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


while ell these duties, well as that upon plain and
common silks, were, in his Judgment, much above a
wise revenue standard.
Upon the agricultural interest this bill must operate,
in the main, tax and burden; and upon the very
few articles of agricultural production where protection
might be afforded il is not given TO an extent anything
like equally in the proportion 10 that which is given TO
the manufactured article. The duties respectively i'm
posed upon wool and wooens present s,rking>in-
stance of this inc quality. The wool 10 admNed
at nominal duty Of per cent while the clons
manufactured from il is to poy DO per cent.
To the commercial interest these duties are direct
burdens, and the excessive rates fixed by this bill, eau
not foil 10 disturb trade extensively, If they do not
some instances, prove to be positive prohibitions.
Still, strange it might 10 some, and mistaken
LAS he might be in his urprehensions, he felt bound
To vote for this bill act Of safety to the CONNER
cial interest Grave questions have been made here,
as well as elsewhere, whether have in fact, any
revenue laws in force and whether any duties upon inn
ports be lawfully demanded and collected and
legal gentlemen Of The highest distinction, both III
and out Of Congress, have pronounced deliberate
opinions against The validity Of our whole collec.
ton laws. 1t seemed 10 be universally conceded that
snch doubts had been raised in the public mind ny
these bold and confident opinions that no payments
made at the custom houses but under formal
and solemn protest against the right TO demand and
receive the duty Let Congress adjourn without
any action, in the face Of the fact that many Of it's
own members, and some of lis own committees, have
concurred in and confirmed these opinions, and what
|
for specualions and irregular and excessive impor,a
tons will he held out 10 capitalists Of our own and all
other countries No duty above 20 per cent can be
demanded in any event, and with a reasonable doubt
and an opportunity for litigation, as to the payment oil
even that; and under the confident expectation OF
| high tariff, (perhaps high the now before
us,) at the next session Of this same Congress, 10
take place in about three months from this time, will
not The country be 'oted with gonds imported as we'll
on fore On as domestic account? Goods are unusually
4 lo, To- ha in En- nd md md
the three months TO be allowed will afford time TO bring
imporlaons sufficient for The consumption Of years
If that should take place, what consequences are TO
| follow? The depression and suspension 81 our manu-
factories Of course; the destruction Of the regular
porter and merchant the drain of our specie To pay HE
foreign debt contracted for the goods another uniyer
sal bank suspension; and then ell the arrangements Of
business depression of prices, of products and labor
| and all the ether evils attendant upon such Irregular
ties Were these apprelensions imaginary lie had
moi been able TO convince himself they were and It
they not, might lock fer q state Of things 10
which anything we have yet experienced will be but as
the beginning of trouble.
Defective as he had admitted this bill 10 be, ie>bad
used his utmost efforts, with his other friends to i'm
prove it, The Senate had amended il extensively and
improved il much from the shape given to il by the
House; and yet many and most Important anne ndmenis
had been rejected by the deliberate votes Of the body
He had voted for various propositions substitutes for
the whole bill; which, though not such as he would
have preferred less Objectionable TO him than this
BILL in lis present shape; and lie should cheeruly have
given his for the substitute offered by the honor
able Senator from Virginia, MIR Rves,] if it had not
proposed duty upon tea and coffee, which the Senate
refused TO strike from it,
Much had been sud- in the course Of tie debate as
10 the rules by which different gentlemen would govern
this legislation. He knew Of but practicable rule
and that could be stated in very few words. He
would keep the expenses Of the Government at the
loves, point consistent with efficient admnisra
ton Of The public affairs; would apply towards the
l A. ~.n IL
from the public lands and incidental sources; and
would raise the balance v hch should be required by
duties upon imports. In raising this, we had ever
been compelled, and must be compelled, TO sub
nit TO such distribution Of the duties upon the vorI.
articles Of import The majority of the Congress
passing the law shall think most wise and just. IL
would usually happen that the same majority which
should distribute The duties would pass the law; but
this the case; because certain gentlemen be-
eved il be their duty TO vote against this bill, not
for anything which does contain, but because it docs
not contain all they wisb,-and yet their votes have
contributed 10 make that majority by which the rates OF
duty have been settled. That which The bill did not
contain and which constituted their objection against
it, made il more acceptable TO hnl-indeed, alone made
il possible for him 10 vote for it.
AT the Extra Session Of the last Summer revenue
bill and loan bill were presented; and, during the pre-
sent session. Two previous bills, and loan bill
had been brought forward, against all of which he had
been compelled to record his vote, because they were
nected with provisions for distribution, bore such
intimate relations 10 that policy that he could not, as
matter of prime ple give his vote in their favor Now,
for the first time, is presented, which not
only does not aid distribution, but positively puts an
end 10 ii, and for the reasons he had suggested and
briefly assigned he had felt bound 10 give il his vote,
Objectionable as il in its details.
| Another reason had operated upon his mind which
he had omitted to assign in appropriate place.
His State was Of the heavily indebted Snies. Her
Legislature aId her people were DOW mixing a bold,
manly, and vigorous sirugge-and he earnestly hoped
L. .TrJa yofr
credit and sustain upon lis former high elevation.
One Of the greatest obstacles to be encountered 10 the
universal of confidence in the public and private
credit Of country-rnd no one step can do 30 much
towards the restoration of that confidence, as mea
sure which shall restore il 10 the credit OF the naons
This bill, he hoped, would have that tendency-be-
cause it would show disposition and determination on
the part of Congress 10 supply our exhausted Treasury,
and 10 continue its ability meet the public lubiltlee
whereas an adjournment Of Congress, without any le
pisaiion for that purpose could not fail TO have mot
fatal influence in the contrary direction In tins as
pect Of the case it seemed to bin that his State, asa
State must be deeply interested in the passage, at the
presen session, of some compeentreven measure
and he would again repeat, tha as one OF her repre-
sentatyes here the only choice presented TO him was
between this measure and none at all.
friend had kindly suggested to him that ne should
have voted TO limit the operation of this bill to time,
if lie had intended TO vote for il. He had given bis
vote against proposition TO limit il TO two years-very
likely mistakenly His reasons however, for that vote
WERE the apprehension that OF the expiration OF the
period Congress would again find itself in the precise
condition il is present; and that others might find
themselves forced, he was, TO act under coer
cion and choose between the dsagreeable alternatives
of very bad bill, and no revenue and no collection
laws This was OF his objections 10 the Compromise
act made at the time Of its passage, though he gave
that law his vote. He then foesaw that the expiration
Of its term would be likely 10 fall upon Congress IN
prepared, and that hasty and dangerous action would
probably be the consequence.
He had only 10 repeat, that he felt deeply the
res possibility Of The vote he about to give; but
as his conclusion had been formed after all the refec
ton he was capable of bes,owng upon the subject, he
must those responsibilities as he might; and upon
him, and him only, should they rest.
Mr. WOODBURY. spoke in substance as follows:
We're we all pursuing one end by different modes