Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-21

,.,fy Of that committee for he purpose Of seeing as h
a found il had no specific duties ASST gned TO IT by Ill
i rule what duties had been assigned TO II by The usa
), of this House. lie found that this committee wa
raised in 1919 and that often as the general question
r. of the tariff had been up since that time, IL had beer
invariably referred to that committee. lie then wen
;nio An historical account Of the existence OF the com
mttee in conneyion with the various tariff bills sine
r IFS origin showing that the question of tile tar' la
uniformly been referred 10 this committee.
. Although the rules of this House had not prescribe
The dulies of this committee, yet the usage OF TN
n House had shown that this the appropriate com
!. mtt-e TO which this subject should be referred n
j. confessed that he could not account for the sensib
d in the House on this subject-why committee, De
n cause il was named Committee OF Ways ana Meah
moht not as well introduce bill for the protection
manufactures as Committee on Manufactures ih
i whole subject would be before the one 10 when II wa
. referred and the name of the committee made no dii
ference. Probably the reason which had opeIh.eo =,
previous Congresses for referring this subject 10 h
Committee on Manufactures, and not oil ways ah'
Means was that the latter committee had Decn o'eI
burdened with the business they had 10 a'tehr w. =
was also known that the COMMITTEE on Mahuiactu'eS
unless this subject were assigned 70 ,n.' "aa
no business 10 perform; and that II duties were eFeo
strictly with view TO revenue they require the lnves
tpation of the manufactures anu commerce OF ln's
country beyond what any committee could give the
3ou, did The subject stand; II must be borne in mind
,bo hill was passed the last session Tor revenue
alone without reference TO manufacturers that the bill
made a very slight discrimination on the various articles
imported; and that the Legislation hasy on this
subject that utterly impossible that the commit
tee could make the necessary investigation TO know
how it would affect domestic interests. Here, then,
they had duties imposed up 10 the maximum OF Tie
compromise by the bill Of last session; and at that
time it the general understanding that the subject
needed revision for the purpose OF seeing whether these
general duties did not require some discrimination for
the general interests of this country II seemed TO MN
4 that this subject properly belonged 10 the committee
which had been invariably charged with it, he could
how test question could be made ON tins SUD
| icct Il had been said that the Committee on Manu-
features was unconstitutional Ii strange that 4
committee which unconstitutional had been IN ex-
stence and charged with important duties, for twenty
years. and nobody had before discovered lis unconstl-
nationality Was il of the least Importance from what
committee bill came 1t could not be. The only
question was how can the business be best donewhat
committee devote the most time to this SUBJECT SO
as TO make these laws for the interests OF the country
and people. 1t seemed TO him only by distributing the
business among the committees. The truth was, they
ourht TO have committee this subject CON-
mission for the purpose Of collecting information Tor
the use of this House; there danger in having
too much light on the subject.
If the House saw fiji 10 orer this subject 10 the Com
m,tee Of WAYS and Means he, for one, willing 10
devote all the time possible 10 this subject. He had
made his motion because he believed this subject OF
vast Importance to the country, and that committee
charged with it exclusively would be more likely 10 do
Justice TO it than the Comm itce Of Ways and Means,
burdened rs they were with other business. lie was
willing the House should do as they saw ft y modl-
fcution of the resolution had been presented to hun,
which he about accepting, when at the request OF
of several members, he declined to do So leaving The
resolution in its original fuim
n Mr.. BRIGGS opposed to the habit of antlcl-
patnE subjects for debate, which was pract.ed IN this
House. and should confine himself TO the point before
the House, viz TO which OF the two standing commit
tees of this House The subject of the tariff, referred
to in the Presidents Message, belonged The appro-
pirate duty Of the Committee on Ways and Means was
prescrbed there duties particularly lard down
for the Committee Manufactures; but everybody
knew that il was selected for the purpose of afiordng,
as far as possible the greatest amount OF information
OH this great subject Of manufactures
i The question now up, TO which standing COM
mtee should be referred that part Of the President
Message which speaks expressly, directly, and IN un-
equvocal terms, Of imposing duties Tor revenue, but
cdenally for protection to the manufacturing interests
of the country. Gentlemen must not make false Is
sue here. They talked of laying duties for protection
There was such proposition in the Message and con-
sequenlly meme before this House. The gentleman
from South Carolina, (llr Rheti had met this qucs
ton as he always did he had told them that lie met II
directly in lis teeth and that duties for the purpose oil
raising revenue 10 be made without any regard 10
the manufacturing interests Of the country and the
gentleman from New Hampshire, (Nlr. AthertonD had
told them he was willing TO meet II on The true issue.
The President of the United States had told them that
in imposing duties for revenue Government has right
10 discriminate as to protect the manufactures OF the
country.
Mr. RHETT here explained, saying that he did not
20 as far as the gentleman from Massachusetts, had
said lie did; but he said that, in principle, you could
not lay duty the object of which tor revenue,
and at the same time have it for protection.
[ MIR. BRIGGS continued. lie had understood The
gentleman before as he did There was no issue
before them now the principle Of proposing duty
4 for protection but for revenue. And the question
arose. whether, in proposing duty for revenue they
should discriminate TO protect the great manu-
featuring interests OF the country Ii such dscrml
nation were to be made, they wanted TO know what
branch Of industry most needed it, as to discriminate
J wisely and iudciousy And whence would they get
this information From the Committee Of Ways and
]. Means who supposed 10 have no particular know
) edqe on this subject, from the Committee on Manu-
features who are appointed with reference to this very
subject, This question needed no answering the Tor
nation Of the committees answered 1t nj once. men
the question was, whether in raising revenue, when
must be raised for the indispensable necessities OF 60
vernment, they would discriminate, and discriminate
for the purpose Of protecting domestic manufactures:
If the gentleman from South Carolina would make no
such discrimination let him record his vote Tor the
, amendment. If the other hand, while they laid q
tariff for revenue they would distribute as 10 pro-
tect industry and promote The interests oil the
country, he would vote against the amendment.
The gentleman from Georgia (hlr. FOSTER had asked
why the object of former bills had not been avowed tc
: be for the protection of manufactures lie (Mr b.
would say fhut had been the object, they had higi
and noble example for it. The second act passed by
$ the American Congress was for this purpose -ane
passed by those who knew their duty, and did not he
IS state TO do it,
). Mr. MERlWETIIER said the gentleman from New
IS York (Mr. Fillmore) and the gentleman from Massn
cuset,s (hr Briggs had both taken the same ground
they had asked if 1t possible for the COMMITTEE
of Ways and Means TO know how duties are TO be lie
IF Wed order TO protect manufactures and commerce
h If this committee (Nr NJ asked cannot know, wheI
they have the general subjects OF the revenue OF TIL
4 Government under their charge, how could the Com
lie mittee on Manufactures know? The truth was, TN
e. Committee OIL Manufactures looked alone TO the ma
e, nufucturng interest the Committee on Commerce t
" commercial interests alone; but the Committee 0
Il Ways and Means had power 10 look over the whole
country and TO inquire into general subjects He re
erred the remarks that had been made BY his col
t. league (Mr FOSTER to the unconsttutionnlty o
m the Committee on Manufactures This had beer
spoken lightly Of, but he would thank gentlemen to pu
their finger the clause Of the Constitution which an
ri r IL, ,ttaa IIn u.nn