Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1833-03-14

tion To be of the most honorable characIer.- /
On this subject Of vital interest to the welfare |
and integrity Of the Union, it wasa matter OF I
deep and lasting regret to him, TO be compel
led to differ from that gentleman. But his
position, on the other hand, was supported by
some gentlemen with whom he had acted in
peace and 10 war, and through all the huctua-
lions of party. The honorable gentleman
from Maine (Mr. Holmes) was in Co operation
with him now. and he cO-Operated with him
on an OCCASION when, on the Sabbath day in
the other House, we effected compromise
of the Missouri question, and saved the gov
eminent from immediate dissolution. In the
House and on this day, we again unite in an
effort of equal importance to the welfare Of
the country. The pledge by which the SEN
ator from Massachusetts supported the con-
stitutional power Of protection to be surren-
dered, he did not consider rs any thing more
than suggestion of the wishes Of the parties
to the cUmprO mise at this time. There was
nothing in it which would bind us or our sue
cessors, or in any way restrict the exercise Of
the constitutional power Of Determinations
The Constitution was out of the reach Of all
such attempts. Given to us by the founders
Of the Government, we could neither add to
it nor take from it by legislation. He was
surprised at the suggestion of the Senator that
there was no occurrence within the last six
months which shows that the protective sys-
tenn is in danger. The issue of numerous
elections, the Presidents recommendations,
the general tone Of public feeling, and the
whoe power aud influence Of the dominant
party, rndanger the continuance of the sys-
ten. The footing on which the Admnstra-
| ton would place the Tariff, was infinitely less
favorable to the protected interests than this
bill. He saw torch applied to the system.
and he had attempted to snatch il away. He
went into some ofthe details alluded to by the
Senator from Massachusetts. and endeav0red
to Obviate the objections made to them. He
objected 10 the entire argument of The Sena-
tor, that he proceeded forward to the year
1842, and undertook to prophecy the results
Of the bill in that bill in that distant year,
He had as much respect for the predictions
of the Senator as he would have for those Of
any individual, but still he could not think
them safe ground for legislation. He would
prefer to leave the matterto the Congress Of
lS49. He could not agree with the gentleman
that the position of South Carolina afforded
| no proper motive for our action on this sub
ject. TO danger he was quite as insensible as
the gentleman himself; but he could not
affect insensiblity to tho critical state of the
country. South Carolina no longer stands
alone. Her acceptance Of the mediation of
Virginia would pledge that most powerful
State to corporation with her in obtaining
relief, from what Virginia, as well as South
Carolina, deems to be an oppressive and un-
constitutional system. The other Southern
States will no doubt enter into the same
league. What will the Senator do then p
What will be his remedy? Perhaps, after
long, bloody, and mutually exhausting war,
the Southern States may be reduced to obe-
dience and subsection to the laws. But does
the Senator think that they can be kept in
subsection? will he not then, before he tries
the sword, try some other means for restor-
ing harmony and enforcing obedience to the
laws? The argument of excess Of revenue
under the bill, he answered, at length, show
ing that Congress, from time to time, could |
regulate the amount Of revenue under the pro-
visions Of the bill. The gentleman takes up (
certain articles and says that their manufac- !
ture will be destroyed. But all his argument
applied to the year l84g. He had met with !
no one who was not Of opinion that the pro.
lection was reasonable up to the Slst of De-
cember, i84l. The Tariff Of 1882 was as
perfect as human hands could make 1t. We
should never make better one, if we work.
I'd Ave or six months upon it, as we did upon
that. This bill applies "ne universal rule to
that Act, equal in its operation upon every
article of manufacture. not making favorite
Of any particular article. He commended that
the Bill did not surrender the principle of pro-
lection. It was effectually secured for nine
years, when it was brought down to some
thing like what the Southern States demand |
ed. The principles on which the compromise
was made he went into at great length to
show that the South had given up as much
as the North in the bill, and that perfect
equality Of concession had been arrived at
Neither party had abandoned lis principles,
and neither had a victory over the other III
this question was to be settled by compro-
mise and not by arms. he would like to know
on what principles the Senator from Massa-
chusetts would make a compromise, except
by mutual concession. The Senator chooses
to say thatmy proposition is seconded by the
Senator from South Carolina. and that it is
supported by two opposite extremes. Can
he tell me Of any other mode Of effecting
compromise. but by taking a medium be-
tween two extremes! II he is not altOgelh-
er opposed TO making an adjustment Of the
question by compromises and he assures us
that he is not,-in what other manner would
he effect an adjustment He (Nlr. Clay) had
urged the proposition as measure Of mutu-
al concession, of peace, Of harmony.-He
wanted to see no civil wars; no sacked cities;
no embattied armies; no streams Of Amer-
can blood shed by American arms. He had