Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-03-09
EEr. Haynes Speech.
IN SENATE.
Mondau, Januaru 16.
DEBATE ON THE TARIFF.

ReSOtUed, That the existing duties upon
articles imported from foreign countries, and
not coming into competition with similar
articles, made or produced within the Unit
ed States, ought 10 be forthwith abolished,
except the duties on wines and silks, and
they ought TO be reduced.
Resolued, That the Committee on Finance
report bill accordingly.
MIR. Hayne moved 10 amend the first res
olution, striking out all after the word ''coun-
tries" in the second line, and inserting the
| following:
''Be so reduced, that the amount of the
public revenue shall be sufficient to defray
the expenses of government, according to
the present scale, after the payment of the
public debt and that, allowing a reasonable
time for the gradual reduction of the present
high duties on articles coming into compe-
tition with similar articles made or produc-
ed in the United States, the duties be ulti-
mately egualized, so that the duties on no
articles shall as compared with the value of
that article, vary materially from the gener-
al average"
MIR. HAYNE addressed the Senate in sup
port OF his proposition as follows;
The Senator from Kentucky Mr.. Clay, }
commenced his remarks few DAYS ago, by
complaining of the advances of age, and
mourned the decay of his eloquence, so elo-
qusntiy as 10 prove that it was in full vigor.
He then went on, Sir, 10 make most able
and ingenious argument, amply sustaining
his high reputation as an accomplished ora
tor.
With this example before me, Mr.. Presi-
dent, (said Mr.. II. am almost deferred
from offering any apology, lest should Gre
ate expectation which it will certainly not
be in my power to CRAFTY. And yet, per-
haps, it may be permitted TO one so HUMBLE
as myselfto say, that it belongs not TO me at
any time, or under any circumstances, and
least of all, at this moment, and on this &C.
casion, to Salty the expectations of those, if
any such there be, who may have come
here 10 witness the graces of ortory, or to he
delighted with the charms of eloquence. |
would not, Sir, on this occasion play the ora
tor if could. | came here to-day for high
er and far nobler purposes. stand on this
floor as one of the representatives of high
minded, generous and Confiding people,
whose dearest rights and interests am now
10 vindicate and maintain. In such stua-
ton, would lose every thought Of myselfin
the greatness of the cause. Confding in the
indulgence of the Senate, and deeply sensi-
bic of my inability TO do Justice 10 the i'm
portant subject embraced in these rosolu-
tons, shall proceed at once in the plain I'M
adorned language of soberness and truth,
to the examination of the question before us.
The gentleman from Kentucky set out
with the declaration, that he did not deem il
necessary to offer any arguments in favor of
| the American system, "that the protecting
policy stands self Uindicated-that it has
scattered its rich fruits over the whole land
and is sustained by the experience ofall pow
erful and prosperous nations" Sir, we meet
I heSe positions at once by asserting on our
part, that the protecting system stand self
condemned condemned in our own country by
the deSOLGtiOn iUhich has foILoiUed iu its train.
and the diSconteRts it has produce-con-
demned by the experience of all The world
and the almost unanimous opinion of enlight-
ened men In modern times. Andnow, having
fairly joined issue with the gentleman, we
might put ourselves upon the country, and
submit the case, without argument, nor
should have any fears for the result, ifthe
issue was 10 be tried and decided by an i'm
partial tribunal, free from disturbing influ-
ence, OF popular prejudice and delusion, and
the strong bias of interestS-persOIal, pecu-
mary, and political. But, situated as we
are, feel and acknowledge the necessity of
making out our case to the conviction ofihis
assembly, and the satisfaction ofthe country.
We are seeking relief from an abiding evil
redress from an existing wrong. We
cannot stand where we are We cannot
like the gentleman from Kentucky, rest on
mere unsupported assertions. We must
submit our proofs and maintain our posi-
tons, if we can. 1t is greatly TO be regrett-
&c, however, that the gentleman has not seen
fit to present some of the strongest argu-
ments in favor ofbis policy, as such course
might have directed our inquiries to few
leading points instead Of making it necessary
for US TO wander at large through the wide
field OF argument presented by the protecting
system.
/ The gentleman, however, has so far favor
ed us, as to specify two of the advantages
which he asserts have been derived from it
in this country, and in our day, and | am
perfectly willing TO Try the merits ofthe sys-
tenn by these tests which he has himself pro
posed They shall--if the gentleman pleas
es-constitute the standard by which its
true character shall be determined In the
first place, then, the gentleman asserts. chat
the much abused policy Of 1924, (the protect
ing tariff of that year, ) has filled our Golfers
and enabled us to pay off the public debt ."
a debt Of 500 900 900 Of PRINCIPAL and
100000, 900 Of interest Now, Sir, if any
thing is capable characterization, il may be
demonstrated, that the protecting system
could not, by possibility, have contributed in
the slightest degree TO produce this rusult. -
One would suppose, indeed, that the very
last merit which would be ascribed 10 this
system, was its tendency to I'll The public
Golfers" 1t is unquesiionably TO a tariff
arranged and adjusted with single eve TO
revenue, that we are 10 look for such a re-
/ hr 81, q