Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-08-12
DEBATE ON THE REVENUE BILL
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TvEsD.r, July %, 1871.

The House being ia Committee Of the Whole on
the state &C the Union, and having under con-
sidcrsion the bill IN relation to duties and draw
backs
MIR GILNER said in substance as follows: Mr.
Chairman, do not regard the compromise act MS
the gentleman from PennsylyanIi (Nir Sergeant
who was lust taken his seat seems 10 do. lie con
sders II only temporary IN its objects, and designed
merely to settle appoint OF honor" look upon
that measure as one of great consequences TO the
interests and harmony Of the Uniod, aud have
supposed It IA; snded 10y mutual concessions and
trbcarNncc, IN the true SpII Of our INSTITUTIONS 20
settle the unfortunate controversy which existed IN
March 1888, and 10 prevent as far as possible, all
future controversy, by = permanent adjustment OF
certain conflicting interests and principles The two
most important ic Iturcs ot this compromise act and
those which recommend II moro especially To my re-
gard are first, the declaration by authortyo ct Con-
gress t1pt revenue, and revenue alone, IS the le-
Ultimate object of mpoSt duties; and second, that
they should be laid with reference TO rigid economy
beg SIR TO call the attention OF the co nmittec TO
the language OF that act which so emphaucaiy de-
c,ares that the duties which II cnnicmpla'es, VIZ.
twenty per cent, "Sha be laid for the purpose OF
raising such revenue as may be necessary TO ane
economical administration of the Government
These words should he Inscribed IN SHINING char
aclers on every dome and niche OF this Capitol.
These principles conceded there Is much less din
Guilty in Teconcng those conflicts of interests be-
tween the producing and the manufacturing States
which have SO often occasloned anxiety and bitter
ness Of feeling in this Hall, and hroushouths coun-
try. Revenue being the object, protection follows
necessarily an incident; ana conceive that with
the range Of twenty per cent. prescribed Ivy the
compromise act, and on the principle Oi incidental
protection, there is ample ground for fair and Just
discrimination, such as will infiict no injury on
ncrcsi while eonferS sufficient benefit the 9th.
er, and such may reconcile the views OF tariff and
anu-tariT men. Much OF the excitement which this
subject is too apt engsnder arises from ancient
PREF Gdces misconccpuon of teru's-irom the
want of an accurate definition OF the points where
we may agTcG and where must differ. | have
arguci heretofore that the info. nation sought 10 be
obtained bv the reSo utionS ported from the Com
mttec on Commerce, proposing 10 o5ganIza a select
comm Tee TO report tscs, not mere theories an
opinions, 10 this uOuss at It's mex: session. would he
uSefu IN bringing about comparison OF those data
which alone all correct opinions are Dlm'd. But,
sir to produce this result, the committee should be
fairly constituted OF men who represent the differ.
ent IntCrets involved IN revision o. the tad-the
agriculture, the commerce, the manuioc es u the
cOuntry-and they should examine those who have
practical experience IN cnnnexlon with these in.
forests. Their inquiries and their report should be
confined to iac's, which are the en'y true tests OF
opinion. | should be willing TO such an inquiry
instituted, provided this bill is postponed u! the
next session.
The bill now under consideration is, to all ntents
and purposes, revision Of the tariff. Il proposes
10 increase the revenue from Impost duties more
than EIGHT millions OF dollars, AMI to raise this
amount from articles all OF winch are now either
free or paying duty less than twenty per cent.
The article, Of tea ana coffee, on importation Of
Sl3,96i l2l, now Tree, witl pay a duty OF S2,7g2
76l coarse b'aukc's, now paying duty Of 1--WE
per cent, will pay twenty underthis bill saddlery,
&c now payn. ten per cent, vii. pay twenty
while acorns gems, god and silver epau.eis, paint
Ings pase-wo-s Brs'ol stones, pearls, rat ans.
fiddle strings, tnrtOige-she, and trees are duty
free. There are some OF these articles which am
at loss how TO class, sIcH acorus, raians, ana
fide.strings. They vii scarcely be regarded IS .
necesSarles, while tea coffee, coarse blankets, and
saddles are esteemed luXurlss.
he info " a.
mcrce propose 10 obtain for a general revision OF
the tariff al the session, hold 10 be nscesSa-
ry TO a proper and Ineligible action on the bill now
before us. Why, are we prepared TO revise the
whole range Of duties at this Time 10 raise eight
millions additional revenue, while u is necessary 70
traverse the country in quest Of information 70 war
rant another revision next winter Is II cOnlemp.l
ted 10 exhibit the anomaly the legislative farce Of
enactng two bills within period OF three or
four MONTHS or this TO be regarded as measure OF
revenue, and that which will come up next winter as
OF prolec.IOnl Is intended to accommodate the
NuIher, by separating the revenue from the proiec
lion by means oil two bills, or will you seriously at
tempt the idle farce OF enacing two revenue bills IN
less than one year The tdlngs of this bill vii
not have reached beyond the Cape OF Good Hope
before il is repealed modified, If are to take up
this subject piece meal, and act and again
next winter. | am dispose 10 90 with You for this
committee Of Investigation the whole scope und
bearing Of our tariff system, Il you will postpone
this bill and take up the subject next winter d
mise OF 1888.
The venerable gentleman from Massachusetts,
(Mr. Adlms) tells that he does not gard shis
compromise act at all that i, was mere barg ain
between the South and the West, m which New
England had no share. He says IL was crammed
down his fe.ucan; throat by means Of the previous
question; that he never approved II, ans not now
bound by Il. D-es the gentleman mean to say that
law Of binding force unless j, received the sane
ton Of al. New England, and especially o. him-c.t2
Are we TO understand him prOcaImin- the nigh,
Of resistance 10 every compact the principles o.
which lie may no. anprOve-iC every bargain which
he has not made had supposed that a majority
OF those representing the States and the People were
competent 10 e-is.Ite, though they might no. be so
fortunate 10 obtain the concurrence Of the gentle
from Massachusetts IN H.I that Is done. lie I
says he would give the public lands 10 the States ]
aud the compromise 10 the dogs" Yes SIR this civ.
ing Is often but the prelude 10 taking. They are .
often most prodiga VINO are most unjust, You have /
given, or attempted % give, away more than three
millions Of dollars from exhausted Treasury. and
already THIS gift become The preieNt, hrSt, Tor
loin Dnd now for t1Xes | think see the designs |
OF hose who c9yil about the compromise act, /
and who advocate the system Of giving aud ,akius,
which has so rapidly developed l.seIi during the .
extra session. SIR, the power Of imposing taxes /.
through ImpoSts being limited TO rs legitimate /
bounds by the compromise act, the advocates OF O .
nigh tauif and Of cEtrayaCant oX Dendtures nov re-
sort 10 the power Of Appropriation as the only means
ielt TO render high lakes necessary or CTcuslb.e. /
The gentleman may well say that he vii. give the .
lands 70 the States and the compromise 90 tue dogs
That, in the present state Of the Treasury, is only
the first step IN this progress OF cKtfayngant inIus
tee. ! expect soon 10 see the gentleman advO.
eating the assumption Of the two hundred millions
oidebt which some Of The States now owe. Yes,
sir; he Will be generous even TO that extent. for he
may get several dollars through The ImpOs,s igrcy- |
cry one he gives. ! know that the system Of i'm.
poss must undergo occasional reyis.ons JI, hey
wIl be rendered necessary by the demands for re-
venue Tor the defence Of the country and for is lC
climate wants economically administered"
The compromise &C. may be unacceptable to Ger.
tin politicians, but ! ON mistaken srr, If 10 hrs not
been approved snu vii not Ne sustained ny the p-g.
pie, whOCau never look wiki indifference on any
causes which may s7d TO uu'uent 1uL angry 81.
element In our country. The gr1Jla. reduction /
high duties is nearly accomplished, and Iu June
cent principle Is there any necessity now 10 raise
an additional revenue Of eight millions fom articles
free or under twenty per cent? is this necessity
Tor the imposition Of high taxes 10 be found in nc
wants Of the Government or 10 the wishes OF por.
ton Of Inc Pc1pei We have appropriated about
three millions Of dollars for Qualifications and tie
Navy; and, besides this, know Of no uppropra-
ton ol magnitude occas.oncd by the present ses
sion except our expenses. We have authorized n
loan Of twelve millions. which ! have no douJ, will
he negotiated very soon, and, as predicted when
the bill. was under consideration, DO the United
States, and possibly rate Of interest less than
SIX per cent. The Secretary Of the Treasury est.
mates the occruIng revenue from imports tor the re-.
naming quiuer Of this year al something more