Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-03-10
A SENSIBLE SPEECH.

At the great Wing Convention which was
holden at Richmond, Virginia, on the 22d
Of February, to nominate a candidate for
President of the United States, BENJAMIN
WATKINS LEIGH, who presided on the occa-
sion, made speech of which the following
is the concluding paragraph. 1t is SO unu-
sual 10 find so much lberality in Southern
man that we copy the extract with much
pleasure: ...
shall mention another subject of general. dean
and exciting interest," which calls for mutual conces.
sion which must be settled, and can only be setjed
by spirit of fair and mutual compromising tariff
OF duties on imported goods. In its very nature il
involves conflicting interests and unhapply, in our
country these conflicting opinions and feelings on
the subject, are marked by geographical bounds
Like most ofmy citizens Of the Southern Agri.
man, tho not what may, perhaps, he nou so called,
since according TO some opinions those only are re-
garded as antiarh men, who think it proper IN r,..
revenue Tor the support of Government by direct tax
alton, rather than raise the whole if the whole can
be conveniently raised, doubtless can from ths
customs ! am opposed TO the raising of more reye-
nue. from the customs, than what is really wanted
ior me support OF Government upon an economical
system OF expenditure an economical not a parsi-
monlous, nggardy system of expenditure stin,inp
the Army, the Navy and the civil list leaving The for.
tlhcalions TO 60 to ruin and Disappointing the public
creditor OF prompt payment; and am opposed 10
the imposition of duties foreign goods for Inc n.ys
purpose of protection to home industry and esneci
ally domestic manufactures without regard TO reye-
nue. NOW, me representatives Of that portion Of
the country which is chiefly engaged in manufn ,ur.s
only ask that in raising the necessary revenue for hs
support OF Government, the tariff shall be adjusted
on system o. discriminating mot prohbitory) duties.
which VIII aford incidental protection their manu-
features land this as far can collect from the a.
bates IN Congress, is all they do ASK think we
ought cheeriully to concede thus much 10 them. IL
mere any good reason IN respect to our own interests
the metaphor lately introduced in Congress which
seems fruitful of good metaphor Than of,nv
good thlng-a system of ad adioren duties on ali or
| most Of the imported articles, those which are now
duable and those that free in preference 10 a
system OF discriminating duties on part Of those ar
tces winch come into competition with our own pro.
aur,loas supposlng the same amount of revenue,
be That what may is to be raised from the customs
whaiever system of duties shall be adopted reaAy
cannot see how any greater BURDENS likely 10 be i'm
poseJ on us Of the South by the system of dsrmina-
home productions than will probably result from =
horz)n tariff. According 10 my informaton ,bs
aggregate value OF imported articles free of dn,v l.
Cor before the present tariff was enaotedS no
equal TO the aggregate value of the dutiable arcI
so 20 per cent dd ralorem all, would Weld aho,,
the same amount oil revenue, as an average of an mo-
cent o. discriminating duties on half The consume.
on, both OF the free and of the dutable articles mn,
suppose, be nearly uniform throughout The Tn;,sc
States-as great in the manufacturing States a. l.
me Others. IT, under the system of dscrmnntiny an
ICES am 10 pay AZ per cent. upon the cloth co,,
wear and nothing the silk gown NV wfs , e"u'
; shall contribute about the same amount towards n
revenue, as were required by horizontal tariff I,
psy ~ per cent. on the cloth and 20 per cent on in
SIX know very well, that no genera reasoning a
this kind will square exactly with practical de,sis
nor am !, on this occasion, studious of accuracy
; The general thought has occurred 10 nv mind-ih.
T hss NJ Inc pnelpe Of the horizontal system,
1 kali = IL