Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-06-14
SIP ECH
OF Mr.. SAMUEL S. PHELPS,
ON THE TARIFF.
IN THE SENATE, FEBRUARY 16 AND 10, 1874.

IN THE SENATE, lG AND 10, 1874.
Mr.. PREsIDENT: ] cannot concur with the
honorable Senator from Maine, in regarding
this discussion as idle and useless. So far as
its purpose may be to carry conviction to the
mind of any Senator present, | am aware that
the efiurt is hopeless. But, sir, there are rea-
sons, cogent reasons, for probing the subject to
the bottom. Whatever may be Our decision up.
on this great question of national policy, an APP
peal lies to the great body of the American peo-
pie. That appeal will assuredly be taken and
the period is very rapidly approaching when it
must be decided. However incongrous it NAV
appear to the honorable Senator, that we who
are accustomed to receive Instructions from our
constituency, and to pay to those instructions
the highest Difference, should, in our turn, affect
to instruct them. yet he will agree with me
that they whose representatives we are, and to
whom we are accountable. have a right to know
the reasons which influence our conduct here,
and to be possessed of all the material which
we regard as important to our correct Judgment.
There are other reasons why we should be
silent. The question involved 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. It is the
cardinal princi pie upon which your legislation
must turn. and upon which your national pros.
pcrlty depends. However we may disagree as
TO the merits or the fruits Of the protective poli.
cy, there is but one sentiment as to the iinpor-
lance OF The SUBJECT submitted to your conside.
ration. The senator from South Carolina (Ir.
McDrFFIE) regards this policy as pregnant with
the ruin of The country, while |, on the other
hand, consider it the only means of that coun.
try's salvation. Sir, this subject constitutes
''G i""u'"'eh'a' uI''re'ce between me great
Po''''od' Ph'''cS ~ 'he country ana VIII inrinthc
p'l"c'Pi' " '"t 'he only issue be'Ween them III
u .'P'o"'"I'9 ''n'cS'' oPnn inc decision nf
w .a''Ir'1r' ps'r'c' upon IT oc?c"dS NOT only
49,. W ~ ."''s'' "u' me c"d'aC'or Vi
49, '"'"'c 'o4 'H''''"h ana poIcy, anu ID my
!"ui''c''' i"c ''PcS dhu u"S'Il'y OF lhc ha'lon.
,,'''l! IA" ,,' n'nor q a seat mere Wheh
,'o - - % ioi was passed. ana oe'Ie,''ng
w.. III. : 49, '',"' '"n' we P2,"'y cNn'o'lcu oy
,'a ", i"','S ~ "n'! rue oaS'S {" your ma,
w." F',N2' ~ !'n' "d'',nt, prosperity 'eei
""a'i y! Wv "''-'''"' VI INC h'@heS'' most
: W a'" 'thPc''o'S aulv' upon all occasions,
Wv u. a. circumstances TO MAINTAIN ahd
-"" "' u 'II'"'"' "o'' 'oo"," CafoiIha
h. ~, h t", , ,n d aGte'' or "'ou'icn'Ion OF
,on,iyo ,, Ji". :, .n "o.,""e'iS"n % .mc pro-
nIsoI frr IInyn o""p ~ o', n'nn u uu,'es I'M
!rrv or ~, Js or;ni''n,, r g ', u,t,"s''o ',"usj
cm.o. IIa.n ,Lan ''' ~ o'J'o'' "'~ u"I =
nr,,oso 3, H.a,, w. - ''s"' anu .
H. nl,.;.u - ,',;'a '"r NV .'
an;.;, - " t.l' ~ '"e
w. 'i'n Va !""i governments mas received inc a?-
AMI n,,ri,, Wv nlPL"aI VI s"u' u"'!E s'",es",In
, lho,,J 20 .mI ,. s,,..n. -" -! suI"i
and ,irI,nf,N ,'.s.,,, r.,t,rI,D " ~ .
ME. and which stands -, lis ,n r,Hnn ny no p'o-
with the experience and condemned nv ,hc com.
bined Judgment OF the civilized world.
The honorable Senator has dennnncod Tho
act of lSl2 ~ a foul and f,i,hle.s ,nu,l,,i,n ~,
the compromise act of 1888. Sir. when thesn
words fell upnn nv car, they s,ruck mo ne Tho
mere cflrrvc>ccucc of passion and eycjlcnen,
and rs ind ra,inr simply. what no one who Iis,.
ened TO the honorable Senator could doub,. ,ha,
the sentiments EXPRESSED bv him came warm
from the heart. But ALTHOUGH the Senator WAS
not understood as imDearblnr tho mo iyes n,
those who sustained the act n, lSl1 ve, that hc
intended thus to characterize the tendency and
legitimate oncra,ion of that ac. is no, IN bn
doubled.
Sir. | voted for the act of 3 and ia G.
knowing that il conf cted with s,'nn of IN, nrn.
visions of the celebrated cnmnr,niso oc, -.
tina, act was iu,crpreted in , car,,ir o,,rtor
THAT nv course i'm that uar,irul,r v,s i,ul or
faithless cIuuo, admit Nav I w,u ,ndnor,,
to demonstrate TO the honor,hir & ,n,,nr that, h,
no inierpretl' ION of that act. which he or his
friends can sustain for a moment, can It's PROV.
sions be brought into conflict with the act o.
lSt2.
Let MS a%na'yze Tie act oflS33. 1t provides
|. For cash dates, and the home valuation
Botn these features are preserved in the act O
lSl2.
:. 1t provides that "such duties shall be i'm.
posed, for the purpuse cf raising such revenue
AS may be necessary for an economical admin.
|istration of the G]uvcrumcn,.'
By this understand that the financial want,
of tie Government are to be the limit of Won
revenue from imposts, or, in otter words, tina
no duty shall be levied for protection merely
which Is not required to meet the calls upoi
your Treasury, and which shall produce a sur
plus reyenue. Will any Senator insist that thu
aggregate amount of duties imposed by the &C
OF lsl2 transcends that limit! Has your in
come exceeded your expenditure! Have yo,
a surplus revenue, or are you at this moment il
DEBT Tor The ordinary expenses of your Govern
ment in time OF peace! The honorable Senate
insists I at the nigh duties imposed by that ac
diminish the r%evenuc, and advocates a reduction
of duties with a view to its increase. If thi
be his purpose. he certainly will not contcn'
that the limitation of the compromise act ha