The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-02-11
ID o Itttrdl.
SPEECH OF HON. IRA A. EASTMAN, OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE,
In the House Of Representatives., December % and
29 1871.

|
In the House Of Representatives., December % and
20, 1871.
On the resolution of Mr. FILLMORE Of New York,
to refer so much of the Presidents message as
relates to the tariff, TO the Committee on Manu-
iactures and on the amendment of Mr. ATH-
ERToN of New Hampshire, to strike out the
words COMMITTEE on Manufacturer and in
sert COMMITTEE on Ways and Means"
Mr. EASTMAN said that when the question now
under discussion was first brought to The consider
alton OF the House, he had supposed that it would
be decided without debate, or ut least after very
limited one, question so simple, and, in itself
considered, so crcumscrbed, as Il mere question
of reference, would certainly seem TO admit of
speedy action. But the debate had gone on from
step to step, 1t had branched off in various Jirec-
tons One subject after another had been intro
duced until almost everything connected with Il
tariff with the general policy Of the Government,
and indeed with the general affairs of the nation,
had been brought under review.
Tic subject of tariff was one highly exciting
and deeply interesting 10 ALL 1t would no doubt
occupy much of The time of the present session of
Congress; and if the House saw fit TO 30 into the
merits Of the question at this time, and upon the
present motion, had, of course, the right so to
do. But il was not until very recently, nor until
some matters had been introduced which he DEEM
ed il his duty no, to pass unanswered, that he had
himself proposed 10 n.ingle in the debate. In the
| remarks which he was about TO submit, he did not
presume TO say that he should adhere more closely
TO the precise point at issue than other gentlemen.
and he should claim for himself the same privilege
of DEPRESSION, which had been extended to them,
However, before proceeding TO what he considered
the exraneous mttters of the debate, he would
examine, for Il few moments, the real question be-
fore the House, which vas, simply whether that
portion Of the Presidents message which relates
to tariff shall be referred to the Committee of
Ways and Mems. The proper solution of that
question involved the further inquiry, for what Is a
tariff imposed IL tho object of Il tariff be the
collection of duties for the purpose of revenue and
the support of the Government, then the reference
should undoubtedly hc TO the Committee of Ways
and Means. Sir, that committee was constituted
in the early days of the Republic. Its duties are
distinctly and specifically laid down in the rules Of
the House, They arc well understood by ALL Its
particularly charged to take into consideration all
propositions ici0ire 10 The rereuuc and in It's for
nation it is supposed that the Speaker will give all
sections Of the country their due weight, and that
in their action its several members will he govern
ed by the specified duties Of the committee. But
if on the contrary, the object was 10 impose II
tariff for the purposes Of protection-il, when du-
lies were laid, they were to be imposed with an
eye single TO the protection of manufactures and
those interests which are intimately connected with
them, then he would not contend that the reference
should not be 10 the Committee on Manufactures
Tha, committee had grown up under The high press
IRE system Of 1918, and was first introduced into
the rules as distinct committee in 1919. II was
worthy of remark, also, that by the rules Of the
House no duties were assigned to it, Those who
represented the protective interests and believed in
the protective policy, were satisfied with their hi
umph in establishing the committee, and no doubt
deemed it the part of prudence, at least, not to
designate It's duties.
But, sir, how is the present Committee on Mem
ufIctures constituted? We need give il but cur
sorry glance to know what will be their decision
should the subject ola tariff be committed to them.
Al the head of that committee stands the honora-
bic gentleman from Massachusetts from the Esser
district, Nlr SALToNsTALr..1 1t Is mn omnous
district, sir, known Of old deeply interested in
the protective policy; and the very able gentle
man who represents II no doub, honestly believes
in that doctrine. Next 10 him comes the gentle
man from Rhode Island, mir TILLINGHAsr,]
always active and wntchlu ofeverylhlng that con-
the interests of his constituents who probab-
" represents rs large, if not larger, tariff interests
than any gentleman upon this floor, and whose
views upon that subject are well known. Next
the gentleman from New Jersey, [AlrRAEDoLrH1
who has in the course of this debate, expressed
himself decidedly in favor Of the protective policy.
Next the gentleman from Vermont. tMI SLADE,]
who day or Two since expressed himself in terms
equally strong, and whose ardent zeal upon the
subject of Abolition is at least indicative of what
la, lrnp 1
his feelings are interested The two next, sir, the
gentleman from New York, Mr. lIuNr,l and the
gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. llENRY,1 are
also decidedly in favor Of the protective policy,
represent protective interests, and hold their seats
here by protective votes Thus stand the first six
on that committee; all representing tariff interests;
all believing in the doctlnc Of proteclion-all I'M
doubtedly disposed, so far as they NAV be able, 10
carry out the protective principle. What weigh,
can the remaining three have upon the decisions
of the committee, when the prcpondcrancc j, two
to one against them Sir the fact is too glaring-
it cannot be disguised, that this committee has
been constituted with the express view and for
the express purpose Of bringing before the House
and enforcing upon its deliberations the protective
principle, and thereby giving TO the manufacturing
interests an advantage over the agricultural and
producing interests. | impute no improper mo-
lives to the Speaker in the organization of this
committee. 1t may be that the light in which
have presented the matter did not occur 10 him.
But, whatever may have been the views of the
Speaker, il cannot be doubted that from such
committee report will be ensured, bill brought
into this House, which shall not only recognise
the protective principle, but shall have carried out
in its every section the peculiar and special nte-
rests fthe manufacturer. while the farmer, the
mechanic, the laboier and indeed, the interests Of
the whole producing community, will be entirely
lost sigh, Of and gentlemen, in giving their votes
upon the present question, should bear this stead
iy in mind. For one, sir, ] am not disposed TO
let the gentlemen who represent the producing
interests upon this floor, evade the point. wish
their constituents te see directly how the matter
stands. ] wish them 10 see that to vote for the
reference of this subject 20 the Committee Man
features, is TO give the strongest indirect vote that
can possibly be given for the protective policy and
is but one step removed from voting directly for
the protective principle. 1t is in vain for gentle
men, either for party, or other purposes, by any
specious course Of reasoning, TO attempt TO cover
mp the real effect Of such vote You do not, il
is true, directly abandon your interests, but you
cor,,, Tho ~, 10 tho kapning nj those vhosp nrinc-