Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-07-12
SPEECH OF Mr.. GEO. P. MARSH,
ON THE TARIFF BILL.
HOUSE OF REPS APRIL 80, 1874.

do not propose to inquire into the con-
stitutional power Of Congress TO legislate
with view to protection for | have not
observed that constitutional scrupes oppose
any very serious obstacles in gentlemen's
way, when a lavorite project is TO be car
ried. Besides, these scruples are particu-
larly rife among the very same class of poll
tcians who entertained no doubt of the right
of this single House to exercise power in
restricting the right of petition, which the
express words of the Constitution deny to
Congress, and who, in the case of the four
recusnnt States, maintained the power of
the House Of Representatives to nullify a
solemn act Of the national legislature, passed
in strict conformity with the letter Of the
Constitution. Sir, | have no fear that gem
tlemen who swallowed those camels will
ever be stranged by so small gnat as this
The constitutional cholc, is indeed, griev-
Gus complaint, ofientirnes an excruciatingly
painful disease, but, happily, it is never NOR
tai. Gentlemen are frequently attacked by
it, they sicken, they suffer. In the words of
the law, they languish and languishingy do
live, but die never In the long rows of
our departed predecessors, in yonder Gem
etery, you find the monuments of those who
have fallen prey to death in all his varied
shapes. Gout, apopexy, consumption, fever
and even the hand of violence, each hath
had its victims, but constitutional scrupIes,
none. For such disorder, it would seem
superfluous TO prescribe. Besides, the very
uiS mediCdtriI Of nature sometimes orlgl-
mates mllder forms of disease, by whose ac-
ton the peccant humors o! the system are
carried off, and dangerous organic or
chronic complaints are prevented or healed.
Who knows but this constitutional maIady
may serve some like prophylactic or medlca-
tive purpose in our political systeml These
scruples are often of excellent use, by way
of apology for voting with our party, and
against the planest reasons of general good,
or the interests of our own constituents
Moreover, in debate, they are good tub
for the whale, and serve in nparty siege to
divert the attack from the weaker points,
the salient angles, of the fortress. 1t would
therefore be hardly fair, were it practicable,
to deprive gentlemen of so convenient re-
treat when pressed by arguments which they
are unable to answer
But however serious gentlemen may be
in insisting on constitutional objection, it
can hardly be expected that the country will
now abandon as unconstitutional a system
sanctioned by the trainers of the Consttu-
ton in the Congress of 1882 and approved
by every President, from Washington down
to the immortal successor Of his own "illus-
trious predecessor" who has been, and is,
on both sides of every supposable question
but two-the abolition of slavery in this
District, namely, and the expediency Of the
selection Of a certain favorie son, certain
5 northern man with southern principles, who
: shall at present be nameless, as the next
Democratic candidate for the Presidency
On the former of these points | believe he
? is committed and rather think there are
gentlemen hereabouts, who, if they saw
good cause, could tell how and why he be
came so. As to the other question, | have
never understood that he entertained any
hesitation, unless it may be trif1ing doubt
: whether the people, upon ''sober seconc
d thought" would confirm the nomination
$ which the convention ought to make anC
=, whether they would not, under the inhuenc,
i, of ancient prejudice or new deuson, rejec
) the cashiered pilot who asked to be rein
Z stated, and prefer rather more experienced
=: and trusty helmsman.
:, There are certain kinds and branches o
;; industry which, as all men agree, lawfully
!, may be, and as matter of expedlency ough
n to be, protected. You secure TO the autho
; the copyright in the coinage of his brain
D and you guarantee to the inventor of rev
process, or machine, the exclusive right t.
: his invention against every competitor
whether native or foreign. Here is protec
ton, in the odous form Of an absolut
e monopoly yet no man questions its justic
or its expediency am we'll aware that, il
the case of the celebrated cotton gin, south
ern chivalry thought fit practically to MULTI
the patent law, and to deny 10 the meritor
Gus inventor all substantial reward for hi
valuable machine but in general the polio
of the law is approved
Mn. HOLMES here nterposed, and OF
served, that South Carolina had purchase
the right TO the use of the cotton gin. An
Mr.. RHETT added, that the same State ha
afterwards made a voluntary grant of $50
600 to the inventor 1t was also suggeste
that North Carolina had acquired the rigt
r. for the use of her citizens by fair purchase
y Protection has, as have before remarked
already done its work for the great staple {
the south and no man familiar with tn
le history of manufactures, and particularly {
= mechanical invention, can doubt that legi
:. atve protection has been the indispensable
i condition of the great prosperity and exten'
81 ed amount of the cotton trade. The ell
enlargement early afforded to the grow'
7. and working of cotton, induced investmen
r in this branch of manufacture and it SOC
Z, attained considerable degree ofimportanc
'r The mechanical ingenuity of this countr
as and of England, now began to exert r.
c;nrocal influence. The admirable col