Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-09-10
.PEEcu Or MR SUMMERS.
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4 think, Mir Chairman, have shown that, from
1888 10 the eomprcnise bill of 1883, tho executive
snd legislative branches Of the Government, amid
all the mutations Of party, have continuity MAIN
tanned both the power and policy OF 30 levying du'
ties Tor revenue as to promote and foster our hons
interests; that during thi, long period the people
the United States have sanctioned, ratified and con
hrmed this course OF action the part OF their pub
lie agents and servants, and that this question
ought IL any ever can, be now considered, decided
aud settled, 10y an unequlvoeal expression Of thu
popular will.
Itis, however, allejgei by some, that the compro-
mise act Of 1888. in adopting horizontal al valo
rem scale Of duties, abandoned discrimination IN Ia
Of our own productions, and that the question
Il settled before, ha, been 70 opend by that mea'
sure.
How does the aci referred to surrender the prinei
pie for which contend, and which has been 80 long
sustained Does IL do any thing moro than insii-
tute the experiment Of applying the principle in a
different mode7 The great leading feature OF the
compromise law, rs I have endeavored TO show on
another OCCASION when had the honor TO address
the House on the Presidents veto message accom-
paaying the provisional tariff bill returned oy MIN
10 this BODY, was reduction Of duties 10 the revc
nue. standard. IL assumed, that 20 per cent. on du'
table goods would furnish revenue adequate To the
wants OF the Government, and therefore declared
that after the lapse of sufficient period for sradu
al dimiuution, that duty should be imposed. Ii
contains itself the warrant for change OF tina, du-
~, n found either insufficient or excessive. The
declaration is. shat such duties shall be laid for
the purpose OF raising such revenue as may he ne.
cessary for an economical administration OF the
Government." There was no charm IN 20 per cent.
/ dare say, MI Calhoun and his friends would have
been equally ready TO have compromised at 80 or
IS per cent. IL was the principle OF regulating
duty in amount, by the wants OF on economical
administration, which was the true consideration.
The surrender OF protection per Sc so lar as had
been claimed and exercised was the concession made
10 the South-a concession which desire TO adhere
IL tl,a m hQ m n
nounced Us governing my own action on this sub
ject.
The compromise act contains provisions which
look to projection. IL introduces, Tor the first time
into our revenue system, home valuation oil the
goods aud the cash paymen, Of the duty, plan 10y
which it was intended to augment, as 1t would TO g
considerable extent the amount deriNable from q
per cent imposition. Further, under that act, Con
gress may discriminate as they think proper, under
30 per cent They may also by law prohibit, il
express terms, the importa ION of any article with
out laying duty on il al all How then 10 discri-
mnation abandonedl
loren. or any other horizontal duty, is necessarily
protective duty, 10 some extent IL will fall upon
many articles on which II will prove sufficiently 70
sitictive. No duty can be levied purely for rcve
nue., even which will not, more or less, have this eli
feet.
Quite a different opinion, however, seems to have
prevailed in the Senate. as TO the true character o.
this act during its progress through that body. Nd
smith, oil Maryland, saio, II was all ptoteCtlon from
the beginning TO the end"
Mr. Forsyth charged, that at was the work OF the
manufacturers"
Mr. Calhoun said, ait ought TO he acceptable, and
as compromise, could lie voted for by tariff men
without at all yielding the constitutional question q:
TO the right OF protection"
Objections we're made TO the introduction of ihi,
bill in the Senate, because OF the provision in the
Constitution, that money bills shall originate in the
House Of Representatives. In answer 10 which ob
lection Mr. Clay remarked, that "the bill might con-
additionally pass the Senate, because i; no,
bill for revenue; it was not brought forward viii
that motive. His purpose was protection, and pro
lection alOne."-[See 9Th volume Debates in Con
72Ll
But, Mr. Chairman, independent OF what con
ceivo be the true Interpretation OF the act itself
and without regard TO the contemporaneous expos
ton given by those who adopted it, should deny
that any such consequences could attach 10 the pas
sage Of the compromise bill, rs are claimed 10y the
gentlemen TO whom have alluded. maintain the
the Government ITSELF exercising the joint and con
cortcd action Of all its departments, could not il il
would, surrender the power TO levy discriminating
duties Why sir, what is this power which gentle
men say has been abandoned by the compromise
act? 1t is nothing less than the great, unaliCnable
power of national selfdefsnce, without which TO
Government can preserve its indep, ndenee CT even
its existence. Ii is the power to fos'er and cherish
the interests OF our own country, and TO meet anG
ward of the effects Of the hostile legislation CT 70
reign countries BY discriminating duties we secure
supplies al nome, OF lnOse pfOuuCtS OF human laoO
and ingenuity, necessary TO people in peace ant
in war. and force reciprocity abroad, in deal
ings with other nations. IL is as much the mean!
Of national independence, the right to declare
war, TO raise and support armies or TO provide and
maintain navy. l. is the authority by which, a:
recommended by MIR Jefferson, I'VE must meet u
sirction with restriction" Who is prepared to sur
render this authority How is it to he annihilaeC
and blotted from the Constitution
Sir the power not only exists, but in my opinion
we are nt this time imperiously called upon TO exer
else it. The legislation Of other countries, will
whom have commercial relations, demands It a
our hands, ms does the condition of our own indus
tIial interests.
We have had furnished, from the State Depart
meni, document compiled with great labor and
care, which exhibits comparative view Of the tariff
duties imposed by most Of the Governments Of Eu
rope, likewise our own. | will ask the attention
Of the Committee TO some facts gathered from this
valuable paper, aud which have cast into a tabular
,orm. They will serve dshow how the great agri
cultural and planting interests of Virginia and the
Middle States are burdened, and made to conlri.
butte to the revenue Of a Government, which is ask
ing us TO continue and make perpetual, duty on
their commerce, not exceeding 20 per cent. nt
valofem.
The whole amount OF imports from the United
States into Great Britain, not including her Colo
MES, for three years, with the duty paid thereon
was as follows:
Value Of Imports. Duty Paid.