Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-04-01
IN SEN ATE Ma rch ].
(C nRCiUded)


now approach The consideration ofa
very important braDch of the subject
in its connexon with the compromise
act.
shall not attempt to 60 again into
the history Of that act. will only say
that, at the time Of its passage, il was
thought right that the country should
make a fair experiment Of its efecl; and
that. as the law itself met the apptoba,
tion of all parts of the country, its pro
visions ought mol lightly to be departed
from; that the principles OF the act
should be observed in good faith; and
that, If it be necessary to raise the du-
ties higher than twenty per cent, we
ought to adhere to the principles of the
compromise, then, as far as it should be
possible to do so. have been animat
ed, in the propositions | now offer to
the Senate, by the same desire that
prompted me, whenever the act has
been oSsaiIed Ly its opponents, 10 stand
by il and defend it,
But it is necessary now 10 consider
what the principles OF the compromise
act really are.
!. The first principle ia, hat there
should be fixed rate oGsdvalolem du
~, and determinations boiow il.
II. That the excess Of duty beyond
twenty per cent. should by gra iua
process, commencing ON the 3ist De-
cember, 1888 be reduced, so that by the
Both June, 1912, it should be brough,
down 10 lWen'y per cent
Ill That after that day, such dutie,
should be laid for the purpose Of raisiqg
such revenue as might be necessary ror
an economical administration of The
Government; consequently excluded al
resort to internal taxation, or to the
proceeds of the public lands For, cor
temporaneously with the pendency OF
the compromise ACT a bill was pending
for the distribution OF those proceeds.
w. That, after the Goth June I842
all duties should be paid IN ready money
10 the exclusion Of all credus
V.That, after The same dav. the as
sessment of the value Of all import.
should be made at home and not abroad
VI. Thai, after the same day, a Is
Of articles specified and enumerated il
the act should be admitted free Of duty
for the benefit Of the manufacturing in
Verest.
These are the principles, and all tn,
principals, of the compromise act IL
impression has been taken up most er
Ioneousl y that the rate Of duty was ne
yer TO exceed twenty per cent. There
is no such limitation in the act. ad.
nit that, al The time Of the passage q
the act, hope was entertained that +
rate OF duty not exceeding twenty PEI
cent. would supply an adequate revenue
toan economical administration Of tn,
Government Then We were threaten
ed with that overflow Of revenue will
which the Treasury was snbseoupntl,
inundated; and the d difficulty was to fE,
articles which should be iberared from
duty and thrown into the free rIass -
Hence, wines, silks, and olher IuxnriC
were rendered free. But the act, an
no part Of the act, when fairly inter
preted limits Congress to the iron rul
Of adhering forever, and uader all cir
cumsrances, to fixed and unaIterabl
rate oftwenty per cent duty. The frs
section IS in the following words:
"Be IL enacted, sc. That, from ant
after the thirty first day Of December
one thousand eight hundred and thirty
three in all cases where dulles are im
posed on foreign imports by the act o
the fourteenth day Of July one thou
sand eight hundred and thirlv-lwO, en-
tltled An act to alter and amend tn
several acrs imposing duties on i'm
ports, or by any other act, shall OK
coed twenty per cenl1m on the yajl
thereof one tenth part Of such exccs
shall be deducted; from and after tn
thirty first day OF December, one lhou
sand eighty hundred and thirty five
another ten'h.pan thereof shal be de
Quoted; from and nller tho thirty iiu
day Of December, one thousand eigt
hundred aud thirty seven, another tent
part thereof shall be- deducted; from m
after The thirty first day of Decembe
one thousand eigh' hundred and thirty
nne, another tenth part thereof sha
be deducted; and from and after tn
ihirtv'frst day Of Decem her, one thou
sand eight hundred and forty one, one
half Of the residue OF such excess shaI
b. deducted; and Gom and aller tn
ihlrtleth day of June, one thousand eigh
hundred and forly.two, the other bal
thereof shall be deducted"