Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-08-06

lSf2.
THE Raj so provide revenue from lmpor,s ando cham
and modify esstus laws imposing Quite Imports Al
for other purposes" being under consideration in Cor
niuee Of The Whole on the state Of the Union.
MIR. ALkxAsokR II. ii. STUART, OF Virgins
rose and said: a
MIR Chairmss-No,hing could be more gratfyn
q iay feelings than TO witness the calm and forbesr
ihs temper in which this debate has thus far bee
Conducted. Heretofore, the introd uelion OF a tart
hiii ct any character, inio the House ot Represen
tatises, has been TIE signal FOR the display Of III
mort vio'ent psrtz IN feelings and narrow sections
pssiadices; but upon this occasion, the dis:ussioi
hes been characterized by spirit OF courtesy ans
hberalIty, which am sure the whole country val
JON me IN applsadins as highly honorable TO The
Tepresentstives Of free and enlightened psope-
In the few remarks which propose 10 submit,
shall endesvor 10 follow the good example OF hose
VINO have preceded me. | shall speak my own
sen,,rnen,s with ali becoming frsnkness ADD candor.
but trust shall not far forget the oblig atoms
of decorum and parliamentary propriety, as 10 as
sail rudely the feelings the motives or the opinions
OF those who opposed TO me. Freedom OF dis.
Gu sion, and federation Of opinion, two OF the
vita principles of ourrenublicsn institutions. and
| will ever be among the last to disturb or to de-
stfoy either OF them.
Il seems to me, Mr. Chairman, that the bill now
under coosiderauor, when It's provisions and pur-
poses are rightly understood, admits of but little
debate. II | understand il correctly, il is simply q
rsvasus Dill. IL 10 not, in the ordinary accepa-
ton Of the term, bill for protection. l, comes
70 Is under the auspices OF tn, Committee OF
Ways and Near. LIS purpose 10 10 raise jus,
so much moacy rs will be necessary to deiray
the expenses Of tho Government. administered
with all practicable economy; and. as subordinate
TO this primary consideration proposes, incidental
ly, TO afford protection TO the great agricultural,
manufacturing, end commercial interests OF the
country. Tho question Of protection per Sc, as
something substantive and d.tinc, from revenue,
does no, arise under it, and shall therefore, not
deem Il necessary on this occasion 10 discuss the
merits OF that policy. 10 my opinion, that question
Is not likely soon to arise, for know of no mem
Der OF either House OF Congress who desires any
protection TO either of the great interests OF the
country, beyond what will be afforded by we'll
adjusted revenue tariff. But il there be any who
20 further, I wish TO announce distinctly, in the
outset, that am no, one Of them. | will not go
for raising, by tariff a single dollar more than the
wants OF the Government, economically administer
ed, require. But in laying that tarf, will be at
all times willing and DESTROYS, so TO discriminate
between the articles imported TO foster and pro-
tect our home labor and home productions against,
foreign labor and foreign productions.
have sad sir, that this question lies within mar
row limits. The principal difficulties in regard to il
arise from not having clear perception OF the true
issues involved, and from conloundng collateral and
exjTanoous matters with them. In order to get at
the proper points Of inquiry, propose 10 separate
the undisputed propositions connected with the sub
from tnOSe tn1t arc COnUONeTkCu VIII
smplify the matter, and enable us to pursue in.
vest,sations with much more facility. What points,
then, are undsputed7
LIST. All agree that il is the duty OF Government
TO raise, in some manner, money enough to deiray
hs current expenses, and 10 pay, 10 suitable install
ments. the debts il may owe.
3D. All agree that there are, under the provisions
oil the Constitution, but three modes of raising re-
venue, viz: by imPosts, by exeises, and by direct
taxation.
a I,ron r,a;or.,, ~ ro, .r.,,, r,o,,L.r H. =.
House, will agree that the revenue ought not 10 be
raised by direct tax on land, nor by that system
of excuses which Mr. Jefferson denounced an "in
fernal system, which should never have found a
place IN our Constitution" The only remaining
mode Of raising revenue is by system Of imposis
or duties on foreign mercha ndiSe-the system which
was devised by the first Congress its frs; session.
aud which has prevailed without interruption, from
that time 10 the present day.
may, then, venture to assume IL TO be the sense
Of Congress ani the nation that the revenue which
we need is to DO raised by imposing duties or tax
es on foreign goods imported into this country.
We have next TO ascertain how much money is
necessary Upon this subject we havethe estimates
oi the Secretary Of the Treasury and OF the Com
mittee Of Ways and Means, and the opinions Of the
most enlightened OF our Statesmen, showing that the
current expenditures Of the Government for the next
three years will be from twenty two TO twenty-iour
millions per annum; und that, in addition 10 tina,
amount, three and half millions will be necessary
20 pay the interes; on the public debt and TO PRO.
vide suitable sinking fund for the ultimate pay
msnt OF the principal. These tsinatse, and
the data on which they founded, have been
furnished TO the country in official documents
- - 's'iOus uprSIius viIiUii have usiivetrL
on the floor; and as no one has pretended to show
thay they are incorrect, | shall not undertake now
10 enter into an examination OF them. but will
sumo that they present fair statement OF the 4.
mount which the Government will require. Ard
here l will take occasion 10 say that this estimate
falls, by several millions below the average annual
expenditure OF MIR Van Buren's administration
which was S25, 09S, 9G5
Twenty seven millions being thus shown TO be
necessary TO supply the wants Of tbs Government,
tie present bill has been carefully framed by the
Committee OF Ways and Means after mature con-
sid-raOn OF the o. the Secretary OF the Trea.
sury and OF The Committee Of Manufactures, 10
produce that amount. No gentleman has, during
this debate, veniured TO say that il will produce
mere than twenty-seven millions, but many have
expressed the belief that IL will not yield that
much. The friends Of the bill cannot, therefore, be
charged with any purpose OF going beyond the pom!
necessary for revenue.
We come now TO the great principle involved in
this bill. IL resolves isefnto this-shal the reve.
nue. be levied by horizontal system Of ad pal0rsm
duties, operating alike upon all articles or shall
there be just system Of discrimination with a
view TO the protection Of own industry in all i,s
Departmental
Ia isquestion two distinct points Of enquiry ore
embraced. LIST. Has the Government the eons:iiu
the Government does possess tina, power, is it ex
pedient to exercise it 7
II the FRS: question is decided in the negative.
there IS nc necessity for prosecuting The matter
iuuherj for If the power is not conferred upon Con
sress ny the Constitution, no considerations Of
e1pedieney, however urgent, can ever justify lie
exercise.
The power Of discrimination TO some extent is
conceded by the sternest opponents Of the general
doctrine. All admit, for example, that gold and ell
Yer shall be allowed 10 pass through our custom.
houses free OF duty. A large majority Of both PAT.
ties also IN favor Of like exemption Of ten and
coffee. To these instances they seem 20 have "a d
no attention, because they are ol negative chafac-
ter; yet surely they embody the principle e dit-
elimination Just as much ns fthey pii Il CHER in
stead Of lower duties than other articles. Wills,
however, gentlemen eoncedc the principle in these
cases, they deny the RICH, to Discriminate with a
view 10 protect our home productions
The general QUESTION OF the constitutional power
OF Congress 10 have fegMj in lying duties upon
imports, 10 our domestic interests has been so otter
and so ably discussed that nothing new can be said
upon il, and thall, therefore, not make the attempt
The arguments Tor and against the power have beer
spread over the country, and are accessible 10 al
who wish 10 examine the subject. But have re
Gently met with a vew Of the question, by q man
in abilities Of The first Of the age in an address
TO the American people on behalf OF a convention
held in Now York in 1881, which is so condemned
co forcibic 90 conclusive, that cannot deny nv
self the pleasure Of submitting an extract from
for the consideration ofthe committee
"By The Constitution Congress has power to lay am
collect iatcgy dnea imposs and eHcsos II has TDwo
"ThC p0wcr 10 lay duuos ity ono crprea
qualification ~ Limitation, which H. 'thsi aiiiucs sa b.