Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1844-04-27
SPEECH OF Mr. KENNEDY,
OF MARYLAND,
On the Tariff Bill, delivered in the House of Re-
personalities April "a, 1874.

woud no vaiu TO nope to bring ntegbe discussion OF
subject so extensive within the limits here allowed
speech and he the reconced this because be
believed the country stood little in need Of being enlightened
the subject Happily for prospects the question
now agtated throughout the country and the people
litter to instruct this House than TO learn from discussions
this floor. We were returning gradually to that state
in which the public mind Of this country before this
matter of protective tariff made party question At
one time there was little doubt with body to the
prey OF protective system From the days OF the Revolu
ton up to the time when the great political parties of the
country became organized and regularly anayed against each
other there existed but opinion either the constu
onaty expedency of protecting the national industry
sM had lately sprung torpedo under the floor of this hall
by recommending the sentiments expressed Gen. Jackson
the subject in 1924 and S27 and had he witnessed
more strenuous effort and dexerty than
hibed that occasion in avoiding either accord dissent
by the majority here. In those days held all quar-
that bound protect people against
competition of foreign labor. He well remembered when
Gen. Jckson candidate for the Presidency, and the
country first heard OF the American system
pertaining the administration Of Adams and Clay, strenu
Gus effort made to wrest from them the credit Of tina,
great system of policy and he had lately OF
resolutions adopted by the Democrats of Pennsylvania in
OF the strongest holds Of democracy in that most democratic
State, defence Of Gen. jackson from charge Of having
been opposed the American system and grave
geston that in advocating and acting upon Mr. Adams hs
not been sincere! Yes the country coming
senses What did here Most significant signs O.
the times in the exceeding resveness Of this House pre-
vent the discussion Of protection getting before the pub
mind An extra edition Of 10000 copies of report from
the Committee of Ways and Means containing the demo
cratic antar views ordered by the House, WHILE the
same time, the report from minority of that committee
could scarcely get printed at all And when invaluable
report in from the Committee of Manufactures pre-.
entng luminous view of the other side Of the argument
the House utterly denied the printing of single copy
Why Had such thing before been heard of-ths,
on subject which filling every mind the printing Of few
extra copies OF report conessedy able refused What
did all this imply Extras could be granted of almost any
thing esea report the Amsad the sub Treasury,
any thing but the tar-what did 1t mean implied
scous weakness dread Of fair and full discussion Every
other petition could get the table Of the House but tariff
petition He had had from the taors of his district for
weeks in his hands, but forced last put quietly
the table without notion without reading printing where
IT lay dead paper, caput mortuun. Yet, when
memorial up here from few dssenen members Of the
Rhode Island Legislature which they could get their
own Legislature, 1t ordered TO be printed and made
subject OF long debate These very significant facts
He would now look little the history Of this tariff
Germ, and see where parties stood in regard to IT,
We had here document challenging the of the
people the grand escpt Of the Democratic party in rea
ton to the tariff showing the hand the views Of those
who went to the utmost point Of free trade and the other
those of the high tariff democrats OF the party, brought
gether basis Of compromise Mr. X hailed the appear
ahce OF such document he heartily glad had come,
and he should always remember its authors with gratitude
Il appeared TO be candid production, and very abe and f
he mistook no the work Of more than hand came,
possibly in part least from individuals of this House
(some laughter y was however, that only the
more valuable and the authentic. He wished say
few things in regard it. This document settled the knoty
points Of the tariff controversy We had heard much vitu
peraton and probably should hear MORE the pecunay
denquencies of the past and present Administrations the
extravaganza Of their expenditures and the debt II had
created Mr. h. INDUCED in arguments OF that sort
He judged Of party administration merely from its
pendures He at all times willing to run the risk Of
empyng the Treasury for good and proper objects, and
To be frightened out Of his propey by any threats
that subject The question here who made debt
Il had been said that the party who held the majority
here had found the country with small debt and had left II
with one. He called the attention of gentlemen
TO disclosure in this report When the Committee Of
Ways and Means prepared this document they bad before
report Of the Secretary the Treasury announcing
the welcome, the luxurious fact that the Government in
debt and that the country doomed to see, under the
famous and abominabe tariff law Of 1912, abiding def
cheney the revenue TO the public expenditures The
learned Secretary had gone into figures to prove il and,
with view to favor avorte bsning Of his own, viz the
Of Treasury notes. had made the sate OF things even
than He stated the deficit at five millions
the committee reduced il three and that basis, viz
permanent deficit Of three millions, they constructed their
system Of finance, with supply the dehcency and
they declared that the history disclosed by the Secretary Of
the Treasury admonsbed the country not To rely too strongly
on reduction Of the appropriations; for he said that there
had been continuance OF the same STATE o. dHcen rene
FIR the last years and then he gave the table
pended to the report and marked u 80 appeared that
each Congress the last years bad by expend
lures the Here Mr. X read from
the report. There the first fact The last Admins.
ston had constantly the They had spen.
large funds in their hands, and left the Treasury
millions in debt in ls4l. The system then acted prof.
duccd a constantly lapsing revenue. The committee
planned how this bappencd they declared that il arose from
the fact that the Democratic Administration left the country
with declining power, and under system which
went to perpeuate it, Now, Mr. X. might turn and ask,
why with this before you, did you leave such sys-
tent With what grace you charge US with building up
debt You knew that the Government must go you
knew that the expenditure exceeded the income yet you
made provision to remedy the evil
He thanked the committee for this candid statement Of the
real Of the This must forever dspe the CHARGE