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

PTICts bClWccm
tho minimum reductions. This fact was openly
and repeatedly avuwed i'll the ,Uousc of Repre-
scntatvcs during tho pondoncyo of the Bill, in tho
last session OF Congress, and TWAS owing to the
abolition of the minimums upon woollcns that
the leading advocates of "tho American system"
wore so hostile to the passage of the law n
have thus, Fellow Citizens, submitted to YOU
my reasons for the vote which L gave upon the
passage of the late Tariff Act, aud nv views of
that Act, both in it's immediate effects and as
compared with the existing Tariff | feel conf.
dent that my vote will be approved of by all of
you who prefer cancellation and compromise to u
Rupture with the members OF our cunIedcracv
When system has long been established, which
extensively controls the notional capital and labor
however unwiscy il may have been introduced, it
cannot suddenly be abolished, without spreading de-
ISOLATION and ruin among millions and communica-
Ting pcriious shock 10 our tranquility and security
However may dcpreca,o IA protective Tariff
III ITS principle and IN it's dctails-howoycr indig
hanty we may arraign the motives in which II,
originated and the consequences resulting from it,
tho majority of tho people are nevertheless" con
vinccd that 1t is warra.c ny the Constitution md
Toc-,.iincndo 10y the soundcst policy. From the
prevalence OF these sentiments among the ma ority,
and the legislative encouragement of them by high
ana stimulating protective duties, immense capitals
have been invested in numerous and complicated
branches of human industry, whcliit must be obvi-
GUS ought not To he intcricred with excepting with
the utmost caution, elaboration and forbearance.
nus impressed with tho Importance, tho intricacy
" the dccucy OF this subject, when the consitlera-
ton q" the Tariff was brought up during the last
SION oil Congress, my anticpations of its improve
mcnt were limited to such ali erations, would light
en- some OF Its burthenS, obtcrae OF its most
obnoxious enactments, and manifest temper and
disposition Indicative of still further amcloration.
men the foundations of tho system should be thus
undermined. the cheering prospect would bc pre-
scented that Congress would gradually act upon the
principles which ought to be lost sis Int Of
that domestic industry should only DO incidentally
projected, by duties upon foreign importatinns-
Although the Tariff act of 1892 is, in my opinion
imperfect, although it still retains small portion
OF It's ancient defects, although il still requires
great and radical improvements, yet il does appear
TO me that 1t makes such approaches TO what IT
ought to be- as to render it worthy of acceptance,
at TINS time, 10 every patriotic and rejecting States
man, who seeks tn obtain the recognition of the
principles of Free Trade, by temperate and pract-
cable means.
/ To what extent the duties and the revenue will
! he reduced by the Tariff Act have already shown.
| Surely, dimnution in the protecting duties of
- 1855, and in the aggregate of the revenue
from the customs of lS7 01S, is relief in the
gross and in the detail. Surely dminution in tax
alton, which reduces their nett receipts from
S5lI ,2SS 6f5 to s5l2 l01 ,5G7, is general benefit
| These authorizations. combined with some conces
sons to the South, and the repeal of the minimums
";""n wcot,crs orgnt "o,.', 49, some sa-
iisaction, the harbingcrs of better times, and
leading to a more suspicious consummation; and
more especially, ought to be inspired with
tdencc when is recollected that these reiormaons
were eff cted, atho gi they were opposed 10 the
utmost, bY the frcst sealas in the cause of DyOect
ION, and although the bill which contained them
was voted against ny six of our own elrgation in
the House of Representatives. If thus much was
achieved against obstacles formidable, the hope
is proportionncly fattcrng, that those who are
Wiling 10 sacrifice the pride of opinion, and the
lusl OF power, to spirit of amity and compromise,
and TO lay their resentments and passions and pro.
JUDGES, upon the altar of their common country,
Will accomplish greater objects, by their judicious
prSpV r. N uIl 81,
good sense and real interest Of the community
by honest excrtions thus directed, it may well be
anticipated that the dclusions which have been
created by selfish theory, will be dspelled-that
the reVche at no distant period will be limited to
the proper expenses of the Govcrnment-that the
larlt VIII be so regulated equally ditfuse its
bur,hcns and its blessings, among free prosper.
Gus, and Il united people. When a career has been
opened, which may carry to the goal at which
we would Arrive shall We stop short in the progress
to which we are inved--sha!l we supincly sluinbcr
on our POSTS when the victory may he won, by dis
erection and perseverance, Shall We instead of avail
ing ourselves of that tide in the affairs of men,
which taken at the flood leads on TO prosperous for
tune" abandon whatever is dear to us as patriots
whatsoever renown we have derived from our anccs-
tors whatsoever OF glory VIC have acquired abroad s.
whatsoever OF liberty and happiness VIC have enjoy
cd at home, and rashy barter away these irestmab
treasures plunge into the vortex of Notification?
Shall we yield ourselves TO be entanpcd in the
maZcs OF a political abstraction, which is either
| so subtle or paradoXical as to mock the
undcrst 'ndng, false and so PERM cious "a
to lead us into error and danger? Shall We will
our senses awakened, and our faculties reused anc
oar vIgor unlmpaircd, march tamely under tn,
! banners of those who, while they profess to pu
down usurfaton, themselves usurp Il power
| paramount to the Constitution and The laws-who
while they proclaim that they will eInancipate us
from federal oppression, by peaceful, efficient
a1d legitimate remedy, would reduce u.s. either TO
the alternative of submitting to The government
which resisted, or of seeding from the Federal
Union? The first alternative would be degradin q
humiliation. Should we adopt the other the uni
ted States, from the impcrous dictates of selfde-
fence, would prescribe to us such terms as woulA
prevent them from being injured by our Sc
Parate commercial laws ard regulations; and
to deliver ourselves from their invasion of our So
vcroignty; should resort to an ally the price
of his aid, would be the sacrifice of orr
cncc.
l viii dwell no longer upon such gloomy scenes.
That the Supreme Ruler and Director of human
affairs may in his mercy, incline our hearts and
GUIDE our counsels, as that the fierce and stormy
passions which distract our social intercourse
winch embittcr the harmony Of our domestic cir
Giles, shall be banished from our bosoms and only
be remembered as solemn and enduring warnings
for the future is the crvent prayer of YOUR faithful
and obGdient fellow citizen.
VIM. DRAYToN.
Mr.. Everett of Vermont said what in sinh.
stance was repeated Ivy several other members who
advocated protection, she considered that system
thc mInilnums) aTording the most efficient pro-
tec'lon, with the least burthcn on the consumer
The operation Of that system had been misrepre.
scented. He had been surprised TO hear gentlemen
affirm that it levied duties of 100 of l5n and
even 20 per cent. yard Of cloth costing ST.
pays ID cts, and yard costing dollar and one
cent, 1T is true, 6imported would pay 81 l2I CENTS
which would be at the rate Of II per cent =. en- n
yard costing so cents would pay 22 3 cents and
ayard costing 81 cents II imprinted, 45 cents be-