Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-08-25
RICHMOND WING.
THURSDAY MORNING. AUG. as.
p,sg,gusism in Tennessee.

deeper and more diabolical dye than that OF any
other STATE. Georgia and Connection, are hard TO
beat-and that position OF il in this State, which
swears by 4. Il. is pretty nearly putrij-but all
must yield to the three FIRST named States.
We reminded OF this malignant trait in
the Locolocoism OF Tennessee, by a speech Of MIR
Milton Brown-a member of Congress from that
State. Mr. Brown is certainly a very clever gen
teman, and has made speech, which will tel
well among all sensible men. After administering
to colleague of his Ia MIR Aaron V. 8rown)-a
most unmercfu castisa,ion -dcmonsiratne him 10
be a fool OF the first water, 10y figures, or Dema-
gosuc Of the lowest calibre he adverts 10 some of
the despicabe party fsiehss employed at home to
bamboozle the people.
| We make an extract from his speech-and than
the exposure, which it makes Of that unprincped
Demngoguc, James X. Polk and his compeers,
nothing can be severer or more just. II Polk had
conscience every sip of coffee lie takes would
strangle him
Extract from ths Speech Of Mr. Milton Broisn Of Ten
|
My colleague speaks Of the necessity OF the
correction Of the Of the last in regard
To the list oil free articles" suppose he aliudes 10
the same matter which the subject Of n certain
most extraordinary resolution introduced into the
Tennessee Legislature q, its last session. and also
referred to in public speech by eS Governor Polk.
reloce, SIR, that AM presented with opportu
ni,y of noticing this matter, it has been made the
subject of most MAGNIFICENT humbug.
| On the 18th of October, 1871, Mr. Laushlin, q
powerful and influential leader IN the Van Buren,
party in Tennessee, introduced into the Senate. of
which he was member, among others, the follow.
ing resolution:
"Reso'rsd That this General Assembly views with
leeited the act Of Congress passed the
an ine rcsed and heavy tax numerous
articles, passed the House OF Renrcscntaiivcs and
which resaeeth was but slightly modified the senate
being carried asslns; the OF Henry CLAY OF Kea;eEy
who adhered by his VOTE in that respect 10 TIE 6 ASH
passed The House; aud which contains scr
tons" '-- '0' i0'-
have in my hand "the Nashville Unionn of the
LIST OF November, lSil, in which is published Go.
vernon Folks speech, delivered the pubic dinner
given 10 him by the democratic members of the
Legislature and the citizens AZ the Nashville Inn
on the 23d inst" This is the announcement at the
head OF the speech. In this speech Gov. Polk savs
IN relation 10 the vote at the extra session in regard
to tea and coffee, that "a dominant majority in the
popular branch OF Congress, by solemn vote. i'm
posed tax OF 20 per cent. on tea and coffee also;
and in that form the bill passed the House In Tbs
Senate those t~o articles stricken out by the
woes OF democratic Senators, and small portion Of
leoera Senator'S Mr. Clay Of Kentucky, and other
federal Senators recording their votes TO retain the
tax upon them, and agains: making them free ar
These are some OF IN. fences charged by athe
democratic members Of the Legislature" and the
democratic Governor Polk, against the actings
and doings OF the extra session Of Congress. They
have been heraldei, with oil manner of exasgera.
ton, mo every part OF the State where an Ignorant
man might be misled, or an honest one deceived.
How much Of truth or fairness is TO be found in
these specihcauons, my purpose, most respects
fully, but plainly, 10 show.
The first in order rests on the authority Of Mr.
Laushlin's resolution and Governor Pok's speech,
and 49, that the House OF Representatives included
tea and coffee rs dutiable articles. This, Governor
FOLK says, was done by "a solemn vote" Of the
majority; and IN the Senate. he says, these two
articles were stricken by the votes Of democratic
Senators, and small portion of federal Senators;
MIR Clay Of Kentucky, and other federal Senators,
reeoru'ng 'neir votes TO retain the tax upon, and
| ngaLs; making them free articles"
On what enormOuse crime il was in "federal
Senators" to give votes in favor of retaining tea and
coffee in the bill And how much we are indebted
TO "demoeraiic Senators" for saving the people Of
| the South from this tnXationl
Now, sir, | propose to prove that, in 1882, when
there existed duty on tea and coffee when il was
not necessary Tor revenue as there was o surplus
without 1t, AMI when Gen. Jackson had REQ nmend
ed reduction OF duties generally, this same Go
vernon Polk, as member Of the Committee Of
Ways and Means, united with the other members
constituting majority of the commit &c, IN report
ing "a bill TO reduce and otherwise alter the duties
on Imports" in which, while the duties other
reduced or entirely taken OF, tax was laid on tea
and coffee. Governor Polk warmly advocated this
bill, aud, on direct vote in favor Of striking out
these articles, he voted against striking out or, in
other words, he voted for taxing them.
Before en:cr this, allow me 10 refer briefly 10
the history Of this dliy tax on tea and coffee.
BY the act OF 27:h April, 1916, duty was laid
on coffee of cents per pound and on ten, ranging,
according to quality, &c, from IL TO G5 cents per
pound.
Tie acts OF 22d May, 1924, and I9.h OF May,
1923, ltf, these articles untouched. IL vas howey
or, the interest AID policy Of The high protective
tariff men TO get the duty OF these TWO articles, in
order 10 retain the duties on protected or cs con,
ing INTO competition with American manufactures
Accordingly, the protective tariff men procured tile
passage OF the act Of 2Oh May, 1880, which pro
vlded that, from and after the 3lst Of December
1880, the duty on coffee should I've reduced cents
on the pound; and from nnd after the 3lst day Of
December, 1881, il should be reduced 10 one cent
per pound. IL further provided for a similar reduc
lion on teas 10 take efisc, the jlst December 1881
leaving the duties TO range from TO 81 cents per
pound. The same influence, ! mean the protective
taril influence, steadily pursuing the same object
procured clause 20 BE- inserted into the act of I4b
July, 1882. by which all duties were taken on ten
and coffee and they placed on the list Of free
a tcles. The, sir, repeat, was done Ivy the pro
tective tariff interest, which aimed at akint of all
duties which fell on articles not coming into compe.
tiiion with home manufactures, and Keeping them
up on what arc called protected ariclesn the bur
den Of which, II IS said, falls heaviest the South
and West.
Notwithstanding oil duty was taken on tea and
coffee, and they were both admitted free, still the
revenue under the tariff ns il stood was largely
more than was called for by the wants Of the Co
vernment. Accordingly, the Committee Of ways
and Mesns, tGov. Polk being a member Of that
conmiileeO IN pursuance Of the Suggestions OF Pre-
sident Jackson IN his annual message, on the 27th
OF December, 1882, reported "a bill TO reduce and
otherwise alter the duties on imports" The title Of
ths bill explains its object To "reducoD the duties
on imports was the first thing; the next was to "al-
ter" them so rs 10 make them less obnoxious. and
stop II possible, the storm Of civil war ihat was "a
thefing 10 the South, raised ~ the inequality that
was alleged TO exist in the tariff OF duties. This
bill tas will be seen by reference 10 i reduces the
duties on great number OF articles some Of prime
| necessity and others not. As an example Of such
as are not Of prime necessity, reduces the duty on
a. foreign spirits, brandy, e.. 10 about one third
Of what IL formerly was. IL also adds cotton wool
indigo, ond books printed over thirty yeafs before
/ importation, TO the list Of free articles.
These things | refer 10 as showing tho character
Of the bill Now, sir, this bill while IL reduced the
duty on such articles lhave referred 10, and add
Cd oilers 70 the list Of free articles a. tho same time
took tea and coffee out Of tho list Of frts articles
where they bad been placed by The law Of tho Ii,h
/ OF Jolly, 1882, and put a t1x upon them. AnI
| Why was this1 Was 4 bccausc Il was ncesssarv
/ FOR revenue1 No. For the object or ibcsbill was
/ TO "feduco" the revenue. Governor PO.E. in ME
/ speech in defence Of the bill, (sce Congressional
Debaie5 vol ., part !, pace 1881 puts this ques
ton completely 10 rest. He says:
"Perun 10 remars before Gaiiueo The catropv te
which, aluic that, n frafnnT This b tho commute s,,s
he great fact staring thcm w Tho hre, that the prca-rf
rstcs Import duty would yie % the Treasury a
n SIX millions Of dollars annually over what Will Ia a. ,fg
I "a nd nfaF