Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-02-07

Buchancn,l had asked what effect prop
osition would have 10 amend the bill by
increasing taxes? Would il not, the Sen
alor asked, render The bill one Of such q
character that the Senate could not origi
male it! The answer was plain. Nc
amendment could become Incorporated in
the bill which would throw ii out of the
Jurisdiction of the Senate. We could mol
add any thing 10 il that would have the el-
I feet to impose taxes aud increase duties.
He admitted that the amendment would
be inconsistent with The powers of this
body, and the Senate, he supposed, would
therefore exclude it or vote it down. The
other question, proposed by the Senator
from Connecticut. (Mr. Huntiuglon,) was
no. lur him 10 answer. The puzzle is
how tho President would &C, when he had
occasion 10 return such bill to the House
where i, originated. The President had
50 manv difficulties 10 contend with that
he might be prepared to meet this. He
must answer the question when the case
occurs. But if we send 10 the other House
a bill. and they amend it so as TO alter lis
character, it does not receive its character
of tax bill here, though it originated
here, brt in the House that has the right
10 give i; that character. The whole pur-
port of this clause was TO preventive Sen
ale from originating money bills-from
imposing burdens on the people.
Mr.. McDuHie here referred 10 the COM
promise act, which was offered in the SEN
ate, and the decision upon which he re-
oarded as the most solemn one ever made
in this counlry-one which gave peace 10
the Union. Never was there more he
roic action than that of Mr.. Clay on that
occasion, and it was done, too, while the
areuts Of the manufacturers were here de-
nOuncing him as traitor. He had greatly
regretted that that distinguished statesman
ha, not been here again to interpose his
great influence. and extend the olive
branch of peace over the country, when
this compromise was broken. He regret
led lha, he was nol here to vndicate il
from the foul and faithless innovation that
| i, received from the tariff of 1912. He
was no, here, and regret (said Mr.. McD.)
10 say that have lately seen letter from
him in the newspapers, in which, after
giving sume general views which are i'll
accordance with my own. he concludes by
saying that this monster OF lS42 was
very good measure in many respects; that
it no doubt needed some amendment. but
in what particulars he was not prepared to
say, not having examined it with scrupu-
lons exactness. Now, sir, like the text
of The letter, but not the commentary. |
had hoped. sir, that this eminent and lnilu-
enlial statesman would have used the
power that he possesses to do justice TO
the South. and which every consideration
of Justice and good faith required that he
should have done.
But lhere seems 10 be desire, sir, on
The part of The Senator from Maine. TO
strike from the statute book every vesIage
of that compromise. The tariff of 1912
was no doubt before The committee over
which he, with so much distinction, pre-
sides, and he probably had an important
aud influential agency in passing 1t. That
act therefore, no doubt, occupied Il dislin
qnished place in the regard of tho gentle.
msn. He occupied towardst parental
relation, which always excited the strong
est sy,npatheis of the human heart. This
accounts for his partiality to it, and he
cnu!d no, expect him to give up the bant-
ling; for the intensity of parental affection
was often increased by the very deGormi-
lies which excited The horror Of every one
else. He would take of the veil aud ex
Pose its defects. Wha, was this bill Of
lS42! Itwas monsrel-one Of those
monsters, fabled by the genius of untiqui-
ty. with the head and body Of man, and
the tail of fish. 1t was called a bill to
provide revenue. Falsehooi and decep-
ton were THUS stamped upon its brow. A
bill wholly prohibiting the Importation of
many classes of goods was called a bill to
provide revenue. He had before him doc
uncnls from we'll informed practical mer-
chants and other sources, showing that the
d,lies, in many instances, were one hun
dred and fifty per cent. On some descrip.
tions of iron it was from seventy-fve 10
one hundred and fifty per cent, and even
two hundred per cent; totally prohibiting
it. This was the duty imposed for revenue
on an article Of universal consumption
Salt was another article used in equal
quantities by the rich and the poor, aud ol
the frs, necessity FOR all-what was the
duty on this article? For every busbel
costing in Liverpool five or six cents, we
pay duty Of eight cents. Mr.. Benton
here said ii was now ten cents. And
this, sir, is revenue lava duty Of two
hnnired per CT. on salt. Those are reve-
nue. duies-duiies imposed for the purpose
Of raising revenue for the General Gov,
crnmnnt.
Having adverted to the .promincn. fea
lures Of the bill, it was proper tha, he
should submit some considerations iu re-
gard to the extent and charac,cr'ot its prin.
ciples. A question ofits consi'utionaiity
as well as of its expediency, addressed it.
seIflo every mind. What power have
you.'o pass such a law? We profess II
act under that clause Of then Constitution