The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-07-15


for the purposes of government, psoduc-
tive of a double benefit. This most of the
reasonable opponents Of protective duties
seem willing TO concede, and, if we NAV
Judge from the manifestations Of public
opinion in all quarters, this is all thai he
manufacturing interests really require.
avn happy in the persuasion that this dou-
bic object can be most easily and eflcctu-
ally accomplished at the prescn,juncturr,
without any departure from the spirit and
principle of the statute in question. The
manufacturing classes have now an OPP
porunily, which may never occur again,
of permanently identifying th.ir interests
with those Of the whole country, and ma
king them, in the highest sense Of the
term, national concern. The moment
is proptious TO the interests of the whole
country in the introduction of harmony a.
mong all It's parts and all IS several inte-
rests. The same rate ofimposts, and 10
more, as will most surely re-establish the
public credit, viii secure TO the manuiac-
lurer all the protection he ought to desire,
with every prospect Of permanencc ana
stability which the hearty acQuicscenco of
the whole country, on reasonable sys-
ten, can hold ont to him.
But, of this universal acquesccnco and
the harmony and confidence and the many
other benefits that will certainly result,
from it, regard the suspension of the
law for distributing the proceeds Of the
public lands as au Indispensable condition.
This measure is, in my judgment, called
for by a large number, If not a great ma
jority, Of the people Of the United States,
by the state Of the public credit and fnan-
cos, by the critical posture Of our vayions
foreign relations, and. above all, by the
most sacred Of all duties, public faith.
The act Of September last, which pro-
vides for the distribution, couples it insc-
perably with the condition that it shall
cease--lst, In case of war; I'd, As soon
and So long as the rate Of duties shall, for
any reason whatever, be raised above 20
per cent. Nothing can be more clear, OK
press, or imperative than this language.
1t is in vain to alledge that a deficit in the
treasury was known TO exist, and means
taken to supply it by loan, when the act
was passed. Ii is true that 4 loan was
authorized at the same session during
which the distribution law was passed, but
the most sangune of the friends Of the
two measures entertained no doubt but
that the loan wonld be eagerly taken up
by capitalists, and speedily reimbursed by
a country destined, as they hoped, soon
to enjoy an overhowing prosperity. The
very terms Of the loan, making it re-
deemable in three years, demonstrate this
beyond all cavil. Who, at that time, fore
saw or imagined the possibility of lie ac-
ruIr sG'te or Ulngs When uatlOn lHa! uas
paid of her whole debt since the last
peace, while all the other great powers
have been increasing theirs, and whose re-
sources. already so great, are yet but in
the infancy Of their Development, should
be compelled to Ilaggle in the money mar
ket for 4 paltry sum, not equal to one
years revenue on her economical system
If the distribution law is to be indefinitely
suspended. according no: only 10 its own
terms, but by universal consent. in ease of
war, wherein are the actual eXigencics of
the country, or the moral obligation TO
provide for them, less under present cir
cumstanccs than they could be were we
actually involved in i war! llappears to
me to be The indispensable duly Of al con-
cerned in the administration of public az
fairs, 10 see tina, stale Of things so hum-
Hating and SO perilous, should not last a
moment longer than is absolutely unayoid-
able. Much less eXcusabe shoulL we be
in parting with any portion Of our ayaila-
bic means, at least, until the demands Of
the treasury were falIy supplied. But, be-
besides the urgency of such consdera-
lions, the fact is undeniable that the dis
lrIbuiion act could not have become law
without the guaranty in the proyiso Of the
act itself
This connection, thus meant to be inse-
perable, is severed by the bill presented
to nc. i'hc bill violates the principle of
the acts of 1888 and September l84l, by
suspending the first and rendering, for
time, The last imperative. Duties above
20 per cent. are proposed to be levied, and
vet the proyiso in tho distribution act is
disregarded the proceeds of the sales are
to be distributed on the LIST of August, so
that, while the duties proposed TO be enac-
ted exceed 20 per cent, no suspension Of
the Distributed TO the states Is permitted