Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-09-06
TWENTY. coNGREss- Session.
IN SENATE.
Saturday, .7ug. q, 1912.

Saturday, Jug. II, lS42
THE TARIFF BILL.
On motion of Mr.. EVANS, the Senate took up the
bill TO provide revenue from Imports and to chanse
and modify existing laws imposing duties on mports
and for other purposes The question pending being
ordering the amendments be engrossed for third
reading
MIR. BUCHANAN said he owed it to his own Pecu-
liar position in relation this bill, well as TO the
Importance Of the interests which it involved TO ad
rrss the Senate fer few minu'es upon Inc sub)ect
under consideration. He had felt himself placed
in more embarrassing position than that winch he
occupied al the present moment IN this situation he
had anIiousy pored to discover the path oil duty
and having, as he believed succeeded, be had deter
mined 10 read il, without fear Consequences.
Sir, continued Mr. b. the only alternatives now
presented 10 the Senate, is whether we shall pass hs
bl ksye the country in its present deplorable con-
dihon Every 'b-tu,c proposed Tor tie bill has .ai-
ed and it morally impossible thatrny other measure
can now be introduced in its stead, With The least hope
Of The last hour Of the session rapidly ap-
proaching and must speedily resolve either TO pass
the presen bill, or to do nothing.
ln what intend 10 say, shall studously refrain
from arousIng any political or personal feel'ns, out
shall be content simply place myself in that position
before my own constituents and the country '"ere
desire 10 stand.
Let us, then, for few moments, consider the two
horns of the dllrmma-lhe two alternatives presented
TO the Senate Ifyou shall adjourn without passing any
BILL what will be the consequences? in the hrst place,
you will then continue and most probably perpetuate,
the distribution of the proceeds Of the public anos
among the several States. This is inevitable, II you
should raise the duties import above twenty per
cent Now, Sir, whilst freely accord TO my Wing
friends the utmost honesty of purpose in clingng TO
this distribution they will allow credit for an equal
degree of sincerity, when declare hat in my opinion,
it is Of The most unwse-nay, dangerous mea-
surcs which has ever been adopted by Congress. do
not intend to go into the general question ut present
hn, oil II, nj
scented my views upon the subject Thus much how
ever, shall dcclare-tlut, if wc sqnander away our
most magnificent inheritance Of lGe public lands, II IS
my firm belief that and our descendants viii regret
the deed 10 the latest pos,erty w iIst We retain TINS
glorious fund.- purchased by the tolls and the blood OF
our revolutionary anct sors-le fore gn war come when
it nay lei our commerce be ept from the ocenn by
superior naval power and let there no longer be any
revenue from customs-still VIC shall have never.
FILLING resource the revenue from the public lands, to
assure our independence and our alety. This consI-
deraon alone is sufficiently power !u 10 induce me to
vote for almost any bill which world arrest this fatal
distribution. would consider ain ST any bill (and, IN
several PARTICULARS dislike this III as much as any
senator on this noor) triumph wlch shall restore The
land fund 10 the Treasury Of the u s, and settle THIS
aga,ng question. introduce this subject not tor Tie
purpose of exciting political debate hut for that OF pre-
senting myself in my true attitude eeore the people oi
the country.
Again: If we ad ourn without passing any bill, what
will be the condition in which shall leave the Trea
sury uf our country? Why, SIR, many OF the abest
lawyers throughout the Union, as veil Us large ma
iorty in both Houses OF Congress- hold the opinion that
there is no law in existence under which any re-
venue can be collected. This is III almost universal
opinion of the Wing party; and il is also the opinion OF
my friend from South Carolina, iir. CalhonnJ on
whose judgment am disposed 10 = ce great reliance
This confess, is not my opinion bat experience has
taught lie 10 dslrus, my own Judgment, especially up
on legal Questions, when il r conflict with that
of wiser and ADLER men, Should me- prove To be right
If sc adjonrn without passing my bill, we shall Tx
deep and sgraceful blot upon TIE character OF The
country, which time could not elia'..
But even suppose il should hereafter he decided That
duties can be collected under eXis rG laws, the conse
ouences would lie almost appalling. Every dollar
Of duty which is now paid, is paid under protest. and,
to say tie least il extremely dob ul whether every
cent Of revenue that is now receli at The custom
house must not eventually be ref. ndtd The whole
scanty and deficient Of the Government IL now
in litigation and if should adj I'm without pass
ing any bill will continue 10 be in litigation and no
man knows what will be the result This is the con
dion Of the Treasury of our countr, at the present
moment Now, Sir is this condition that any man
ANY American ctzen-any Anr-lcan patriot-can
without feelings OF sh mc, morttcation,
and sorrow
And how stands our national credit at the present
moment In that alect posture which our reck-
less course has reduced it. SIR, ru credit is the
to make every sacrifice consistent wit honor We
had ever maintained our credit unsued, from the
time when spiung into existence as nauon, uhui
the period when unfortunate dsscnsons arose between
The dominant party ard the President. Now, our
Treasury is nsovent-the public creditors have large
DC mands against it, which il is unable TO meet-ihe
state of things is daily growing worse-and there IS
even danger that the operations OF the Government
may be holly suspended-and yet we propose TO od'
iourn leaving the country IN t:is fearful, this fepo-
d. ,pln hQ fIp nTP
scented before me- if it be, j, is this case the only
alternative for these evils, for which should not vote.
confess shrink from The responsibility OF recording
nv vote arans, this BILL when lis fate may, and most
probably will, depend upon my single voice
have never in the whole course of ny life, read
,nv publication with deeper feelings of modification
than an exirac, from an article n London paper,
WHICH have Just seen in the National lntellgencer OF
Thursday last In what estimation is the credit OF ths
great and glorious Republic now held On the o'ter SIDE
of the Atlantic? That proud and arrogant naiion' 10
whom Won have sent a special messenger TO beg tor
lean TO supply your exhausted treasury has received
your messenger with contempt aud scorn The Ian.
cuapc of this article strong and SD unjust, mat
shall not repeat il in the Ams rican Senate Your mes
is treated with contempt, when he presents him.
self before the British capitalist He is told that the
credi, both Of the States which compose The Union,
and of the Union itself, is so low that no money can
be borrowed upon the pledged faith OF The u D In ihe
public journals, capitalists are orewarned against HIM,
and cautioned not TO render themselves tne ouPes
our Government. And this in England. How NOR
flying to the honest pride Of every rueheurted Ame'
rican!
Now, maintain, that the first duty of an American
TO make any honorable sacrifice OF OPINION
which may be necessary 10 sustain e credit and cha
rac,er Of his country Without the ssage Of this very
b-lor we can obtain no other-we shall be dsgraced
At home and still more disgraced abroad Without H.
we descend from our lofty elevation, and tarnish That
hph character which il is duty maintain at every
sacrifice.
Blu, the worst has not yet arrived. If Congress
should adjourn without passing tiny revenue b,l' eef
dollars in what condition will the Government ITSELF
be placed? II will be destitute Of the means to meet
your own appropriations; and may not even be aoe
soldiers of your army. We shall leave behind us
bankrupt Treasury, and shall return home 10 meet
a ruined people. With what joy such disastrous
events would he hailed by the enemies OF our Tree m
sutons throughout the world. whilst the Trends oil
Freedom in every land who have been looking to our