Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-07-22
(Fram our HaSa,ngfon Correspondent
TILE GREAT TARIFF DERATE,
Draw.ng to a close in Tic House!

THE GREAT TARIFF DEBATE,
Drap,ng TO a close in The House!
Tuesday,, Juiy 5.-This day was rendered remarka,
BILE in the House of Representatives by the speeches oil
men representing the four great cities of The un,'nI
Kennedy, of Baltimore; J. r. %lngersoll, OF Philaoei'
phia John McKeon Of New York, and Nathan AP,,
ple,on of Boston. Three of these gentlemen advocated
protection, and the remaining one the broadcast ana
most enlarged principles of free trade. MIR. Mckeon $
speech abounded in arguments, and was iortihed ny
facts, which were irrefragable.
Mr.. B,dlack, of Penn, advocated protection, though
not an enormously high Tariff. MIR. b. is Il member OF
the Democratic party, sound and orthodox IN other re-
spects, however, the coal and iron of the valley OF wy
oming may have induced him TO swerve upon this ques'
ton. Mr.. Saunders, of n. C., distinguished IN ms
own State, and late the Democratic candidate for 90
vernon, made an able appeal in behalf OF the interests
Of those he represents as opposed to the PoiIcy OF a
high Tariff. His argument upon the Compromise act
was particularly strong, and was TOO much OF Il stumper
for his colleagues, Messrs. Stanly and Washington,
who subsequently replied 10 his speech.
Urdnesday was consumed in hearing four speeches,
three of which were Tariff. Messrs. Trlplett, OF ny !;
Washington of n. c and Barnard, of Albany, v. !,
delivered Tariff speeches; and MIR Cooper, OF Geor-
gia, as hear, a strong speech on the opposite s'ne.
On mursday, Mr.. John Thompson Mason opened
the debate in a speech full OF just views and conceived
and delivered in good taste. MIR. Mason Is from Tue
Frederick district, Maryland, and came to Congress
after having beaten Il most popular opponent, ana when
the Wing star was almost every where III lie ascendant.
He was succeeded in his speech, on this occasion, oy
his cole aoue Mr.. VIM. Cost Johnson, nov known rs
the great. defeated, wing.ci,pped candidate for Govern
or. MIR Johnson $ eloqnence Is modelled on tie cxpah-
siye principle Prestonian in style, though belonging
TO a lesser degree. MIR. J. prides himself on being the
Trainer of the Distribution bull at the Extra Session.
The glory Of that measure being about to depart WIN
the life of the measure itself, MIR. J. has hit upon n new
project with which to enl,ghien the House and The
country, and take ne,r credit 10 himself. lis speech on
this occasion was devoted To Il development "i MS pan
for the assumption NJ tie S'oie deMs. IL was noth'ng
more no. less than n proposition inr The u. > l" 70 IN
debt to the amount of $33290, 600 coo, and distribute arncng
the States the certificates or evidences oil tHal debl, mus
mourning an annual interest debt OF Sl2,00O, OGo, IN
order that the States might sqnander Tie STOCK OF Tue
Federal Government, or make 1t The innndatloh OF lie"
debts, and still further Wild and reckless schemes on
their part. This scheme for the assumption or backing
Of the State d beniures, could not have been presented
Mt a more appropriate juuc,ure, than on the consider.
alton Of a Tariff bill. 1t was certainly one OF the most
potert arguments offered in behalf OF a high tariff. 1t
was i pure matter Of fact argument, from The dreaming
brain of Il visionary author. II was but saying to the
House, sYoa must RAISE the Tariff. tell you, IN ad.
vance, here is q large debt which you w'l he compelled
to contract. and the interest to provide Tor.
There mar be said 10 be three interests N the lionse
of Representatives. combining together Tor The passa4e
Of this Tariff bill-the proteclionisis of the North, the
distribution men Of The West, and MIR. Johnson ) as
sumption squad which, though numbering bu, FIVE al
this time, is destined 10 have sundry accessions from
the ranks Of men nov assumption IN embryo Inc
protectionists want bounties 10 enable them TO carry
for ward their manufactures with more profit, and the
members attached 10 the remaining interest lend their
helping hands. The distribution men having voted
for The bill 10 aid The manufacturers, and TO hill the
Treasury, will call for their share out ot the Treasury
10 the amount Of all the money received from the sales
of the pnblic lands. In their turn, not in the present
bill, but at a later day, and in a ripper state of public
continent the omen agsumDlIOnists. and the men now
assumption only III embryo, viii step IN tor Their share
OF the spoils created by a grinding Tariff. They Will
modes,ly ask, that lie obligations Of The States be en-
Gorsed by Uncle Sam, and the lion $ share OF THIS re-
renue Tariff be applied 10 pay the interest, and help 10
sink the principal. Thus The bill is 10 he passed by a
combination of interests, neither Of which could, on ITS
own merits, obtain the support and sanction Oh the peo'
pie of the United States. Like all other wicked com
Liaotions, it will be broken mp
Mr. Gamble of Georgia, fol!oweI MIR. Johnson IN
The debate. Like most others who occupy ticklish po.
sitions and stand on a %precipice, he touched but little
upon The question before the House. His speech was
rather an effort to vind.cate himself before the people
of Georgia, for being an advocate of Henry Clay, than
a serious attempt TO resist the passage OF a high protec'
tive tariff.
MIR. Payne Of Alabama, followed in a clear and prac-
teal argument against protection. lie stripped the bill
of its disguise and displayed il in lis trne colors as a pro.
%tective measure in the worst sense OF The term. lie
showed what would be the cost of 800 worth OF goods
kb''h uhi u VIVA "a b''J VI " ' NN' A
is actually proposed to be LEVIED upon many OF The nr-
ticles in this billy For instance, 500 worth Of goods
would cost at the custom house 5000; add on The i'm
porier's profit 90 per cent and it makes $40; add on
the profits, charges, losses, &c, ofthe retail merchant,
30 per cent, and it makes $500 which the consumer
has 10 pay for goods costing originally but 800. Now,
the same goods, free Of duty would cost The consumer
but $lS0-just one hall. On the article iron, so ex-
tensively used in the country, in making machinery
and agricultural implements Of all kinds, ploughs, tires,
&c, he showed the difference between its cast To the
consumer, should the duty proposed in this bill be adopt.
ed, and in case the article was allowed 10 come IN iroe.
The tax paid by the importer on Si0n worth oriron would
be SIS, and his own profit so Go, making $lU %,
which the article would cost the retailer. lie would
Of course have to add 80 per cent. more for ~freigh's,
risks, profits, &c, and thus the consumer would have
10 pay S2GG 40 cents for the same quantity ot IRON,
which, without any duty, could be bought for $lc0-
Mr.. 7. showed that similar inequalities existed upon
other articles, and particularly upon that great neces.
sary Of lfe-salt. Mr.. Payne repelled The oi'icious ad.
vances Of the Tariff men, who were seeking 10 make
converts from The cotton planters Of the South, by &c.
luding them with the idea Of com petition from the last
Indies.
Mr.. Everett, OF Vermont, a great friend of the Pro.
tective Tariff, and Representative Of n sheep district,
followed in favor Of The bill, and The distribution fsa-
tuIe in particular. Mr.. f.. is the gentleman who, moi
long since, made the avowal, OH the floor OF The House,
that he voted for the proviso 10 the distribution bill
after il was inserted by the Senate, he never intended
10 abide By il The main portion of his present speech
was taken up with an a%rgument to prove that the Wing
party in the House had not been engaged in President
making, and a narration Of his own individual rxer
tons 10 bring Captain Tyler hack 10 the true Wing
faith. He was succeeded by Mr.. w. W. Irwin, OF
Pennsylvania, a supporter Of the measures OF The nd-
minislraiion. Mr.. Irwin comes from the boosted ma.
nufac,uring town of ~Pit;shurg, Pennsylvania, and
gave ut,erance 10 lis voice for high duties. The lat
Ter portion Of his speech was taken up with an
argument 10 prove, that an increase of duties would
not produce an increase of price of the articles
on which the duties were laid. This is one of the
absurd positions of the protectionists assumed by the"
to hocdwink the consumers of the country, and ITALICS
but lily with the zeal which they manifest in cndeavor,
inr 10 obtain high duties. If it is true, that an increased
duty does not produce a corresponding enhanced price,
why is it that The manufacturers and other persons ID
terested are 50 anxious 10 have these increased duties
carried into effect: How are they to be benefited al
all BY a Tariff, unless it enables them TO command a
better price for their fabrics, II is worse than idle TO