Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-04-04

home valuations; and II secures q free list, |
embracing numerous articles, some Of high
importance to tho manufacturing arts. OIL
all the modes Of protection which lave
enumerated, il affects only the third that is
TO say, the imposition Of high duties, producing
a revenue beyond the wants Of government.
The Senator from Massac husetts contends
that the policy Of protection was settled in
1916, anc that II has ever since been msin-
tanned. Sir, II was settled long before 1916.
II Is coeval with the presoot cons titutiou, and
( IL will continue, under some Of its various as
poets, during the existence Of the govern
ment. No nation can exist, no nation, per-
haps, ever existed, without protec ton, in
some form, and 10 some extent, being applied
to It's own industry. The direct aud necessa-
~ consequence Of abandoning the protection
of IFS own industry, would be to subject il 10
the restrictions and prohibitions Of foreign
powers, and no nation, for any length Of time,
can endure an alien legislation, in which II
has no will. The disconients which prevail,
and the safety Of the republic, may require
the modification Of specific mode Of pro-
lection, but II must be preserved in some
other more acceptable shape.
| All that was settled in 1916, in 1924, and in
1923, was, that protection should be afforded
by high duties, rifaouf regard 10 the amount Of
the rsrsRus rhieh they migh yield During that
whole period, We had public debt which
absorbed all the SURPRISES beyond the ord-
nary wants Of government. Between 1916
aud 1924, the revenue was liable to great
fluctuations, vibrating between the extremes
of nineteen and thirty six millions Of dollars.
IL there were more revenue, more debt As
paid n less, a smaller amount as reimburs-
ed. Such was sometimes the deficiency OF
the revenue, that II became necessary, to the
ordinary expenses Of the government, to
trench upon the ten millions annually set n
part, as sinking fund, TO extinguish the pub
lie debt. II the public debt remained undis-
charged, or we had any other proper and
practical mode Of sppropristing the surplus
revenue, the form Of protection, by high du-
ties, might be continued without public detri-
ment. II is the payment Of the public debt,
then, and the arrest OF internal improve.
nents by the exercise Of the veto, that unset
tie that specific form Of protection. Nobody
lsupposes, o: proposes, that we should CON
tinue To levy, by means ofhigh duties, large
annual surplus, of which no practical use can
he made, for The sake Of the incidental proiec-
tion - ich they afford. The Secretary Of the
Treasury estimates that surplus, on the ex-
istirg scale Of duties, and with the other
sources Of revenue, ut six millions annually.
IN annual accumulation, at that rate, would,
in few years, bring into the treasury the whole
currency Of the country, to lie there inactive
aud dormant.
This view Of the condition Of the country
has impressed every pubic man with the ne
Icessity Of some modification of the prime pile
of protection, SO far as il depends upon high
duties. The Senator from Massachusetts
feels il and hence, IN the resolutions which
he submitted, he proposes to reduce the du-
ties, 50 as 10 limit the amount Of the revenue
to the wants Of the government. With him,
ia min a..
ordinate object. If protection cannot be ell
ljoyed after such q reduction Of duties as he
thinks ought TO be made, 1t Is not to be ex-
tended. lie says specific duties, and the
power OF discrim nation, are preserved by
his resolutions. So they may be under the
operation Of the bill. The only difference
between the two schemes is, that the bill, IN
! the maximum which It provides. suggests q
! certain limit, whilst his resolutions lay down
+ none. Below that maximum, the prime ipie
OF discrimination and specific duties may be
applied. Tho Senator from Psnusy iVania
MIR. Dalasl who, equally With the Senator
. from Massachusetts,, - opposed 10 this biil,
would have agreed 10 the bill if il had fixed
thirty instead Of twenty per ceDtum; and lac
would have dispensed with home valuation,
and come down 10 the revenue standard In
fye or six years. Now, MIR. President prefer
and think the manufacturing interest will
; prefer, nine years Of adequate protection
home valuations, and 20 per cent, TO the plaI
Of the Senator from Pennsy lvsnis.
br. President, want TO be perfectly un-
ders,ood as TO the motives which prompted
mo to offer this MEASURE. ! repeat what !
said on the introduction # il, that they are,
first, % preserve the manufacturing interest
and, secondly, 90 quiet tho country. believe
! the American system TO be In the KrcatesI
danger; aud believe u can be placed on a
better aud safer foundation nj this session.
Than At the next. heard, With surpri.e. NV
friend from Massachusetts say that nothin Z
had occurred within the lat SIX months "a
increase its hazard. ! enireat Tim 90 review
that opinion. Is II correct IL the issue OF
numerous elections, including that Of the
highest officer Of tn Government. nothing
Is the xpicit recOmnc 0dation ofthat officer.
~ his message At the opening Of the session,
sustained as he Is, by a recent trium phau,
election, nothingl IL lars declaration IN his
proclamation, that the burdens Of the south
ought ~ be relieved, nOthingi Is the intro
ductIOn OF a bill into the House Of Represen
uves during this session sanctioned by the head
of the treasury aud the standardization, pr -
trati0g the greater part Of the manufactures
~ the country. nothing Are the Increa,iag
discOutents nothing IL the tendency Of re-
cent events 10 unite the Whole south. moth ng :
What have We not y itnesaed in this chamber ,
FRIEND. Of the standardization bursting all the
. ties which seemed indissoiabIy 10 unite them
TO is chief, aud, with few exceptions soutii
4 Of the Potomac, opposing, and vehementy OPP
posing, sfavorIte MEASURE 81 that sdninlsira.
too. which three short months ago they con-
tribJted t0estabish let We not deceive our
selves. Now u thc time 20 adjust the question
~ msnner satisfactory TO both partics Put
% Oh until the next session, ard tie alicrnatIts
may, and probably thea would b. q speedy and
ruinous reduction 81 The tsrlf, or evil war
With the entire South.
u s we'll known that the majority Of the
dominant party is adverse 81 The tariff There
are many honorable exceptions, The senator
from New Jepey fAir. Dickersonl among
them. But foF the eNertions q the other party,