Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-08-31
any in relation to the compromise act which he

might deem proper.
Mr.. RlVES thought the amendment in its present
shape might be liable to misconceptions The "rate OF
duty imported articles might be construed to
the average rate of duties, that articles import
ed might pay duty of five per cent, while others
would have 10 pay thirtyfve per cent. Thus, duty
Of FIVE per cent might be levied articles consumed
BY manufacturers, and duty of thrty-fv per cent
articles of the value of their manufacture; and
the duties both together would, average only
be twenty per cent-and yet the articles sold by the
manufacturer would be protected by duty OF thirty
iYe per cent, and The articles consumed by him would
be taxed by duty ofhve per cent In this way the
spirit of the compromise act would be eiiectualy
evaded, and OF policy adopted 50 injurious and
oppressive to the South 10 reproduce those dissen
ons which the passage of that act had SO happily al
laycd.
Mr. BERRIEN disclaimed having any such inten-
ton, and thought that the Senator from Virginia had
mistaken The scope OF his amendment.
Mr.. RlVES thought that, to avoid all misunder-
standing hereafter, as To the meaning OF the amend
men., IL would be better 10 be little more explicit,
and for this purpose he would suggest the following
modification Of the amendment to strike cut all after
The word .rIor'dcd, !" I-S.i. inclusive, and insert
That ii higher duty than 20 per cent, as esta
bshed by the act of the I'd March, 1888 shall be laid
on any articles 10 be levied after the Both Of June
| 1912"
Mr. MERRlCK said he never would vote for the
amendment, II it was modified. 1t might be
sary TO raise duties certain articles b. way Of retail
\
reign nations.
| Mr. KING said, If this amendment was not intend
ed to mean what was suggested by the proposition Of
the Senator from Virginia, it was not worth fig
What did the South gam by il, If it did nots There
good deal Of charlaanism in this, and if there
was any intention to cvade the spirit Of the amend
ment By lis phraseoogy he would consider II not worth
having, and would vote againstlt. lie wanted gentle
men 10 show their hands this subject. The South
had faithfully observed Tic compromise act while the
i S,rtb DDfu nIy m hey fp
know whether ITS violation contemplated lie
would say, advance, that he willing to give the
manufacturers OF tine country all the encouragement
under ~ per cent which discrimination within that
sphere will afford them but beyond that he would
not 90.
Mr.. MERRiCh said he was willing to show his
hand. lie for observing the compromise act, hut
he not willing to tie his hands on the subject Of re-
laa;ory duties.
Mr. BERRIEN was sorry that his amendment should
be leopardcd b. Tie proposed modification Of the Sena
from Virginia as he thought the amendment was Who'll
IL sufficient lie opposed 10 restricting the acton
Of Congress proposed BY the Senator from 'rs'nn
as duties higher than - per cent might be necessary
for purposes Of rctaaton lie proposed TO the sena-
tor from Virginia 10 introduce into the amendment OIL
tered BY him Nr. b the words or purposes OF reve'
nue." Would that suit his views
Mr. RINES expressed his dissent.
MIR. BERRlEN then proposed that It should be ADDED
to the modification which the Senator from Virginia
had suggested
Mr. RlyES still d;sscntcd. The compromise act was
explicit that duty should be raised OF any article tor
any purpose above 20 per cent The stipulation Is IN,
perativc. lie and the other Southern Senators had
an interest in preserving the compromise act nT'o!ate
under all circumstances and under no other aspect
would he consider the amendment Of lie slightest va.
lue.
alr. WOODBURY. said, that the amendment was ne
cessary without any exception either for revenue pro.
lection or retaliation; else all the limitations III Tue
compromise acl would prove utterly worthless.
II YOU allowed duties 10 20 above twenty per cent.
for revenue which might be done If needed Tor an Geo
nomicat administrator IF tho Government, but not
o,he rwsc assurcdiy, the distribution oil the pro-
ceeds Of the public lands ought there 10 stop. You
should them all events, apply those proceeds TO le
d'mn4.ion o. rather than LET The Tarh -s-
nencd again TO -, 80, or - per cent. his seemed
"a ba almost conceded on every side. Next, let me
ask, would you allow the duties TO be raised ABOVE
twenty per cent for mere protection and mol lot reV
nue.: Did the compromise sanction that or uiu
common sense sound political economy sanction II
Certainly not II, then, an exTency should ever afsc
where more than twenty per cent, IS demanded Tor
projections let the distribution at once halt IN oraer
that the community may be relieved from greater tax
alton on other unprotected articles ana me treasury
be supplied, in part, by the proceeds Of Tue sa'es y
the public lands. .,,
But. again. gentlemen seem much alarmed, provided
tho tariff IS not allowed he raised above twenty per
cent for retatati0R if not for protection Douo''ui ~
utility as the system OF retaliation may be IN rs opera
ton an not Of those disposed 10 dlsarm congress
ofthe mower 10 retaate by very high duties, whenever
shall appear 10 be demanded by seli-respcct as ma
ton or BY signal injustice perseyerngly pFacesed on
ms by others. This last ainendment however, taxes
away no such authority But 1t merely provides that
IL you raise duties above twenty per cent or any, even
such retaaiory purpose, you shall al the same ,hc
suspend Tie distribution; because you impose very hsh
duties on some articles, which are intended as IN &C.
orcr prohibtory and SHALL therefore, make up from 'Le
lands any deficiency Of revenue likely TO be caused oy
such nl,cv Il mus, be remembered, Likewise, that
unless this course be adopted and an increase OF d-
lies for retaliation, well protection, be accomp2
med by suspension Of The t!srbuion ali knds OF m
nosition can be pracsed, and the spirit OF the compro-
mise violated daily with perfect mpuhty because, y
retaliation 10 any and every extent IS permitted WITHOUT
any stoppare of the distribution, every increase OF duty
oil i. proposed and defended the ground OF retna-
non alone The principle Of the retaatory system does
no, require you 10 impose higher duty on the same
article for taking tobacco as an instance we may WISH
only 10 export and TO import IT. Hence an UNJUST
~ high duty on tina, article by some Governments on
The Continent of Europe, would be reailaed here no'
Nv highcr dnty here tobacco, but on VINES or Silks
or linens or hemp, IRON In short, IL woulu W VI
something 10 some OF our imports rom me 'ei,'
nv of that Government. so u our gram 10 h'shly
~ 10 he nearly excluded from England, We would place
retal,atory duty not on gram which we seldom import
from any OF her dependencies but on colons' "ooes'
ron or some thing else which she produces urge
Do not Southern gentlemen see thal IN ths way, ""en
protection and only protection, was needed on some ar
tlce imported from foreign country mat article
would be seized on and taxed highly nnder the pre-
tended around Of retaliation! There VIII always oc &C
casion enough for such DISCUSSES DO not all See to"
that If PERMISSION granted TO raise the arf hgh Tor
either protection or retaliation, but no; for revenue,
without stopping the distrbuton every increase o. 'he
tariff would be called an for protection, not
for rctaation
The difficulties and embarrassment, not 70 say frauds
would, in this SYSTEM be nnnberiess ne ~ho'e
comnromise would be ovcrriden; and, however heavy
our burdens might become, they would, IN such an
event. never be denomlnacd taxes for the revenue.
How stands lie original amendment, then; ooes y
re,uire his additional clause TO prevent evasions, and
without am exceptions that might open INC door TO
los, If impostons: Most surely. Why Sir, the orr
,,,l amendment would allow increases IN the tariff
tl m, needed for revenue TO be made in the teeth
Il Inc express prohibition in the act, that no duty at
Ter June, i-l2, Shall exceed twenty per cent Whe,
;m,ost is allowed with impunlty h. that amendment,
i other articles were kept lower than twenty per cent