Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-08-31

10 the extent which has been mentioned was Oh
tanned. 1t unconnected with any compact,
expressed implied, to"the settled poicyof the
country" to the true construction of the
powers ''to lay and collect taxes" or .to
regulate commerce." That tho protective
principle is contained in the act of 1892, is
undeniabc. 1t was also contained in the bill
which was reported by Mr. MDuflic, as the chair.
man of the committee of ways and means: for i'm
that bill, duties of % per ccntum al v;Gorem for
prescribed periods, to I've levied upon the pro-.
tcctcd articles of Iron, Salt, Sugar, Cotton Bag
ging, Woollens, &c afterwards the duty was to be
gradually reduced to l29 per ccntum ad valorcm
which, under fhat bW estimated to DC tie rate
Of dufy ,ckick necessary for rcrenue. The
constitutionality of tho protective system as
p ainly admitted, by lcgislating for the continuance
of some protected items, during single year. as
by lcgislating for all of them, without any limi
tation as to time. Although the principle of pro
lection has never been abandoned by any
Congrcss-although it is embraced within the pro-
visions of the act of 1892 have yet never suppo-
scd myself less at liberty now, than formerly, to
use all nv excr,ions to erase IL from Statute
Book; and derive no little confidence in the
peal of protective tariffs, from the fact, that di-
intuition OF the power of those who have hitherto
been regarded to be tho veteran and uucompromi
sing supporters of protection, was manifested by
the passage of the act of July last spite of their
unrcmitting and strenuous opposition to it, aided
by the cooperation of severat3 of those who
term themselves the friends of free trade, among
of our Representatives. These Senators and Re
representatives. might have been able to reconcile
their conduct with what they conceived to he poll
cy and duty. could not initiate their example,
nor shall be prevailed upon 10 think that ought
to have done So until shall be persuaded that the
burthen of protective duties is increased by rcdu-
cling their rate and dmOunt-and that where the
choice is submitted to Representative, of sub
lecting his constituents to a greater Il lesser evil,
he ought to prefer inhicting upon them the greater.
Ann ioraf innS in he HuriH hoy, hoe
achieved by the act of 1892 When that chongc
shall take place in Congress, which will be produ-
ced by the election of new members, according to
the Apportionmcnt Bill of last session, there is
every reason to expect that still further advances
will be made, towards tho fulfilmcnt of what is de-
sired by the friends of unrestricted industry. In
the interim, what has been done, cannot impede,
but will rather accelerate the progress of more just
and liberal legislation Were called upon to state,
what firmly believe, to be the of the tariff
system which now convulses our State, l should
consccntousy reply, that ii is to be attributed to
the Act of the 9th April, 1916, the passage of
which srcUously advocated by three -fourths
of the delegation from South Carolina, that they
insisted upon the necessity of afording protection
TO manufactures to put them beyond the reach
Of contingency from foreign competition"
The restrictive measures of the government be-
fore the late with Great Britain, and the in
virtually protected domestic manufactures; but
when the Act of April, 1885, under discuss
ion the duties which intended for pro-
lection, were generally so light, as almost
to have escaped observation. In April 1916,
the principle of protection openly
cd, and enforced in many instances, by
pondcnt duties. Then invented the mischic-
vous and deluslve conrivancc of the mnimums,
which first applied to that fabric, the raw ma
tcrial of which constitutes the great staple of the
South. 1t is true, that provision was inserted,
that the rates of duties upon the manufactures of
cotton and wool should be reduced within there
years: but these the only restrictions in that
Act. It's protective character, in other respects,
was preserved. The minimum upon cottons, by
the operation of which those of the East Indies
were driven from our market were to be retained
at 20 cents instead of 25 cents, without tho
alton as to any limitation as 10 time. High duties
upon other commodities were imposed, without
any reservation; and among them the duty
upon salt which is now ten cents the bush
CT, was fixed at 20 cents, and the duty
upon brown sugar, which under tho act of 1882,
will be p cents the pound was fixed at 3 cents
the pound. From the era of the passaua Of ti.s
Act of April, 1916, the transfer of capital was i'm
vicd and apdly diverted from its natural channels
INTO investments in those cmploymonts of labor
which were stimulated by legislative protection
These Investments have been made upon so extern
sive scale, that withdrawal of them cannot be
attempted, otherwise than slowly and gradually
without the inevitable ruin ofmillons of our fc How
citizens, large proportion of whom were originally
as hostile to protective tariff now the inhn-
bitants of State. The sin or the error of
aided in the passage othe act of 1876 be i'm
puted to me. | am neither responsible for that
law, nor for the calamites Of which it has been
the baleful source. l have never given vote up
on any question, in favor of its principles. These
principles have always resisted, and shall con
time tie resist them, by all the means in my power
winch are consistent with the obligation OF homes
ty respect for the letter and the spirit of the fed
erai compact, and the preservation of the integrity
of the Union.
To DE CONCLUDED.