The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-04-14
Srieccir OF Isr. CLAW.
Upon his resolutions concerning the Tariff
and other great measures of public polity.
Is SENATE, MARCH /.


| now approach the consideration Of 4
very important branch Of the subject IN
lis connexion with the compromise act.
] shall not here attempt 10 90 again III
TO the history of that act. | will only say
that, at the time Of its passage, it was
thought right that the country should make
a fair experiment Of its effect and that, as
the law itself met the appreciation Of all
parts of the country, its provisions ought
not lightly to be departed from that the
principles of the act should be observed in
good faith and that, if it be necessary to
raise the duties higher than twenty per
cent, we ought 10 adhere to the principles
of the compromise, then, as far as il should
be possible TO do so. | have been animal.
ed, in the propositions | now offer 10 the
Senate, by the same desire that prompted
me, whenever The act has been assailed by
its opponents, TO stand to it and defend It.
But il is necessary now to consider what
The principles Of the compromise act really
are.
/. The first principle is, that there
should be fixed rate Of ad yalorcm duty,
and DETERMINATIONS below il.
III. That the excess of duty beyond
twenty per cent. should by gradual pro-
cess, commencing on the 3lst December,
1888, be reduced, so that by the seth June,
1912, II should be brought down to twenty
per cent.
III. That, after that day, such duties
should be laid Tor the purpose Of raising
such revenue as might be necessary for an
economical administration of the Govern
ment; consequently excluding all resort to
internal taxation, or to the proceeds Of the
public lands. For, cotemporaneously with
the tendency Of the compromise act, bill
was pending for the distribution Of those
proceeds.
II. That, after the Goth June, 1912
all duties should be paid in ready money
to the exclusion Of all credits.
V. That. after the same day, the assess
nlcnt Of the value Of all imports should b.
made at home and not abroad.
VI. That, after the same day, list 0
articles specified and enumerated in til,
act should be admitted free Of duty, for tn
benefit of the manufacturing interest.
These ore the principles, and all til
principles, of the compromise act. A
impression has been taken up most erront
ously that the rate Of duty vas never to ca
coed twenty per cont. There is no sue
! limitation in the act. admit that, al I'd
time of the passage of the net, 4 hope wa
entertained that q rate Of duty not exceed
ing twenty per cent. would supply an ade
quate revenue TO an economical administra
ton of the Government. Then We were
threatened with that overflow of revenue
with which the Treasury was subsequent
" inundated and the difficulty was to fine
articles which should be liberated from du
~ and thrown into the free class. Hence
wines, silks, and other Injuries were ren
dered free. But the act, and no part O
the act, when fairly interpreted, limits Con
gress to the iron rule Of adhcring forever
and under all circumstances, to fixed anc
unal,erable rate Of twenty per cent. duty
The first section is in the following words
! "Be Il enacted DC. That, from and after the
! thr,y.Grs, day of December, ono thousand eigh;
! hundred and thirty.three, in all cases where du
! tics are imposed Oh foreign imports BY the act 0!
| the fourteenth day Of July, ono thousand eight
hundred and thirty.two, entitled An act to alter
and amend the several acts imposing duties or
imports or BIZ any other act, shall exceed twenty
/ per centum on the yslue thereof, one tenth par
! Of such excess shall 10 deducted from and afei
| tho thirty first day OF December, one Thousand
eight hundred and thiity-tive, another tenth par
/ thereof shall be deducted; from and after thu
/ thirty first day Of December, one thousand erh
hundred and thirty seven, another tenth par
thereof shall be deducted from and after thu
thirty first day of December, one thousand egh
hundred and thrty.nine, another tenth part there
of shall be deducted and from and after the thir
tytirst day of December, one thousand eight hun
bred and fofty.one one half the residue Of SucI
excess shall be deducted and from and after tbt
thirtieth day of June, one thousand eight hun
bred and 'orty.two, the other half thereof shall
be deducted
The provision Of tina, section is nothing
p,ore nor less than that the existing duties
should be, by the 3olh June, 1912, brought
down to twenty pee cent. What then =
Were they always TO remain at that rate
The section does no. so declare. Not only
is this net expected, aud was not so under
stood, but directly the reverse is asserted
and vas so understood, if the eXsencies o
the Treasury required higher rate to pro
vids the revenue necessary to an economic
al administration Of the Government. Th
: third section, which emhodies most Of tn
great principles ofthe act, IS in these words
Sec. :. iad be il further enacted, Tha
until the thirteenth day of June, one thousan
eight hundred and forty-two, the duties in
: posed by existing laws, as modified by this ae
shall remain and continue 10 be collected AnC
from and after the day last aforesaid, all duhe
upon imports shall be collected in ready money
, and all credits now allowed by law, IN the pay
ment of duties shall be, and hereby are, abolish
cd; and such duties shall DO laid for the purpos
: of raising such revenue may be necessary
t an economical administration OF the government
, and, from and after the day last aforesaid tn
duties required to be paid by law on goods, ware
and merchandise, shall be assessed upon the va
ne thereof at tho port where the same sha!I .
entered, under such regulations as may be pr
scribcd by law"
5 What is the meaning Of this language
Can auv thing be more explicit or less III
? -, IL ttye nj