Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-02-22

subject of protection ana carry ~ u VIC P' ~
their local interests demanded.
Al, CALHOUN had no doubt the Senator from
Kentucky had stated his Impressions OF the cncuih-
stances under which The compromise was maae' ou, nc
mr. calhoun) felt that il due to himself 10 explain
what were his impressions r,to
Tie connromise grew out OF the interposton Oh tue
State of S. Carolina. She was induced to take ,nas
,o, fro, from deep conviction that the tar'n OF 1910
wos unconstitutional oppressive and ruinous 10 her IN
eres,s and NEXT because calculated 10 produce
those ruinous consequences which u no' atie''eN'
would overthrow the whole Government.
In yielding II the compromise act, ne yei'eu " '.e
nroposition that reasonable time should be gwen 10
emo down to what was considered The highest posi-
lie duv REQUISITE for the administration OF the Govern
ment -. :...;.,
II. oisaureed with the Senator as 10 his impression
that GeneTal Jackson would have Frustrated the pro-
,ectiye system il the Compromise act had not passeu
o b.lie we'd il would have been far beyond The power
NJ GIN Jackson had he been ever so much disposed 10
roatr ate The SYSTEM potent his power was-and IN
SAVING this he estimated the power oil Gen. jackson
very high. -. -
,resson he would refer him 10 the attempt made IN 1882
on The eve of the payment of the public debt by the
Administration of Gen Jackson to reduce the tariff to
the amount which the wants OF the Government would
require after the final discharge oil the debt. WIN
The cooperation of the Senator HIMSELF and the anti
tariff portion of Congress, what was the amount OF re-
ducton then effected; Not more than three millions oil
dollars, But even that small reduction was declared
10 be final adjustment by Mr.. Mclean, then Secre-
tary of the Treasury, on behalf of the Administration,
and he The Senator himself Mr. Clay, behalf of the
tariff interests; when, in fact it ought to have been re-
duction of fifteen or twenty millions.
AT the very next session, when II was CERTAIN that
South Carolina would nerpose il the oppressive sys
tenn was not Abandoned another effort was made IN the
other house, by the friends OF the Administration, 10
reduce the tariff still lower, winch, however, proven
utterly rbortiye.
In the mean time the State of South Carolina inter
posed and the compromise followed lie (Mr Cal
houn) assented to the compromise because ne was wiz
ing give time for the reduction d The protective ou-
ties lie made against the manufacturing inter-
ess He then, and ever has, wished them well; but lie
objected to the unconstitutional and oppressive means
by which they attempted TO accelerate their growth
at the expense of the rest of tie Union lbs hrst pro-
position was allow years for the process OF re-
ductton and finally yielded reluctantly 10 the addition
Of two wears more and to seme other Objectionable pro-
visions of the BILL because he was averse 10 forcing
things extremity. Buthe only assented on the ex-
press condition that the protective principle should be
surrendered finally, and forever, and that no duty
should he laid but for thu constitutional and economical
wants of the Government.
The compromise, in lis opinion, had been productive
Of great good. Had reduction been made, and the
act of 1928 been permitted TO continue IN opera
ton, il would have beer followed by consequences DIS
astrous to the Government and 10 the whole country
The annual accumulation of surplus, being deposites
with the Bank Of the u. S. became much additional
hank capital, which must have given corresponding
expansive cur-encr to the country, and IN the end
would have greatly aggravated those causes which
have contributed the overthrow of the banking sys'
TEN, and SO in1riously affected the business OF the
country.
To have proper conception of the magnitude of the
disasters which must have followed, it must be remem-
hered that notwithstanding onehalf OF the imported
articles was admitted duty free, under the Compromise
Act, and ons.tenh Of all the Others above twenty per
cent was lken off every other year, yet such vas the
excessive rate of the duties, that forty millions accu
mulatsd il the Treasury IN the course OF two years
beyond the most extravagan expenditure OF the Co.
vernment and to which may be traced the deep dis.
order which has destroyed the banking system, and
ranged the whole business Of the country. What,
then, Judging by this standard, would have been the
consequence had no reduction been made
But now, after ten years of gradual reduction had
nearly expired; after duties had been brought down
without injustice TO any interests concerned al the time
Of passing the compromise acl; after experience had
fully established the beneficial results after the publish
ed statements from the principal manufacturing oca-
tons-such that of Lowell-had demonstrated that
the home manufacturer had prospered under the system
Of reduction Congress told that alteration Is called
for which virtually destroys the spirit and efficacy OF
the compromise.
The spirit in which the compromise Of 1882 was
Welded to- was Of harmony and consideration Tor
those then threatened with pros,raton Of their inter
n
would have over,hrown the Confederation. He yield
ed 10 the compromise 10 avoid the spng ct blood, and
to establish that union which the Constitution de
signed should spring from concession of interests
A nd although he yielded to the act it passed. he
considered, at the time, that the Senator from Ken
lucky had made great mistake in his plan of bring
ing down the duties by one-tent every two years, in
stead of one ninth every year. He doubtless thought
at the time that no other mode was practicable but u
ninth every year, instead Of oneenth every othe
year had been the scale Of reduction, the two grea
leaps in the last two years would have been avoided
and The whole process would have gone through with
shock complaint, and the present effort OF the
manufacturers, to restore the protective system, woulc
! have been avoided.
Mr. CLAY remarked, that he said at the time the
passed, that it was IN the power of Congress Il
repeal IL; and it in his opinion, the platform upor
which the country then stood, and the means by which
the country restored 10 brotherly affection anc
union; and it had The sanction of all manufacturers
except, as he observed al that time, political manufac
turers. lie assured Tue Senator from South Carolina
that when this subject should be taken up, he mean
to discuss it in that spirit Of duty the country
in that spirit Of truth and genuine PATRIOTISM by which
lie had always endeavored 10 regulate his whole con
duct on this and all other questions Of public import
ance. lie moved that the memorial be referred TO thu
Committee on Manufactures.
Mr.. CALHOUN regretted that the Senator hae
thought proper TO make any reply 10 the remarks hi
| (Mr. Cshoun) had made. He did not intend what hi
had SAID for arguments, but merely wished TO state thu
grounds which he had acted and did not think ll
remarks called for reply But since the Senator hae
thought proper 10 reply TO him, it became necessary
make few additional remarks in answer He did no
agree with the Senator that there necessity To-
going beyond 20 per cent, TO violate the compro
mise act. IF it was done, it would moi be work o
necessity but Of choice. Surrender the land fund; o
off The additional estimates for the year, and Introduce
a rigid system Of retrenchment and economy; do al
that, and the Seuatoe will find much less than twenty
per cent. would be required TO furnish ample 70
conducting the affairs of the Government a liberia
SCALE leaving sufficient surplus 10 pay off the debt II
the course of a few years.
As 10 the statement of the Senator that the tariff o
1924 and 1928 was opposed the ground that they
would diminish, and not increase the revenue, Ii,
would find, reverting TO the speeches the occa
sion, that he is greatly mistaken. Such consequen
mi ght be attributed to the system ITSELF if CARRIED
out TO the extent which his friends at that time
templated. He must remember the declaration fire.
quently made at the time, and by himself among 9th
ers that the protective system would not be complete
carried out till every article that could be produ