The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-11

g. A third objection remains to be urged, which
would be sufficient in ITSELF induce me to return
the bill to the House with my objections BY unit
ing two subjects homogeneous Tariff and Distrl-
BUTTON it inevitably makes the fate Of the one Deepen
dent upon that of the other in future CONTESTS OF par
y Can any thing be more fatal to the merchant or
manufacturer than such an alliance ? What they
most of all require is system of moderate duties So
arranged to withdraw the Tariff question, as tar
possible, completely from the arena of political
contention. Their chief want is permanency and
stability Such increase of the Tariff, believe to
be necessary in order to meet the economical expen-
ditures of Government Such increase, made in
the spirit Of moderation and udcious discrimination,
would, have doubt, be entirely satisfactory to
the great majority of the American People
In the way of accomplishing measure so salu-
tary and so imperatively demanded by every pub
lie interest, the Legislative Department will meet
with cordial cooperation the part of the Execu-
tive. This is all that the manufacturers can desire,
and it would bea burden readily borne by the People
But cannot too earnestly repeat that in order to be
beneficial it must be permanent, and in order to be
permanent it must command general acUiiescence.
But can such permanency be justly hoped for II the
Tariff question be coupled with that of Distribution,
as to which serious conflict of opinion exists
among the States and the People, which enlists in its
support bare majority, if indeed there be major
ity of the two Houses of Congress- What perma-
nency stability attach to a measure which,
warning upon itself, gives away fruitful source OF
revenue at the moment it proposes large increase
of taxes on the People' Is the manufacturer pre-
pared to stake himself and his interests upon such
an ssue3
know that it is urged, but most enormously, in my
opinion that instability is just apt to be produced by
retaining the public lands ofrevenue as from
any other cause and this is ascrbed to constant uc-
tuaton it is said the amount sales If there were
any thing in this objection it equally applies to every
imposition of duties on imports. The amount OF re-
venue annually derived from duties is constantly liza
| BILE to change The regulations of foreign govern
ments, the varying productveness of other countries
periods of excitement in trade, and great variety
other circumstances constantly arising to afec
the state of commerce, foreign and domestic, and O.
consequence the revenue levied upon it. The sales
of the public domain in ordinary times are regulated
by fixed laws which have their basis in demand in
creasing only in the ratio Of the increase of popula
tion In recurring to the statistics connected with
this subject, it will be perceived that for period OF
ten years preceding 1884, the average amount of land
les did not exceed $2,OO0,OO0.
For the increase which took place in l834-5 and 6
to look to that peculiar condition of the coun-
try which grew out of one of the most extraordinary
excitements in business and speculation that have eve
occurred in the history of commerce and currency.
the fruit of wild spirit of adventure engenderec
by vicious system of credits, under the evils of which
the country is still aboring and which it is fondly
hoped will not recur. Considering the vas
amount of investments made by private individuals
in the public lands, during those three years, and
which equalled $4S 10000 equal to more than &c
years purchase taking the average of sales othe ten
preceding years. it may be safely asserted that the
suit of the public land sales hold out nothing tc
alarm the manufacturer with the idea of instability in
the revenues, and consequently in the of the
Government.
Under what appears to me, therefore, the soundest
considerations of public policy and in view of the in
terests of every branch of domestic industry return
you the bill with these my objections to its becoming
! a law.
take occasion emphatically to repeat my anxious
desire to cooperate with Congress- in the passing of
law, which, while it shall assist in supplying the
wants the Treasury and re-estabsh public credit
shall afford to the manufacturing interests of the
country all the incidental protection they require.
After all, the effect of what do is substantially to
call on Congress to reconsider the subject. If on
such reconsideration majority of twothirds of both
houses should be in favor of this measure it will be-
come law notwithstanding my objections. In a
case of clear and manifest the part of the
President, the presumption of the Constitution is that
such maioritles will be found Should they be sc
found in this case having conscientiousy discharged
my own duty, shall cheerfully acquiesce in the re-
suit. JOHN I4LER.
WASHINGTON, August 9h 1912