The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-07-07
THE VErO MESSAGE.
of Representdtiuss:

for laying and collecting duties on impoS's,
with the follow ing objection:
II suspends-ln other words, abrogates for
the time, the provision Of the act OF 1888, CON
monty called the Compromise Act. The ou-
" ground on Whlchthis departure from the
solemn adjustment Of great and aghatng
qlas,iOn, seems 10 have been regarded as ex-
pedient, in the alleged necessity Of establish
ing BY legislative enactment, rules and regula'
tions for assessing the duties TO be levied on
imposts after the 30lh Of June according 10 the
home valuation; and yet the Bill expressly pro
vides that, 'fbe(ore the first Of August there
be no further legislation upon the subject, the
laws for laying and collecting duties ehall be
the Same as,ihough this act had not been pas
/, sed.' 10 oher words, that the act Of 1888. i'm
perfect as il is consid red, shall in that case
continue to be-. executed as law under such
rules aud regulations as previous statutes he'd
prescribed, or bad enabled the Executive De-
par,ment to prescribe for the purpose leaving
the supposed chasm in the Revenue laws just
as il wac before.
am certainly far from being disposed to
deny, that additional legislation upon the sub
ject ls very desirabe- on the contrary, the
necessity as we'll as difficulty Of establishing
uniformity in the spPsaisements to be made In
conformity with the tue intention OF that act,
was brought the notice Of Congress in my
message 10 Congress at the opening ofits pre-.
seat session. But however sensible may be
Of The embarrassmenis 10 which the Executive
in the absence Of all aid from the superior WIS
dom Of the Legislature, will be liable in the en-
oforcement Of the existing laws, have not with
The sinceresi wish 10 acquiesce in lis expressed
will. been able to persuade myself that the,exl-
gency oflhe occasion is so great as 10 justify
me in signing the Bill in question, with my
present views OF ts character and effects. The
existing lave, as am advised are sufficient 10
authorize and enable the collecting officers,
under the directions Of the Secretary Of the
Treasury, 10 levy The duties imposed by the
act of 1882
That act wat passed under peculiar clrcum-
stances, to which il is not necessary that
should do more than barely allude-whatever
may be in theory lis character, | have always
regarded it as imposing the highest moral OBJ.
legation. II has now existed for nine years,
unchanged in any essential particular, with as
general aCquescence, it is believed. OF the
whole country, as that country has ever man-
Tested for any Of her wisely established instI-
tutions 1t has ensured 10 It the repose which
always flows from truly wise and moderate
'counciIs-a repose the more striking because
Of the long and angry ogitations which precee-
dedn. This salutary law proclaims in express
terms the principle which, while il led 10 'ne
abandonment OF scheme 6fiaSfrect taxation,
founded On false basis, and pushed to dan>
gerous excess, justGes any enlargement OF
duties that may be called for by the real exl-
gencies Of the public service. 1t provides,
rha. duties shall be laid for the purpose of rail-
sing such revenue as may be necessary 10 an
economical administration of the government
Itis, therefore, in the power of Congress TO
lay duties, as high as I,s discretion may die
tate, for the necessary uses ofihe government
without infringing upon The objects Of the act
Of 1888 ddO'no, o0u6, that the necessities Of
the government do require an increase Of the
tariff Of duties above twenty per cent-and
as little doubt but that above as well as below
rate Congress may 80 discriminate as TO give
incidental protection 10 manufacturing industry
thus 10 msks The burthens which it is cons
PEELED to impose upon the people for The purpo~
ses OF government, productive ofa double ben
eft. This most of the reasonable opponents
reproductive duties seem willing to concede;
five may judge this is all that the manufactur
ing interests require. am happy, in the per-
suasiou, that this double object can be most
easily and effeclually accomplished a, the pres
enl juuciure, without any departure from the
splrh and principle ofthe statute in question.
The manufacturing classes have now an OPP
porsuEiiy, which may never occur again, of
permanently iudeutfyiug their interests with
those OF the whole country, and making Them,
IN the highest sense Of the term, national
concern. The same rate Of imposts, and no
more, as will most surely re-establish the pub
lie credit, will secure 10 the manufacturer all
me protection he ought to desire, with every
prospect Of permanence and stability which
he hearty acquaintance Of the whole country,
on a reasonable system, can hold ou, 10 him.
Blu, Of ih s universal acquiescence, and The
harmony and confidence, and the many other
benefits that will certainly result from it, / re.
gard The suspension Of the law for distributing
the proceeds Of the public lands as an inds~
pensabe condition. This measure is, in my
Judgment, called for, by large number, ifnot
agreat majority Oflhe people Of the Unled
Stales-by the state Of the public credit and
finanees-by the critical posture of our various
foreign reIations-and above all, by that most
sacred Of all duties, public faith. The act Of
September last, which provides for the dstri-
button, couples il i0sePeraby With the condi.
lion that II shall cease. - lsi. In case of war.
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