Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-09
ear, ending in September, 1884, the domestic

nt IS s,rs nb,r from the less productive lands of
Ma.ylsnd Virginia. the Caronas ana georgia. 70 ,ne
more fertile region of Alabama and AliSsssippi MS
rJdsr was principally induced by the high price
O: co,on in 3H455 and &c. and has, TO great extent,
ceased with the that produced It, This source OF
increased production, from its very nature has lis mt
and il is believed that it has nearly attained that limit
IA should be remembered, too, that the increase OF The
value of our exports 35 and 3G, not owing en-
tre.y to increased prodnction hot partly TO the high
price of cotton in those years cnce we see the export
fell 1 millions in 1897, and millions more IN 1870.
10 moi think that the average for the next three
years will be great ii has been for Tie last lhree
bur, allow WILL and the increase IN the ouy
TO be derived from The customs Will not Keep pace win
the reduction under the Of the Cd March, 1888 Con
s.derably more than half OF imports are GUY Tree,
and the dsproporon is annually increasing. Conse,
queny the per centage OF increase IN our exports ana
imports must be Than twice Us large as the fae ="
reduction Of the duties keep the receipts stationary
If this reasoning be correct cannot anticipate lhat
the amount Of revenue from the customs Will be aug
mened in the next three years But II 1t be not aug
mened, and If distribute the nett proceeds OF the
sales of the Public L1nds there must be deficiency ~
the revenue 1t will be that in the estimate winch
have presented Of the pts from The customs and OF
the probable expenditures, have not aimed at strict
financial accuracy It will be that have moi gone
into much detail Had done So it would have greatly
strengthened my position But desired 10 put The sub,
ect upon footing the farness OF which none couId
dispute Blu, according to this mode OF reaso nng,
which yields every thing that is disputed, think es
tablished the fact that if absolute Distribution taxes
place that there will be deficiency in the revenue
We'll Mr. Speaker, how will the deficiency be supplied:
Will the Government take the odous step OF sending
tax CATERERS among the people to make direct levy
Is there any here chimercal as 10 believe that
Congress would take unpopular q step? No. sir we
all know what would be the recOurse-the duties upon
impusis would he increased and the Tariff controversy,
which | mad hoped was clnSed forever, would he
again opened But gentlemen contend that. 1t yGu
distribute the proceeds Of the lands, and thereby d.
minsh the revenue, yon compel the Government 10
cut down the expenditures prGporonably should
consider this, in oil respects, desirable consum'
nation that, if | believed the effect contemplated
would be produced would al all hazards 20 for the
distribution. But do not believe that will produce
this effect On the contrary, believe that the effect OF
an unconditional distribution would be not only to in
the duties but 10 augment The expenditures Ad-
mt for the snke Of the argument that my reasoning TO
shew that if the distribution takes place The revenue Will
be insufficient def,ay the economical expenditures, is
erroneous vet IL seems 20 me, that II e distribution
made the necessity Of increase Of the Tariff, Of
great and sudden reduction Of the expenditures, viii
cause combination between the Tarl!l interests, aHd
the lha, promoted by large expenditures, oT
the double pu pose OF keerrG HE expenditures and
Of raising the duties. You revive that combination
which made the American system SO formidable. All u!
the representatives from sections ct country favorable
the Tariff will vote 70. every sort of appropriation,
because it will make an increase OF duties necessary
And the other hand the representatives. OF those Sc
tons which prof, by Governmental xlendures, viii
always vote in favor Of high taxes in order 10 raise
ncy 10 be expended The dsrlbulipn then, far from
causing reduction IN the expenditures, by giving
preext for the disturbing Of the compromise will
combination Of interests which will inevitably lead To
their increase And Sir is II mere idle fear TO apprehend
that the policy Of laying duties for the purpose Of c,ec
ton will be revived. If peteXti is afforded las not
one Of the grca, political leaders (Nr WeLScr) already
taken ground in favor Of !cvivng the Tariff pocy: He
voted against the compromise act, and he insists that The
policy introduced, after lo42 is destructive 10 the best
interests Of the country; and he has given notice tia;
he WILL at proper time, move in the matter And
shall Of The South afford him pretext even for that
move' Sir, believe that it absolute distribution
takes place the step will be necessary Admit that in
this wrong yet is there any that will deny that
thereby give Them plausible preiext inr II? And,
Sir with that preteIt know the result. The ftct
that the will not be wanted for the constu
tlonol Of The Government will be restraint We
saw fiom 1916 10 1882, that the duties were almost an.
nually raised, Notwithstanding the charges upon the
treasury continually decreased, and notwiihsland.
ing too the active and ever angry opposition wagsd by
The South.
With these convictions Mr. Speaker cannot vote in
favor Of an absolute and unconditional distribution.
would at vote in favor Of increase Of the
Tariff because the effect would be the same, and The
latter course would he open and manly. Besides,
the resolution of the Committee will be likely
produce the effect because the measure it proposes
stands better chance of il addresses lsel!
TO the cupdIly of The States. Now, Sir, ask if there
be any here who is willing To the Tariff
versy opened again; When IT was the only source Of
dscord between The different sections Of this country,
the Union strong enough TO stand it. But
since then another lar ulreful
Either alone is ALMOST than the Union
Withstand But Unite them and what would be the
sequence? The Government would rot continue in
existence month. The first collision between the
different sections would lead q conflict which in.
stitutions could survive and the horrors.of which,
iEag naton could picture.
Having assigned 10 the House the which de-
eide oppose an unconditional distribution, will
beg lis indulgence while explain the operation Of my
amendment. In The frs. place, il is ptedca,ed upon The
declaration, that The present adjustment of The Tariff
not 10 be disturbed. In the second place it provides
that if under present system Of balance
should accumulate in The treasury, may be distributed
among the States The for standing by the pre-
sent adjustment Of the Tariff have already gwen and
think here show that should not be disturbed. Blu,
if under i, surplus accpmulaes in the asurv wha,
had better be done with it, Is it better that shall re.
main in the treasury 10 swell Executive patronage,
be squandered extravaganza nd corruption that
shall be distributed just or!uns amongst the States:
IL seems 10 very clear that the latter course is the
Proper one. AS nearly as IS practicable it the
money 10 the place from whence gully taken
the pockets Of the people But the operation of my
amendment would produce many valuable results. In
the f'S place. II would une every interest in the
try in favor Of economy in the administration Of the
Government, in order that there might be surplus 10
distribute The Tariff States would not favor LARGE ap
preparations, because the motive which has heretofore
induced them TO take that course, TO wit that il would
make high duties necessary, would not exist, nasmuch
The scheme provides that the duties event are To
be raised. But on the contrary. they would oppose
uavagance that surplus ght be left 10 distribute. In
fine as have already said, every interest, with excep
ion which would be feeble alone would be united in favor
ofeconomy. IT, as anticipate, Mr. Spcaker,the scheme
would lead to economy, would not lhe result be most
valuable one: II would not only the money OF the
people from being wasted nr as valuable as this result
would be, still more valuable would be produced,)
but 1t would have most powerful tendency cur,ai
Executive patronage The patronage Of the President
Hgeauy dependent upon the amount Of the and
expenditures The larger the revenue to be collected and
dsbursed, the greater will be the number of officers re-
quired to co!lec, it, and each of the offices will be more
lucrative, and will be sought for by men Of higher
capacities and more extensive influence we have
Governors Of great States becoming active Pres
dental parzans Tia, they might be rewarded with
Collec,orships In the Custom Houses of New York
and Philadelphia, each, there is Ex.Governor-
This wnuld not be the Il Ihe &c L..