The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-08-30
REMARKS OF MR.. RIVES,
On the Tariff.

the Senate should agree upon something mat wou'o
the concurrence Of both branches OF the Legis
lature Ifhe thought any amendment would be made
that would enable them TO vote Tor the b' ne wooiu
forbear press the proposition which he no" ouefeu
for the Consideration of the Senate But ne thougn'
very evident from the spirit which had been mann
tested that this woud not be the CASE and he would
therefore state very briefly the leading objections 10
the bill which he entertained. In the first place, II
could no. be characterized repenue measure. Ills
firm was, that 1t would not produce an IN
Of revenue Ii was absolutely and emphati-
cally measure of protection, extending in par
ticulars to prohibition.
This was thsirue character of the bill. In regard
many Of the articles which enter most deeply into
the consumption of the country-such, for example, as
several descriptions of cotton and woolen goods
of the manufactures OF non, hemp, &c-they
subjected to duty at least 100 per cent, when
the duties actually imposed were striped OF the JUS
guise of minnums and specific rates IN which they
Were ingenously concealed; and no one could sup
pose that with a rate of duty like that, possi-
bls that revenue could be collected. The amount OF
revenue would, in his opinion, be diminished rather
than increased and fatal blow would be aimed al
with countries in which the products OF
our agriculture, find valuable and now improving
markets. He had another objection to the bill it
stood twas supposed that they had made some little
advance towards the Adjustment of sound and sta
Bile principles of public policy. He did not mean to
throw any odium upon the general policy which had
been pursued but, in his judgment, sad inteIrup-
ton had taken place the reconcIlement of the pub
lie mind, which the principles of the compromise act
were calculated to produce 1t did not seem TO him
that this measure gnsed, in my MANNER the ex-
pediency of even keeping In view the principles OF the
compromise. Ii went far beyond the rate of duty
which EXISTED under former tariffs Not satisfied with
celebrating every trace of the compromise OF 1882, 1t
went beyond the high tariff of 1928
If the general character of the measure could be
reconciled to the interests and sound pocysOf the
country, he would be willing to sacrifice much in
matters of detail But he confidently believed that
it would prove detrimental those particular in
terests which it to subserve as it would be
adverse the general interests Of the country These
were the views he entertained and they were not
derived from his own judgment alone. He had sought
the light OF experience, by consulting practical men,
Unless then, some important change were introduced
land he had no reason to anticipate any such-he
could not justify himself to give hls vote Tor the bill
This being the case, and being himself anxious to
termn tie all doubt, and uncertainty that now ist
in reference to revenue, and, above ALL to set the
public mind at rest with regard to the vital question
of legality in its collection, he Mr. r. disposed
to remit much Of his particular opinions, for he
sake of full reconcement of the whole subject
He would, therefore, most respectfully beg leave to
PROPOSE for the consideration of the Senate,
sure which of its features, had already been
submitted (modied by himself, however) to the con
sderaton of the other body of this Legislature He
thought it would meet the real exigency OF the case
and supply substantially the wants OF the country 1t
intended to reinstate the rates of duties they
existed under The compromise act IN the years lo4O
and 1S4I. This would leave, for the present, tie
tariff at the poin where it stood otter the deduction
of four tenths of the above ~ yer cent, ad-
journing future consideration and adjustment the
reduction the remaining slx-tenths which have been
crowded into the first six months OF the present year by
the compromise In addition to this, he proposed
to lay duty of rs per cent the class of articles,
previously free, which subjected to duty OF
20 per cent by the bill of the last session of
Congress- and, at the time, he deemed it neces-
sary to include among dutiable articles, during the
continuance OF the present embarrassed condition OF
the public IT, asury, the articles of tea and coffee at
the moderate rate of 20 per cent
His own opinion was that, in the present state of
the country, there obligation upon Congress
any wish Of the people, to exempt and coffee
from their due proportion of contribution to the public
necessities. He believed these articles not in
any civilized country, exempt. They had, III this
country, been main OF revenue, and exempted
= from duty only when there was a superabundance o
revenue; they found to be more productive o.
revenue than any class of manufactures imported
from abread-exc-pt perhaps, the single article o
silk. What objection could there be against laying
moderate duty upon tea and coffee! They were
no more necessares of life than sugar, moasses
salt, hats, Shoes and divers other articles, which, by
general consent, subjected to duty. BY including
these articles they would secure at once additional
revenue of at least three millions ofdollars The ave
rage importation of them it would be found by Inc
tables annexed to the report of the Secretary OF the
Treasury amounted to fifteen millions of dollars
worth annually; the revenue derived from which, a
20 per cent, would be three millions The Secretar,
of the Treasury proposed Ly the duties recommended
by him. to derive from these articles of ou
and half millions CT dollars And he would ask if
under xisting circumstances, there was any thing
that should induce them to reject this fruitful
of revenue?
He thought every gentleman would agree that, as
rerenue measure, the one he proposed prefer
ahle in all respects to the under consdera
ton; and in regard to its bearings the interests
domestic industry, he begged leave to invoke the higf
authority of the Committee Manu- features of tn,
other House. who in their able report bear testimop,
to the general prosperity of American manufacture
under the tariff of 1910 and l84l, and Indicate thu
sudden and large reduction of SIX enths of the
above % per cent which has been thrown upon th
present year. the great grievance from which the,
ask to be relieved.* He would not detan the Sena
with speech He knew not what sentence his pro
position would receive at the hands of the Senate
but he desired, at all events to have the opinion
tbeSoenate expressed upon 1t.
+. He hoped that gentlemen all sides would see il
it. at least proof of the spirit of Cancellation wit
which he sincerely animated, and which the pre-
sent condition of the country lmpressvely invoked
He prepared to make large sacrifice of individ
ual opinions the altar of union and har nony ii
the public cause; and he had made that sacrifice free
ly in the proposition be submitted to the Senate, whic
went much beyond the limit that his own Judgment pre-
ferred. His fixed conviction was that average du
ty of 25 per centum on the foreign cost of importe
commodities, (Which he supposed to be the fair repre-
sentative and equivalent OF 70 per cent. duty OF
home valuation would be found in the end, to max
the nearest approximation to the point in which reve
nue. and protection meet and he much feared what
ever temporary might be resorted TO, no so
and permanent djustment OF this great subject wou'
be arrived at until wise spirit OF moderation shall
be transfsed from the calm and practical nelIigenc
of the people into the bosom of the public councils
He repeated, however, that the proposition he nov
submitted went much beyond the limit which he hal
just indicated as that which his own judgment pre-
erred and which he believed the sober Judgment o
the country won ultimately settle down upon. Mr.
X. concluded, by submitting his amendment, as fol
lows:
:" hat from and after the passage Of this act an,
until the further le2 isaion Of Congress on the sub
i.cfI he Sim nI nui.l