Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-13
CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW TARIFF.
In the Senate on Friday, Mr.. FRELlNG-
HUYSEN offered the following resolution:

In the Senate on Friday, Mr.. FRELlNG-
HUYsEN offered the following resolution:
RESOLVED. That the Secretary Of the Treasu-
rvbe directed to inform the Senate of the con-
sfruction which has been given, by that Depart
ment, to the act passed at the last session OF
Congress, entitled an act to modify the act
of the 18th July, 1882, and all other acts impos-
ing duties on Imports and also to furnish CO.
pies of such Instructions as may have been
given to collectors, regulating their duty under
the said act
Mr.. FRELINGHUYSEN asked for the con-
sideration of the resolution at this time, it being
important to obtain early information as to the
construction put by the Treasury Department
on the Tariff Act of 1882. Different construc-
tons had been put on the act and it was i'm
portant to determine which is the correct one
Mr. CLAY expressed his qualification with
the presentation of the resolution under con-
sideration, by the gentleman tor New Jersey
He had himself received information from TWO
of our most important Northern ports. accord
ing to which, a most unexpected and unJustl-
fable construction has been given, by the Irea-
sury Department. to the Compromise Act OF
the last session. 1t will be recOllected, by the
Senate, that by the act of 1882, cotton fabrics
are subject to duty of IS per cent. ad valo-
rem, and to a further duty in the form OF MI
nimums of 80 cents and 35 cents The compro-
mise act of the last session, provides for a BIZ
ennial reduction ften per cent. upon all dtl-
ties imposed by previous acts.
1t dispenses with no existing duties upon pro-
tected articles, but from the first of January
1884 subjects them all, without specifying their
denomination, to the reduction for which it pro-
vides During the passage ofthe act, the opin-
ion was expressed, both by the gentleman from
Massachusetts,, near me (Mr. WEBsTER) and by
myself one supporting and the other opposing
the bill, that the contemplated reduction would
operate only on the % per cent. ad valorem,
and not on the minimums in the case OF the ar
ticle of cotton, which would remain unaffected.
He (Mr. Clay had heard with some surprise,
before the meeting of Congress, .that, notwith-
standing this cotemporaneous Interpretation -of
the act, Secretary McLane, had decided, that
the reduction applied both to the mlnlmums and
to the 30 per cent
But, sir, ! cannot find language to express
the establishment excited in my mind, by the re-
ception of intelligence yesterday, confirmed by
concurring information received this day, that
the Treasury department has undertaken, by in
depreciation, to dispense altogether with the mini
NUNS and, by one fatal spring, to bring the cotton
| duty down from about S0per cent. to "a l-2 ad
valorem If this information be true, (and he
still hoped there might be mistake about it, )cer-
tain ruin and inevitable destruction are, at this
moment, impending over the greater part OF
our cotton manufactures, and especially the
important branch of the printing business. And
If such an Interpretation, as is supposed, has
been given, we caunot too soon know it, nor too
promptly apply the proper remedy. Should a
remedy be necessary, | shall call, with entire
confidence, upon the good faith, the honor and
the probity Of Congress, and particularly upon
the Southern portion of it, to preserve our work
of peace unviolated, and to avert the threat
eneC destruction of great and pervading inte-
rests. For himself (Said Mr.. O. he was de-
sirious to see the act of the last session exc
cuted honestly and faithfully, and to see a fair
experiment made of the system for which it
provides.
Mr.. WEBSTER said, that the subject under
consideration had never come to his knowledge
until this morning. He had learned this morn
ing that construction, such as had been sta
ted by the Senator from Kentucky, had been
put on the law ofthe last session; and he agreed
that such construction, on the part of the Trea-
sury, would produce the prostration of the en-
tire cotton mandatory, except, probably, that
OF those OF the cOarSeSt quality. Such was the
character of the Information which he had re-
ceived this morning from those who had seen
this construction and seen it with wonder and
dlsmay. 1t was true, as stated by the Senator
from Kentucky, that, when this bill was before
the Senate at the last session. he Mr. w. had
expressed the opinion which the gentleman had
attributed to him. 1t was equally true, that he
had, at the time, considered it as question on
which the minds Of gentlemen mi ght reasona-
bly, have doubts. He spoke, at the time, to the
Senator from Delaware, near him, MI NAU-
DAIN) and also to the Senator from Connecticut
(Mr. ToMLINsoN) asking them to express, in
writing, their construction of the act. They
complied, and their construction agreed with
that of the Senator from Kentucky and himself
But he then explained to them that there was
another construction, a very improper he
agreed; but which might be put on this act; and
1t was this view, among many others, which led
him to oppose that act of compromise. He was
very sure that there was no such construction
in the mind of the Senator from Kentucky, and
that nothing could be further from the intention
OF the gentlemen around him, who had voted
tor the bill, than to sanction such construction
as that to which he referred. Still, it was not
improper for him to say, that he pointed it out
as possible. He agreed as to the absolute ne
cessity of calling for the imputed construction,
and if it should be found to be true, then unless
Congress gives immediate relief cotton inter-
ests are struck down by this one deadly blow
of Treasury construction and millions on mil
lions would be insufficient to repair the mischief
which would thus be done. 1t was construc-
ton which had come upon those interested, like
shock as if all these great interests had by
one attack, been undermined and sunk into the
earth.