Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-09

SPEECH or h,r. II II. T. HUNTER, or VA,


The Honse hayin- resolved its /; ,nto COMMITTEE Oh
the Whole on the state ct the Union,
Mr.. HUNTE addressed the Char as i"l!~wS
Mr. Charrnan:-l had hoped that our past expert
ence had satisfied Us OF the vanity OF al attempts 10
create national wealth by mere legislative enact
ments. | had believed that the bitter DIVISIONS aho
complicated mschiefs which haze heretofore ARISEN
from our efforts to foster species OF industry py
taxing another, bad not passed away without i'aV'ng
some salutary lessons which had sunk deep IN Inc
American mind A nd whilst others casting aside
the useless offences and rust.eatsn armor q oaroa
rous age TO strip or the in which civilized ma
lions are hereafter 10 struggle for mastery ara EN-
pre- ha, trusted that the spirit OF American enter
prise would have been left free any 10 cons"d oi
The prizes and pursue he glorious destiny winch ca'i'
j, onward That should hc AIT OF the s't'' barharous
policy OF Nehene XII Ia presc %, ~ Jaw, Vie "cce
patton Of The ctcl, ought scafc " surprise u.s. ou
confess WAS hardly prepared u hnn s'ch an 'G'a
ravelv ma;nta ned hy American legislators N thiS year
"f cur LORD che thousand ti. hundred aud !ory-two
And vet we the exploded doctrines oi the restrictive
svs:cm revived. wh much zeal as l:ley were not
beginning to ne repri.Ged by the almost general con
sent OF clyilz nations. SIR, can scarcely believe
that gentlemen are serious III inanis innS that such
policy cap odd II the SUN of national wealth or
promote the general welfare o( the people. II they
had SAID that pal had been Invested under the iai'h
o. former laws aud that the and which has thus gwen
them artificial being, could not II "Hceh'y WIN
dir wn without destroying tten, Gould have e!t i!e
force or snc an argument f.. reasonable mGaih-
cato oil the system nho nisIt ai"io tH'h
ime either 20 gave their interest m"fe ia'i!'iv or tse L"
ithLrsw Their investments without loss w Ii 'a'y
H. hu AZ. proclaimed that al expanded cu-rency "nS
III r object and ha; this could 80; be Gt;aaed except
hv sstrc, - duties cpuld have recognized such an
appeal orc III with the spirit OF me age tn
whict we le However mach Should diiitr from tte'a
az IL the prGo.ciy Of their policy but, Sir %hen
consider the reasons upon which they pretend TO Justify
the protective system am forced 10 turn from the doc.
trines OF the QUEER TO those Of the inner school! TO see
II there bc eso'ec po!cy which really guides
and moves ,hctn. Il seems 10 that there Is much
in the nocal consequences I" explain the great l'h
portance ghca thr friends cf this measure attach 10
it Th"se INVOLVE TIC great qucston Mhlch hes at The
bottom OF le ~ sica between The Federal ana lie
plbilcan parties Of ;a.s ccnatiy-th"t question be-
twecn he man. and the ltw which, under vaf'ons
forms has she .cn r';d disturbed alnos; every Political
socie,y SIR IL IS precisely upon this field that we
should exp. the tao great American parties
ioiairr battle There have always been those "io be-
lieved that Governments could he best shst-nec by
priv 9red interests created by special egs!lon, ana
Welding selfish and nsicenary support TO In" la"
IN oruer 10 secure lis uouut'es Bui far wiser, and,
trust far more numerous school, believe ial TO
vcrnment Will rest upona wider and more stable ba
SIS when II is sustained ly the many on account oil
the equal operation ot lis laws, and Nr last dispersal
ton of lis benefits TO all. ! am lot surprised. Sir,
tha protective tariff which taxes ror' for 7r'rac
than for public purposes, should toe tr.me ievoF::e
with politicians c the former class OF all species Il"
,axaton ms hes; sue6 10 their peculiar - stem. ior
j, creates the strongest SPECIAL Interests winch ingenui.
~ could have devised The circumstances, too, under
,yhrh II - introduced, Of character 10 Increase
she interest which the friends OF this bin feel in s
puss<ac The public debt OF the Two wars has been
pac qnd tt.r amount a the rev cobt rs comparative
/ small The l. : Bark is no longer III existence,
and indeed the whole banking system has received
shcc from which i, is almost impossible for II to re-
cover TIE numbers of those who cannot live except
upon erisiatiyc hounties has gradually diminished
unter the operations of the compromise law In short,
there are no powerful and controlling circumstances
now eys,irr cuiistTain the Government TO pursue
aay particular course in is future policy For the
frat time since the days OF Alexander Hamilton, II is
free 10 take either ditocon. Us The policy @! the one or
the other ut these great parties sinii prevail Inc H.
nal issue Of the struggle upon ths mIg'y question
,ill 90 far 10 determine whether ti's Goro1nmcnt Is
en- ~ administered for tie many the few The
la,ye strength and the future o'gaEizaton OF parties
NAV depcnd upon IT, For let not The Democracy sup
pose that ;.icy can arm Their saetncs with such wea-
nons md hope for than partial successes wii!S,
they are permitted 10 use these Instruments They
must away*e oct fearful contest with th'S inter
est y hich they nave armed, whenever they attempt To
administer this Government upon eqnai pfncircs and
for the genera good for, IL Is against the genius oil
their creed support any privileged interest al 'he
exaense of the whole they stand towards all such mo-
nonols;s RS natural enemies. They can expect &c
useful or honorable alliance from any such quarter
mar l ever be offered them, except for The purpose
of dividing ds;rac,ing. and perhaps betrayng those
whose principles destructive 10 their privileges.
This. Mir Chairman, is thc last stronghold Of the
snanv hics is il fl f.. the eocratic party 10 carry
.na their asccndancr can never be competc. until
they have established Tie principe that no class o,
interest IN this community saa expect all others 10 be
taxed for its peculiar benefit and support. know
that nil ho advocate this adi, 10 not avow the pur
noses of protection; aud that many other Arguments
are used to soften lis rgo!s, ADD smooth TIE way o
lis massage Sometimes Il is mere measure OF finance
necessary for the support uf the Government snE;e
,,es - revenue measure iok!ng iGcid, tai'y Il
urolecllon aaG sometimes Tie c!ect rnrpose OF pro-
,ecton o. avoved Is tc nioTo candid OF lis trends
Mr. Cb,iftsan tbs is 80 measure designed only, CT
even manly, iur revenue: if such were It's pur.
pose Il Is taost nsA!tut'y dfa"" lis chet obltct is
rro, ton an. care sic: whether dirCc: or .dt:1ci
means be seo .ur that end tie objections arpj
10 il n point q Prncirc, however iaGeh II may
DIFF, r III de- &c. II ti.S were deeeCeG SIMPLY as
rrcenue measure MS Determinations would :e made for
ina end ;!une bat The provisions OF tins bill indicate
no snch purpese Ii such It's object, lis duties
,,ou9 be eid upcn a.i:cifs produced entirely abroad
:, nrcterence h. these which are made also nj LONE,
where tic amour. OF revenue yielded ny either would
be neatly the same. In the .irst case, tie Govern
inen could the entire tax; Willie, IN Inc o'her
the domestic producer eyieS more IRON the consumer
for his own peculiar benefit, the shape OF eahahc'
pr:ces than is paid ,Gu the 'fIe1spTy. And yet tie
OPP SITE principle IS nooroms'y pursued III ts oiil
he heaviest du;es ARE lard upon wooiie"s, upon
ron, uoon cotions, anI upon articles Of general con
s oll.n IN Which the least Use of price is sene-
= w. felt throughout tie whole community. If this
" . = n yanu, measure Il would discriminate upon
principles which would adjust the burden, in some de
gree accor ~ TO the wealth Of tie consumer. The
more coty articles aad tie Injuries Of the rich would
be taxed ,nI.t, 20 ccre, III some measure, ose
commodities necessary to the poor And yet precisely
the reverse OF THIS pc,y adopted. The higher priced
varete, Of woolens, Of coiions, and otter articles
are least taxed and under the raudulen, system Of
mnmums aad s,ec.iics ;i.e fabrics Of these
kinds are most heavily hardened IN proportion 10 their
value The coarfer coitoDs and cloths, which would
be consumed d. tie poor taxed, IN some instances,
more than cent er cent and they are titus force 10
paw the domestic manufacture. almost Whatever lie
may choose 10 charge them-whllst the hner fabrics,
USED BY the tich are admitted at much less rate OF
du;y III. necessa-ies Of lie, and the very mpc.
merits Of the poor mans trade are far more heavily
taxed than I'll, costly laxur;es of the flch The poor
man pays much more IN proportion for his cloth, hrs