The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-10-21

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for public expenditure, added the combined wants
of the Government of all the State which now do,
MS hereafter may, compose this extended COnfed-
eracy Would not his friends admit t hat the ar
rest of such policy offered some inducemeEt to
vote for bill even as bad as that now before the
Senate!
This was consideration addressing itself to the
whole nation; were those of an adequate sup
ply of means to the public treasury, the prompt
discharge of the public liabilities, the efficient
prosecution Of the public service in all its branches
and the speedy and etiectual restoration Of the pub
lie credit but all these important considerations
had been so plainly and fully stated, and lorcbIy
pressed by the honorable Senator from Pehnsylva-
na, CHR Buchanan, that he would not further re-
mark upon them.
So far as it might be proper, in reference 10 this
bll to turn his attention from the whole country
| to the State which he had the honor in part to
represent here, while he had found the greatly une-
quail in its application TO different interests, and
very detective in almost all essential particulars,
he thought he most cOngent reasons for its pas
sage, because such reasons seemed TO him alpa-
bly, to exs; for the passage of revene bill be-
fore the adj, urnmect of Congress. OF the three
great interests of that Siate-agrcultlral, COM
merclal and mnnuiacurlng-thel last he supposed
to be much the least extensive in the CAPITAL inves
|
re directly benefited by The bill, though he enter
tanned settled conviction that, in many cases, ,h0
duties were much too high for The true benefit of
the manufacturers engaged in the branches intend
| ed to be protected; that they could no, be perrha-
npn, and would be calculated 10 raise up artificial
Interest to be disappointed, and perhaps, prosra-
ted by future legislation. Ills imp Gssion was, that
the Luies upon Iron were not very far from fair
rate for revenue duties intended TO afford incldeh
tai protection Those upon the wooens and
cOtlons, he thought much to high and most une-
quail as falling to heavily upon the coarset and
cheaper fabrics of universal consumption, espe-
ciulIy the cheaper and coarser wollens, Other du-
ties upon less essential interests were still more I'M
reasonably high such as that upon glassware;
while all these duties, as well as that upon
plain and common silks, were in his judgment,
mnch above wise revenue standard.
Upon the agricultural interest this bill must OPP
| crate in the main, as n tax and burden; and
upon the very few articles of agricultural produc-
ton where protection night be afforded, it is not
gyinglo an extent anything like equality in the pro-
portion TO that which is given 10 the manufactured
article. The duties respectively imposed Tpon
wool and woOens, present striking instance ct
this inequality. The coarse wool is admitted at
mere nominal duty of pei cent. while cloth
uGctured from II is to pay 40 per cent.
TO the commercial Interests, these duties are d.
rect burdens, and the excessive rates fixed by this
bill, cannot fail to disturb trade extensively if they
do not in some instances prove 10 be positive pro-
hlLlons. Sill, strange as it may seem 10 some,
and mistaken MS he might be in his apprehensons,
he felt bound to vote for this bill as an act of safe
ty to the commercial interest. Grave questions
have been made herc,as well as elsewhere ,wheth-
er any duties upon imports can be lawfully demar-
ded and colleced and legal gentlemen Of the
highest distinction, both in and out Of C6hs'ess,
have pronounced deliberate opinions agains, the
validity Of our collection laws. 1t seemed TO be
universally acceded that such doubts had been
raised in The public mind, by these bold and con.
lident opinions, that no payments were now made
at the cusom-houses, but under formal and solemn
protest agains, the right to demand and receive
the duty.
Let Congress djourn withon, any action. in the
face of the fact that many Of its own diembers,
and some Of its own committees, have confirmed
these opinions. and what state Of things must We
anticipate, What temptations for speculallons and
| irregular and excessive imposlilons Will be he'd
ont to capitalists Of our own and other countries!
| No duty above 20 per cent. can be demanded IL
any event, and with reasonable doubt, and m
opportunity for litigation, as to the payment OF
even that; aud under The confident expectation OF
high tariff, (perhaps as high as The one now be-
fore us,) at the next session OF this same Congress,
to take place in about three months nom THIS time,
will moi the country be flooded with goods. impor
| ted rs well Oh foreign ns domestic account! Goods
are unusually low, and money is cheap IN England
and France; and the three months TO be allowed
will afford time TO bring mporln'iohs suiliccn, Tor
the consumption of years. If llmt should take
place, what consequences are to follow The de.
preston and Suspension of our manufactures, OF
course: the destruction Of the regular importer and
merchant; the drain Of our specie 10 pny The icr-
elnn debt contracted for goods; another universal
bank suspcnsion and then all the arrangements OF
business depression Of prices OF products, and la
| Dor, and all the other evils attendant upon such
irregularities. Were these apprehcnsons lmael.
nary! lie had not been able TO convince himself
they were; and il they were not, we might look
for state Of things to which nyilins WE havoy yet
experienced will be but as the beginning OF iron.
bic.
| Defective as he had admitted this bill to be, lie
had used his utmost efforts, with his other friends,
to improve it, The Senate had amended 1t eAten-
,vcly, and improved it much from the shape given
to i, by the House; aud yet many and most impor-
iant amendments had beeh rejected by the deIIbet-
ate votes of that body He had Toted FOR variols
propositious MS substitutes for the whole bill which
| though not such as he would have Preferred were
less objectionable TO him than tins ball. IN lis present
shape; and he should cheerlully have given he
vote for the substitute offered by the honorable
member from Virginia (Mr Ryesl If it had not
proposed duty upon tea and coffee, which The
Senate refused TO strike from 1t.
! Much had been said in the course of the debate.
ne TO the rules by which different gentlemen would
govern this legislation. He knew ofbut one prac-
,icoble rule; and that could be stated In very fw
words. lie would keep the expenses OF the gov
ernmen, a, the loves, point consistent with an efi'
ccn, administration of the public affairs; would nP.
Div towards the payment of these expenses a' TIE
revenue derivable from the public lands and met
denial sources; and would raise the balance WINCH
should he required by duties upon n mpn,.i an
80, o,er he compelled, TO submit 10 such dis,,r
MIuSt wv ~ Euaas articles nj IL