New-York tribune., 1842-01-08


ring 50 much Of the Presidents Message as
relates 10 The Tari8
Mr.. IRwls remarked ,tat=,lle gentleman from
Indiana (Mr Profit erred in .upposing that there
was not a solitary member on the Committee on
Manufactures from west=of the Ohio. His wnr-
Thy colleague from Pennsylvania Mr.. Henry,)
the representative Of district from that section OF
country, occupied place on the committee Nor
the impression correct one, that the gentle
men composing the committee we're personally m
=lerested in manufacturing establishments.
He (Mr. Irwin was not disposed, mere mo-
lion Of reference, to enter into the details of the
tariff system but, the discussion had taken u toll
erably wide range, he would beg leave TO trouble
the House with few observations on the topics
which had already been introduced in the remarks
of different members With regard, them Mr..
Speaker, to the doctrine otproteciion:
The power, sir, to foster, protect, and encour-
age the industry Of its own peoplc is an attribute
Of sovereignty belonging to every Government
Among the means of accomplishing ihis, are the
regulations OF commerce and intercourse with for
eign nations, including duties on imports and ex-
ports This attribute attached to the several States
Of the Union on the declaration OK independence.
They had the power to levy dulcs--nay. to pro-
hiblt the expectation or importation OF any species
of goods or commodities whatsoever; and tlelr
citizens could have had all the benefits consequent
on the exercise OF that power. Possessed OF tins
right, but somewhat raodifcd under the Articles
of Confederation, i; was not until the formation OF
the Consttulionihu these distinct State sovereign
ties gave to the Federal Government, among other
matters, the power to lay imposts, and denied it
TO themselves in my case without the consent OF
Congress. The States having yielded The power
and all its incidents the National Legislature,
will not be pretended that they separately possess
any longer the ability to protect the industry OF
their citizens by impost duties They once pcs
ses.ed the RICH, to do SO; and what has become of
it? 1t cannot be lest to the people. 1t must cx-
ist either in the States individually or in the Fede
raj Government; for the Constitution reserves to
the States respectively or to the people, all the
powers not delegated in tha, instrument, to the
Federal Government, nor prohibited by it to the
States The conclusion seems Irresistible, that
the Federal Government became clothed with the
faculty of giving TO the American citizen that pro-
lection which formerly he might have Obtained
from the State in which he lived. Congress, then,
has control over the whole matter.
Can there be doubt of the view entertained by
the founders of the Constitution the inject p
The first Congress Of the q. States, composed
il was of men who had come through he fro and
blood of the Revolution and many of whom had
assisted in framing that glorious instrument, recog-
nized the power of the Federal Government in its
full extent The bill imposing duties on Imports
being the second enactment Of that first Congress,
and which received the sanction of George Wash
ington on the 4lh of July, 1889, contains the fol
lowing memorable preamble:
Whereas ii is necessary for the support OF Go
vernment, for the discharge OF the debts OF the U.
States and the encouragement and protection OF
tbptS he air onu oIs
and merchandise imported MARK, sir, the
phrassology of that Preamble-Congress positively
asserts the power, right and necessity, 10 levy du
ties on imports:
i. To support Government
.. To pay IT'S debts
3. To encourage manufactures.
4, Toprotect them.
Can language be palmer or more explicit! Inc
act was not intended for revenue alone nor vet for
the protection alone Of our manufacturing inte-
rests, which were then small und contemplate in
deed but TO solicit the investment of new capital
awaken the dormant energies of the people, and
to stimulate to fresh enterprise by giving encour-
agement to their industry. Encouragement, sir
Il stronger phrase than protection The bill passed
by a large majority (ayes L, noes 8, and, re-
ierring to tho journals, YOU will find among those
who voted ini,th affirmative that OF James Madison
(the father Of the Constitution and the entire
Southern delegation. Subsequent enactmcnts sf
the early Congresses recognize the same prnci-
pies; and, were it not trespassng too much at this
time on the patience of this House, he (Mr. ~
could show that every President of the U. States
from General Washington TO General Harrison,
inelusive, had advocated the protection OF our
manufactures, either incidentally o. directly.
Mr.. RuRSELl, OF Massachusetts. And Mr..
Tyler
MIR. IRWIN. TEc message of President Tyler
speaks for itself 1t is on your tables. He (Atr.
=l.) understood the President TO recommend mode
rate counsels in adjusting this most delicate
and embarrassing subject, and the imposition
OF duties according to the revenue standard; and
that protection might thus be afforded Incidentally
TO the mahutacturns interests by of discrim
mating duties.
And, sir, the act of 1885, commonly known as
the compromise act; an net which he (Nlr J. y
never approved of. considering. u, he did the ar
rangement force,i and unnatural one. and the act
in its ultimate operation, pre- Judicial to the manu-
featuring interests, on account OF the inudeouacy
Of protection extended 20 them under the twenty
per cent. maximum; yet that Very act recognized
the principle of protection; else, sir there could
have been compromise.
For his own part he Mr.. |. } con,endcd for the
principle of direct protection as constitutional in
itself; bu, the expediency OF exercising that power
on the part Of Congress, AT the present jnncturc,
wa. apart from the pending question OF reference.
What was that question
The honorable gentleman from New-York Mr..
Fillmore, had proposed g reference of that por-
tlon OF the Executive Message relating TO the tariff
TO the Committee Manufactures And TO VIVA,
committee, he would ask. should this part Of the
message go Let iieven be admitted, for the sake
of argument tina, we are TO be confined 10 the in
ciden,al protection OF discriminating duties. and
surely the subjec, should no, be referred 70 the
Committee of Ways and Mesns; committee Cal.
though it nigh, be composed OF highly intelsen;