Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-28


and mostly existing laws imposing duties Imports
and Tot other purposes being under consideration
Ma. Bolts obtained the floor and said
have not been a very attentive listener, Mr
Speaker, TO all the debates that have take place
this bill, and that, perhaps, may account for tn
fnci; but certain is that until heard ths gen
tlemen who have preceded me this morning, on,
from South Carolina and the other from Alabama
vas not aware that any constitutional objection
had been, or was likely TO be, interposed TO Tho
Passage Of this bill. had supposed that II Their,
vas any one thing upon which We could all agree
II was that Congress possessed the constitutional
power TO lay duties on imports for purposes of re
venue. Even those most favorable TO system o.
direct taxation, among whom might number the
eentleman from Alabama Mr. Lewis) who has lust
taken his seat, have recognised this constitutions
power; and yet the gentleman detained against u
as an unconstitutional measure, while nc hiniseiI
expressed his apprehension that will ia snort o,
the amount Of revenue necessary 10 DC 'a'seu, anu
none have vet ventured TO assert that II viii raise
too much Tor the actual necessities oil Government;
for il will be remembered that We have TO provide
not only for the &c ual accruing expenses OF Go
vernmen, bot we have also to provide for the pay
ment Of the loan Of seventeen millions of dollars
authorized to be borrowed to pay the debt incurred
by the wastefu. e1uavsgance oil the late admins
tration How, then. can this bill, in any sense, be
celled bill for the protection Of our domestic ma
nufactures1 That IL will afford protection incident
ally, do not only believe. but hope IS true; but as
long as il is confined within reasonable limits Tor
revenue,
have neither the time nor the knowledge to JUS
tify me in going fully into the details OF the bill;
that requires practical knowledge that, even with
my service on the Committee OF Ways ana Means,
have not been able to obtain. must, therefore,
content myself with expressing my general views
the principles involved in the tariff policy. My
object, them is and believe it to be the desire OF
those that represent, 10 pass revenue bill that
will raise money enough for all the purposes OF Go
vernment; not for parsimonlous and niggardly ad-
ministraton, but for free, liberal, aud enlightened,
and ut the same time not an extravaganza admins
tration Of the Government. No. SIR fear, from the
indications We have had IN the acton OF Congress at
this session upon the army and navy and other bills,
we are more likely into the opposite extreme
OF expenditure TO that observed by former admins
trstions, than to be Justly chargeable with eNiraSa
gauce. And in laying duties for the purpose Of re-
venue desire to see such determinations made as
will afford much incidental protection rs possible,
not to two interests or sections OF the eoun
try, but to every branch of trade and industry con-
neeted with domestic inletests-the manuNctu-
ring, agricultural, mechanical, and commercial-
Such my views Of this subject, and such results
will be accomplished, as believe, by the passage
OF tho bill reported from the Committee OF Ways
and Means; and 1t will, therefore, receive my vote
And in voting on the details Of the bill, shall be
compelled, in Committee Of the Whole, a, was in
the Committee OF Ways and Means, TO rely on such
information as can derive from men OF practical
experience and wisdom; for II must require an nc
curacy and precision oil know ledge that have had
means OF Obtaining, TO FIX upon the proper rate
of duty to be laid on each article; as, it the duty
should be too high il fails accomplish the object
OF revenue, and If TOO low It defeats the object Of
protection.
The adoption of the free trade system, heeessa-
ry drives you to resort direct taxation for the
support Of Government; and this disposition IS con-
hned 10 so small class of politicians as really does
not ehtte il TO serious debate; and the fee-tIads
system is now held, as it should always have been
held, as the FIRST chimera OF a theoretical brain; II
meets with favor from none but the visionary and
the theorisL
My chief object Mr. Speaker, in addressing the
committee this morning is to show the absolute III
dnpensahe necessity for adopting some revenue
Law at the earlist practicable moment; and 10 %
this, shall eDdosvor TO make il manifest that there
il no law in eN's enee that auihorises the collection
Of dollar; that every article now coming into our
ports is coming free Of du'yi and that, before re-
venue bill can be passed and become q law, mil
lions will be ost TO the Government in duties
that would have been paid but for the Executive
veto on the late temporary tariff bill, pefpetua,lng
the laws then in force for one month; aud that m'
lions more may be lost by drawbacks upon the
Treasury, for duties already paid in, goods ca
tered prior 10 30th June las: and all this mischie
results from the act Of that maniac OF the other enc
Of the avenue, for can call him by no other name
Tor chnrtys sake.
Sir, let US look to the compromise set ITSELF and
see What are its provisions and limitations
IL rs, by its ttle AN act TO modify the act Of The
fourteenth ofJuly. one thousand eight hundred and
thi''y 20 and oil other acts imposing duties or
imports" SO That all otusr imposing duties ar.
reduced into, and swallowed up bv ihs, -.,i, S.,..'
the date Of its passage there has been oihe Law
an force authorizing the collection OF duiies-Al
other laws being repealed by The passage Of this
will appear by reference to the last section; and
must consequently look 10 this law, and this only,
for authority TO collect revenue, no other law
having PASSED since the date Of that act.
BY reference 10 the 3td section Of this act, il will
be found ts read hus:
"Bs IL 6IrfA,r enacted, That until the 3Oth day Of
N ed md .ttrn ~ A,rsas
imposed by existing laws, modified by this act
shall remain and continue 10 be collected" And
the last clause OF the same section reads land from
and after the day last aforesaid, l3oth June, 1912
the duties required TO be paid by law, on goods,
wares, and merchandise, shall be assessed upon tn.
value thereof at the port where the same shall be
entered, under such regulations may be prescribed
or lac" Here, then, Is TO be found the mitaton-
the duties as modified by this hct, shall remain anC
continue TO be collected until the 30lh June, 1912
What, then, is 10 be donel Why, from and uftei
that day, 'the duties required 10 be pnid 10y aw
shall be assessed at home valuation 'unGeI
such regulations may Be pTeJeTi5sd By ia1'
Subsequent legislation was contemplated, subse.
quent legislation was necessary, prior 10 the 30;h o
June, TO justify the collection Of q dollar. Suhse
quent legislation was had under the recommends
zion Of the Secretary Of the Treasury, who in h.
annual report TO Congress, supposed Il 10 be inds
pensahle before duties could bg collected. But tina
legislation has been defeated by the acton Of th
Executive branch Of the Government and upon hin
must the responsibility rest.
Let US look 10 the debate which attended the pas
sage Of this far.famed compromise act, which, IN il.
results, has been productive Of so much mischief "a
the country, TO see whether 1t was contemplated by
chose who exercised the most active agency in 10
passage, that duties could be olec ed hfter June
1912, without some additional legislation
BY reference to the Register Of Debates, (yol. Q
part I, page 694,) u will be seen that "Mr Clay
now rose 10 propose the amendment Of which b,
had previously given notice. The object was, tina
after, the period prescribed by the bill, oil dutie,
should thereafter be assessed a valuation mad.
at the port at which the goods ore first imported
and under such regulations as may DO prescribed
by law" IL is here worthy Of remark, tina, Mr..
Dickenon, Of New jersey, afterwards moved Ia
strike out the word Law" OF the end Of the zee.
tion, and insert the words "the Secretary Of the
Tressury, With the appreciation Of the Pfcsiden, nj
the United States" which was discussed NJ lensth
and opposed by Mr. Clay, Mr. Clayton, ubd oilers
mr. Clay waso ppotei 10 the amondmcnt. lie doubted
their constitutional pDwcr 10 refer such lufy ic Peel
tent and his Secrcary. The object Of hIs onfuI
amendment was, 10 leave % future ConEia8s to sct Dol
detail 90 me 2rnc pie ~ TIE amendment
"hr Clayton sad lac would ave tre power Of r. 60
latinE The Vauation 10 the President end Of
~ they should he opposed ~ procession, Wa gwen tcn
300 much power over The pnncipie."
The question was taken on Mr. D.cksrson's mo
ton, and losi, without q division. Mr. Tyler wal
then member Of the Senate must have bod .
knouledgo Of this fact, AMI ye, has undertaken "a
regulate the whole principle; ard dsregar5ing TIL,
postiSs injunction, that would have been absolute
even 10 the absence OF this provision of Jaw ven
lures 10 ptstedbe, through his Secretary me very
regulations which the law forbids him 10 ISSUE; bu