Ypsilanti sentinel. [volume] (Ypsilanti, Washtenaw Co., Mich.) 1843-1900, 1844-06-06
HISTORY OF THE TARIFF.

Or desirable.
HISTORY OF THE TARIFF.
The great and vitality important prin-
ciple of so adjusting our Duties on I'm
ports as 10 favor and protect our Home
Industry from a ruinous Foreign com2e-
li.ion is asserted in the first Tariff ever
passed by the first Congress that assem-
bled under our Federal Constitution, in
the preamble to which Act It is expressly
affirmed that such imposition of duties is
necessary. TO pay the debts, provide a
revenue, &c and for the protection and
encouragement Of Domestic Manufac-
lures" The necessity of such protection
is affirmed and urged in the Messages Of
Presidents GEO. WASHINGTON, THOMAS
JEFFERSON, JAMES MADISON. JAMES
MONROE, JOHN q. ADAMS ANDREW
JACKSON, and measuerably by the first
of John Tyler. Old Johu Adams and
Martha Van Buren, are the only exceptions
to the uniformity with which this doc
trine has been urged but Mr.. Van Blu
rem is expressly concluded by his vote in
the Senate on the Tariff of 1S2s-the
highest and most Protective Tariff ever
levied in this Country. though on some
points not equally and wisely Protective.
For this Tariff, Martin Van Buren,. Silas
Wright. and the great mass Of the Jack
son members from the Free States voted
by them it was shaped, (Mr. Wright be-
ing principle manufacturer and by thei1
votes mainly passed. Massac husetis,op
pressed in her vital interests by some o.
its provisions, voted against it. So in
1916, Mr.. John c.. CALHOUN framed anc
carried the Tariff of that year, expressly
affirming the constitutionality and expedi
ency Of Protection in his able Speech il
support ofthe bill. New England at thi.
time also gave decided majority of hel
votes against the measure. But il
1S4l-2, when-the necessity of re
vision ofthe Tariff being imminent ant
admitted on al hands-Mr. Fillmore il
the house moved The reference of so much
ofthe Presidents Message 10 the Commit
tee on Nanny acturers, "a Committee con
stiluted for the express purpose,and which
had always before had charge of thi'
subject,) Mr.. Atherton of N. H. moved
TO. amend by substituting the Committee
of Ways and Means-meaning thereby
as was fully avowed in the debate ubor
his motion, that the revision of Duties
should be made with exclusive reference
10 the raising of Revenue and that the Pro-
lection of our Industrial Interests should
not be considered at all! This PROPOSE.
ton after long and able discussion was
sustained by seventv-one Locofocoes and
twenty four Southern whigs,but overruled
by the votes of ninety Wings and fourteen
Locofocos-all but three of the later be.
ing form Pennsylvania. Had the two
great parties been nearly eaqual in mum
bers,the amendment would have prevailed
and the Protection of Home Labor been
formally striker from the duties of the
Government.
The subject was then referred to the
Committee on Manufactu by whom
bill and able Report were. after mature
deliberation, presented; as was another by
the Secretary Of the Treasury, Hon. w.
FORWARD; and third to the Secretary
by the Committee on Manufacturers OF
that body. These three bills were per-
fectly accordant in Recognizing the prin.
ciple ofProtection,an and differed but slightly
in details. The bill in the House Com.
mittee slightly modified by the Committee
of Ways and Means and the subseq lent
action OF the two Houses passed, the
House by-a vote of One Hundred and
Sirteen Yeasto One Hundred and 1welut