Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-08-27
SPEECH OF Mr.. RlvES,
OF VIRGINIA,
On the PROVISIONAL Thrift Bill,
In THE SENATE U. STATES, June 81, 1912.


Mr.. RIVES said that 50 far as the bill
now under discussion proposed temporal
ry continuance of the present rates of duty
upon foreign imports, he would give it his
cheerful support, though he could not but
lament the necessity of mere provisional
legislation, at this late day, upon a subject
of so much importance. He had hoped
that, long before this time, some permanent
measure for the adjustment of the Tariff
would have been perfected, and clothed
with the requisite legislative sanctions.
Considering the time we have been assem-
bled here, now running to the end of the
seventh month of our session, and the ur-
gent necessity for action on the subject,
growing out of the well known state Of
the law, he thought the country had right
to have expected this at our hands. Why
it had not been done, or where the respon-
sibility for the omission lies, it was not for
him to decide. 1t was sufficient for him to
know that no such measure was now before
them, or likely to be in any short time, and
that the reduced rate of duties, as they
would stand, under the existing law, on the
first day of the next month, would be mad
equate to the necessary support Of the Gov
eminent. He was willing, therefore, under
the circumstances of the case, that the pre-
sent rates of duty, though exceeding the
90 per cent limit fixed by the Compromise
act, should be continued till permanent
system shall be arranged and perfected by
law.
This concession, however, must be taken,
subject to the legal and pre-ordained conse-
quences which, upon the fullest considera-
ton, were annexed to it by solemn act Of
legislation, of the last session of Congress.
In the law then passed, directing under GER
; tain circumstances the distribution of the
nett proceeds of the public lands among
the several States, it was expressly stipula-
ted and declared that if at any time during
the existence of the act, duties should be
imposed upon foreign imports exceeding 20
per cent, upon the value of such imports,
or any of them, then the distribution pro-
vided in the act should be suspended, and
continue suspended SO long as any duty. ex-
3 ceeding 20 per cent, was imposed. This
proviso, incorporated into the law, was the
: vital principle of its existence. twas the
sole and indispensable condition of the
votes wanting to effect the passage Of the
law, and by which, in point Of facts, its
passage was ultimately effected, as wa:
well known and fully declared at the time
? Never, | venture to assert, was there a leg.
! islative adjustment of any subject, which
received a more deliberate, uncquivocaI
and obligatory sanction, than did this pro-
viso to the Distribution act.
4 have been astonished, Mr.. President. at
E the levity and recklessness with which the
. chairman Of the Committee of Finance
(Mr. Evans seemed inclined to treat this
matter. He denies that there was any
q thing of the character Of compromise il
the transaction, because none OF the enc
. mics, out and out. Of Distribution were in
duced by the provisO to vote for the law
81 Are we TO understand, then, from the new
e code de jure beiH and pacis promulgated by
: the honorable Senator that faith is to bt
g kept with enemies; but none with friends
d 1t is well known that there were in the
T.; ranks of the dominant party here some five
I or six Senators not 50 sm.ttcn with the
. charms of distribution per- So, TO use the
/ phrase of the day) as to be prepared tc
sacrifice every other interest Of the country
= to it. They and their constituents felt al
y, equal interest, at least, in wise ana equit
. able ad justment of the burdens of com
. mercial tariff, and in the maintenance of ;
f sound national credit. They were unwl
h ling, therefore, to vote for distribution, un
less they could obtain, at the same time
n and by one and the same act, a full and per
:, feet security for the other great interests re
i ferrcd to. Hence, they insisted that, if a
}, any time after the 30th of June, 1912, du
ties should be imposed upon foreign i'm
. ports exceeding 20 per centum Qhe limi
9 established by the Compromise act o
% 1889 the land fund should, in that contn
- gency, cease TO be distributed among tn,
/, States, and return into the national Treas
!. ury.
i, Ny honorable friend from Mississippi
,e (Mr. Walker) yesterday, gave faithful
r, history of the proceedings connected wit
10 the progress and contamination of tn
Up measure in this body, which is vouched, il
a every particular, by the authentic and i'm
a, perishable record of our own Journal. |
l will be seen there that the honorable Sena
= tor from Georgia, (Mr. Berrien) had pro
posed an amendment to the bill, in genera
: terms, which | moved to amend so as t
render it more specific and unequivoca b
expressly declaring that if higher dut
= than 30 per cent, as established by tn
oil Compromise act, should be laid on any al
a. ticle after the 3Oth of June, 1912, the di,
tribution should ipso facto cease during tn
l existence of such higher duty. Thong
N the amendment proposed by me was nc
then carried, yet the proposition of tn
v Senator from Georgia was, two days atte
n 60 modified as IN conforn IN If and in this