Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-02-28
BY THE STEAM -BOAT.
I'M PO IL II A N T!!

ing, received by the steamboat, this
morning, furnish Washington dates
down to Monday night, as will be seen
by the following Correspondence of the
Commercial Advertiser.
WASHINGTON Cry, Feb. 25, 1893.
Political affairs at the federal city yet
remain in statu quo. Much has been
said and but little hitherto done, though
We have every prospect that this even
Ing will terminate with the passage of a
tariff bill, in the same words and figures,
both in Senate and in the House of Re-
presentatives.
Mr. Clay and Mr. Webster have shown
Il liberal disposition to compromise, and
although they differ widely in details, it
is obvious that the bill of the one gentle
man, and the resolutions Of the other,
look to the same end.
Mr. Webster to-day made one Of his
most powerful speeches in opposition to
Mr. Cluy's bill; but it was against the de-
tails, and not against the principle of
compromise, that he contended. The
features Of the bill which appeared the
most Objectionable to Mr. w. are those
by which specific duties are relinquished,
and a general system Of ad valorem du-
ties substituted. These, Mr. w. con-
tended, were impractcable, and calcu-
lated to produce ruin and confusion 70 the
manufacturing interests. Mr. W. also
opposed the extent TO which the bill pro-
poses to carry the reduction, not beIiev-
ing that protection Of 20 per cent, is
sufficient. Mr. Clay's speech, in reply,
was equally as great as MIR Webster's;
and it was worthy Of the Importance Of
the subject, to see these two powerful
champions contending against each 9TH
er for the first time. The respect, too,
with which the opinions and arguments
of each other was treated by the other,
was also gratifying. Mr. Clay express
Iy declared that he thought the protoc-
tive system in extreme danger; and that
it would be far better for the manufac-
turers, for whose interests he felt the
greatest solicitude, to secure themselves
by the present bill, than to take the chan
ces Of the next session of Congress,
when, from the constitution Of both iiou-
ses, and the known opinions and feelings
of the Executive, Il worse one would be
passed. 1t is now almost 8 o'clock, and
the debate seems brought nearly to a
close. We may therefore safely calcu-
late that the question will be taken be-
fore the adjournment. Messrs Bell and
Smith are the only other gentlemen who
have addressed the Senate to day; the
former in favor, the latter agaist the bill.
In the House of Representatives,, af-
ter stormy debate, which lasted nearly
the whole day, the revenue collection
bill was postponed until to morrow, with,
out a division; a previous motion to post
pone it until Wednesday having failed
Yeas 81, nays 80. The tariff bill wa:
then taken up, and Mr. Lctchcr movee
to strike out all after the enacting clause
and to insert MIR Clay's bill (the ont
pending in the Senate) as substitute
This motion requiring unanimous con
sent, was objected to by MIR Dickerson
and Of course failed. Mr. Letcher thei
= varied his motion, and moved to recon
nit the bill to committee Of the Whole
with instructions to adopt the substitute
and to report on it that day. This mo
ton having prevailed, ayes SO, noes ID
the committee rose and reported the bill
and it was ordered to second reading
Thus you will perceive that Mr. Clay
bill is at this moment before both Houses
and it is not impossible that II may pas
both before to morrow night; that is tina
the Senate bill will pass to night, and tn
House bill to morrow.
Postscript! Feb 25, at night.--My hf'
letter having been put in the post oihce
hasten, just in time to save tho mail,
say that the tariff bill, precisely in tn
words of Mr. Clay's bil) has been order
ed to a third reading in the House, 10
80, n, mot;on oc Mr. CLAW as soon q