The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-07-14
SPEECH OF MIR. REYNOLDS,
or ILLINOIS,
ON THE TARIFF BILL.
Delivered IN he House Of Representatives.,
July 9, 1912.
OF ILLINOIS,
rHE TARIFF BILL


Mr.. CHAIRMAN am happy to know that thi'
committee is not restricted by technical rules to re-
strain free and liberal discussion. Every speaker
permitted to present to this House and the nation
the subject subjects which may be the most inte'
resting TO him and the People. This is carrying ou'
that same lIberaliiy and equality on which are pas'o
all free AMI happy Institutions and on these Prh
ciples, and other these institutions, which
ale SO wisely calculated to advance the happiness o
man, be preserved.
# is idle and theorec jiscu ,sion, founded on moon
shine aud shadows, to debate the protective anti
protective Tariff while The revenue for The Govern
ment is to be raised u twenty seven or twenty eight
millions of dollars. This revenue, no matter whe-
ther ills sustained for protection manufactures OF
for the support of the Government, will be alisuh
cient to every purpose of protection. The nciden-
tai protection aft rjed by this amount of revenue a.
the manufactures will operate tax on the rest OF
the community Tor the sole benefit ofthe manufacturing
interest So long, therefore, the system OF levyIng
revenue on the Importation of goods be pursued, he
only remedy 10 preserve the farmers and Others from
the rapacily, and the desourng influence Of the ma
nuiaciunng Interest is TO reduce the amount to the
very lowest sum possible to support the Government.
Therefore, in judgment the discussion of the prin
ciples Of Tree trade should be directed either the low
est point of economy in the administration OF the
Government under the present system, or to the sys-
TEN of direct taxation for the support of Government
Free trade proper must Of necessity be based on the
principles of direct taxation.
Mr.. Chairman, l an not prepared to vote for this
system at the present time as have had commu-
Mon with my constituents the subject; but il would
not surprise that the system will be adopted before
many years ass over our heads.
This system, more than all hers, is the most equi-
table and lst in levyng for the support of
Government. 1t is based on the same principles on
which all institutions are founded. Under this
system each individual IN the community would pay
tax in proportion to the value of his property. -
Can any thing be just and equitable than this,
for the wealth Of the country to be taxed in equal
proportion for the support of the Government? Who
would dare advocate before the people rule to tax
one class of people higher than another' | am told
by the highest authority that it will cost but five per
cent for the collection of the under this sys-
TEN. Many of the Wing orators say this system is
odious and the People will permit the tax-ga-
thererto enter their houses. This argument is based
on the assumption that the People are ignorant and
vicious. This school of politicians have always consi-
dered the mass of the people ignorant, dishonest and
incapable of self-government. 1t is also stated that
the People will pay willingly tax on imported
goods, because they ignorant of making such pay
ment.
Were this argument true, that the People must be
deceived and daud before they are willing to sup
port the Government, free Government would be at
an end. Whenever the People are unwilling to sup
port the Government with IA revenue, or otherwise,
then all these fire. institutions, whc have been The
admiration of all nations, since the days of our
luton, will fall and crumbe to the dust.
Will not every citizencontribute his proportion for
the revenue tciihngly when he knows what he pays,
and for what object it is collected Where is the
odun on paying tax for the support of the Govern
ment more than other honorable support Some peo-
pie considered it odium in the last defend the
counr against the Invasion Of the enemy, and the
same class of people may consider it an odium to
support the Government in time Of peace, with pro-
p rtionabe quota of money aid by direct tax Atom
All the movements in Il Republic should I've simple and
direct-no evasion or fraud about it. What odium Is
IL for ax-gatterer TO enter house more than a
sheriff or constable
In collecting revenue import duties the tax is
altogether paid on personal property whereas he d.
rect tax would be mostly levied real estate. Lands
therefore, Instead If personal property, would be the
subject oil tax ation. This would b. more perma-
and solid basis which to levy a tax than on
personal property. The poor man, then, would pay
much less tai than he pays under the present dlusue
system of taxation. A poor laborng man. under the
present system pays tax all the foreign goods
use, her for clothing otherwise, whereas, under
the other system, having not much property, he
would pay la the proportion to the Government.
one sa M says hf spei he 10 9e te
nue. when the People pay direct tax will be ex-
travdganI-an economical Government will be e,ta
the cuson-houses will be abandoned
The system Of free trade and direct axaton is the
only pc sble mode 10 preserve interest the com
munty from plundeiing and Iobbing another. Under
the present system the whole valley of the Missssp-
pr, containing population of six millions of souls or
more, mostly farmers and mechanics taxed sup
port the manufacturers in the Eastern States. And
this system OF robbery not be avoided, while the
revenue, TO support the Government, is kept up al
twenty seven or eight millions of dollars, as it is
proposed at present by the Wing majority in Con
gress This system compes the Mississippi valley to
become tributary to the Eastern States-makes the
farmer toll and sweat for The support of the ufac
tufer, and enrches one at the expense of the other
This rs Whggery with vengeance on farmers and
mechanics II Is more congenia to the principles of
free Government TO permit citizens to exercise in
free trade, like other pursuits their talents and labor
In hat manner which seems to them best. Is it pos
sble for the Government to direct man in his own
private business better than the man can himself
Congress can not be presumed to know more about
mems business than they do themselves.
Mr.. Chairman: We hear gentlemen often on this
hoor say that the subject of is extremely i'm
poant TO the country and should rise above all party
considerations.
These remarks made either without due rehec-
tlon or they are made to deceive the People 1t on
all great measures and fundamental principles that
parties are formed. The greater the measure. the
more necessary 1t for party be formed on it to
sustain II. In the Revolution, the freedom of man
from British tyranny the measure to be effected
L his Is the greatest earthly measure human freedom
IN which man can be engaged, and on it was the par
ty OF the Revolution formed. Was not this party or
gained for the good of The countrya And could the
freedom and liberty of man be accomplished in the
feVolunun, except by forming party to effect the
samel Moreover may add that parties and associ-
atoms are formed on still higher and more
subjects The holy religion of country is made
the basis of associations and parties to carry out its
divine precepis Where is the man who will say his
is wrong
Tnese gentlemen saying call for the country, -
and moth NJ for party" deceving themselves or
the People They are stealing into power by cheat
ing he electors. They gener lily protesting what
they do not feel and retaining gall and bitterness in
their hearts viii the outside resembles "whitened
sepuchie.p
My colleague, Mr.. Siuart) in order to counteract
the Indignation and wrath of The People, which fast
raj hal, ,aJ