Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-04-06

uCnlUX, VI oOA
riculture and our rivals in manufactures,
in navigation, and in commerce. 1t found
our country, 10 short, in a situation totally
different from all The past-new and urtred
1t became necessary 10 adapt our laws, ani
especially our laws ofimpost TO the nv'r
circumstances in which we found ourselves.
Accordingly, that eminent and lamented Cit
izen, then at the head OF the treasury, Mr..
Dallas, was required, by resolution oil the
House of Representatives, under date the
23d day of February, 1915, 10 prepare and
report to the succeeding session of Congress
a system Of revenue contormablo with the
actual condition OF the country lie had the
circle ola whole year 10 perform The work,
consulted merchants, manufacturers, and
other practical men, and opened an extensive
correspondence. The report which he made
OF the session of 1916, was the result of his
inquiries and reflections, and embodies the
principles which he thought applicable 10
the subject IL has been said that the tariff
OF 1916 was measure Of mere revenue; and
that it only reduced the war duties TO a
peace standard. It's true, that the question
then was, how much, and in what way
should the double duties Of the war be reduc
ed? Now, also, the question is, on what arti-
Giles shall the duties be reduced so as 10 sub
ject the amount of the future revenue 10 the
wants of the Government Then it was
deemed an inquiry Of the first Importance as
il should be now how the reduction should be
made, SO as 10 secure proper encouragement
to our domestic industry. That this was
leading object in the arrangement of the tar
iffof 1916, well remember, and il is dem
onstrated by the language OF Mr.. Dallas
He says, in his report, "There are few, if
any Governments, which do not regard the
establishment of domestic manufactures as a
chief object Of public policy. The U. States
have allUays so regarded it.
"The demands of the country, while the
acquisition of supplies from foreign nations
was either prohibited or impracticable, may
have afforded sufficient inducement for this
Investment of capital, and this application of
labor ; but the inducement, in lis necessary
extent, must fall when the day of competi-
tion returns. Upon that change in the con-
dition Of tho country, the preservation Of
the manufactures, which private citizens,
under favorable auspices, have constituted
the property of the nation, becomes a consid
Grafton of general policy, to be resolved by
recollection of past cmbarrassments; by
the certainty of an increased difficulty of re-
instating, upon any emergency, the manu-
features which shall he allowed 10 perish and
pass away" sc. The measure ofprotec-
tion which he proposed was not adopted, in
regard to some leading articles, and there
was great difficulty in ascertaining what il
ought to have been. But the principle was
then distinctly asserted, and fully sanction
ed
The subject Of the American System was
again brought up in 1920, by the bill report
cd by the chairman OF the Committee of
Manufactures, now member OF the bench
of the Supreme Court Of the United States,
and tho principle was successfully maintain
ed by The representatives OF the people but
abe bill which they passed was defeated in
she Senate. 1t was revived in 1924, the
whole ground carefully and deliberately ex-
plored and the bill then introduced, receiving
all the sanctions of the constitution, became
the law Of the land. An amendment of the
system was proposed in 1928, TO the history
of which refer with no agreeable recollec
tons The bill of that year in some of its
provisions, was framed Ola principles direct
" adverse to the declared wishes OF the
friends of the policy of protection. ! have
heard, (without vouching for the fscD that
it was so framed upon tbs advice of promi
nent citizen, now abroad, with the view of
ultimately defeating the bill, and with as
surances that being altogether unacceptable
to the friends of the American System, the
bill would be lost. Be that as il may, the
most exceptionable features Of the bill were
stamped upon it, against The earnest romon-
strances ofthe friends ofthe system, By the
votes OF the southern members, upon prin
ciple, think, az unsound in Legislation as il
is reprehensible In ethics. The bill wng
passed it having been deem
cd better 10 take The bad along with the good
which it contained, than reject it altogether.
Subsequent Legislation has corrected very
much the error then pcrpetrated, but still
that measure is vehemently denounced by
gentlemen who contributed 10 make il what
1T was.
Thus, sir, has this great system Of pro!ec-
ton been gradually built, stone upon stone,
and step by step, from The 4th Of July, 1899, |
down TO the present period. In every stage
OF lie progress it has received the deliberate
sanction OF Congress. A vast majority Of
the people of the United States has approved,
and continues to approve it. Every chief
magistrate ofthe U. States, from Washing
ton TO the present, in some form other, has
given to it the authority Of his name and
however the opinions Of the existing Presi
dent are interpreted south Of Mason's and
Dixon's line, on the north they are, at least,
understood to favor The establishment Of
judicious Tariff.
The question, therefore, which We are
now called upon to determine, is not wheth
er we shall establish a new and doubtful sys-
ten Of policy, just proposed, and for tho first
time presented to our consideration but
whether we shall break down and destroy a
long established system, patiently and care
fully built up, and sanctioned, during Sc
lie of .,1 hot la