The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-23
CONGRESS-,

In the House, on Wednesday, Mr.. CASEY
moved that the Committee of the Whole should
be discharged from the further consideration of
the bill in relation TO pre-emption rights in the
State of Illinois. After some debate, the ques-
ton being taken, 1t was virtually negatived,
Mr.. GoGGlN, who was entitled to the floor on
the business Of the morning hour, addressed the
House at length on the question of the Virginia
land warrants. He was interrupted by the ex-
piration Of the morning hour-when the House
went into Committee Of the Whole and resum-
ed the consideration of the Revenue bill
Mr.. PIcKENs opened the debate He would
consider, he said, the question only in fnan-
cial point of view, The constitutionality of
protection, he would not touch, the inequality of
its burdens he would pass in silence he would
examine merely whether, under the assump-
tons ard calculations Of the Chairman of the
Committee of Ways and Means, a sufficient re-
venue could be raised. According to the Chair
man, there would be taxable imports to the
amount of $77 100000. The proposed reve-
nue. of 100000 would be SO per cent. on this
sum. Such a per centage, in the present state
of the currency and the country, could not be
raised. Twenty per cent. import now would
be equivalent to so per cent. under the expanded
currency Of 1928. So high revenue could not
be raised and the attempt to do it would lnJure
the commercial interests of the country-Would
break up entirely the commercial marine. That
interest he was unwilling to sacrifice for the as
cendancy of manufactures. For the effect OF
the manufactures on the morals, the com
forts, the prosperity of the People, he was
willing to refer to England, which is so Of
ten referred to by the friends Of protection. The
picture presented by the condition of the opera
tives in the British factories should be sufficient
to answer all arguments in favor of an over
grown manufacturing system.
The argument that protection prevented the
importation of specie answered itself. If such
were its results, it must produce an expanded
currency, the mischievous effects of which now
needed but little calculation. Instead OF pro-
lecton what we want must be economy IN the
expenditures of the Government low duties,
and hard currency.
Mr. SNYDER was opposed to the distribution
he was opposed to the tax on sugar, coffee, and
salt He commented, in speech replete with
practical details, on the misehiefs OF Incorporate
ed capital on the price of produce, and the ne
cessily it apparently produced for protection.
Pure home labor, he argued, needed such aid bat
lttle-but, considering the state of interests al
ready established, he did not oppose Judiclous
tariff, provided the poor mans necessaries OF
salt, &C., were excluded.
MIR. HuBARp followed in an argument against
the protective system.
Mr. SMITH, of Virginia, obtained the floor.
Tut gave way for motion Of Mr.. Wise to post
pone the consideration of the Revenue bill and
take up The Naval Appropriation bill. The mo-
ton was negatived.
Mr. SMITH yielded the floor to Mr. Gushing,
who maintained that the question for discussion
had been abandoned. The question was not of
protection or no protection-not OF principle, but
of detal-no. of tariff but of finance. 1t was
necessary to raise certain amount OF revenue.
To effect that object, two bills had been left for
consideration. All argue that the revenue must
be raised by imposts. The question is whether
either of the proposed bills would produce the
revenue required, and therefore cannot be dis
Gu ,sed as a general thesis The examination
of details--Of the clauses of the blls--must de-
eide Their is no doubt a limit to the taxation