The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-28


be increased TO 70 per cent or not. II could admit OF
no argument, and he did not intend to discuss il.
Mr. HENDERSON said he should vote against
the amendment as these articles would not bear such
duty the increase Of which, by encouraging snug
Cling, would not add 10 the revenue.
Mr. SMITH, Of Connecticut, should vote against
the amendment.
Mr. WOODBURY. said the argument against this
that II would tend 10 increase Of smuggling,
would cut into the whole BILL and equally apply TO
sewing silk and all other articles They should do
their duty, and when the needed an increase
they ought to levy higher duties, the proper arti-
Giles, and then provide Tor the carrying out Of the law,
and the prevention of smuggling
MIR. ALLEN should vote for this amendment. He
thought the increase Of duty to 20 per cent. would
tend to no more smuggling than duty OF ten per
cent He looked on the bill as n most odous mea-
sureas an attempt TO tax the necessares of life for
distribution. He had apprehension of the result
Of appealing TO the people ON this subject and he
now gave notice that when the distribution bill and
the tariff bill would become law when duty Of 20
per cent should be levied the necessares Of life,
for distribution for the benefit Of British bankers he
would introduce bill TO repeal both acts.
Mr.. CLAY, Of Alabama should vote for the
amendment. If they TO exempt any class of ar-
cles from duties, IT ought TO be those which
sumed by The poorer class of people. The only OBJ
lection he had heard against this amendment was that
II would increase the smuggling of these articles
lie did not know how great effect Of this kind
would be likely TO be produced but he believed these
articles ought to be taxed and provision made against
the smuggling.
Mi KING should vote ON the measures presented
to him on their merits without looking to their pol
cal effects. He believed the rate Of duty exist
ing would yield more revenue than an increase They
ought TO shape their duties that there might be
fair and honorable competition in the market, and not
advantage given to the dishonest over the honest.
This measure would lead to smuggling No one
could doubt it, II be he effect Of it, and il would
not add to the revenue. Why, then, was i intro
duced2 For political effect, that they might hold out
to the People the idea that they increased the duty
luxuries He should vote for proper duty arti-
Giles, and duty which would be collected. He asked
his friends of the cotton growing regions whether they
were prepared to lay the highest duties articles for
which they exchanged their cotton2 II would of
cessity tend to impair the sale Of their productions
As to laying taxes articles of first necessity, they
could be exempted, consistently with the demand
for revenue, they ought to be exempted. He should
vote against the amendment.
Mr. CALHOUN intended on this question to pur-
rigidy the line of duty. 1t great question,
and should not be diverted to the right left
Ought they, as statesmen, to do an act which would
end in unqualified smuggling, and not bring in dol
lar to the treasury Al the beginning OF Govern
ment these articles bore but 5, o. per cent duty;
so il ought to be now, and it would produce more
revenue. To go further, he would say, he did not
feel any obligation to vote for any duty because of
this sudden emergency. He should vote as if it was
permanent provision, and not looking to exigen-
cies This necessity had been produced by the pre-
sent Administrations was Of their making, and he
should vote for this if he were settling the taxes
and as If the gentlemen had done their duty, and
had not by extravagance and distribution created
deficiency in the Treasury, for which they
sponsible. A rate Of duty Of ~ IL per cent.
fair rate average articles to be increased,
and some reduced from that
Mr.. BENTON said this bill had been held back
till the distribution had been passed, and thus pre-
text made for it. There no deficiency till they
had passed the Land BILL which a fraud in itself,
and would operate to distribute only land revenue
but was cutting deep into the custom house revenue.
In violation of our rules, when two bills had prefer
that was in accordance with the other measures of the
session. He should give every vote to keep all the
commodities OF life low as they in the glorious
times of Van Buren, and Jackson. This new tariff
would prove to be the most causeless, hearless and
wicked, that ever had existed for while former tariffs
were laid articles, they spared those used by
the poor.
adopted, as follows:
Bayard, Benton, Berrien. Buchanan, Choate, Clay,
Of Alabama, Clay, of Kentucky, Clayton, Dixon,
Evans, Fulton, Graham, Huntington, Linn Nero
berts, Mangum, Miller, Morehead, Mouton, Nchol
son. Phelps, Pierce, Porter, Prentss, Rives, SEWER
Simmons, Smith, of Indiana, Southard Sturgeon
Tallmadge, Tappan, White, Williams, Woodbridge,
Woodbury., Young-4l.
NAYS-Messrs. Calhoun Henderson, King,
Smith, Of Connecticut, Wrght-5.
At the suggestion of Mr.. CLAY, the bill was the n
passed informally, to give gentlemen opportunity
for its examination
And on motion of Mr.. RIvES, the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration Of Executive business in
which they were occupied during the day.
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