Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-02-15

MIR. CLAY's OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

MI. SLAf sottI, TIC WOuiu bOW tdhe q Wv" vs.
some sf The objections which would be made TO
the bill. 1t might be- said that the act was pro-
spective, that It bound our successors. and that
we had DO power thus TO bind them. twas true
that the act was prospective, and so was almost
every act which we ever passed; but we could
repeal Il the next day. 1t was the established
| usage 10 give all acts prospective operation
In every tariff law, there were some provisions
which 90 into operation Immediately, and others,
at future time. Each Congress egislated ac-
cording To their own views of propriety; their
acts did not bind their successors. but created
a species Of public faith which would not rashly
be broken. But, if this bill should go into
operation, as he hoped even against hope. that
il might, he had not doubt that it would be adj
hered to by all parties. There was but one
contingency which would render change ne
cessary, and that was the intervention OF
war. which was provided for in the bill. The
hands of Congress we're left united Ill this event.
anu they would be at liberty to. resort to any
mode Of taxation which they might propose. Bat,
il we suppose peace tn continue, there would be
no motive for disturbing the arrangement, but
on the contrary, every motive tn carry u INTO ef
feet In the next place, it viii be objected to
the bill, BY the friends Of the protective policy, ct
whom he held himself to b. one, for his mind
it abandoned the power Of protection. But, he
contended. in the first place, that suspension
of the exercise of the power was not an abandon
ment of it; for the puwer was in the Cnnstiiu
,ion according TO our theory-was put there by
its trainers, and GUILD only be dislodged by the
people. After the year 1912, the bill provided
that the poSe should be exercised in certain
mode There were tour modes by which the in
dustrv Of the country should be protected:
First the absolute prohibition OF rival foreign ar.
ticles That was totally uninterrupted by The bill:
bat il was competent to the wisdom OF the Gu
vernment to exert the power whenever they
wished Second. the imposition of duties in
such manner to have no reference tn any OBJ
iect but revenue. When we had large public
debt IN 1916. The duues yielded 81 millions, aud
paid so much more Of the debt, and subsequent.
ly they yielded but eight or tn millions. and
paid 50 much less of the dcb,; sometimes we
had to trench on the sinking fund. Now we had
no public debt to absorb the surplus revenue.
and no motive for continuing the duties. No
man can lOnk at the condition ut the country
and say that we Gao carry on this system, with
accumulating revenue, and no practicable way
of expanding it. The third mode was attempt
ed last session, in Resolution which he had the
honor to submit last year, and which in fact ul-
timatey formed the basis Of the act which final.
" passed bath Houses. This was to raise as
much revenue as was wanted for the use OF the
Government, and no more, but to raise it from
the protected and not from the unprotected art
cles He would say that he regretted most deep
iy that the greater part Of the country would not
suffer this principle to prevail. 1t ought to pre-
vall-and the day, in his opinion, would come
when it would be adopted as the permanent pnI-
CIV Of the country. Shali we legislate for our
own wants or that of foreign country? TOpro-
tect our own interes'sin opposition 10 foreign e
gi,Ia;ion, was the basis OF this system. The
fourth mode in which protection could be afford.
ed To domestic industry was to admit tree OF
duty every article which aided the operations OF
the manufacturers. These were the four nudes
for projecting our industry; ard to those who
say that the bill abandons the power Of p;otc'.
ton. he wuuld reply that it did nor touch that
power; and that the fourth mode. so far from be-
ing abandoned, IS extended and upheld bv the
bill. The most that can he objected to the bill
bv those with whom he had co-operated to sup
port the protective system, was that, in consIc
ration OF nine and half years Of peace, certain
~, aud stability, the manufacturers reiinqu,shed
some advantages which they now enjoyed. -
What was the principle which had alwavs been
con ended for 10 TIN, and in the other Hnu-e?-
That, after the accumulation Of capital and skill,
the manufacturers would stand alone. una'drd
by the Go, ernneut, in competition with the I'M
ported articles from any quarter. NV give IA
time; cease all Huctuation, and agllat,nns. for
nine years, and the manufacturers. IN ever,
branch, will sustain themselves against fnreign
competition. 1--we Can see our way clearly for
nine wears to come. we can safely leave to po.ta-
rity TO provide for the rest IL the Tariff BIZ
overthrown, as NAV be it, fate next Session. the
country will be plunged into extreme distress
and agitation. |, said Mr.. CLAY, want harmony.
wish tn see the restoration OF those ties which
have carried Us trumphantly through two wars.
delight not in this perpetual turmoil. Let US
have peace, and become once more united as
baud OF brothers.
1t may BE- said tina, the farming interest cannot
subsis' under d twenty per cent. ad vaorem du-
,y His reply was, sufficient for the day is
the evil thereof" He would leave il to the dav
when the reduction took effect. to settle the
question When the reduction takes place, and
the farmer cannot live under 1t, what will he do!
| will tell you, said Mr. CLAY. what he ought
q =. e..