Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-29
TWENTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.
R4NARks OF mR. MARSHALL, OF KENTUCKY
ON THE TARIFF.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.


The reference of the Presidents Message being
under consideration,
MIR. MARSHALL, adverting TO the question
before the House observed that It did not seem TO
him TO involve any difficulty, Justly TO authorize
the extent of debate to which Il had gwen rise:
II a simple question OF reference, which, IN
itself, involved no declaration Of principle IN relation
10 the merits, either on side or the other, Of the
much-deblted question OF the tariff. twas mere
question al Parliamentary pToprIety, rs between two
OF the standing committees Of the House, TO which
o. them certain portion OF an Executive commu.
nicatOn should he sent. To MIR NJ. il appeared
that an examination Of the language employed by
the President ~ the communication referred to must
once settle the matter Here he quoted from
the Message the passages referring to increase
OF duties In these passages he understood the
President as intending TO intimate II as hrs opinion
shat, although dutIGS should in be lard be-
ynnd the amount OF revenue actually needed by the
Government, yet in the imposition OF them Congress
might legitlmately have en- especial eye 10 the pro
iecuun OF the domestic industry Of the country and
nisht frame Its legislation that the taxes needed
uy the Treasury might incidentally contribute TO
that end. If that the opinion of the Preslden'
and Congress was called upon by him To lay reve-
nue. duties with a view 10 guard The domestic indus
try OF the People, without lransceUdIng the amount
needed by the CXgCnciss Of the Treasury, could
there be any question tHlt The Committee on Ma.
nuiIcfures was the appropriate committee 10 VIII Oh
TO senG the portion Of the Message containing such
whose care the interests OF manufactures were eff
cioy placed: and surely, 10 the question OF
parliamentary propuety and hness, Tie subject
should hr committed To them. Yet the mere pro
posal to give the mater this duec'ion seemed TO
nave sounded note o. alarm from one end Of the
Hall to the other. MIR NJ. protested his usonisll-
menl at what he saw ana heard. Though not
young man, he was, To be sure, but young as a
member here: tut he was amazed al the excitement
which hid UrCn reused on thus occasion, and at the
a IN 4
mere question OF referring document TO a commit
tee: abolition; tree and slave labor; protective Ia
Tf; all sorts of exciting subjects mad been summon
ed to swell the agitation. Such, however, having
been the case and the debate having proceeded hus
far and assumed The character It now presented he
presumed that, according To the range and sIIluds
OF remark heretofore permitted to other gent emen,
he would be out VI place should he also express
his opinions on some OF The points which had been
drawn INTO discussion.
There could be nothing fatal To the peace
and 10 the Union of these States the agitation o.
questions IN which tue nteress at slave labor should
tie set IN opposition 10 those Of free sOor-in which
line was drawn between different sections OF the
Union, It lneT interests were hostile each O'hrs
Ard tie idea was ousmp ed 10 Ue established
that the Government Of a. s country could not *
err the power cOrie. red upon by the Constitution
To establish uuifJrm system Z the regulation OF
commerce without arrayIng one ha ( The country
against the o. hcr,,Ind bsn,h ting The at the *
penSe Of the other Mr.. MS ews Of the . mere
subject widely fier,nt The isct thai 81 very
ptcvuI.ed portion Of the ard, AID Mt IN aru n
portion, taken lu couu,Xiun with the diversity Of
products Of pursuits among different portions o.
the country, had ways struck hun as one Uf the
strongest possible cCmeuis VI our ul'IOua UmOu
What furnished more certain foundation Tor the
interests Of commerce lhIn such a diversity O.
what had proved surer basis irr peace and amI'y
among different nations Of the wOriJ2 Were there
one dead u i'Ormiiy m nnturn productions ord d.
social pursuIs, there could ST mutual exchau.
H.a ~ o.
natura tendency would be 10 rivalry and dscord :
whereas natural diversity OF products and OF soc
hsUI's among lIerent sectsns Of the same county,
or among different countries, naturally tended, If
passion absent, to unity and peace and nd'uaI
prosperity and happiness. Could o. ever be the IN
tgrest of the North TO crush slave abort To des-
roy species Of industry Fer, nj from rs own ord
cauaOc Of being made fruitful source Of It's pros
peuty2 Or, on The other hand, could the South
have any interest IN pTos'ralIng the industry and
destroying the capital Of their Northern brethren 2
Never, sure y, never. Bu', 50 soon as any measure
vas proposed in thlt Hall which looked, or even
glanced, At fostering interests ~ which one portion
OF the country was peculiarly concerned, instantly
the walls Tesoundci with Outcnos OF Tuuf! trfl-
IuIauOni taxation!
In theory the doctrine Of free trade was, he con.
iessod, very impoging And II theory ond phrIoro.
ply had the foGOdcl,ing Of all the States lnd Go.
vcnmcnts o. the world, u politics. crD.Oms,
were sci Up by common consent Us Judge oyer
ali the curth; II al. national rvarcs, ans national
anupathes and enmiiles and preludiees could b,
sofened down by the mere force Of reason, then
indeed u might do 70 adopt the maxim thai indus,r,
and capital must le let alone that rarttal vyor 4
find out such investment % was most profitable and
industry would 5coyer that application OF rs poy.
ers which was most productive, and legislation
might look on Nth folded hands and admire IN,
free working Of the syscm. Yes 1, would he d
beautiful spectacle; we should have a perfect ITO
PTS Of world. True, one nation would st,u b,
richer than another, from mere natural ADVANTAGE
Of position, Of extent, Of climate, and of soil. Boz
alasi political oconomgis were unable thus IN 4,
tsngs things. No mere theorst vas set up ,s nm,
pre- 10 settle all questions amOng the nations ~,
tons, since their cHsenc' had been contendinp
Struggling for pre- eminence, and they were al +
Gull. u we went 70 the Engish a1thors, the
would ineulcate upon us the fair and beautiful doc
trnos of free trade, and 90 hear em one wouI
suppose that no other policy hld eVsr been though
Of IN Britain. But, when we j Ok d Al the ac'ut
policy Of England, did we find r. trader ID
Engl8ni leave capital and irdustfy 10 seek the
own channels and hnd their own Investment flo
had that empire attained TO her present vat heel
Of prosperity and powell BY giving every prac.
c,bo protection and encouragement to the industr
Oi her people; by attfactiIg JuJ dOmesuclung O. D.
Utmost abIIty the manufactures Of the whole worI
No sooner DID new branch of manufacture rise q
% any part of Europe, than England tempted tho
whO practsed ", ny protective duties, by bounti
by personal rewards, by every seductive inca
within her reach, 10 settle IN England. And
sooner was the exotic planted on her shores than
wtssure receive the fostering parental clre Of q
Government, tIIl % had struck ITS roots firmly IN
the sol, and attained hrn luEuriant growth; a
by this policy, steadily pursued, she had risen
her p-es, nj National strength and greatness.
But We are eEbOrtd 10 throw open our ports
oil he worli; ge we're n welcome the products
every fore 90 nation, 70 receive al they chose
ts1i, Whtie al the sane time they exc udeo, "
ws'-h.ul, uns eep'og Jealousy, every one ofour 2
fssis -Asns'sr they bad sAy similar ones Of 70