Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-07-31

Speech Of Mr.. McDurrIE. Of Sosth Corolaa, on the
bW proposing reduction Of the duties on imports
delivered IN the House Of Representatives., May 2s
1882
Mr. McDUFrIE rose, and said: propose Sir 10 sub
nit some explanations, in addition to those already pre-
sened III different Form, OF the views and principles
which induced the Committee of Ways and Means to re-
port the bill adjustment of the great
of the tariff must, however in the outset canidv ac
knowledge that have not the least glnmering of hope
that any thing may utter at this Time which any hu-
man being can advance in this Hail. will induce the ma
jory to adopt the measure now proposed any other
sure founded on similar principles Nay, Sir, rcluc
family compelled TO go still farther, although have been
disposed to hope against hope that some
coincidence oil circumstances might yet intervene in
ce the hearts OF the majority to justice, aud lead their
deliberations TO some propous result yet the develope
nents aud the experience of every day have rendered
II more apparent that all such expectations are utter
" VAIN aud de'nsve AS to any adjustment OF this
great question, therefore, which shall give tranuuil
" TO the public mind and restore the broken harmo-
ny oil tins Union, "my final hope is fiat despair" I'm
der these circumstances, il may seem singular but
is nevertheless true, that is precisely because do moi
hope TO produce conviction upon the minds of this COM
hec and have expectation that this great question
VIII be adjusted here, that particularly nxious
10 set iorh IN the cearest and most distinct manner the
principles which will govern me, and, believe those
who are associated with me, well as the States we in
common represent in all the vcissudes of this great CON
test Tor our unaenabe rights Sir is vain, worse
than vain, 10 attempt put by, evade or TO paer with
ms question Ii longer be disguised that there
does exist under the unjust and oppressive legislation OF
Congress, aud without any agency Providence 10 that
ELECT radical hostility of interests between the two
great subdivisions OF this coniederacy And if the now
er Of the majority and not their of Justice
ce The present controversy, will be impossible ever to
reconcile these conflicting interests Such being the
case God only knows what is be the end of this great
poiucal drama One thing is cer,ain an eventfu poi-
cal era at hand and whether it shall be sgnazed by
the civil triumph by the catastrophe of constitutional
hoery history viii record that triumph that catas,ro
pe AMI postcrty will pronounce judgment ON the authors
of il. ~ '
That my, views and principles may be understood and
appreciated by that august tribunal, and that the record
The
between the two great contendng parties the
aud the oppressed, will attempt before take my seat to
demonstrate how gevous the wrengs we have too ma
cntly endured and how vital and sacred are the rubts
Tor which contending.
But, before proceed 10 examine The inequality and
gross injustice OF this combined system of and pro
lection, shall ask the attention Of the committee TO
oiief exposition OF my views the amount of revenue
whch under existing circumstances deem il expcdieni
provide for detaying the necessary and proper
OF this Government. r f'
la deciding this question: there is no better criterion IN
whch we can resort than the average expenditures of
former PERIOD which all acknoyy edee TO furnish
proper basis Tor such calculation. In 1921 our army
was reduced from war TO peace establishment From
The year following this reaucon the close of Mr. Mon
roe administration in 1924, inclusive have made cal
uauoh OF tpe average expenses ots Government all
oyecs both permanent and contingent and the result is
that these expenses amounted annually to less sum than
ten millions of dollars Many those who hear me will
bear out when say that when first took NV seal i'm
this body regarded very exravagant in mn, no
tons, in regard TO the public expenditure because %
ned the expenditures OF that administration. Sir Mr.
hionroes administration denounced nv LARGO
party in this country for its extravaganza Ii was
ed oil preparing the way for great and splendid Co
len ead oil regarding those principles of
pmy laid down by the fathers Of our political church
did not think then, and do not think 20 now: and
snail nan me day when the present any future admins
traon shall bring back the expenses of the Government
the annual sum OF ten millions, which belive r. he 81
ample provision for all the exigencies of the country
.'t SIR SO far from wishing TO dsmante Notifications
suffer The navy TO rot upon the docks and leave the ma
ton entirely dcenceless has been suggested in report
recently offered 10 the House, am for maintaining ali
the institutions of the country a respectable footing and
am VIKING and nave ever been willing to raise whatever
amount oil revenue may be necessary for that purpose
though am aware that the burhcn will he very ,,no
qualify distributed, even by this bill
The essential institutions the country are the army,
he navy, and the civil establishments These regard a.
hold them be necessary At all ti1,c l.;
peace and in war; for fully recognize The truth of ,b
MAXIM that the best way preserve peace is TO be pre-
pared lot war Now sr during the last three years of Mr.
Nj onroes administration, was denounced as have said
Tor Its eXavagancc; and yet the total annual
Tor the army the navy and the civil list anp,nted dur
ing those years to less than millions of dollars
repeai sir, enphacaly that when army was more
efficient, its ranks better filled and its officers as
aud competent as they now the annual expenses of
Tie Government Tor these three objects was less an So
ven millions OF dollars When you add to h. the exnen
iture OF the Indian Department. for other objects M
misc llaneOus kind, each amounting 10 a Itc n,vorI r
nall million 1t will be found, that exclusive DIMENSIONS
he whole average expenditure the United States dir
ng those years, amounted TO but little more than Ss 600
Assuming this basis, and am satisfied that ,b
amount will be more than sufficient especially as our for
lcaios are nearly compieted (hnd hope never here
after to than $500 900 annually expended upon
tem AMI the improvement of our navy wards alec ara
nearly completed; affirm that than EIGHT iIlons NJ
dollars will not be annually required for objects of ner
nan' ut nature.
Then, as TO pensions, shall confne nv views i'm tI
rst place TO the laws they stand and not as il has
been proposed TO extend them-Durng the three years
have mentioned, the pension list very large: since
then, however, the number of pensioners has been rao
by death So that, whereas i'm 1922 the sum
expended on this Object was nearly millions il s nov,
less Than one million, notwithstanding the great number
Of pensioners since put the roll by special acts of Con
grcss, and the relaxed rules of the War Department
IL may fairly be presumed, calculating upon the proba
bic mortality among of them less than seventy
years OF age that in the of some five wears This
branch OF expenditure will be reduced TO very ncons
lerable
1t is TO be remarked that after paving off the publi
debt there will be large surplus, less than eight or
ten Millions oil The Income OF the 1888 because the
income OF that will he principally derived from duties
which accrued during the present year under the existing
'an moreover as The proposed reduction of the duties
Will be gTadualand ain willing make il sill moro so
ny extending the period OF final reduction TO three
II IS obvious that the surplus be consds
during all these years, and that the suiicency of rove
nue. derived from average duties Of IL IL per cent will
not be brought TO the test in less than four or five wears
Even 1t we suppose that the pension BILL now pending
should become law, it is not probable that the whole
pension establishment, four five years hence will re-
qnIre an expenditure OF than two millions But be
that as may, eight millions will be amply sufficient for
the permanent institutions and ordinary expenses and all
INC revenue over that sum will be applicable pensions
and other objects.
The next inquiry in ORDER is what amount of revenue
duty OF IL LIZ per cent upon all imports will bring into
the treasury III we assume, the basis of our est-
mate the average amount of the merchandise imported
Tor consumption during the last years shall have
something less than sixty-n millions as that average
The from this amount ofi rnporfs a. 10 y