The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-30

when those heretofore opposed TO US, are willing
" auoP' our own principle: that Of taxing luxu-
nes, sustained as it is by every writer on politi-
car economy, great and small.
! DO not pretend that there is any consti-
tunonal or legal disability to disturb it, But
there are considerations not less forcible with
me than either | feel that, as a South Ca
rohhiaI, am bound by il, whatever may be
the case with Others regard il very much in
the iight OF treaty, and treaty made almost
on the held ofbattle. What will be the just i'm
putalion upon US II we now violate il? Why,
SIR, y VIII be that under the pressure of circum
stances and the influence Of feelings not the
most honorable TO us. We Submitted TO terms
Instantaneous and unjust, which we now seek
the iirst opportunity to violate. The whole tenor
OF mat act shows that il was intended as ter
hinaiion OF that too-excltlng and dangerous con-
troVersy-not as a mere truce--as final extn-
guishment OF It's fires-not as a temporary smo-
thering oil them, that they might hereafter break
OUT WIN more consuming fury. can, with
ruin say, that have seen no single individual
IN South Carolina who did not regard il as a per-
manent adjustment Of the whole matter, and
Tor that reason, namey--regarding it as a secu-
rlty against all future agitation-were the peo-
pie OF the State reconciled to many of its
| provisions, and, amongst others, to that one in
particular which exempted Injuries from taxa
ton Its great error TO regard that act as ter
say that II begins then. The annual reductions
| previous TO that period only a preparation,
| gradual and proper, for the ultimate and perma-
| nent settling ofthe question.
DR.. Cooper, not the least ardent and violent on
this subject at the close of his collection of all
the leading documents of the notification con
troyersy, uses the following language:
f" Mr.. Clay introduced into Congress the act
known as Mr. Clay's compromising law. | hope
nNHf - mill g 4
ed TO be, full and final settlement of the tariff
contest"
Mr.. Calhoun used in the Senate, whilst this
act was under discussion, the following Ian
guage:
"Among the objections 10 the bill, he thought
the reduction of the duties, in the first part of
the series, too slow, and the last too rapid, and
that the time for the final reduction was too re-
mote.
ale also objected to the home valuation, but
he thought these objections outweghed by the
consideration that the bill provided as TO the final
result that the revenues should come down to
the just and economical wants of the Govern
ment With the contemplation of this result, as
to its final operation, he believed il would be ac-
cepted of by the South and that peace and har-
mony, as far as this subject was concerned,
would be restored to the country"
What is meant by the final result and the final
operation, if this law is to cease in 1892 Then
il is that the tariff is to come down to the revenue
standard by the final reduction-and, as can
only understand it, this final reduction reconciled
the very distinguished speaker to the slow pro-
cess of reduction and to other principles of
the act. What is meant by restoring harmony?
A paltry truce in which both parties would be ar
ranging their armor for another and fiercer con-
hict2
Again, he says in the same speech: ''If this
measure is acquiesced in it will be the termina-
ton of that long controversy which began in
the convention, and has been continued under
various fortunes to the present day." which is
the plain and obvious meaning of this language.
Was it that he regarded this as he says, Gas
termination" of this protracted and dangerous
controversy, and therefore fit subject for the
congratulations of every patriot or as merely
an act Of ordinary legislation, imposing no
sort OF obligation upon either of the parties,
which might, with perfect propriety be repealed
before any OF It's provisions were executed as
giving no security for repose from this exciting
controversy, and therefore not only unimport-
ant in itself, but unbccoming the dignity Of the
position which South Carolina had assumed
and paltry suspension of a struggle, at
the head of which he had so long stood.
Did South Carolina engage in this struggle
with all its odium and its dangers, for such
boon as that2 No, sir no; with full perception
of the dangers and difficulties with which she
was surrounded, she believed that the questions
involved were of vital, primary and permanent
importance, and never would have been satisfied
with any thing less than what she regarded as
permanent security for her rights and the prin-
ciples involved.
Mr.. Calhoun again, in 1887, uses the follow
ing language, and be it remembered that II was
used in proposition to reduce the duties on sail,
an article of primary importance as necessary;
and the article perhaps more than any other, OBJ
jectionable to the anti-tarf party, of which he
was confessedly the head-an article, to the duty
on which he was then still opposed, but agreea-
Bile to him, as a reduction of that duty would
have been he was restrained from voting for 1t
by regard to the sacredness of the compromise.
"The annunciation by the Chairman of the
Committee of Finance, that this bill was framed
and introduced on the assumption, that the act
Of 1893, was no longer to be respected, gave TO
il an importance which demanded the most Sc
rious consideration. That act closed the tariff
controversy between the North and the South; |
and the question now presented IS, shall II again
be opened Shall we reopen controversy,
which during the long period from 1921 to 1888, |
artated the country, governed its legislation,
controlled the Presidential election, and finally |
shook its institutions to the centre Shall we of
the South, in particular, assent 10 open this Tor
midabe controversy--we who are, on this sub
ject in permanent minority. Shall we agree to
surrender share Of interest in the act OF 1888,
an act which has already repealed from twenty,
to twenty five millions Of dollars annually, and
which ifleft undisturbed, will in few years take
off ten more, and reduce the duties to the Con
sttutional and legitimate wants of the Govern
ment Will we agree TO surrender all these adj
vantages, which were extorted from the adverse
interest, at the hazard of civil conflict, and take
our chance in the renewed conflicts that must fol
low, if the controversy be again opened This
the Chairman of the Committee Of Finance
asks you to do, and what is the compensation he
holds out TO you for such great sacrifices
''But whichever may be preferable, ii is certain
IL. Ca