Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-07

and political gambling impaired the heat hGu vipor
of tho body polite and brought on a dccripi,u,lc
j had intended, Mr. President, TO h,yo said
something ot the constitutional question, but have
already taken up so much of your time, that
shall not enter into it. must be permit, cd.
however, to remark, that the gentleman is mis-.
taken in surprising that this objection TO the pro-
tecting systom is of recent origin. Up to 1924,
the question had not been much considered; SIM
ply because the protection which manufactures
had derived merely incidental to duties i'm
posed to revenue. The act of 1890 was svrcy of
that character; and oven the act of lSl 6 provided
10: diminuton, and not increase Of duties.
out wien, IN 1921, tho true character of the
system was developed, the constitutional obiec-
uon was plainly and strongly insisted upon.
here is The language, Sir, that /, myself held
on that occasion, on this floor.
"NIil gentlemen point out to me- if they can.
me Po,rcr which this government Possesses TO
ADOPT system for tho GvowCd purpose oc cucuu-
raging particular branches OF industry? Ii is my
sober and deliberate opinion, that the Couyrcs. Of
tho United States have no more power 10 PASS laws
for thc purpose Of directly indirectly inducing
any porti on of the people to engage i'm manufac
lures, than they have To abolish ria! by Jury or
tabiiSh the inQuisitiOn."
Since that period the legislatures of cvcry
Southern State have denounced this system as u
violation of their constitutional rights. 1t was
but the last year, that South Caroline recorded on
the journals of the Senate, her solemn protest
against 1T cas- utterly unconstitutional, grossly UNI
equal and oppressive, and such an abuse of power
as Is incompatible with the prin ciplcs of a FREQ
government and the great ends of civil society ~
40 not know, sir, where the constitutional object
IONS to tins system are better summed up than in
the very address OF the Free Trade Convention of
Philadelpha, to which the gentleman has referred
| for another purpose. The gentleman is ccrtninly
Mistaken when he relies on that exposition ma nm
authority in his favor. Sir, as | understand the
argument, tits only admitted incidental protection
may be atiordcdby duties imposed only for revenue
hut that The right IL expressly denied of ''imposnc
he Of i'm,
that protection" l dismiss this branch of tho
sunJoct' with the remark, that whether we DO
right or wrong IN our views this question, tho
opinion is consccntiouSly and almost universally
entertained throughout the whole South that III,
protecting system involves gross VIC alton of tho
solemn compact which is the bond of our Union
conc now err to the question Of tho policy
"hich Ought To be adopted at this important era
I'm the history of our Government w, hovo ar
rveu al most interesting crisis in our national
ahars-one to which the people have boon look
s up %Ih intense anxiety for several ears past.
iney nave contemplated the extinction of the
pubic debt as the great day of jubilee when they
were to be relieved from tho expressions which
they have SO long patiently cndurcd2 The pooplo
VI VIC SCUM, or IKE the hildrcn of Isl acl of old
have passed through tho wilderness, and arc now
III sight OF the promised land. They stand ON tho
top OF Mount Pisgah, and look with delight At
the goodiy prospect before them-and il is for Won
tnis oay TO determine, whether they shall parish in
the wilderness, or be permitted TO possess and en-
Joy 'heir rich inheritance. Sir have shown that
the whole system OF duties is oppressiv, md mo
quai-that the very action of the Government is
I'fo-yet co not wish gentlemen to supposo that
i we are disposed to push our claims IN nn ,nro,
sonahle extent. No, we will not ask that northern
manufactures shall be taxed because duties 70
Whatever extent imposed, operate as q tax upon
our industry We are willing TO agree that the
revenue necessary for the ordinary pnrposes IF III.
Government shall be levied by duties upon imports.
The facility with which indirect taxes NAV be
collected affords argument in their fyor to which
n ,,,r,
they must operate most iniurousy on orr intorests
| But IN yielding this much, have surely riobt
toeAPect mat no more money shall be levied in this
way than shall be absolutely necessary We think
we nave right to insist, that the extinction of
the pnbc debt, twelve millions ofdoars berctofore
| annually appropriated to that object should no
longer be levied and, further, that no more money
snail be raised than may be necessary tn man, ~
ordinary Expenditures of the government anv
other basis of reduction than this must be founded
on t'lo ioca OF contemplated increase of the pub
III eHP S And why should they be in
creasedI We have rather a right to exnect That
they should be diminished The princinal ohiocts
Oh expenditure, for many years past have been
cohhected with preparations for war; but with the
posicSS OF our works of defence, and the increase
VI our population, the necessity for this expendi
ture VIII in great measure cease Indeed il docs
appear TO me that it will be hardly necessary. here
~ III, 10 seek other security against invasion than
VIII be ieund in the strong arms and stout hearts
OF our fello"-citlzcns But the gentleman insists
'hdl our revenue shall not be reduced beIov, e;ot
cen hiiilonS OF dollars, while we all know that
Twelve millions have heretofore furnished an obun-
oant supply Tor every purpose, including million
year LOT internal improvements. The gentle
man ADMITS that we ought not to provide for = sur
Pius, ana says, with great force and truth tL.t
division of it among the States womb n. ,on,,
uto rom an sound principles of government.
toi, A"'u the gentleman, "to give it back 10 the
c'atcS OF the individuals from whom if was drawn
III liie same proportion, would be n palrablc &, ;,
surdty; while to distribute it in different pro,or.
"H "ouid De an act of gross injustice" | sub
nahi ".ot ! thS argument is not equally appli-
'"oic 10 internal improvement. But wavip0 This
point would ask, if we are TO have mn s,,T,I,s
Twny raise eighteen millions Of dolars-six mill
mons mere Than the ordinary expenditures of tho
government! 10 provide, says the gentleman
10! c0ntf"gencics But, sir, is it not morally cor
'"ii '"dI your receipts must exceed your csina+ez
iouuctIoh OF dates will increaac importa
''omn :, III. TX what standard you will my life
i 'Pc IT, we snail nave n surplus and not n deficit
T unless gentlemen mean TO provide for so ,
".I" srdhu scheme OF national cxpcnd,ture RI
n"eS against accidental deficiencies a sufficient
/ PI".sieh VIII be found in the uncaIled for ammo
PRIIl"tiohs' always to be found in the Treasury.
i"V'"e SHOWN the extent to which the revenno
;s"' 20 10 reduced proceed 10 consider the made
! e., G 'hat reduction ought to be effected. Tue
!''' Scheinc suggested by the gentleman is n con
tinnanco OF existing duties on the unprotected ar
uoeS' ana carrying up tho duties on protected ar
! 'iCieS 10 prohibition. The gentleman says hoyv
ever That he is not IN favor Of this scheme bo
cause ne would put the manufacturers on their 9oo
D:'Ia'i0nr, ny exposing them to foreign connect
! non But what sort of comprftion IL ,,,,t a.
which they are exposed, when cntrenched bcI;nd
protecting tariff, ranging from fifty 10 Two b,,p
1 Ieo per cent? have shown that tho ox;stirc,
"I'leS arc, to certain extent, prohjbiforv. and
''"IH tie gentleman declares himself ar,;nst fI,o