Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-09-02
IN SENATE,
Friday, .Apgua 20, 1912.

Friday 4nuna 20, 1872.
THE TARIFF BILL.
The bill 10 provide revenue from imports and 10
chance and modify existing laws imposing duties on
imports and Tor other purposes was taken up, as ~
committee of the whole, for further consideration; the
amendments proposed 10y the COMMITTEE OH Finance
having been disposed OF Yesterday
Mr. MERRlCk moved to insert al Inc eha OF inc
hill an additional section, as follows
4ad bc IL ;nrih,r eaacted, That whenever The IRE
stent Of the T. 5 shall receive satisfactory evidence
,h,, ,he Grain flour sailed provisions, and unmanu-
tactarca tobacco f the growth and production oil the
IT, s, exported The u. 5, are admitted at ra'e
OF duty exceeding - per cent al vaorein, INTO Tile
several ports OF any European state or Kingdom, ne
shall make procamatlon thereof to the people OF The
IT, s. and thenceforward the duties imposed ny TINS
net upon all articles the growth and produce oil such
state or kingdom admitting snch gram, -four saited
provisions aad manufactured tobacco, snail De reouce
10 the OF - per cent. I'D valorem
Mr. EVANS hoped the Senate would not consent 10
adopt an amendment, the efitc, of which would he TO
allow any-perhaps The most nconsderaoie-staie oil
Enrope 10 make a tariff for TINS country, t" be extend.
ed to all other nations with winch It has treaties OF
commerce. ,
Mr. MERRlCK denied that the amendment would
have such effect.
Mr. EVANS insisted that it would
Mr. WALK Err observed that, ii 4 moderate duty
for revenue alone were intended by this bill, Great
Britain would te compelled 10 admit our productions,
at reduced duties He opposed 10 any arrangement
by which great advantages would be gwen TO iorcsh
nations, without any reciproca pficIcal
this country lie suggested to the mover to include
rice in the amendment As 10 the article OF tobacco,
lie did believe that England would ever re'nqu'sh
the du.y on it, by Which she derives S2lo00,oo0 an.
nually aud so complete monopoly does she make OF
It, that she prohibits the growth q: the article IN her
own kingdom. e..
Nh EVANS read from the commercial treaty With
Great Britain praviSn, that neither country should
impose higher rate OF duty the productions oi The
other than The same products cl any DINER hatioh are
subject to Importation.
Mr.. TAPpAN made few remarks not distinctly
heard but understood to be in favor OF some recfFo-
cal arrangement by which cur agricultural ploeac's
might find market abroad.
Mr.. MERRlCk called for the yeas and nays on his
proposition: winch were ordered
MIR WRIGHT would willingly vote for the amend
nen if the effect Of II would be merely 10 produce
rccipr city will! nations adopting tie liberal po-
rv 10 vards US But If t would lave lie effect point
ed on, b. the Senator from Name (Which, he apple
he, led, wcd be the caSc,) necessary result OF
our treaties VITA other nations not so literally DIS
nnsc he C. ul,i no. consent 20 The amendment.
Mr. BEN TON said the proposition OF The Senator
from MARYLAND Sir Mertirk was large one invu.r
ing great Consequences, and revr'ng pFnc'p'e as od
ms tie Government. Our Constitution contained two
provisions the suhec: OF foreign comtnerce-one to
ay duties imports, for revenue: the other |" reSu-
laie commerce with foreign nations. The former OF
these powers had been executed from the establish
inent c the Government: the latter had not een exc
Gated at ALL Mr. Madison attempted II in l7T;, IN IN.
bv the British interest Mr. Jefferson recommended II
in his report fore On commerce. when he was Secre-
tary of State and acting their suggestions, and en-
.eaycrinr to rive fleet important c!anse III the
CONSTITUTIONS I've (iir. b few years ago. had dgcs:ed
nm amendment: framed on Mr.. Madison resolutions,
and the study a tie speeches and reports &" that day
10 establish lie system of discrimination aud !ocipfo
city IN trace with foreign na rs: DISCRIMINATING be
Tween nations according 10 their treatment OF our com.
Ecrce, and reciprocity IN the rates ot duties. ite
prlncipe of Mr. Madison resolutions was that DIS
elimination OF 10 per centum IN the dut'es should he
made in favor Of the commerce Il: the nations winch
admitted proiucts favorable terms; and mat tGls
principle established by law should be carried into et
feet by treaties THIS the principle OF MIR. Madi
son resolutions and the Proposition which he Oh
icred few years ago, this principle was sought 10 b.
established IN the mode h. proposed l!ls (Nlr t. -
proposition not successful, although better ma
tured than the proposition offered by the Scnr,or
from Maryland, lately offered by the Senator from
Ohio, IAlr Iaprnn he eaii better ,natured, without
arrcra,ing 10 himself, except the merit oi
copying great n'as:er for he only copied Mr.. Mad
son tie wGs ri coarse. favor o.. the general oh! ct
Of tho ume uaman, fired but il not in the appro
pr;.e forn aud could not he approximately framed anG
guarded any eS'emporaneous movement III this clos
,ng scene upon the passage OF revenue or tariff ball
II was larne subject requiring separate considera
ton itself consideration requiring view of ou
whole existing commerce. ho,h foreign and domestic
and of all commercial treaties with foreign powers
subject large 10 this would require time Tor deil
bcration and for action; and We had time for nethe
now Ii would ais, require separate consideration
and could be adopted at any time, without being made
n part Of tariff bill. II would do best IN bill by 1t
self he was therefore, against doing anything on h
subject nov, and taking up by tseli al the Ee&t s's
aiOn.
hlr. MEHElCN modified his amendment. so IS t.
limit IT'S effect 10 reciprocity, by adding the following
Unless, Under tie provisions OF existing treaties, sa
reductions Il duties Will inue 10 the benefit % som
other foreign country making the reciprocal rcdac
ton in lis ports I'D, in all such cases the Pfes:den
hereby reQurs' to take the earliest means of Semi
mating the obligations OF any such treaty SO contl'cn!
with these principle OF reciprocity.
Mr. EVANS observed that this matter Of breakn.
up commercial treaties by mere proviso was on
which the Senate should not saction. 1t was too dan
gerous an experiment.
After few remarks from Messrs. III y L M "
and WOODBURY.,
The question was taken on Mr.. Merrek's amend
ment, and decided in the aegatye--yeas e, nays -, Q
follows:
rccs-Nessrs Archer, Linn, Mansum, Merricl
Nays-Messrs. nagby, Barrow, Bates, Benton, Fer
rien Choa;e, Clayton, Conrad, Crafts, Crii;rnden
Dayton, Evans, Graham Henderson, Huntington
Miller Moiehesd, Phelps, Porter, Preston, Simmons
Smith of CT, Smith of la, Spragne, Sturgeon Tall
Inadge, Tappan Williams, and Woodbridce-29.
Mr.. MERRlCK next moved 10 amend the bill b!
limiting it's duration 10 twelve months
MIR. BENTON suggested 10 Mr. aierrick that th
proper tine offer this amendment would lie utter t
bill was report, hack To the Ssnate.
Mr.. MEREiCK greed to Tie suggestion, and Will.
drew his amendment.
MIR. RlN ES SAID lie inf ir"edly anxious that liz
Senate should ;grec upon Iing that would nee
the concurrence of both branches o the Legislature
If lie thought any amendment would be made tina
would enable lin to vote for The BILL lie would for5ea
10 press the proposition which he now offered for th
consideration Of The Senate But he though very cyl
dent, from, The spirit which had been manifested, ha
his would not be the case; and he would therefore
state very briefly the leading objections to the bil
which lie entertained. In the first place, 1t could no
be characterized rsrcanc measure. HIS firm con
conviction was that it would rot produce an increas
of revenue. 1t was absolutely and emphaicay
measure Of prOtectiun extending, in some particulars