The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-04-10
HON. S. S. PHELPS SPEECH.
On THE TARIFF.
Mr.. PRESIDENT.

Senator from Maine, in regarding the discus
sion as idle or useless. So far as its purpose
may be to carry conviction to the mind OF any
Senator present, | am aware that the effort is
hopeless. But Sir, there are reas ons, cogent
reasons, for probing the subjectto the bottom
Whatever may be our decision upon this great
question of national policy, an appeal lies to
the great body of the American people. That
appeal will assuredly be taken, and the period
is very rapidly approaching when it must be
decided. However incongruous it may appear
to the Hon. Senator, that we, who are accus-
toned to receive instructions from our con-
stitueney, and of paying to those instructions
the highest Difference, should, in our turn, af-
feet to instruct them, yet he will agree with
me that those, whose representatives we are,
and to whom We are accountable, have right
to know the reasons which influence our con-
duct here, and to be possessed of allthe nate
rial which we regard as important to our cor
rect judgment.
There are other reasons why we should not
be silent. The question in this debate is of
vital and paramount interest to the American
people. 1t lies at the root of your national
economy and your national policy. 1t is the
cardinal principles upon which your legisla-
ton must turn, and upon which your national
prosperity depends. However we may disa-
gree as to the merits or the results of the pro-
tective policy, there is but one sentiment as
to the importance of the subject submitted to
your consideration. The Senator from South
Carolina (Mr. McDuffie,) regards this policy
| as pregnant with the ruin of the country, while
on the other hand consider it the only means
of that country's salvation. Sir this subject
constitutes the fundamental difference between
the great political parties of the country, and
will form the principal, if not the only issue,
between Them in the approaching contest.
Upon the decision Of the American people
upon it depends, not only the result of that
contest but the character of your future legis-
lation and policy, and, in my judgment, the
hopes and destiny Of the nation.
Having had the honor of a seat here when
the tariff Act of I842 was passed, and believ-
ing now, as did then, that the policy exhibit
ted by that Act forms the only true basis Of
your national policy and your prosperity, / feel
bound by the obligation of the highest most
sacred and imperious duty, upon all occasions,
and under all circumstances, TO maintain and
defend it. The Senator from South Carolina
proposes, not merely repeal or modification
Of that Act, but the utter abandonment Of the
protective policy, either in the form of duties
imposed for the encouragement of domestic
industry or of discrimination for that object,
noD and forerer. Here then we are at issue
and propose to examine the Senator's rea-
sons for abandoning policy which originated
with the origin Of your government, has re-
ceived the appreciation and support of your
early statesmen and patriots, and has been
until lately steadily adhered to, and for sub
shutting a new, untried, and visionary theory
hitherto adopted by no people, and which
stands at ibis moment at war with the expo
rience and condemned by the combined judg
ment of the civilized world.
The Hon Senator has denounced the Act
of 1912 as foul and faithless mutilation OF
the compromise Act of 1888. Sir when these
words fell upon my ear they struck me as the
mere effervescence of passion and excitement
and as indicating, what no one who listened
to the Hon Senator could doubt, that the SEN
timents expressed by him came warm from
the heart. But although the Senator was not
understood as impeaching the motives ofthose
who sustained the Act of AZ, yet that he in
tended to characterize the tendency and
legitimate operation of that Act is not to be
doubted.
Sir voted for the Act of '42, and did so
knowing that it conflicted with some of the
provisions of the celebrated compromise Act,
as that Act was interpreted in certain quar-
ter. That my course in that particular was
foul or faithless l can not admit. Nav will
endeavor to demonstrate to the Hon Senator
that, by no Interpretation of that Act which
he or his friends can sustain for a moment,
can its provisions be brought into conflict with
the Act OF 1912.
Let us analyze the Act of 1888. 1t pro-
vides
LIST For cash duties and the home valuation.
Both these features are preserved in the Act
of 1912.
Secondly. 1t provides that ''such duties shall
be imposed, for the purpose of raising such
revenue as may be necessary for an economi-
cal administration of the government"
By this understand that the financial wants
of government are to be the limit of your rev.
eneue from imports; or in other words that
no duty shall be levied for protection merely
which is not required to meet the calls upon
your treasury, and which shall produce sur
plus revenue. Will any Senator insist that
the aggregate amount Of duties imposed by
the Act of '42 transcends that limit! Has
your income exceeded your expenditure
Have you surplus revenue, oIare you atthis
moment in debt for the ordinary expenses Of
YOUR government in time of peace The Hon
Senator insists that the high duties imposed
by that Act diminish the revenue and advo-
Gates a reduction of duties with view to it
increase. If this be his purpose he certainly
, will not contend that the limitation of the com
; promise Act has been transcribed already.
t The great controversy in relation to the
true import of the Act of 1888 has been witt
2 respect to the proceeds of the public lands
5 whether they should go into the treasury tt
=, meet your ordinary expenditures, or sheult
e be distributed to the States, and the wants o
e your treasury should be supplied exclusivel,
D by imports. 1t is unnecessary TO discuss thi
0 question now. In an evil hour we were com
/ PEELED TO yield the distribution, in order to OBJ
s tain the only measure calculated to relieve tn
e distress of the country and to avoid the i'm
!, pending bankruptcy Of the government. "
o were forced to adopt, practically at least, tn
c Southern construction Of the compromise
b and having done so there is an end of all com
n plant on that score. 49,,
: The residue of the compromise Act, whic
b proyides for gradual reduction of duties t
i IL. Ontb IF T,,no 1910 ba