Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-02-04

I''"NS "Hu E'1ttHi welfare OI Tue DtODlr. III
Is narrow view of the whole subject to sup
pose that the defence here spoken of mus, be
mere military defence. Congress has as
much power to defend our citizens AGAINST
the commercial policy of any foreign nation.
as against her military oparaiions--as clear
Il rI!ht to protect us against tho panp ,r la.
borer Of Great Britain. as against ships to
project our commerce.; and can we not pro-
tect 1t by wise cnactmnns? 1t is absurd TO
say that we may erect forts on the seaboard,
ana send orr ships upon the ocean, 10 secure
our property and guard our commerce, but
have no constitutional power to secure the
same end by conlervai!ing laws and discrim-
mating duties. Congress not only has the
right, but Is bound to provide for the general
welfare; and Our Government woulI be
wanting in anty-nay, it would fail in sccur-
ing the jnct for which it was crea,eI-if il
did not encourage domestic industry, and
secure to labor its just reward, by projecting
ltagainst the restrictive policy and pauper la
Dor Of the old world
Bat the gentleman from South C,rolina
dlsposes Of this in a manner equally sum-
mary. lie maintains that if it were once al
lowed that Congress might discriminate in
favor OF manufactures, then it would follow
that the whole subject of taxation was abb
so'utcly conidcd to Congress! This s,ate-
meht, Mr.. Speaker, comes from gentle
man Who profess the most absolute, entire,
"noou 'ded confidence in the people and
can he MT trust this question with the pco-
y pies representatives
Here NJ. RHErT in,erpos.d To explain,
and stated that he had pat the question even
more broadly than i, had been stated by the
gentleman. Hi, statement was that the pro-
tecive doctrine ren1,red IA ma iorlty of Con-
gress the sole judge whaf to tax, as well as
hoU much.
We'll, sir, this comes to the same thing
, and the genIcnln's principle, broadly stated
is this-tllat noting could be submitted to the
discretion Of Congress without annihIaling
| the Constituencies the gentleman unwil-
, ling that "A majority should govern! If this
4 dnnhlldtes the Constitution, as the gentle
/ man says, then the Constitution Is an.
{ Initiated, whenevc any subj ct is submitted
i to the good sense and judgment of the
a House, and decided by a minority.
4 The gentleman from South Cirona woull
q settle this whole question at once. lie in
slsts that duties for protection and duties 70
revenue are not only different, bat direct,
y opposed to each other. "Where protection
q commences, revenue ceases" is the gentle
6 mans mavim. He even goes so far as t.
O maintain that revenue is Diminished Just it
;. proportion as you protect manufactures.
j.. You exclude the whole Of any article, 20,
d destroy all the revenue from that article
e you exclude ono-hllf you destroy half o
the revenne-lf onc-fourth you dps,ro
ar one-iourth Of the rcvenue-ind so of an,
Of Other proportion. This is my friend
ID position: and nothing can be more unsound
IS no, to say absurd. 1t doas not by any mean
10 follow, because a duty of 100 per CEN
NJ would destroy all revenue, that duty of 5
IN per cent. would destroy onc-haf, or dat
&c Of 25 per cent. one quarter Of the revennl
ar Here Mr.. Il. again interposed, and sal
N that what he had stated was true in pria
a, eip!e. 1t might not produce it immediatc,
I'd far a period it might evnn increase the revc
% nuc-but ultimately it wonld destroy it.
~ Mr.. Speaker, am reioccd to perceiv
I that the gentleman has rcllxed little, an
III is disposed 10 come down from the regions
is distractions, and look at things in NOR
III practical manner. shall enleavor to loo
if at things in the Same way. But the principl
. stated by the member from South Caro!int
III and repeated by other gentlemen in til
\, House, cannot be better illustrated than b
&C an anecdotc which | will relate. We hay
n. in our part Of the country such an article n
81 quack doctors. was once my mlsfDrlun
to fall in with one, who was assaliing ii
regular Practice, and had selected the sui
va jcct blood-!sHiRg as the point Of attach
lie said, 81 can convince any man in tw
=" minutes, that blood-Icline in all cases is il
y, furious and dangerous. This is the priI
~ cipl": blood is life; if yon take away Il
~ > whole of mans blood YOU take away life
~ he must die. And so if you take away Ia
~ Of his blood, you take away half Of his life
~ ii you take away one-quartcr Of his bloc
:: you take away one-qnartcr Of his lis; al
-, 50 on, down to tho last fractional proportion
= Here is a perfect illustration of the ssnl
% mans abAractloa--lhe very thing.
" But how does this principle operate
!, ~ practice! In 1885 and 1886 duties ON pr
' w tected articles were high. And was not t
!" Treasury over-howine at that time! CO
", tainly. Wore not manufactures then pr
~ =. tected Tho gentleman admits that TIT
80 were; for, in arguing IN favor OF the COZ
y" promise act, hs urged this consideration
w. that during the former portion of the peri
'Io' covered by that act, tho manufactures e
,"1 joyed high protection; and il ought 10
"a, continued, that during the latter portion I
Vic producers might have their share. Y
'e' notwithstanding this protection Of manul'
i've ", lures, revenue poured into the Treasury
''o such torrents that, to got rid of ii, Congr'
OF was compelled to deposite ii with the Stat
''o' Ii protection destroys revenue, how car
the Treasury TO overflow when the proit
tho ton was amp!ol
i've Another illustration of this principle "
wv be found N the case of silk. Previous to
lay late extra session, Imported silk paid W
en- small duty; now it pays 20 per cent tit
lies is protection to a certain extent afforded
ex- tins species of manufacture; and put it
and my friend from South Carolina to say, whe
'a'- ar he believes that 20 per cent. duty
'rn, bring no additional revenue into tho Ire
'uId ury. Will he or any other gentleman :
on this They will not they dare not.