The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-08-26

and beyond the rate of duties fixed by
that act, to wit, 30 per cent. on the value
of such imports or any of them, then the
distribution should be suspended and
should be continued SO suspended, until
that cause should be removed" BY u
previous clause it had, in like spirit of
wise and cautious patriotism, provided for
another case in which all are even now
agreed, that the proceeds of the sales of
the public lands should be used for the
defence of the country. 1t was enacted
that the act should continue and he in force
until otherwise provided by law, unless
the United States should become'involved
in war with any foreign power, in which
event, from the commencement of HOSTILE
ties, the act should be suspendeduntil the
cessation of hostilties.
Not long after the opening of the pres
ent session Of Congress, the unpreceden-
ted and extraordinary difficulties that have
recently embarrassed the finances Of the
country, began to assume serious aspect
1t soon became quite evident that the
hopes under which the act Of the 4th Sep
TENDER was passed, and which alone JUS
tiled it in the eyes either Of Congress
who imposed or the Executive who APP
proved the FIRST of the two conditions just
Irecited. were not destined to be fulfilled.
Under the pressure, therefore, Of the en-
I
barrrssmen,s which had thus unexpectedly
arisen, it appeared to me that the course
to be pursued had been clearly marked
out Cor the Government by that act itself.
The condition contemplated in it, as re-
curing a suspension Of It's operation, had
occurred. |. became necessary, in the
opinions Of all, 70 raise the rate Of duties
upon imports above twenty per cent, and
with view both to provide available
means TO meet present eXigencies, and to
lay the foundation for successful nego-
tIation Of loan, felt it incumbent upon
me to urge upon Congress TO raise tho du-
ties accordingly, imposing them i'll spirit
of wise discrimination, for the two-i0id
object of aifording ample revenue for the
Government, and Incidental protection to
the various branches of domestic industry.
also pressed, in the most emphatic but
respectful language | could employ, the
necessity Of making the land sales availa-
bic to the Treasury as the basis of public
credit. ! did no, think that could stand
excused, much less justified, before the
people Of the United States, nor could |
reconcile it TO myself 10 recommend the
imposition Of additional taxes upon them,
without, at the same time, urging the en-
ployment of all the legitimate means of
the Government towards satisfying its
wants. These opinions were commune
Gated in advance of any dcGnitivo action
of Congress on the subject either Of the
tariff or land sales, under a high sense of
public daly, and in compliance with an
express Injunction Of the Coustitution--so
that if collision, extremely 10 be deprc-
Gated rs such collisions always are, has
seemingly arisen between the Executive
and Legislative branches of the Govern
ment, ii has assuredly not been owing to
any capricious interference, or to any
want of plain and frank declaration ofo-
pinion, on the part Of the former. Con
gress differed in its views with those Of
the Executive, as it had undoubtedly 4
right to do, and passed bill virtually for
time repeating the proviso of the act Of
the 4th Of September, 1871.
The bill was returned to the house in
which it originated, with many objections
10 It's becoming law. With view to
prevent, if possible, an open disagreement
of opinion on point so important, took
occasion to declare that Regarded il as an
indispensable prerequisite 10 NJ increase
of duties above 90 per cent, that the act
of the 4lh September should remain unre-
pealed in its provisions. My reasons for
that opinion were deliberately set forth in
the message which accompanied the re-
turn of the bill-which no constitutional
majority appears to have been found for
passing into law.
The bill which is now before me pro.
poses, in its 9Th section, the total repeal
Of one Of the provisos in the act Of Sep
TENDER, and while it increases the duties
above 30 per cent, directs an uncondi.
,ional distribution of the land proceeds.
am therefore subjected second time, IL
the period of a few days, to the necessity
, of either giving my approval to a measure
which, in my deliberate judgment, is il
conflict with great public interests, or O
) returning ii to the house in which it orr
gina,ed, with my objcctions.--With al
| my anxiety for the passage Of a law which