The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-04-10
SPEECH OF MR.. FELIX GRUNDY

OF TENNEssEE.)
On Mr.. CLAY'S Resolution in relation
to the Tariff.
Delivered in the Senate OF the United States
on the 18th o. February, 1882.
Continued.
The resolution Of the Senator from Ken.
trcky, proposes to abolish the duties entirely
on all articles, of a kind not manufactured in
the United States, except silks and wines;
and to reduce them on those articles. So
long as duties are paid on imported articles,
Tor the purpose Of raising revenue, ] cannd
consent to this proposition. The true pIineIA
pie OF taxation, ia to impose il on those who
are best able 10 bear il. The resolution oa
your table, proposes q tr.ai .hsadeamens u
THIS principle. Tho articles TO be released
from taxation, are Injuries used almost ex.
cluslvely by the rich; while the burdens are
lett with all their weight upon the poorer
portion OF The community. This would be
no alienation Of tho evils complained Of and
will not unite in holding out To the poor man
the deluslve hope, that ha is TO be ablo to
clothe his family IN silks, and regale himself
on VINE every day; while all the articles OF
dress he purchases, his salt, his sugar, his
plough, his axe, and his hoe, and all other
utensils with which he earns his daily bread,
are so taxed, as to render him unable 10 raise
his family. No, sir, give him his necessaries
OF lie untaxed, or taxed lightly let his labor
have its full reward, and he will then in
crease in his means, and in time be able to
indulge in Injuries if he shall please to do SO
The object Of the capitalists engaged in
manufactures, in consenling to take off the
duties on articles they do not mako in their
establishments, cannot be mistaken. II is, to
concentrate the whole taxation of the coun.
try, upon those foreign articles, which come
in competition with theirs. The operation,
OF such system will be doubly in favor ofthe
rich capitalists. Ii will enable them TO obtain
oil foreign luxuries free Of taxation and at
the same time, TO tax the poor, as well as ev.
cry other class of citizens, through the ne.
ccssarles OF life consumed by them, for the
augmentation Of their proiils. These men
are prlviledged order in our country. They
have formed, and seek 10 perpetuato a kind
OF partnership with the government IN taxing
the people and the present struggle is TO
abolish, or much reduce; every tax in which
they have not some share Of the proceeds.
They conspire to raise the price Of all ne.
cessarios OF life, giving part of the increase
TO the government and taking part TO them.
selves. .s
After oil have heard, rs to the manage.
ment Of these establishments, / am still in
clined to The opinion, that they are notcslcn.
ton Of the country. ! am gratifed to learn,
that great care is taken Of the morals Of those
who are placed IN some of the manufacto torics
and that moral and religious instruction ID
impaired TO them. Notwithstanding this
home is tho proper place for the tender female
Advice, admonition, and gentle reproof from
| xut NIB .ntA h.,
heart Of the daughter, than all the lectures
that can be delivered by strangers. As to
their political effect upon the country, ] can
entertain no doubt. The men employed in
them have abandoned all other pursuits by
+ continuing in this business they render them
selves unfit for oil other employments and
they hold their livelihood at the pleasure of
their employers, and must vote according TO
, their will they become mere dependents,
and lose that spirit, which should be pos.
sessed by every American citizen. We have
seen IN other countries, riots and disturbances
produced by this class Of the community
when their wages were REDUCED 10 low as tc
I be insufficient for their sustenance. Instead
OF men cooped up in manufactures, and sub
ject to task masters, what kind Of citizens are
, wo able to have? We can make freeholderl
Of them. Reduce the price Of the public
lands, put it in the power Of each laborer I,
procure his forty, eighty, or one hundred ant
sixty acres. When seated upon that, he feel.
his independence, and he knows he is at homo
These arc the men who constitute a state
and make II prosperous, great and glorious
They feel an attachment to their country. and
when its rights are invaded, they will fly to
its standard. Sir, | have seen this tried.
When our country was invaded during the
lato war, the men Of the mountains descended
like torrents; and the men OF the vallies came
up and there was no controversy. who should
10 to the field Ct danger, but who should be
forced to remain at hcmc. In regard to tho
exercise Of the right of suffrage. should any
man attempt 10 influence ono Of them by af.
fecting superiority over him, he woGId GER
tainy find himself nsuIted, and no would be
most fortunate If he escaped at that.
Let us now see, Mr.. President, what ef.
fects have been produced by this system OF
taxation upon the other great interests of the
country. In 1917, when it commenced, the
tonnage Of the United States engaged in for
eign commerce, was S09,724 tons-In 1893
it was 650,l4 tons, q decrease of l59,56
tons--In 1877 there were 5l9,l66 tons en-.
gagged in the coasting trade. In 1899 there
were 6l0654 tons, 10 which should be added
something for the improved manner of con.
structing vessels. From this il appears, tha,
taking the whole tonnage ofihe United States
that is engaged in foreign commerce, and al-
so that engaged in tho coastiug trade, the
navigation Of tho country has decreased un.
der the influence Of this system, which gen.
tlemen say, has impaired lie benefits to every
other interest Of the country. What influ.
ence has i produced upon commerce2 Prior
to the embargo Of 1907, with q population of
only six millions Of Inhabitants, our exports
amounted TO about eighty. -four millions five
hundred and sixty four thousand Eve hun.