The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1843-02-10


rupt law for the confirmation of General
Wool's nomination as brigader general
in the United States army I; and it was
also stated to me by friend, as passed
through Springfield on my way to this
I city. that there were other reports Of my
having voted against the reduction of the
duty Oh salt. and that Col. Benton of Mis-
souri, was opposed to my reelection.
Thus was assailed, if my information he
correct, when was thousand miles from
home. Til IA bed of sickness, and with
neither time nor opportunity to defend
myself before the day fixed for the cleo
lion.
In regard to the tariff and Mr.. Clay, it
was said that had fully committed my
self to MIR. Browning. leading wing
member of the legislature of my own
county. |, is very true tina, | had a con-
versa,ion with Mr.. Browning, and others,
in which said that Mr.. Clay had, in his
speech delivered in the Senate of the Uni
ted States on the LIST Of March, 1912.
upon his resolutions concerning the tarif,
and other great objects of public policy,
come on, for such tariff as | approved,
and as conformed to the democratic doc
trine. Mr.. Clay said. on that occasion,
"that the principles Of The compromise
act (of 1882 should be obserued IN good
faith" lie then proceeded to state what
It's principles were. "Ihe first principle, I"
he said. was. "that there should be a
fned rate Of at valorem duty. and dis
examinations be!ow it," The second
was, "Mat The ercess fduty beyond 20
per cent, should. By gradual process,
commenting on the 3lst Of December,
1899, be reduced, so that BY The 3OM of
June, 1912, it should be brought down
TO 30 per cent" The third was that
after Mat day such duties should be laid
for the purpose Of raising such revenue
as might be necessary for an economical
administration Of Tie Government.
And the fourth was, "that after the 30th
Of Jwe, 1912, oil duties should be paid
in really money, to the exclusion Of all
credits" He then read part Of the
compromise act, and said:
"What is the meaning of this language 1t
contains two obligations. The first is, tina, there
shall be an economical administration Of the Gov
ernmcnt no waste, no extravaganza, no squan-
derns of the public money, The second obliga.
ton is no less binding and imperative; aud that
is, that such duties shall be laid may be
sary to raise such revenUe as Is requisite 10 an
economical administration ofthe Government"
In regard to the I'd ualorem principle
Of assessing duties, Mr.. Clay said:
For one. am willing to abide by that prn.
clple. There are certain vague notions ailoat as
10 the utility anJ necessity OF specific duties and
Determinations. which, a.n persuaded arise from
| i want ot a right understanding of the subject.
We nave had The G1 u-.9 sm principle practically
IN force ever s.hce the compromise act was pas
seJ; and there has been no difficulty in admins
tefing the duties of the Treasury on that princi-
pie. Compare the difference b tween the specific
| and the ad valorem systems oi duties, and main
tain that the latter is justly entitled TO the prefer
encc The one principle declares that the duty
paid shall be upon the real value OF the article
taxed; thu specific principle imposes equal
duty on articles greatly unequal IN value. Coitrc
for example. Is on oil the articles op winch sp.-
ciic duty has been lyyicd. Now It is perfect,
well known that the Mocha coli,c il worth al
| least twice much a. the coffee Of 81. Domingo
or Cuba; get bmh pay tie same day' TIE tax
has 10 respect u the ,aiue. but 10 arbitrarily
levied On all arlicIes oi a specific kind alike. how
ever virious aid uncll, may be ;heir vaues.
say thai. Ia theory. and accorJin. to every s,und
principle oi Istcc, the al v,iIrem priGciJlc oil
taxation 10 entrlcd 10 tiie prt.rre.cs."
This was the language of Mr.. Clay on
that occasion, and the principles he then
avowed. frequently sail. when va,
last u! home, as | now say. thai such prin-
cipIes are in strict conformity with tue de-
mocratic doctrine. But did his whig
friends in congress, after he resigned his
seat in the Senate, and went home To
Kentucky. act upon these principles BY
no means. They Immediately abandnm.
ed the principles Of the compromise act.
and passed bill by which duties were
levied for Il high system of protection, as
; well as for reUenue-dutes extending IL
forty, sirty. one hundred per cent. and
upwarts, and in many instances, instead
! of2O per cent; and the specific subst,,i.
ted for the at calorem principle Of assess
menI, &c. mentioned this speech OF
Mr.. Clay to MIR. Browning and others, to
show that the great leader OF the wing
party had admitted the democratic doc.
trine on this subject to be correct. and &c
, expose the subsequen, inconsistency o
: that party in congress, Cor having adopiet
: a contrary course Of action. l feel conf
f, dent that Mr.. Browning will do me the
8 justice TO say that he did no, understand
! me, in any conversation had with him %,
. this subject. as using language, from