Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-01-13

tho .mount of sx ar seven millions should be ia
Ion off anil ina, the reduction should BIZ exclu-
siyely confined to articles which do not enter IN
RI comneti,;on with similar articles produced al
bome-in other words, sir, that articles VI UNI
yersal consumption, and in which, every class
of the people, and every portion oil the coun-
try. contribute equally, should be relieved Gu
tirpI, from all taxation, while the high duties on
the protected articles we're to remain untouchea
In = word. that the bands of that mammoth
system of injustice and oppression, he meant
no offence, but he spoke as he felt, were 10 re.
main unrelaxed--a system which was feit
and acknowledged in one quarter of the coan-
try as a boon and a bounty, and IN another,
as an insupportable burden-a system which liti
the language of the Senator from Kentucky
if il had 6. scattered It's rich fruits" over any Por-
ton of the land, had visited others with It's con-
suming curses.
1t cannot be tenied, that the true question
here presented, was, whether the pro'ect'nS
system was to be wholly untouched, anu 10 De
rivetted upon the country beyond all hope OF re-
lief? and in this aspect Of the question, he must
solemnlv declare that he considered 1t as one III
vol.ing the prosperity, he could say pregnant
with the future destInies OF this country; ior'
however this system may have operated elsewhere,
It vas the deep and settled conviction OF those
whom he represented, that it had acted upon
them as a blight and a pestilence. blasting 'he
lairest fields on which the eye OF man had ever
rested. =,
The gentleman from Kentucky had intl'nated
that he had hoped that his proposition might nave
presented a common ground on winch all parties
might have met. But, sir, how was 1t possible
for gentlemen to suppose that we should meet on
ground which involved 10 concession whatever 10
our views, but which proposed to MAINTAIN The
protecting system in all its unmitigatcd rlsor'
thus agsrava,ing instead of diminishing the me
quality and injustice Of which we So strongly
and so Justly complained. The gentleman hau'
indeed, said that the propriety OF some reduc-
ton might, perhaps, hereafter be considered; not
now, however, when the debt was about to De
paid. and the tariff readjusted and fixed on a
permanent, basis. but at some future aud "more
convenient season." But what hope is to be
built on this de, ~laration. when the gentleman, IN
the very same breath, tells US that that no consl-
derable or sudden reduction could ever take
place. No, that would be distinctions; and as
to the gradual and moderate reduction recon-
mended bv the Secretary of the Treasury. that
would be even worse than the other-it would,
said the gentleman, be a slow and sure poison.
leading to inevitable destruction. 1t follows.
then, clearly, mat we are 10 nave no reducuoh VI
the protecting duties whatever, either now, or at
any future period. In this view of the questionable
must repeat, he considered it the most awfully
momentous subject that had every besn present.
ed in the course of the history of this govern
ment, and believing that it required the greatest
deliberation. he wished the attention of The Sc
nate to be seriously called to it, that it might be
matureIy considered, and wisely decided. 10
the presence of this august body, and before his
God, he would repeat his deep conviction that
the consequences to grow out of the al adjustment
Of this great question involved the future destl-
mics of his country; and in order that we should
approach it with wary steps & becoming caution.
he would now move that the uIther considera-
ton of the resolution should be postponed to,
and made the order Of the day for, Monday next.
The motion was agreed to.