The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-03-04

year Are The people prepared Tor tins state oil
things? Sir, am no enemy TO the navy; will
vote liberal appropriations 10 Increase it; for, rs an
American, feel proud of that navy and its gallant
achievements; but, sir, cannot aid in carrying out
the stupendous scheme Of the Secretary. There
are reasons n, England should mantain large
naval force, wholly inoppcable to our country
Her policy has been TO force her commerce upon
other nations with whom she trades and conSe-
qucnty she Is compelled to keep up pretty large
feet wherever her merchanlmen ride, to protect
her commerce. BY diSrcgarding the rights and in
tcrests of other nations, and treating them us enc
mics, she has made them So. Her commerce, then,
requires protection in all the distant seas. Our
policy has been that of negotiation and peace. We
have respected the rights of other nations, and
treated them as friends These friendly feelings
are eciprocaed; and no nation, save Great Britain
perhaps, has any disposition TO disturb our COM
mercc. Our sails feat unmolcsted, over every
ocean and sea The slarspangcd banner is res
pccled, because injustice, wrong, and oppression
has never stained lis folds
come now, Mr. Spcaser, to the immediate
question before the House. The simple PROPOSE
ton upon which We are called to vote is, whether
that portion of the Presidents Message, which re-
rers to the subject of the tariff shall he referred 10
the Committee Of Manufactures or the Committee
Of Ways and Means r. the olject be 10 lcyya
,aii for protection, then no one can doubt thai the
appropriate reference will be 10 the Committee
on Manufactures; but if lcycnGe he The only oh
iec, then it seems 10 me equally clear that the
COurliiee, whose duty It Is to devise ways and
means to carry on the operations Of the govern
ment, shou, be charged with this subject II
understand the Message Of the President, tariff
for protection i not contemplated. lie, however
I al. Ill tt\t in luF
inr duties for revenue You may discriminate be-
tween articles ,nnd thus afford Incidental protection.
A difference of opinion, however seems 10 cNst
us to the true construction Of that p.rtoE the Mes
sagc; and an expression Of that difference has
startled some gentlemen ON the other side Of the
lIousc. and drawn from them lord and bitter de-
nuncilton Of Executive distinction Of Executive
influence &c, Gentlemen seem 10 argue us II Tie
President Ind come into this hat, and attempted
10 cuntcl the action Of members upon this subject,
when indeed, he has done nothing more than call
oar attention to the subject, an aVow his opinions,
MS the constitution required him 10 DO Sir, there
is nothing in the Message 10 warrant these dcnun-
Citations or Justify gentlemen in preielrng the
charce of dcialion. had hoped that we could
he permitted TO discuss the meaning Of the purllc-
uar passage under consideration, without render
nr ourselves obnosious To the charge Of howlrg
the knee 10 Executive dicntcn. Mr. Speaker, u
remarkable change has taken place IN public niialr'
\ year had effected great revolution IN the SEN
inenis of some gentlemen. havo heard during
this debate cpilhcts implied 10 the thlel Magistrate
which, had trusted for the credit Of ourselves,
and the honor of those whom we represent, would
never have been used upon this floor From what
quarter do we hear these bitter dcnuncalons -
Who Is it that npcachcs the honesty and intcgii.
ty Of the President, The very men who one
year ago, were most active and efficient in eIeva
ting him to power the men who spent their time,
tacnts, and money in drpIi'iug the late admins
iraon from office. Why this change Has he
sacrificed tie rights Of the people, or attempted
10 barter away the rich inhCrcncc beqrcalhed 10
us hy our nncc .tors Has he seized upon the ln-
pcraI pcrplc, and cndcayorCd 10 WELD The rod OF
drspolism, over his counirymcn Has he viola
ted any Of the pledges given TO those who ceyn-
ted him to power? | think not. Why, then, Is
he denounced Simply because he would rot vi
olutc his oath hy trampiug on tie constitution OF
his country, aud thus subject himself to the scorn
aud contempt of his te,'owmen and The punish
meut Of his God observation-disclosures hc would moi
submit to the dictation Of n legislative caucus MS
Stunning the power TO prescribe the manner IN winch
he should discharge l's official duties; because h.
would not consent to the establishment of II hnnk
which he believed Unconstitutional and destructive
10 public liberty; hccursc he wou,d not suler the
Executive branch uf the government 10 be WELD.
cd for the advancement Of particular Gspiran, 10
the Presidency; because h. would not oohide
his conscience and transfer his honor 10 n clique Of
political iorhcs. assuming to be the " hic partly
In short, because b. dared to net upon the con-
yrlions of his own Judgment and the proup'ingS Of
his own conscience. This is the head and front Of
hs oErniiEr-thcsG are the sins which lie has
committed. Sir, nm uudcr no obligation 10 de-
f,nd Mr. T,,cr any further than ! find The prncl-
pcs IF truth and Justice assallcd in person.
differ from him on many questions Of deep impor-
,ancc TO the people; but must do him thn lH5iitc
TO say believe he is aciualcd'by'a sincere desire 10
advance the interest, and secure the permanent
prosperity of the country, have, said thus much
in ynGira,inG his character Gom the aspirations
cast upon him by lis quondam friends
lance with the President that Congress should
conCinc the duties to the wants Of the government:
and that in the imposinns Of 4 tail.i incidental
protection may be- afforded. No more revenue, in
my opinion. should be- collected tila Is necessary
to dcay the expenses of an economical admins
,rarinn Of the government Congress should I'M
nose ms few burdens ~ possible upon HE produce
tive industry of the people. and should carefully
avoid extending protection 10 one class at the cN-
pcusc of others The federal constitution j. found
ed upon an equality IF rights; and all legislation
which sanctions departure from this principle is
4 violation Of the spirit Of that instrument. The
blessings of government, like the rains Of heaven.
should descend upon all alike. The burdens
should be adapted 10 the capacity of tho people
to sustain them. IN other words. as much oiyonr
revenue as possible should be collected from The
lnyurics Of life. in order that the neccssaries, or
those articles which enter into the consumption 81
the great mass should be rs far ns may be exempt
from, taxation would therefore discriminate be-
,neen luxurics and ncce ssaric. believing that such
n course would tend TO advance tho interest Of the
mass. The manufacturers ofthe North have b' el
demanding additional protection. whenever this
tariff ouesiion has been agiiatcd in Congress Not
con,en, with profit Of from IL 10 20 per cent.
npon The capital invested they are now asking that
The industry Of other classes may he still further
taxed for their benefit Nothing short of tariff
which shall amour, 10 prohibition Of The foreign
article. and give them monopoly Of the market
will answer their greedy demands Suppose YOU
in ,rppse the tariff wooden goods 50 as TO prevent
tho importation Of foreign manufacture. What is
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