Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-05

"facturcs which shall DO allowed TO perish and |
"pass away" so. The measure of protection |
which he proposed was not adopted, in regard to
some leading articles, and there was great diff. |
Guilty in ascertanng what it ought to have been.
But the principle was then distinctly asserted and
fully sanctioned.
The subject of the American System wa, apain
brought up in 1890, by the bill reported by the
Chairman of tho Committee of Manufactures.
now member ofthe bench of the Supreme Court
Of the United States, and the principle was sue |
cessuy maintained by tho rcprcse natives of the
people; but the bill which they passed was defeat
ed in the Senate. 1t revived in 1924 the
whole ground carefully and deliberately explored,
and the bill, then introduced, receiving all the
sanctions of the constitution, became the law of
the land. An amendment Of the system was propo.
sod in 1923, to the history of which L refer
with agreeable rccollcctions. The bill
of that year in some of its provisions, was fra
med principles directly adverse to the
declared wishes of the friends of the policy
of protection. have heard (witheut vouc ing for
the facO that it was so framed upon the advice of
a prominent citizen, now abroad with the view of
ultimately defeating tho bill, and with assurances
that, being altogether unacceptable to the friends
oil tho American System, the bill would be lost
BE that as 1t may, the most exccptionabe fca-
lures of the bill were stamped upon it, against
the earnest remonstrances of the friends of the
system, by the votes of Southern members upon
aprnciple think, as unsound in legislation is
| reprehensible in ethics. The bill passed, not
outstanding, it having been deemed better TO
take the bad along with the COED which it con-
| tanned, than reject it altogether. Subsequent le-
gisatlon has corrected very much the error then
perpetrated, but still that measure is vehcmently
denounced by gentlemen who contributed to make
it what it was.
Thus, sir, has this great system of protection
been gradually built, stone upon stone, and step
by step, from the 4th OF July, 1889 down to the
present period In every stage of it's PROGRESS il
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
| 1UIst tn of Tho Oh
| Washington to the present, in form or other
| has given to it the authority of his name; and
however the opinions of the existing President 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
caileu upon 10 determine, is not whether shall
establish new and doubtful system of policy, just
proposed, and for the first time presented to our
considerations; but whether we shall break down
and destroy long established system, patiently
ana carefully built up, and sanctioned, during Il Sc.
res of years, again and again. by the nation and
Its highest and most revered authorities And are
we not bound deliberately to consider whether we
can proceed to this work of destruction without
violation of the public faith? The People of the
United States justly supposed that the policy of
protecting Their industry. against foreign legislation
: and foreign Industry, fully settled, not by
single act, but by repea ed and deliberate acts of
Government, performed at distant and frequent in
: tervals. In full confidence that the poiicy was
thousands have invested their capital, purchased
vast amount of real and other estate, made perma-
: nent establishments and accommodated their in
dustry. Can expose to utter and rrctrievabe
rum this countless multitude without Justly incurr-
ing the reproach of violating the national faith?
shall not discuss the constitutional question.
without meaning any disrespect to those who raise
It, IT 1T be debateabe, it has been sufc GENTLY deba
ted. The gentleman from South Carolina suffered
1t to fall unnotced from his budget and it was not
untii after he had closed his speech and resumed
MS seat that it occurred to him that he had forgot
ten 1T, when he again addressed the Senate, and
r by sort of protestation against any conclusion
from his silence, put forward the objection. The
recent Free Trade Convention at Philadelphia, it
is well known, were divided on the question; and
although the topic is noticed in their address to the
public, they do not their own belief that the
American System is unconstitutional, but represent
that such is the opinion of respectable portions Of
the American People. Another Address to the
PeoPc OF the United States, from a high source
during the past year. treating this subject does not
assert the opinion of the distinguished author but
states that of others to be that it is unconstuton
a.. From which infer that he did not, himself
believe it unconstitutional.
| lftcre the Vice President nterposed, and re-
marked that, if the Senator from Kentucky, alud-
ed to him, he must say that his opinion was, that
| the measure was UNCONSTITUTIONAL
| When, sir, contended with you, side by side,
ana with perhaps less zeal than you exhibited, in
| 1910 did not understand you then to consider
the policy forbidden by the constitution.
[ The Vice President again interposed, and said
tnat the constitutional question not debated at
that time, and that he had never expressed an OPT
Mon contrary to that intimatedl
give way with pleasure to these explanations
which hope will always be made when l saw any
thing bearing on the individual opinions of the
Chair. | know the delcacy of the position, and
| sympathlse with the incumbent, whoever he NAV
be: 1t is true the question not debated in
1910; and why not? Because it was not debatea.
bic; 1t was then believed not fairly to arise IL
| never has been made, distinct, substantial,
! and leading point of objection. 1t never
was made until the discussion of the tariff of
1874" when it was rather limited at as against
the spirit OF the constitution, than formally an
nounced, as being contrary to the provisions of
| that instrument. What was not dreamt of before
or IN 1876 and scarcely thought of in 1924 is now
made by excited imaginations to assume the i'm
posing form of serious constitutional barr
! Such the origin, duration, extent, and sane
tons of the policy which arc now called upon
to subvert. Its beneficial effects although they
may vary in degree, have been felt in all parts of
the Union. TO none, verify believe, has it been
PreJudiclal. 10 the North, every where, testimo-
MES are borne to the high prosperity which it has
dlhused. There, all branches of industry are ami
mated and hourishing Commerce, foreign and
domestic, active; cities and towns springIng up,
charging and identifying; navigation fully and
Prohtaby employed, and the whole face of the
country smiling with improvement, cheerfulness,
and abundance. The gentleman from South Car
DINA has supposed that we, in the West derive
no advantages from this system. He is mis-.
taken Let him visit us, and he will find, from
the head of La Belle RiViere, at Pitsburg, to A
merica, at its mouth, the most rapid and crafty
ing advances. lie will behold Pittsburg itself,
| wheeling, Portsmouth, Maysyille, Cincinnati
| Louisville, and numerous other towns lining and
/ M m nno fir,crt hal ecftI IL