doctrine of Nuilifcaon
nave charged me with having sacrificed the interests of
my constituents and with having acted inconsistency with
opinions which had previously expressed Anxo1s that
ny whether they be my political friends
q l0es should be in possession of the motives my poll
sgu ys 70 neir NAH Sc submit mif 10 them the
easons that governed me upon the subject under conde
alton.
The provisions of the Tariff Act of 1892, are by no
means, such as desired them 10 have been; but when
hey under discussion, before Congress- the problem
or the solution OF the members of that body not in
ordinary circumstances what tariff act ought be, nor
what manner il should be drawn so as 10 satisfy the
manufacturers OF the North, the agcuuaists of the
South-the exclusive friends of protection, the
hand, or of free trade, on the other but whether any
middle could be devised, which would reconcile
conflicting prejudces and nieress-aay the fury raging
the bosoms of the two great tariff parties into which the
people were divided and prevent that collision between
them, which might not only disturb the harmony but
danger the existence of the Union.
The difficulty OF eecing this arrangement was proba-
bly, greater than any which had ever been to
the deliberations OF Congress, since the adoption of the
Federal Constitution. Whilst large minority of the poo
pie regard protective tariff TO be unauthorized by the
Constitution, majority OF them have arrived at diane
tncay opposite conclusion ii all those who were hostile
to protective tariff pronounced il unconstitutional
and all those who in favor of ii,
constitutional II might naturally, be presumed that these
dscorlant, differences resulted from sectional preudices
or individual interests But such is not the relative posi-
ton OF the cOnening parties The advocates of proec-
ton unanimous, their side of the question: where
as its adversaries differ among themselves Many of the
most intelligent delegates to the Free Trade Convention
which met in Philadelphia in September last expressed
their conviction of the legitimate power of Congress to
pass protective tariff acts, though they condemned their
principle lrauSht with evil and nusce and the same
opinions were avowed by Mr.. Gaatin, the author Of
memorial from that Convention in which the injurious
consequences OF legislative interference with the capital
and abour OF individuals demonstrated with an abii-
~ and clearness which have been edualed by any
production which has issued from the American press
The majority the people not only think that M
ties constitutional, but they confident that they
essential TO the advancement of the general wea and
in support Of their views they rely upon the numerous pro
tectve tariff acts which have been passed, upon the
appreciation of them by every President of the u States
The minority thoroughly convinced, that Pro-
tectve Tariff mPais the property of the great of the
community, and subjects them TO heavy taxation for the
benefit OF the comparatively few. When the people thus
differ upon subject in which their interests deeply
nvoyedwhen those interests believed TO be ostered
depressed by legislation, according geographical po
sons, itnust be obvious, that Congress could pass
act modifying protection ngive complete aud GER raj
satisfaction. The only cOure, therefore, which the late
Congress could adopt to calm the public excitement and
to arrest the perilous march OF deer and bitter dis
content, was TO propose law upon the basis of mu-
tual concession and compromise. Upon this basis
the of July 1892 was founded by which the conditions
Of concession and compromise understood to be- that
the advocates Of restriction should considerable
Of revenue TO be collected from imports and that some
changes should be made in those parts of the system where
its pressure peculiarly obnoxious. The ua-reslrc-
tionists and the parizans Of Modification did not subscribe
to these terms, the former being TO any dimnuon
of the protective dutiesthe latter Tepudang every spe
ces Of compromise which did not include the Abandonment
of the principle of protection. These uaists, however,
minority. The majority acqueseed in the compro-
mise vi ch has been mentioned but where the real or the
supposed interests OF the parties variant il was
vain expect, that any compromise could be executed
to exempt from mutual objections. An approximation
towards that which each Of them desired was much as
could have been, reasonably calculated upon in the pas
sage Of the first tariff hch had been introduced, dur
ing so many years with the declared intention Of reduc
ing the of protection. That approximation il
ed to me- effected by the act Of 1892 nasmuch by
it the minmums upon wooens repealed and the ag
gregate Of the and the amount OF the protective
duties considerably diminished
Being satisfied that this act was, incomparadvely, bet
ter than that Of 1928, accordingly voted for H. Upon
what ground, can, plausbIy, be charged with i'm
policy or inconsistency, for thus voting, unable 10
discover II is true that have always expressed my
self adverse 10 the constituondy and the eXpcdiency
Of a protective tariff; but whatever may be my opinion
and the opinions OF the larger portion of the citizens Of
the South compelled TO admit that the constitution
alitv Of protective tariff 10 not only debateabe qucs-
ton upon which wise and honest men may and DO dsa-
gree but that the weight Of numbers and Of great
preponderaie in favor Of those who maintain s c0nsu
opaIitv Under these circumstances, when reflected,
tb,f the act of 1882 diminished The existing duties
peaIed the minnums upon woOliens, (anong the most
odous lav and ghened generally, tie buttheu OF tax
alton felt myself merely justified, but mpeHOusy
required 10 facilitate Us passage by every Ia my
power Had supported bill which augmented the pro
iecfve duties which extended the deceptive minmums
and which added the public burthens tie mpolcy and
the inconsistency Of my cbnduct might we'll have been
noticed az mcrlting the everest aumadgorsion.