Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-11-23

a. welfss oifer Iiings, was the charsc
teris.ic OF The sgr. Men ran either to the
/ Gauges, or 10 the extremity vi The Wes'.
/ believe. said Mr. W., that disclimlna
zion for the purpose of protection IN lay
1 ing duties does belong to Congress; that
it is necessary, nnd included in the power
Of laying cuties. Tits is my opinion.
and shoulG DO vi ling 10 discuss that
matter with any gentleman Of candos and
intei .ence in the Commonwealth. Goa
gress has power to lay duties on Impor-
taiions. but no State has. Time was
when Massachusetts had power 10 lay du-
ties. She did exert il not only FIR feve-
nue., but for pr, + ct.on. Several States
dill i W tn the ayowed purp1se Of prete :
ton. 8nI now Il at Massachusetts,, and
other Stat S, have passed away thai power,
and cannot 10y one cent Of duty, the ques-
on is win ther Congress dots net TAX
the tight, SUBJECT TO the same understands
ing OF the manner Of usirg i.
Mr.. Webster enlarged upon this view
al some length, citing the opin ons Of Mr.
Madison in support OF il, and argrng mat
in all history the over to rer.alate CON
merce had been held to in-,ude the power
to lay protective ddties, and That this
power come SIT, .iy within The m, aiming
Of The words
He qp1ed facts 10 the history Of The
conteI ration to show that The State ex-
ercised this power, and that 10 be able 10
.dy Discriminating duties affecting all OF
he In, nd
Others ono great object in their UNION.
lie referred to the debates in all the con-
veniions callt d TO ratify the Constitution
IS supporting this position, especially to
those OF Massachusetts, and Virginia
There were other questions, es TO the
manner of exercising his power: he was
IN favor Of nothing excessive, especially
where there were differences Of opinion.
By excessive duties our Shipping inter-
SITS, for instance might De injurd d. He
wished to support The whole importing
81 IS, and he wished for fair, equal and
impartial laws. They should be drawn
with great care Il at there might be- no
traps, nothing unexpected sprineing up
on men engaged in the business Of impor
taton. He proceeded to argue and 10
show that such pro,octtn was OF advant-
age to the whole country, saying that he
believed tariff, moderately and care.
fully made, useful, because it augmented
the aggregate Of national wealth, by Civ
ing stimulus 10 labor. Mr.. W. main.
famed this theory, in an ingenious and
somewhat protracttd analysis of the re-
laions OF ca ital and labor, especially in
this country, where, ne held, that the lat
Ter had taken new end very important
position. lie said that in some Of his
views in this regard he differed somewhat
from Mr.. Culloch, whose political opinion
in general he held in the highest respect;
but we have not time or space to-day to
follow tie whole OF tho argument.
He passed on TO consideration of the
happiness of q soc ETY. in which labor was
SO respectable as IN this country, and
where wages were SO high, and drawing
gronin. picture Of the condition Of And.
oyer and its neigi borhood, with It's farms
and streams all made of avail, with It's
numerous churches and free schools, he
asked: -spWhy should we wish TO change
this state of things by theories, by notions,
by speculative attempts upon the welfare
OF the peop'el" He called attention to
the difference between the position of this
county aud England with regard TO duties
on bread stuffS; the latter beng a country
where the produce Of agriculture is not
enough to feed the people, and where, in
consequence, it is necessary to buy grain
4 from other nations; ours on the contrary
requiring foreign market for its surplus
produ e. He mex. argued that this was
no. local interest, but that the protection
Of manufactures was beginning 20 be i'm
per ant TO ihe Southern as wei as the
Northern States, position in support of
which he said he had procured many
facts and documents which, not having
time to read, he should hand to the gen.
tlemen Of the press present, and we
unlerst nd that they were given to the
gentlemen rt porters for the Courier.
Mr.. Webster aGded that the effect of
protective duties was not always 10 raise
prices, and cited the cares of bar iron
and nails as instances, remarking that on
this point also he had statistics at hand,
which want of time forbade him to read.
Mr.. Webster then proceeded to notice other
subjccts. The following report of what he said
re, pectng them is thus given in the Boston Couf
Ter.
Your committee, gentlemen, have men
toned the public lands. Upon this topic
| have but very little now 10 say. Con-
grcss has affirmed the proposition that, in
the present condition OF the country, the
proceeds OF the public lands belong right.
fully TO the States. That is the law, and
Of course we must so regard it. Now, if
n be so, then say that this is the time to
make the appropriations Of tho lands, be-
cause now is the time when the States
need all their means.
In my opinion though repreach no.
body, for | myself voted for the bll--our
Legislation upon this subject has been in
consistent in this; that when the land
bill was passed, provision was made that
the appropriation should be void in case
Of war, and at any rate limited to five
wears. Because, il the lands righ,fully
belong TO the genera States, they belong
to them as vel in war as in peace; and
forever as well as for time limited.
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