Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-04-27
Speech of Mr.. stewart, Of Penn.
IN DEFENCE OF
THE TARIFF AND DISTRIBUTION.
Delivered in the House Of Representatives. Of The
U. S., March 10, 1914.

U. s., March 10, 1914.
Mr.. STEWART, OF Penn, rose to inquire OF
the Chair whether the previous question, which
had been called on the engrossment Of the bill,
would preclude discussion on the question now
propounded by the Chair, "ShaI! this bill pass. ="
The Speaker having replied in the negative
Mr.. STEWART said: However unprepared,
am nevertheless glad, sir, of the oppor-
tunity thus unexpectedly acquired Of say
ing few words on this important measure
before its final passage. On coming into
the hall a few minutes since, was sur.
prised, sir, to learn that this bill TO repeal
the Distribution Law, reported by the
Committee of Ways and Means within
the last hour, had been already read first
and second time under the previous ques.
ton, and was now on its final passage. Sir,
is this fair! is it right, that this bill, by far
the most important that has occupied the
attention of the present Congress, should
thus be hurried through all its stages, and
finally passed, under the gag, without
amendment or debatel Why this hurry
and haste? Why post with such dcxterity
TO this destructive deed! Why is this i'm
portant measure to be thus despatched in
spent in the dicussion of matters of com.
parative insignifcance! The motive can
not be mistaken: its friends are afraid of
discussion; they fear the development of
facts which must PROSTATE them before the
people; but they cannot escape, sir. They
may, by the gag, suppress debate here, but
they cannot, thank God, gag the people
and the press; they can and will speak out,
in tones of thunder against the dongs Of
this day.
The proceeds of the sales of the public
lands of this country belonged TO the States
of this Union. II is a fund which this
Government holds in trust for the people Of
the States; and a period has arrived in our
history when, by the Observation-Disclosures of
this Government, state of things has been
brought about in which the States are in
volved in debt, debt which was not only
crushing the people of the country under
taxation, but was driving some of the
States to reputation and bankruptcy. Is
this Government TO furnish no relief to
the States of this Union? Does it owe no
obligations TO the States and 10 the peo-
pie!
Are we 10 sit here calmly and see the
States and the people Of the Union crushed
under the weight of direct taxation, see
the character of the country disgraced,
see reputation stalking forth throughout
the land, and this House and this Govern
ment, which had the power TO relieve the
people from their burdens and redeem this
Government from disgrace, do nothingl
This was matter in which this Govern
ment was deeply interested. The interest
and honor of this Government must be
sustained or DESTROYED with the interest
and honor Of the States--ihey are insep-
arable-wc are one people in the estima-
ton of mankind, and share in the same
disgrace.
Sir, you will have surplus in the Treas.
ury, at the end of the year, derived from
the existing tariff, if let alone. And what
will you do with it! Why not give the
proceeds of the land to the States, to which
it Justly and fairly belongs! If you do
not, you will be driven to the necessity OF
another Distribution Law to divide the
surplus revenue among the States.
General Jackson in favor of Distribution.
This policy was stronly recommended
and urged by Gen. Jackson, not in one
but in three of his annual messages, and il
had been adopted in Congress by major.
ity of more than four TO one, 1855 to 80 in
the House, and "a to in the Senate
Yet gentlemen now contend that this meas
ure is not only highly inexpedient, but I'm.
CONSTITUTIONAL; and Mr.. Van Buren,, in his
Indiana letter, declares that the people
would "stullify" themselves by its adoption
declaration by which he not only stulti
6es Gen. Jackson, but himself also. Gen.
Jackson, in his first message, advocates
the policy Of distribution, and says, "the
most safe, just, and federal disposition thai
can he made of the surplus revenue will be
its distribution among the States according
to their ratio of representation" In hi:
next message of 1880, he renews this re
commentator. and takes up and answers
at great length, and with great ability, al
the objections that had been urged agains,
the policy of distribution--the very SAINT
objections that are here urged by Mr.. Var
Buren, and his friends, he answered anC
overturned, in their order, No. l, 2, 3, 4
occupying several pages of his message, &c
which he commended the gentleman from
Virginia, (Mr. DRoMGooLE) who had re
ported this bill. In his message of 1892
Gen. Jackson again took up and discussed
: at great length, the subject of the pubic
lands: he says they ought TO cease, as sooI
as practicable, to be a source of revenue;
that "the idea eff raising revenue from then
ought to be abandoned;" that they woul'