Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-05
CONGRESS.
in SENATE, FaIDAY. MARCH /.

as passed by the House Of Representatives. lin
effect Mr.. Claws billy being under considera.
ton. aud ON its passage,
Mr.. ROBBINS spoke at some length, in opposi.
ton to the bill. He objected to the idea which
seemed to pervade the bill, that the protective
policy Of the country, was AN evil; an evil to be
deprec ated. and only to be tolerated for moment,
TO prevent greater evil. This policy was now
placed IN the situation Of State criminal con-
demned to die, but allowed short time to pre-
pare hi,usef foe death, since die he must-hls
doom being fixed and irreversible. He tunk
view of the true character of the resources oil
the country, and the obligation which true poll
cy imposed on US to cherish and protect them =
With the correct path 50 distinctly marked be-
fore Us, he expressed his great astOnishment that
Congress should b. unwilling to pursue it; that
there should always appear reluctance to adopt
measures looking to the development and judi.
cious direction Ut these resources. and readl-
ness to rescind them where they had been adopt.
ed.
In reference to what had been said as to the
preservation of the principle OF protection by
this BILL he asked what was the use Of preserving
,he principle OF protection, if protection itself
was to be Abandoned. He deprecated this bill
as suicidal 10 ITS effects upun the srea, interests,
and the general prosperity OF the country What
Great Britain. with her thousand ships, and her
Wellington armies, could not accomplish, was
given to her by this single act of our own. II
had been sand that this till was necessary to pre-
serve the Union, and that without it The Union
would be dissolved; but he questioned the cor
rectness Of this view, and the policv ui adopting
this measure in the present attitude Of South
Carolina.
Mr. CALHOUN then SAID, that although he OBJ
iected to many Of the details ct this bill, he
should vote for it. lie thougla-the time too long.
the descent of the duties too slow. and the home
valuation as exceptonable; but all these are
countervailed by the general spirit and princi-
pie Of the bill lie stated that he did not regard
the bill as containing any plighted pledge, but
as measure adopted TO meet peculiar state
OF things H. believed tina, no attempt would be
made to disturb the arrangement of this bill, and
il it was. that 1t would be repelled with indlgna.
ton He further believed that as tar as this bill
is concerned, peace will be given to the land:
but he must say, with deep regret. that there Is
another bill which had originated in this BODY,
and had Just been returned with the sanction at
the other House, which would disturb that peace.
1t would not ia it Immediately, but it was pre-
cedent u the most dangerous character. He
believed, that this bull Vas repeal OF the Con-
stitution, and, I" so help me Gud!" said h., -
would rather have that instrument repealed an
the Face of it, He viewed it as a measure
which must inesitabl, tend TO consolidation 1t
would not be acguiesced in. Ii would be re-
sisted, not by iurce, but by long course Of
public opposition, which would never cease until
the bll shall be expunged with disgrace from the
statute book. The verdict of Congress was
against South Carolina: but there was an appeal
which would lie to the people The great Re-
publican party would again be rallied and re uni
ted. as it was in 1898, and BY its force this evil
will be corrected, or else the liberties of this
country are gone for ever. lie rejoiced that one
subject OF controversy was settled and put to
rest, but he deeply regretted that another should
be made which presented different issue, aud one
Of most formidable character.
Mr.. FRELINoHUYsEN then made some re-
marks in explanation and justifcato Of the vote
he should give. He admitted that when this bill
was originally introduced, he had strong doubts
as to its wisdom, deeming it to be precedent
which was of doubtful, or even dangerous ten
dency. But the result Of free interchange of
opinions, and Of the knowledge which he had ac-
uured from the manufacturers Of his own State,
had been the removal of all these doubts, and
conviction that this measure ought to pass as a
peace Offering to the South. He adverted to the
growing dissatisfaction in relation to the protec.
tive policy which prevailed in the South, and
which rendered it necessary that something
should be done to check the further increase ct
that policy. He complimen,ed his honorable
friend from Kentucky, for the grea, effort he had
now made to restore prace and harmony to the
country, aud stated that, however that gentleman
might be assailed. and bis motives misrepresen.
ted BY the presses Of the country, the time would
soon arrive when his course would be correctly
understood, and properly appreciated. In his
correspondence with some Of the manufacturers
Of his State to whom he had applied for informa-
ton, he had ascertained that the guarantee Of its
permanence which this bill contained on its face
and the circumstance in which it was enacted.
would be Of Ear greater advantage to the manu-.
fac,urers, than high duties. on the steadiness Of
which, no reliance could be placed. He read an
extract Of letter from one OF these manulac.
turers to this effect; and then declared that he
was satisfied that his course Of duty was TO give
his vote for a bill which he was assased on the