Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-05

cannons Of the press, and not the cannons OF
artillery. when instead Of steel bayonets, steel
pens might be the weapons. and the cartouche box
would be laid aside tor the ballot box. On the
question Of protection, the bill provided protec-
ton Tor niue years, and then afterwards for pro-
lection of 90 per cent. The amount IS nothing.
If the bull protects TO small amount. It admits
tn e pnwcr to protect TO large amount.
Mr.. SPRAGuE replied to what had fallen :from
the last speaker, aud expressed his regret that
the gentleman from Georgia should make his
speech run counter tn his vote. H. repeated
what he had formerly said that this was a eonces-
sion from the strong TO the weak; and argued
that change had taken place in consequence OF
the influence Of the desire Of concession. IN the
opinions of many who we're opposed to any ie
gislative action. II the spirit which ran through
the speech of the Senator from Georgia was the
prevailing spirit in the South. there would have
been found in his part of the country different
spirit than that OF concession.
Mr. HOLMES said he was astoni<hed that any
one should speak of consistency IN his presence.
Every thing he saw or heard convinced him that
he the only consistent man IN the Senate
The Senator from Massachusetts threw charges
of inconsistency against South Carolina, and the
latter threw them back, and so on and so forth.
He was bound to believe them all, as they were
all honorable men, and consequently he was
bound TO believe that they were all inconsist.
ent. He then went into an examination OF what
had been said pro aud con, OIL the subject OF the
pledge contained in the bill. In reference to
the representative obligation. he was happy to
be supported by his friend from Delaware, who
had >aid that he did not view himself as the ex'
elusive representative Of Delaware. Now, ne
did not regard himself as the exclusive represen-
tative of his assumed constituents; and when he
received some time since instructions from those
who, like himself, were merely reprcseDt atives
Of others. he thought them entitled to any thing
rather than respect. He had answered them,
and he believed they were sincerely sorry they
had ever passed their resolutions: tor what with
his answer, aud what with their disposition OF IT.,
they had managed to make themselves supremacy
ridiculous. He went on to state that the North
ern manufacturers would deem themselves suf
ficientIy protected by this bill, and that the
possibility was that the next application tor pro
lection " ouId be from the South lie then de.
clared that all the legislative efforts which might
be brought against the manufacturers would
never be found able to put down Yankee industry
and Yankee enterprise.
Mr.. WRIGHT then rose, and stated the defects
which he found IN the hill. He objected to the
proposed rate of reduction, Tor the eight years
and to the want Of uniform rule Of valuation.
H. objected to the inequality Of the protee tinn
gwen by this bill. HIS next objection VAS thar
while the duty on negro cloth exists, il refuses to
impose any duty on the material which enters in
10 that fabric. and which is grown IN abundance
IN THIS country He also objected to the system
e home valuation. which he deemed to BE- I'M
practicable. or If practicable. most unequal; and
he objected further to the abolition OF all specific
and discriminating duties, and substituting a
mode unj Just and oppressive. He would not dis
cuss the question of the power of Congress TO
protect our manufactures by imposing duties
on foreign articles, but he thought that this
Bill did not suffi iently recognize that power
Ga this point. he quoted the language of the ad
dress of the Free Trade Convention winch met
last year. He expressed his own opinion to be
IN favor of laying impnSts tor the purpose of rails
ing sufficient revenue for the wants OF the coun.
try So far. he was assured that the power to
impose duties, was vested in Congress.
His strongest objection 10 the bill was that it
endeavors to biEd the action of future Congress.
es. He considered this as provision which was
pueriIe 10 itself, and one which would never b.
considered as binding. He then viewed the cir
cumstances under which Congress was called up.
on to act on this bill, imperfect as it is. H.
knew that he should be charged with lagisiaiins
under the influence OF his fears. He could not
suffer his fear, to govern his conc us'ons. But
he would not disregard them. There had been
a deep and settled discomfort in certain portion
Of the country against our Legislation. and he
could not bring himself to regard that discomfort
lightly.
Under the expression Of that feeling. Congress
had done what, If they had not done. whouId have
left the Union dissolved. The operation Of that
disc ontent was against the whole body of laws
for the collection of the revenue; and would. II
carried ON, have destroyed all the means OF the
Government. And without the purse no Go.
vernment could exist H. had therefore come
to the question deeply impressed with the con-
victlon. that it was his duty To give his vote to
prevent such an evil H. had been long Of the
opinion that the revenue ought to be reduced
H. lad also been long impressed with sense Of
IT,, in.quait of the tariff'sysfem. No one had
-. Ia hIrh I,,n