The North-Carolina standard., 1843-07-12

from Arkansas Immediately on my left, [Mr. Sc
vIER, between incidental and accidental protec
tion is not less true and philosophical than strk
ing. The latter is the only protection compatible
with the principles on which duties for revenue
are laid.
This bill, regarded as revenue bill, cannot
stand the test of any of these rules. That II
cannot as to the two first, has already been shown.
That some Of the duties amount to prohibition,
has been admitted by the chairman To those he
admits long list of others might be added. l
have in my drawer an enumeration of many of
them, furnished by an intelligent and experienced
merchant; but will not occupy the time of the
Senate by reading the catalogue That large
portion of the duties on the protected articles ex-
ceed the maximum point of revenue will not be
denied; and that there are few or none imposed
protected articles on which an equal revenue
might not be raised at a lower rate Of duty, will
be admitted. AS, then, every feature of this bill
is stamped with protection, it is as much bill for
protection as that of 1928. Wherein, then. does
it differ2 In this that went openly, boldly, and
manfully for protcction and this assumes the
guise of revenue. That carried the drawn dag
ger in its hand and this conceals it in its bosom.
That imposed the burden of protection-a burden
admitted to be unjust, unequal, and oppressive but
it was the only burden; but this superadds the
weight of its false guise-a heavy debt extrava-
prostraton of public credit with the intent of con-
cealing its purp pose And this, too, may be added
to the other objections, which makes it worse than
its predecessor in abomination.
l am, Senators, now brought to the important
question, why should such a bill pass? Who
asks for it., and on what ground 1t comes os-
tensibly from the manufacturing interest say
ostcnsibIy; for l shall show, in the sequel, that
there are other and more powerful interests among
its advocates and supporters. And on what grounds
do they ask it? 1t is on that Of protection. Pro
lection against what2 Against violence oppres
sion. or fraud2 If so, Government is bound to
afford it. if it comes within the sphere of its pow
ers, cost what it may. 1t is the object for which
Government is instituted and if it fails in that it
fails in the highest point of duty. No; it is a
gainst neither violence, oppression, nor fraud
There is no complaint of being disturbed in pro-
perty or pursuits or of being defrauded Of the
proceeds of industry. Against what then, is pro-
lection asked2 1t is against low prices. The
manufacturers complain that they cannot afford to
carry their pursuits at prices as low as at pre-
sent; and that, unless they can get higher, they
must give up manufacturing The evil, then, is
low prices; and what they ask Of Government is
to give them higher. But how do they ask it TO
be done2 Do they ask Government to compel
those who may want to purchase to give them
higher2 No; that would be hard task, and not
little odious; difficult to be defended on the prin
cipes of equity Justice or the Constitution or to
be enforced, if it could be. Do they ask that
tax should be laid on the rest Of the community,
and the proceeds divided among them, to make up
for low prices or, in other words do they ask for
a bounty No; that would be rather too open.
oppressive and indefensibIe. How, then. do they
ask it to be done2 By putting down competition,
by the imposition of taxes on the products of 9th
ers so as to give them the exclusion of the mark
ct, or at least decided advantage over others;
and thereby enable them to sell at higher prices.
Stripped of all Disguise this is their request, and
this they call protection. Protection, indeed
Call it tribute, levy, exacon, monopoly, plunder;
or if these be too harsh, call it charity assistance,
rather than protection, with which
it has not feature in common
Consider in this miIder light wherr Senators,
will you find the power to give the assistance
asked? Or, if that can be found, how can you
reconcile it 10 the principles of justice equity to
grant it2 But suppose that to be overcome, ask,
are you prepared to adopt as a principle, that,
whenever any branch of industry is suffering from
depressed prices it is your duty to call on al
others to assist it2 Such is the broad principle
that lies al the bottom of what is asked and what
would it be- if carried out bat equalization of IN
come And what that, but agrariansm as to IN
come? And in What would that differ in effect
from luc VI plOpCityt HhlNh GO'3
the opposite SIDE Of the chamber, profess so much
TO detest7 But, if you are not ready to carry out
theprnciple in its full extent are you prepared to
restrict it to a single cass-the manufacturers
Will you give them them the great and exclusive
advantage of having the right of demanding as
sistance from the rest of the community, whenever
their profits are depressed below the point of re-
by vicissitudes to which all others are
exposed2 an
But, suppose all these difficulties surmounted;
there is one rule where assistance is asked, which,
on no principle of justice equity, or reason, can
be violated-and that is, to ascertain, from careful
and cautious examination, whether, in fact, it be
needed by the party asking; and, if 1t be, whether
the one of whom it is asked can afford to give 1t
or not Now, ask whether any such examina-
ton has been made2 Has the Finance Commit
tee, which reported this bill, or the Committee on
Manufactures, to which. the numerous petitions
have been referred, or any member of The maJori-
ty who supports this BILL made an impartial or
careful examination, in or to ascertain whether
they who ask aid can carry on their manufac-
lures without higher prices2 Or, have they Civ
en- themselves the least trouble to ascertain wheth-
er the other portions of the community could al
ford to give them higher2 Will any one pretend
that he has 2 can say, as to the interest with
which am individually connected, 1 have heard
of no such inquiry; and can add further, from my
own experience, land fearlessly appeal to every
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