New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-12-20
Reference of the Presidents Message
Debute on the question Of Protect On or
no Protection, SC. SC.
Corr..poudeace of The Nsx York Tribune.

interesting debate sprung up on the reference Oh
thar part Of the Presidents Message relating to
the Tariff. Precious 10 this, and before the Mes
sage was taken up,
Nj. ADAM. inquired of The SPEAKER If The
first bushes. in order was not the disposition OF
the Abolition petitions that had been laid over for
debate, and being answered il tie affirmative, said
he was wiling to pass that over till the Presidents
Message could be disposed OF providing that it se
taken Up Immediately after. The petitions were
then passed by, and
Mr FiLLxoRE-the Message having been Ia
ken up--otiered series of resolutions referring to
the Committee on Manufactures, the part relating
TO the tariff to the Committee of Ways and Means,
that relating TO the finance. OF the government to
tie Select Committee; the plan Of finance recon-
mended in The Presidents Message, and the re-
naming parts to the appropriate committees.
Mr. WISE inquired, before the reading OF the
resolutions was completed whether the Select
Committee was to be confined 10 the plan OF Il
nance OF the Message alone Some conversation
arose on this by various members, among whom
Messrs. FILLMORE and EVERETT gave their Opin-
ion that the Select Commute were to have iuris-
diction alone over the plan recommended by the
Presidsnt, and that the power was reserved 10 the
Comnitise Of Ways and Means to bring forward
another fiscal plan, in case iae Select Committee
could not agree on one. Mr.. WISE made some re-
marks on this subject, directed principally to en-
qury as to the extent OF the POKER 'f the Select
Committee The resolution was then adopted,
after a modification suggested by Mr.. EVERETT,
and refers TO the Committee OF Ways and Means
that portion Of the Message relating to the ways
and means of the Government, with The snder-
standing As il appeared that the plan OF the PTesi-
den, alone was to be referred 10 the Select Com
mirtee. who will have the usual power 20 amend
n ns with other bills Reference having further
beer made to the Committees on Foreign Affairs,
and the Judiciary Of the appropriate parts OF The
Message tile resolution was read referring that
part relating to the tariff. to the Committee on
Manufactures.
Mr. AraERros moved ie amend it, SO as TO re-
fer it to the Committee OF Ways and Means. al
leging that If the reference proposed in the re-
solution were made, it would be- countcnancirg the
principle OF protection to is fullest extent. Here
commenced spirited debate, confined not to the
question of reference alone. but merging into the
general subject of the Tariff, and serving to elicit
the feelings with which the Representatives from
the various portions of the Country, have assem-
bcd.
Mr.. TiLLINGHisT coniended that it was evident
that the proper reference to the Committee
on Manufactures, from the very words Of the Mes
sage itself, which recommended Iarlii for reve-
-.
tion Vi duties, with reference to considerations si
domestic policy connected with our manufactures.
IL could properly be referred to no other Commit
tee.
Mr. WISE advocated the amendment, which he
should himself have moved had it not been moved.
The question of the reference OF this part of the
Message had always been II tcsi-queston between
the Taiif and Ant-Tariti parties, those who ia
yored protection per having gone for the refer
ence TO the Committee Of Manufactures. and those
c-..,- TT g -. = W. -
Means. The Message recommended Tariff for
revenue, admitting within the line of revenue tt
night Of discrimination; ard not inch beyond
a rarifi of revenue did it 60.
Mr.. FOSTER, of Georga, maintained The uncon-
stitutionality of the Committee Manufactures
which was created for purposes of protection, TO
winch he was decidedly opposed; and at some
ci1ill lclcItnCt 10 W
WAYS ard Means. He declared that the question
Of Tariff for OF for protection would come
mp now and must be settled-he cared not how
soon II was known by his constituents, if Tariff
for protection was to be levied with which sub
jecl he considered this question as having an i'm
mediate connection.
Mr. RHKTT advocated the reference to the Com
mitlee Of Ways and Means, opposing IN toto every
principle of protection or discrimination, maintain
ing that eqnal ad valorem duty should be levied
all article, and arguing lEat tariff for protec-
tion and one for revenue were entirely incompat
bic with each other the one interest ccasing when
the other commenced.
Mr.. FILLMORE conrended for the reference to
the C-mmitlce on Manufactures, answering many
objections THAI had been brought against il. THIS
reference had been the nvariabic usage since the
existence of the committee the reason for which
had probably been the less amount of business be-
fore that committee than before that OF Ways and
Means and their greater consequent opportunity
10 investigate the subject to determine how
discrimination might most wisely be made he
did not -ce why this scnslbIliy existed. and how
this could bc called test question. lie ma moved
: ne resolution OF reference TO the Committee on
Manufactures because they would have IEuch more
time to devote to it than the COMMITTEE Vt
Havs ana Means II, however, the House sa"
fl 10 refer it TO the latter Committee, he, a. one
member, should not object to it.
Mr.. BRIaGs stated very succinctly the real ques-
lion before the House. AID advocated the original
resolution, evincing evidently in his remarks
strong favor for Projection.
Mr.. MERlwErnkR tool; sisailar ground to his
colleague, Mr. Foster holding the unconsuiution-
ali,v at the Committee on Manufactures, violently
opposing Protection and advocating the amend
ment.
Mr.. william SMITH OF Va, held Ike uncon.
slitutonaiity Of the Committee Manufactures
und Of Protective Tariff, and advocated the
amendment He moved to lay the resolution on
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