Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-16


uon could not otherwise be secured.
MIR U. said, Zoe himself that he was free to ae-
| know ledge that the distribution Of the public lands
| was an object OF the drst importance With him. and
that he would sooner keep the duties down TO 20
per cent, than give up the distribution. Mr. u.
said he was in favor Of imposing such duties i'm.
ports that should accomplish the double object OF
| raising revenue and eaotding protection. And f
those who who were known to favor the protective
policy should unite with those who favor the dslri.
button OF the public lands there would no doubt be
strength enough to carry both.
MIR u said that he did not intend at this time
to enter upon discussion OF the principles involved
IN the policy OF protection OF free trade, Of the
distribution of the public lands. Tie would content
himself by declaring that he in favor of raising
revenue; keeping in view that incidental pro-
lection, which could and ought TO be furnished;
that he was in favor OF adopting retaatory mea-
sureS, 10 operate upon those nations which placed
heavy burdens on the consumption OF articles pro-
duced by us; and that while he DESTROYS to
eompllsh these things he desired at theSame time to
secure a distribution OF the public lands among
| the StateS-Ho thought all these objects would
conduce TO the public interest OF all the States and he
desired 10 see them 90 In nd IN hand. II, however,
they were to be separated he was OF opinion that
distribution Of the public lands the most impor'
tant TO the State and people he represented. Ii the
duties ore kept down TO 20 per cent revenue suf-
/ hciently large TO carry on the Government may be
| raised by enlarging the articles upon which It Is
| imposed. Nearly half our imports heretofore have
i been admitted free OF duty IL only requires that
we should impose duty OF 90 per cent. upon all our
imports to secure a revenue OF s20,O0O,0UO
And there Is no danger that the wheels OF the Gov
| eminent viii stop for means, even If the Senate's
proviso TO the distribution act should remain unre-
| pealsd.
| Mr. WISE rose in reply to MIR Underwood and
said Sir, / wish TO see whether | understand the
gentleman from Kentucky arsht, and to strike
| bargain with against him If can. He has hon.
estly and openly bid in the market overt, and
desire all to hear what passes between us.
| II understand him, he said, FIRST, that he goes
for protective tariff and for the distribution OF the
proceeds OF the public lands both, and he will have
both It he can. This is his main object, 20 obtain
| protection to manufactures without repeating the
| distribution law. Secondly Ii he cannot obtain
| an increase of duty beyond - per cent without
repeating the act OF Distribution he viii vote TO re
tain the duties below 20 per cent, and will no, give
Up the land bill 10 the protection OF manuiac-
lures.
Here Mr. UNDERWOOD interrupted MIR Wise and
| explained that he would. It he could not increase
the duties beyond 20 per cent, without repeating
the land bill, go Tor retaining the duties at 20 per
cent, and for taxing articles row free, which would
| bring IN AT esst twenty millions MORE and IL
that would not do, he would reduce expenditure.
rather than repeal the distribution act.
| -ir WISE said he now understood the gentleman
as gong further than he at first thought. He would
have protection and distribution both il he could;
but he threatened the friends OF protection with the
vote TO retain duties at twenty per cent, and 10
articles OF necessity, such tea and coffee and TO
| cut down supplies 20 Government unless would
repeal the twenty per cent. clause of the land bl,
and give HIM stlbu,ion as well as protection.
Sir, said Mr. W., Thank the gentleman for this
candid declaration. have OF ate, or asserted ami
re-asseried, 10 Northern gentlemen and Southern,
TO tariff and anti tariff gentlemen, that this was the
| real policy OF certain politicians. That the navy,
the right arm. md the army the eft arm of defence
and the industrial interests Of manufactures, were
all 10 sink for the sake of ds,ribu;on-the great
hobby OF one asprant! Yes, sir, protection, is to
cease, and supplies TO Government are 10 be denied;
interests separate and IN the aggregate, are tosuer
and be sacrificed for the sake OF distribution, This
is honestly and openly now proclaimed TO the man
uiacturers by those who have heretofore professed
\ TO be their 'triends par exceence!" | am lad OF
the proof now furnished 10 them OF this fact, which
have again and again asserted, that the most diff
tcut obstruction 10 be overcome in the way OF pro-
lection was the bill distributing the proceeds Of the
public lands.
And now, sir, have a word to say to the
friends OF protection. have ever been opposed 10
/ laying a duty for the sake Of protection alone,
and am still opposed to the protective policy in
that sense. think the Government, can lay duties
only for revenue; and that protection ought TO
| be incidental only 20 revenue; but that the manu-
featuring interests fairly entitled to whatever
| protection they can derive from bona fde revenue
| taritf.-This opinion is common 10 most Of those
who are called anti'tariif men. And in my opinion
the Government now requires enough and more
than enough OF revenue TO yield fair AMI reasonable
protection.
think, though an nnt.tarifT man, tina, we must
raise the duties above 30 per cenL-that the public
debt the public defence, and the current eXpendi-
lures abso utely require liberal and large increase
Of duties. But, SIR, never will vote to lay an
additional tax whilst we giving away millions
Of revenue from lands in the midst Of borrowing
and begging even for loans at q sacrifice. Bring
back the proceeds OF the public lands according TO
the letter well the faith ofthe Of distribution,
and | will cheeriuily vote TO increase your duties
above 20 pr cent. Beyond the reason Unnecessary
supplies 10 Government, beyond the reasons against
a funded public debt, and beyond the reason OF
making adequate provision for public defence. l.,
though an nti.tarif man, will vote 10 increase
duties ioerallv, in order especially to repeal the
whole land bill. | announce this without reserve
10 the friends Of protection, to repe the threats OF
the gentleman from Kentucky that they shall not
have protection without giving him distribution.
am against distribution and protection both; but
were put TO a choice OF the two evils, will take
muoh OF protection IN preference 10 particle OF
distribution. The one, protection, does benefit
partially some portion or section OF the country;
but IN distribution there is no good whatever
nothing but political bribery and corruption, temp
iatlon and taxation to the States and the People.
And why should not the Land bill be repealed
by It's own provisions L. decllres on its own face
that It shall DC repealed, and he suspended
as soon as or whenever the duties are raised above
20 per cent. Ii never undertook TO distribute the
, land revenue when the Government should be com
PEELED 10 call for more taxation than 20 per cent aC
l Il
yOnd % per cent? The time has come in NV OBJ
MON when we must increase the revenue. Yet
now, we hear the gentleman denying the good faith
, of legislation. lie says that we may not bind our
selves or our successors to pass or not TO pass
statute; but does not the gentlemen distinguish he
tween the pOioeT of legislation and the good faith
legislators Here we have a bill proposing in :
most lnsIdious form to repeal the 20 per cent claus,
OF the Land bill, passed 10y yourselves and you ar,
told that you are not bound in good faith 10 pre.
serve your pledges. Sir, do not put this upon the
ground Of pledges ! insist that you avowed 10y
your votes incorporating the 20 per cent clause, that
the distribution ought to cease soon as the Go
vernment should be reduced to borrowing, and Ia
t7xauon beyond 20 per cent ad valorem tariff
That you ought not TO distribute, with one hand
whilst you tax with the other and ought not "a
.orrow money 70 give u way.
Sir II this be another bill To "head Cant Tyler -
hop md trust that he will meet ii with decs,On.
have no authority 10 speak Tor him. and DO not
mean 10 he understood as speaking for him but I
do say that the den be now to hold on TO dlsribu-
Ton, and n head Captain Tyler" both, at the ex
pense of protection at The expense Of revenue and
Of the nrmy and navy, by driving him either 20 veto
tariff bill or 10 sign bill repsaing the 20 per cent
clause OF the land bill say, cir, II his Ice the
meaning and object Of gentlemen. TO trihe With the
real Interests Of the People and Government IN a
mere political game Of iscton, we're the President
OF me United States, gentlemen would find II rs
hard 70 head me on this occasion, as Il was when
he vetoed fiscal banks and fiscal corporations
MIR EVERETT had voted for the disfrib utton