Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-03-28
CONGRESS- $50
DEBATE ON THE TARIFF.
IN SENATE-Monday, Jan. l6, 1882. 4,

In SENh E-Nloniay, JAN 10, 1907.
| The Senate resumed the consideration of the
special order of the day, being the tollowM; res
oution submitted by Mr.. CLAY.
Resolred, That the existing duties upon arti-
ces imported from foreign countries, and not com
ing into campetition with similar articles, made
or produced within the United States, ought to
be forthwith abolished, except the duties ON vines
and silks and that they ought to be reduced.
| Rcsoiued, That the Committee ON Finance re
port bill accordingly.
| Mr. HAYNE moved to amend the first resolution,
by striking out all after the word ''countries' in
the second line, ant insert the following:
'sBe so reduced, that the amount of the public
revenue shall be sufficient to defray the expenses
of government, according to their present scale,
after the payment of the public debt; and that.
allowing a reasonable time for the gradual reluc-
tion Of the present high duties on The articles conf
ing into competition with similar articles made or
produced in the United States, the duties be ult-
mately equalized, SO that the duties on no articles
shall as compared with the value of that anicle,
vary materially from the general average"
Mr. HAYNE addressed the Senate in support of
his proposition as follows:
The Senator from Kentucky, (Mr CLAY, )com-
menccd his remarks few days ago, by complain
ing Of the advances Of age, and mourned tie de-
cay of his eloquence, so eloquetaly as to prove
that it was still in full vigor. He then went on,
Sir, to make most able and ingenious argument,
amply sustaining his high reputation as an ac-
complished orator.
With this example before me, Mr. President,
(said MIR. H. | am almost deferred from offering
Iany apology, lest should create expectations
whichit Will certainly not be in my power to graf
Iiy. And yet, perhaps, it may be permitted to
h., q.
not to me at any time, or under any circumstan-
ces, and least OF ALL a, this moment, and on this
occasion, to satisfy the expectations of those, if
any such there be, who may have come here to
witness the graces of oratory, to be delighted
with the charms ofeloquence. would not, Sir,
on this occasion. play the orator if | could. l
came here to-day for higher and far nober purpo-
Ises. stand on this floor as one Of the represen-
tatyes OF hlgh-rninded, generous, and confiding
people, whose dearest ri hts and interests | am
now to vlndicate and maintain. In such a stu
alton, would lose every thought Of myself IN the
greatness of the cause. Confiding in the indul-
gence Of the Senate, and deeply sensible of my
inability to do justice to the important subject en-
braced in these resolutions, shall proceed at once
in the plain unadorned Language of soberness and
truth, to the examination of the question before
us.
The gentleman from Kentucky set out with
the DEE 'araion, that he did not deem it necessary
to offer any arguments in favor Of the American
system, shat the protecting policy stands self
ptndicated-that it has scattered its rich traits
over the whole land, and is sustained by the ex-
perience of all powerful and prosperous nations
Sir we meet these positions at once by asserting,
C , our part, that the protecting system stands
lse5f-coademned; condemned in our own country,
hSt ho 1ufio Oh Enc All
and the discontents ii has MISUNDERSTANDING
by the experience ofall the world, and the almost
unanimous opinion of enlightened men in modern
times. And now, having fairly joined issue with
the gentleman, we mig hit put ourselves upon the
country, and submit the case, without argument,
nor should have any fears for the result, if the
issue was to be tried and decided by an impartial
tribunal, free from the disturbing influence of
popular prejudice and dclusion, and the strong
bias OF interests, personal, pecuniary, and polit-
zeal. But situated as are, | feel and acknowl-
edge the necessity of making out our to the
conviction Of this assembly, and the satisfaction
of the country. We are seeking relief from an
abiding evl-re1ress from an existing wrong
We cannot stand where we are. We cannot like
the gentleman from Kentucky, rest on mere I'M
supported assertions. We must submit our proofs
and maintain our positions five can. 1t is great
| ly to be regretted, however that the gentleman
has not seen fit to present some Of the strongest
arguments IN favor Of his policy, as such course
might have directed our inquiries to few leading
points instead Of making it necessary for Us to
wander at large through the wide field Of argu-
ment presented by the protecting system. The
gentleman, however, has so far favored us as to
specify two Of the advantages which he asserts
have been derived from it in this country, and in
our day, and am perfectly willing to try the mer-
its OF the system by these tests which he has him
self proposed They shall if the gentleman
! pleases--onsttute the standard by which its true