Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-09-30

of Representatives. Had thought that no additional
duties necessary for the support OF Government
in the first place should have opposed an increase OF
The Tariff for any other object whatever. believe
that only the true principles OF Tree trdde, bat OF
The Federal Constitu,ion forbid The imposition Of duties
merely for protecons sake, and especially III the sense
of its ultra anvocl;es
think that duties can only be laid for rerenue, ana
he amour; Of revenue must lie ascertaned by tie
wants IF an economical administration of the y"
y.rnmpnt THIS s, it is true, some what indefinite as
the amount of the revenue to be rn'sed but II Is M"
indefinite the true principles upon whtch rept-
nue. ought be raised Ii settles the distinction, al
ready glanced al, that the primary end OF taxation
by Tariff of duties imports shall be revenue, moi
protection. This principle was thoroughly discussed
and fully settled by the Compromise act ut 1853 IL
is especially incorporated in that bill, its most es-
senal provision, that after June 1912, 'such duties
only shall be laid necessary TO an economicai
administration Of the Government. This, IN other
words declares that duties shall lie laid Tor revenue
only And thus this frs, great principle oil Tree trade,
as have defined it, made part of the statute law
ot The land The law goes further, too; it provided
tina, in Of excess of revenue the duties should be
diminished. Accordingly, when, in 1886, there was an
excess of revenue, and 1t was proposed TO distribute
il among the States, instead OF diminishing the duties
on imports and retaining the of revenue IN the
Treasury to meet such dimnuton of duties The only
one Of my party then in Congress- voted against the
proposition which | regard still as one OF the worst
of either of the great parties oil the country
And not only did the OF 1888 pass with the prov
sons alluded to- ard not only has been acqlesced IN
fur ten years but am authorized by the secret history
of lis passage through Congress to assert that ITS true
meaning and Interpretation by ITS own author was, 10
prohibit altogether the imposition VI duties lot mere
projections sake.
| am informed and authorized, by one who saw The
manuscript draught of the act OF 1888 before It was
offered TO state that, "when Mr. Clay drew The act OF
1898, and showed it to his friends IN his own hand
writing after The clause which provides that only
d,,t;ao cl.lt he
mical administration Of the Government, alter The 3oh
of June, 1912 the following words, or other words
precisely equivalent, were added, TO vii AND such
duties shall be laid without reference to Inc protection
| of any domestic articles whatever. II may larry,
therefore be claimed that the great author {" what is
called the American system himself has, IN the mosl
direct manner acoeded te this principle al-least, iha'
duties must be laid primarily for revenue ma not io'
protection alone. This the leading principle 10 wh
the faith of the nation Inns been solemny Peogeo ana
one from which it will never be safe Tor the great pro-
tcc:ed interests themselves to depart
/ The first question with me then was, whether The
actual wants of the Government required additional
duties The Compromise oct settled great principles,
and set up standards to conform 10 rather than mere
dctss II fixed, for example, the rule TO be, mat du
ties should be laid only for revenue; that lie maxi
mum STANDARD amour, OF revenue should be, tor an
economical administration Of Government ~ per cent
ad yalorem on all imports after juno le12; and thai
The duties were to be raised lowered above or below
that sta ndard according TO the exgeucea OF The TO-
vernment. 1t did not provide what should be Inc e1
act rate Of duties any gwen case ii necessary, hen
10 raise the duty above 20 per cent, II was obviously
easy TO conform to the spirit Of the Compromise ac
without mpairing any of its leading principles or any
important interests of the nation dependent upon ITS
faithful execution according its true intent and mean
ing. -.
duties above 20 per cent al vsofem, had only 10
look 10 the condition Of the Treasury and 10 The state
or the Union. lst. We had public debt OF twenty
Millions in round numbers; and never was one OF
those who believed public debt national blessing
Cd Our foreign relations were in very threatening
ASPECT, and the public offences all IN dilapldatlon
and neglect 81. Public credit, the Government ere
dit State and Federal, was in condition OF dshonor
-4th. The proceeds Of the public lands were 10 De
wasted for good whatever, whilst duties oil imports
eu,aned at 20 per cent; aud, 9Th. Current expenses
had 10 be met or the wlIeels OF Government had 10
stop.
In this state of affairs, and looking ahead not for
day but for len years 10 come, estimated the wants
Of the Government the low est scale, 10 he Us iol
lows:
C;villz s2,5OO,oco
| Miscellaneous 2,500Gn0
Army 5,UOO0OU
| Indian Department. and pensions 4,o0OO00
Navv 1000 900
| Interest on public debt l,200,0OO
| Interest on amount for surplus fund 30O,0OO
! Annual amount Of sinking fund to pay of
the PUBLIC debt in ten years 100000
|
Gross amour, required $25,o0O,00O
Deduct the probable annual amount OF pro-
ceeds of public lands for the same 100000
There would be s23, 100000
to be collected from customs alone
Thus, then, could not hesitate to yield TO the con-
victon, after making all due allowances for the in.
crease of revenue, importations would revive after
the country should rise from it's present prostra,nn,
that add,iooal duties necessary The amount OF
revenue in ls4l was only S4,4S7 PIG, whilst wished
to see the public debt paid off, the public deences in
perfect state OF improvement, general credit restored,
and the honor ofe redeemed the proceeds
OF the public lands brought back into empty and dis
graced we'll distressed Treasury, and current ex
penses amply provided for and to do oil this, the
of 1923 SEQ 000 if not more Immediately required.
In round numbers, ready 10 lay Tariff of duties
with the view to raise 100000
This amount thought, and still think was so large,
that could no, possibly be raised without, whether
desired not, aording The amPlest protection TO
all interests really needing protection. Why, then,
debate contend about the principle OF protection,
when the fact of protection wos necessarily to follow
bill for revenue deprecated all such contention,
and, whilst was anxious that only such duties should
be laid necessary for revenue, was reilly de-
srous that NIL possible protection consistent with Re-
venue bill should result from measure.
To BE- eoafinne@.l