The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-02

heard y grayeiy asserted that cottons are adj
mitted into France with nominal duty, Now,
SIR, the fact is, that this nominal duty is francs
on 90 kIilogrammes about ~ pounds, which with
a small additional duty is little more than two
cents pound, which is about IS per cent and
what is worse, this is a discriminating duty
against American cotton. Egyptian and Souih
American cotton, which is thirty per cent. more
valuable, paying only Sfrancs the 50killogrammes,
adherence OF 20 per cent. specifically ad valo-
lem, al leaet thirty per cent. and yet we are
told with all possible confidence that the duty Is
merely nominal There is a class of men whose
ssanguine temper always leads them TO look al
facts not as they are but as they wish them 10
De men. like the French lheorist, who was told
uia' me facts did not support his theory. 80
much the worse, said he for the facts" Others,
SIR may follow these unsteady and delusive lights
OF PRIOR theories; for myself prefer the less
oriiilant though more safe guides of facts and ex
perlence.
So again Of articles Of linen-and silks and
linens are two of the largest if not the two very
largest, OF our imports. II linen goods are, TO
any extent, excluded, cotton supplies the only
imaginable substitute and we should thus be
compensated by the increased consumption of
cotton. Yet although do not doubt this result,
would not vote for prohibitory or even pro-
tective duty on linens, because believe such
vote would be in violation of the Constitution
and would not, as Southern man, be induced
by present benefit to recognise the protective
principle at the certain cost hereafter Of greater
sacrifices from its general operation--nor would
i, as an American statesman, look 10 the spe-
cial benefit of one section, although that
section was my own, in violation Of the
rights and interests of all other portions
of the country. Such course of selfish
and sectional legislation have too long de-
nounced in others 10 pursue il myself. would
not lay a high duty on silks and wines--nor
would tax them alone-5ut all similar articles
Of luxury. duty of five per cent on judici-
ously selected list of free articles would be all
sufficient to supply the public wants. Thus far
am willing now TO go-and see the most pow
erful reasons for legisating on the subject now
If il Is not done at this session, il cannot be
done before the ultimate reduction in 1842-and
time should be given TO the mercantile commu-
nifty to adjust their business to any increase of
duties. 1t ought TO have been done at the last
session, and have no doubt would have been
pressed upon the consideration of Congress, but
for reasons Of political character.
think have shown, as | promised to do, that
there is deficiency in the revenue; that il is
pro slded in the Compromise that any such def
c'ency shall be supplied by such duties as are
now proposed on articles paying less than 2Oper
cent. that this Compromise is OF binding obli-
CATION; that the taking off duties from uxuries
was opposed by the anti-Tarift party, and the
provision to supply any future deficiency, as it's
now proposed to supply, was inserted in the Com
promise act at the instance Of that party and,
lastly, that if the question were a new and an
open one, tax on Injuries is, on every prln-
ciple of political economy, and on every conslde-
ration Of sectional equality, the fairest tax. do
not doubt that | shall be assaed and misrepre-
scented for my course on this subject by those
who are not very scrupuous in that way; but !
have mo sort OF apprehensions on that score.
represent constituency who are not TO be intlu-
enced by falsehood and Misrepresentation, or
should not now be here. owe them much too
deep debt Of gratitude to sacrifice their interests
rather than encounter the risk Of being misre-
pres .nted. know that it is maxim with some
politicians never to do any thing which requires
an explanation. The rule Of virtuous politi-
clan should be to do right, disresarding conse-
quences. If ! do right, and have to explain 1t
10 virtuous and enlightened constituency, do
not doubt that can do it. II knowingly do
wrong, | never can explain it to my own con-
science.