Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-07-22
rWENTY-sEYENTH coNGREss--.d Session
SPEECH or MIR. HUBBARD, OF VIRGINIA.,
AGAINST TIE TARIFF.
oatoered in The House Of Representatives,, Wednesday,

=. AGAINST TIE TARIFF.
oat0ered in The House Of Representatives, Wednesday,
June %, 1912.
MIR. Chairman: When We bear in mind the fact that
.i1ny OF our mossprofound statesmen have denied the
institutional power Ct Taagress to pass an %avowediy
elective Tariff law, while u yet larger number as de-
ctdedly deny the expediency of such a partial system
q! legislation, whether it ma; be dccmed within the
cempe,encY Of Congress 50 10 legis!atc ar not, We he
loid before us a subrct Of such magnitude as is well
Icsicnlated 10 command the attention of the nblest IN.
te.!ec;s; and, from is inexhars!iblc resources, To m
vie those uGaccus;oncd 10 discussion, also to parti
cipatc in The debate. This is emphatical!y 4 question
On which much can be said on bolh SIDES, and pre-
sents n fit opportunity for each member 10 contribute
as I'd in celebrating not only the principles ana Inc
denils inv.!ved IN his bill, but its probable efec's
or the s:ea. ccusuning and Producing classes OF the
country. in attempting to discuss The subject nos
before the committee it cannot be expected that |
should touch upon all Of the important objections
which may be urged against Tie biii and amendment.
Many points must necessarily pass over, to DE taken
up by the able gentlemen who will follow in The debate;
but | will cnacavoT % indicate concisely the pTincipa
reasons why J cannot support either the bill or the
amendment, in their present shape. Moreover, as J
propose occupying your attention but n short time, this
consideration presents an additional motive for my pur.
suing the course | have marked out for myself.
Fully impressed as | am, with the importance of the
subject, in all Of its bearings, nevertheless, | shall not
attempt so much to show The unconstitutionalIty OF the
measure, as 20 prove its INPoLIcY. But, before enter
ing upon the points, design mainly to dwell upon, al:
low me TO indulge in a few remarks upon the power OF
Cong rcss TO pass q protective Tariff.
In Tie introductory clause to the Constitution, we
find TIE purposes for which the Federal Govern
mcnt was formed clearly get forth. In that c.ausc
we fad the term general w%eitIre,' and also we
find tie same words in the first article oil the eighth
section. Upon this phrase the advocates Of 4 pro.
tpcliye Tariff have based their arguments III su port
or that policy. Bat ! would ask gentlemen whe.
;her :hese words iust ci,ed are not descriptive OF the
end which the Government was Instituted TO accom-.
plish, rather than q grant of an additional sub
s,antivc pnwer-and that too, in tie most general
and comure hersive terms Eut if the words "ge-
neral welfare contain Il general or specific grant Of
power, lnasmuch as tie general taxing power issnper-
added TO raise HE means to attain the OBJECT therein in.
Dictated, the whole subject, in oil OF It's relations, must
BE- addressed 10 the discretion OF Congress. 50, II tbs
clause irc!udcs with others also tie power OF protection.
It Is Discretionary with Congress whether they wall af-
fn.d that nro:cclinn 10 manufactures, By 4 direct or an
inairact ,ax. In ciiker event, it is to he effected
through the taxing pa%cr. But if you cannot protect
manufactures az lrni;imateiy ore way rs the other, The
power winch ycu claim, t!,ongh embodied IN The same
clause and ia the some sentence granting 10 Congress
the spower 10 lay and collect taxes, duties, in pos's,
and exciste, to pay The dcots and provide for the
cannon defence and general welfare of the United
States" we have 4 strange anomaly IN language.
Should gentlemen take this position, then they
mus, admit that Congress can raise money by Grcd
| lakes, 'IO pay VI uchtS ~ P'Sb'es - 'N
defence" bu, cannot protect manufactures BY, d,'et
taxes. So, therefore, those taking this ground adniIt
that this clause, though, as they contend, II incihoes
the powc7 Of pro.ec,Ion, is seriously limited aud restrict
cd. Bu, when we examine it, We fad no more or lrss
limitation OF the powers, 30 far as any ara granted ny
il. IN lie one case than in tie other. Then, either
that clause must give the same power under the phrase
"reneral welfare that it coniers ''o pay The debts
and 10 provide for the common defence, or else II
rran,s M substantive and independent power IN the
-. c., ot,oJ Iuiepl So pirnn Mic is the DOWpr con-
tended for by gentlemen, authorizing Congress to pro-
,cct manufactures, by taxing the balance ol the com
mrnity for their benefit, that they are irst forced IN
one breath to invest the Government with sovereign
t.. and in the next TO dives, it of one-haif the means
necessary TO attain The very ends they first assrrt 1t
las the power, and is bound to advance. But Con.
r.pss must either possess unlimited power over manu-
faclu.cs, with the general taxing power TO effect what
ever purposes they MAJ deem wise and salutary, or else
il has no power over them Whatever. Suppose we have
The power: then, if il be deemed that manufactures are
injurious TO pubic morals and the interest Of the ccun.
ty. we should have 10 lsg'sinte against them, and IN
favor of some other branch Of industry more likely, IN
onr estimation, TO advance the general welfare. -
Thus, If YOU invest the Government under that clause
with the power, it is 10 be cxcrted as Congress may, IN
is u isdnm, considrr most advantageous 10 the pubic
good. So should manufactures, instead OF being a bless
Ing, be deemed detrimental 10 The general welfare,
Congress might then, if il thought proper, as right
fully DISCRIMINATE AGAINST, Is IN favor OF !hem. You
miph;. under this view of the cnsr, even lax manu-
features 10 rive bnnniies 10 other branches OF industry,
considered more c%orcenial 10 our institutions ana the
prosperity of The country. Upon this view Ct The
question, We find the Tariff party forced to ciothe
the Government with such unlimited supervisory
and controlling power. as at once renders all Inc
restrictions contained IN the Constitution only so
many Eumbugs 10 deluxe the people ct the SAFES
into the adoption of q fern Of Government, sup
posed at Inc time 10 be Federative, aud rcserving a
,,rge mass of power still in the hands Of the peo-
=, - 49,. Sey.ro1 STATES. 10 be used b. the States.
BESIDES, it is plan that if the words general vel
fare" are sufficiently broad and comprehensive 10 con-
vcy the power to protect manufactures, ihey equally
invest Congress with the same power over educa'ion,
internal improvements, agriculture, and all the other
trent interests of the country Bot | have not yet heard
ony one maintain that we had the authority to ra'se mo-
new by direct or indirect taxes, and distribute eonnt'es
1, anv of those great branches Of INDUSTRY: let you
nropcse TO do The same thing, in effect, by tins bill. Gul
there are some who rely upon the clause ITO regulate
commerce" as containing ample authority 10 tax one
norton of the community to foster the Industry al
another; or, in ether words, TO exact, e,y legislation,
from the thrifiy 10 enrich the unaFjty; taus changing
The rules of ius,icr, and presenting premiums To The
nnsk;lful and inefficient, at the expense Of the sue
cessrul enterprise and industry OF the country. but
can the words oto regula;e commerce convey nu-
tho.iiy to control the produetire energies oil inc
country. Can this Government, under The prrtehcc oi
rrgul ting commerce, order or pripe Tue PeoPe - Is
continue certain enrlnyments, ond hestow Their LABOR
and invest their money in others: VIII The arm parry,
open This Immense magazine of power, and be so blind
as not 10 perceive that, when mace 10 snOsc,Ve th'r
vicws. with equal facility it can be reso'.ed to as q
means Of STRENGTHENING and enrichins the commercial,
agricultural, and Internal improvement parties 81 ms
confedcracy: BIZ, if they persist in enforcing th's pro,
,eclive policy, justice and FAR play demand 'nat ID,
Tho rfeat Interests of the country should be benefited
alike, and be taxed equally to secure those aasan
lares. The statesman, in that case, mus! 50 ies's'
la,e as to confer equal protection and EQUAL burdens,
whether directly or indirectly, upon ell classes by
oking to the avocations of The people, we i'm" en-
gagged in agriculture, mining, commerce, nav'sauo"'
md the learned professions, 1904 s62; in manniac-
lures and trades, only ~ ,545. Then letns indicate
The different departments of industry by letters show
ing the proportion one branch Of industry bears 20 aho,
tier: and then let ns see how the bill now before US WI.
operate on the Interests Of each class. We VIII represent
he rre.t agricultural and commercial classes by a., is,
:, and he manufacturers by NJ. The bill now before