Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-04-06
Tie ES5csssssQlagi VVEs5ya
STrNCU OF Nix. UrNDWlCNs,

SrrHCU oF Nix. HENDRICKS,
4" ttc Nr,1'r Of he I. N..tss Nrt,t ~ on ttr
rcfr"arr az a.. sc.ajr'i"tv ~ Nd clay out
oitn'S, oH a. &.cr' ~ RE IHrG.
Mr.. HENDRICKS rose go inquire al the chair
If 1t would now b." iu uri"r 90 move O." rrtvr the
whole subject, tn" resolutions ct the Senator from
kentuch,, ami Tho amendment proposed by ih,
Senator from Fcnus ylvunlI, to one ui the stand
ing committees otthc Senate, and holm, noim, Il
by the President that it would Ice in order, he GRO.
cccdCd and said;
1t was then his purpose before rcSumino his
seat, and after he should have made "A very few OBJ
servatonS, To move reference of the whole sub.
lcct to the Committee on Manufactures. ii must
now be obvious, said Mr. H. chat the G,r,brr
we progress in the discussion of these abstract re-.
solutions, the greater will Ice our difficulties and
the less probable is it that we shall ever agree on
any thing. These resolutions have been before
the Senate more than two months. And surely
no member the body, can entertain the opinion
that we in the least degree arproac linm unau.
lmIty; but that, ON the contrary we are farther
apart now thCu when we begun; and, indeed the
amendment recently proposed, especially in CON
neNi"n with other amendments suggested. seem
10 be- producing degree of confusion and Il greater
diversity OF opinion, than has been manifested in
any previous stage of the debate.
The original resolutions assert that the cxis,in~
duties ON all unprotected articles, ''ougit To be
forthwith abolished" except ON wines and silks
and that on these they "u"ht to be rcdUccd ami
direct, that the Committee on Finance report 4
bill accordingly. The amendment originally pro
posed by the Senator from South Carolina tecla
red that the existing duties ON all articles both
protected and unprotcctcd ought to he so reduced
as to bring down the revenue to the actual g ynru
dnurcs OF the Government after the public debt
shall have been paid On these two rropositiurs
Numerically opposite in principle, and in their
effect upon tbs tariff policy, has the discussions
until very recently, prCgrUSSCd The latter promo
stion being in effect rejected by Il refusal to- strike
out the first, the Senator from Pcrn> vyamia
comes forward with proposition of the middle
ground and IN the discussion, suggests that lie has
two Others which he means to submit, and the
Senator from New York has also read rs two or
three propositions, which he means To submit
Thus are about be dclugcd with every shade
ot proposition which can be crowded between two
extremes, and the debate, which we all hu' / was
nearly brought to a close, is about to take II wider
and more mtcrninuba range than ever.
Indeed, said Mr. H., the original resolutions of
the Senator from kentucky are traught with
great difficulty, and with much to cinharrasS the
Senate; and decide them as YOU NAV Won settle
nothing; for when the bill contemplated by them
shall he reported to the Senate, the whole tariff:
Will he before us. Then any member VIII be at
perfect liberty TO introduce any amendment
he may think proper, well TO the ojcctcd IS
the Unprotected articles. This is the objection TO
abstract propositions in legislation. In This way
YOU can assert principle, but YOU cannot regulate
It's details; and the tariff always has been and
ever must be, almost entirely question ot details
In this Is It's great difficulty ne principle of the
resolutions before us said Nr H., is Extremely
questionable. Ii Is that the duties on the unpr1
tcctcd articles ought to be forthwith abolished
Now sir. fer on, am NOT ur,,,,a'r,I ,o ,,,, tI;
While | hold the protective principle sacred do
not believe i'm this doctrine THESE articles or,
chiefly composed OF what may fairly hc ,lrnoiilil5
ted the luNurius of Iif.. .,.L 81. tro,,;.,I r,;,,
corduls pcrluncrics. anal fancy ort;,c. almost
nnumcranlr. OF the dutie. ON ile., ar,i.,.. NJ, .
one has cunp!aurd. On this su,irct not g, ~. ;,..
has been raised from Nsuc to louisiana They
consist of articles tl., cos,i,,,,.,,,, 80 ,l,:.I l.
e 1FIr1f4 Q
the community, 80 the cities and I'm. .., hoard
They enter very .i.ir into the copsrn,n.iou Of ,i
people OF the grcu, interior or the co,lit.- Phrr
are, be sure some articles ON i'i. Ii.i of , l;r
frrcut drscripi.on; such ass i.a.. co...c and , fec.
other articles bat hc was NOT prepared 10 saw Chat
they ought all forthwith to be uhcl!.hci lie d..
not wish 10 be committed Ly an. s,:ch vote II. /
wished TO rcu!t.a at perfect liberty after the bin
should be submitted TO vote as his Judgment might
dictate on ITS details. To take the items and re-
tam or reject them is he might think proper. he
would chcoriu!!y vote TO take the duties Clr teas
coffee, dyc.SjuIS, and such like articles. But he
cDJcctcd TO decisive vote tI@ac resolutions
because of their uncertainty. In examining thr
list OF unprotected articles, pc maps no two Sc /
majors would entirely agrcc. The resolutions then
required Us to vote in the dark. have, sir said F.,
MIR. H. three lists OF these articles before me
differing from each other widely. One is a list
contained in bill reported by Senator from Mis-
FourI, (Mr. Bentpn,) at former session. Amo-
her Is list contained IN the speech of the Sc
major from South Carolina, (Nlr. iIaync) and a
third Is list not yet submitted, but prepared for
mat purpose. I"!s was a conclusive objection |
with MIN To the resolutions they stood before the
senate; and TINS was one OF his reasons for the |
motion he was about to make.
we are, sad Mr.. H., commencing novel and
very important wor<; tic reduction OF the revenue.
This policy Is begun in the fear Of dreadful evils
from asurPIuS. This evil we had never yet felt
ana Tor one he was inclined so wait its approach