Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-07
THE COMPROMISES ACT

We have reason TO know that the construction
put upon this act by MIR Bates, is the same which
Mr. Tyler gave II in 1899, when he said il should
be kept "sdered aud inrioiaie"-and il is the same
which he gave 1t IN conversation, as late as JUNE
Last. There can be no doubt il is the true con-
structon; and that the object of the Compromise
was TO raise sufficient revenue for Government.
from the Customs-aHd leave the Land Money TO
the States, TO whom it belongs.
MIR RTEs' amendment to Mr. Glars resolution,
being under the consideration OF the Senate:
Mr. BATES, OF Massachusetts,; said there was
one point which had not been considered IN IN.
progress Of the debate, TO which he wished 10 call
the attention of the Senate. The Senator from
Virginia, and the Senators from South Carolina as
also the Senator from Georgia (Mr Berrien) and the
Senator from North Carolina, (Mr Mangum) ad =
init the authority and announce the purpose of
abiding. generally, by the principles OF the compro
mise act Of 1888. The suggestion which he de.
sired TO make is this that the amendment pronosed
10y the Senator from Virginia, oppropriating the
proceeds OF the public lands TO the uses OF the
Treasury, is violation Of that in the only par
cular IN which II is Of any Importance TO the indus
try OF the country.
II the act of 1888 was a COMPROMISE then there
were parties to 1t. Those parties were the friends
and the opponents OF the protective system or
rather they were those who upon that occasion as
sumed to act rs SUCH with what autholily he would
not now inquire.
Compromise imports mutual concession What
then were the concessions which were made7 Strip
the act Of ITS subsidiary and dependent provisions
they will be found TO be these, and these only moth
ing more and nothing less than these, viz: That
the duties on imports should be gradually 70
duced. in the form and withinthe time stated
in the act, to the wants OF nm economical adj
ministralion OF the Government, and that these
wants should be supplied from tho customs
The limit OF supply fixed on the one hand. tbe
~ Ol ae ell onf h. ofho r.
Of duties, whether ad valorem or specific the home
valuation end cash payment stipulated IN the act
are OF no sort OF importance except upon the as
sumption that the revenue Is TO come from the Gus
toms. " the public lands may now be tnken for
the support, or the payment Of the debts Of the Go
vernment then clearly tax upon real estate NAV
be resored 10, excise a loan Of money for the
same purpose, TO be repaid out Of the proceeds OF
the public lands; and thus the customs NAV be su.
psfeded, and the whole protective power, both di
rect and incidental, by the imposition and agency
! OF duties and Imposts, he entirely defeated. He de-
sired 10 ask II the parties TO the compromise made
an adjustment like this7
The language Of the net is clear: "Ftom and NJ
ter the 3Oth OF june 1872 such duties shall be laid
Tor the purpose Of raising such revenue az NAV be
/ necessary 10 an economical administration Of the
Government" Such supplies smsy be necessary
70 an economical administration or az an economical
administration OF the Government may require, the
whole Of the supplies shall be derived from duties
The reduction Of duties, therefore 10 the wants of
tho Governmont, so 10 be administered, was the
concession on the one hand; the supply Of those
wants Wy the imposition Of duties was the concss
DION on the other hand. II this DO not So there was
no mutuabty ~ the compromise. There was no
compromise. II was a surTendry NJ discretion.
| Moreover. had hesn Otherwise intended. the
oct would have been IN some such form az this -
! such duties shall be laid 10 raise such revenue m
| may DO neceBs1ry-oyeT and above the revenue
which may We derived from the public and. nj,
other sOurces-to m economical ndministrotion "
Ne. matter 20 important would not have been
/ elt 10 construction.
Like ali other acts this act s IN he taken AZ lie
own exposition. Bot n there be any doubt upon
the act ITSELF let The historical facts be rsneI,ed bot
this act passed IN March, that the distribution act
pissed The Senate ~ January preceding and passed
me House OF Representatives tho day the c0rppro-
mise net passed the Senate. What room then ran
| remain Tor doubt that the public lands haivng
been disposed Of. were out Of tho question: Still
luther lei II be reeolecied that General Jackson in
December before, at the opening Of the session Of
Congress, IN his public message had announced Il
ashis opinion Chat the public lands ought mn long
ersiO be looked 10 Of revenue" and tbs a
comr,illeo Of his friends in tho Senate, in formal
report, mad expressed their concurrence with HIM
IN this opinion and there will result the strongest
possible confirmation Of the truth that the custons
were 10 be looked 10 10 supply the wants Of the
Government, and not the lands.
The bill Of distribution Of 1893 Wa. Iina,d IN
hvo years, IL ~ true, bot the compromise net was
extended 10 ten, nearyso Had IT, therefore no,
been taken ior granted that the distribution would
be continued by an oct Of renewal, saving cianse
fyr such contingency would have been inserted
~ the oct OF eomptomise. And " twas thus tax en-
the compromise, i's spirit and W intent, the fruits