Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-04-27


posed to give i, a fair and full, trial, and con.
denim il only when it fails. Then why not
sir, wait till the people have an oppor,uni.
~ to pass upon this question at the approa-
ching elec,ionsl They will settle il one
way or the other, IF the enemies of the
Tariff policy prevail, they can and will re-
peal it; but if you repeal il now, and its
friends arc successful, il will be Immediate
ly restored. Then why not let it abide this
RESULT Let il go to the people, let them
decide il, and, for one, sir, am prepared to
acquicsce in their decision. The Commit
tee deprecate agitation; why not, then, lei
the matter rest. Let the experiment be |
tried, and if it fails, put it down. Whence
the urgent necessity of change; what in
terest in the country calls for it; who has
demanded it; who has petitioned for this
or any other change' No one; but the
Committee of w. and NJ. say we ustlhave
more revenue-more revenue--and how do
they propose TO raise III By reducing the
duties; and this, my word for it, will result,
as it always has resulted, in a reduction of
revenue; ii is the necessary and natural con-
sequence. This was once the opinion of
the honorable Chairman of the Committee
Ways and Means (Mr. Mckay himself
and as there is now every prospect of a
redundant revenue, | should not be surpr-
sed if, before the bill is disposed Of it
should be advocated as measure to reduce
the revenue, and this report be amended by
striking out the words "a bill to increase the
revenue" and inserting the words, ga bill to
reduce the revenue" / affirm it as fact,
and here challenge contradiction, that the
revenues of the country always have been
increased or diminished, as we increased or
diminished the duties on foreign goods; and
why will this not be the result now? (Here
Mr.. Mckay called Mr.. Stewart to order,
and said it would be time enough to discuss
the Tariff when that measure came up for
discussion.)
Yes, said Mr.. S., the gentleman has got
vote to print and circulate $4,000 copies of
his report-his speech in favor of his bill
and no doubt he is anxious 10 suppress any
reply: but, sir, have accidentally got in
between two previous questions, and wish
to say little on the other side, and little il
will be compared with the voluminous re-
port of the Committee of Ways and Means
which report assure the gentleman / will
take pleasure in sending to my constituents,
who will readily comprehend and appre-
ciate its destructive doctrines. But the
gentleman tells me to wait till the tariff
comes up for discussion; sir this may never
happen; may not the majority pass that bill,
as they are passing this important bill, un-
der the previous question! majority may
take the bill out of committee and pass il
under the gag without amendment or de-
bate; and from the disposition evinced to
suppress debate on this occasion, have we
not right to apprehend that the same
course will be pursued on the subject of the
tariff, which, if passed at all, must be pass
ed under the gait will not bear debate.
But, sir, when | was interrupted by the
honorable chairman of the Committee of
Ways and Means, was about to say, that
if this bill increases the revenue 10 meet
the demands of the treasury, it can only
fulfil this Office by nearly doubling impor.
tations. II rcpudiates protection, and
adopts the horizontal plan; with few ex-
ceptions il brings every thing down to
thirty per cent. ill the LIST of September,
1916, when there is to be general reduc-
ton of all ad valorem duties to twenty-five
per cent. and under, resulting in reduc-
ton of the duties imposed by the tariff
about one-third, or say onefourth; then il
is manifest that you must import one fourth
Hi"S iotCiSu SpouS W iiidkC BOOu the loss
of revenue by this reduction, and one
fourth more to raise the additional five
millions required, making an increase of
one-half, viz, fifty millions, which must of
course destroy that amount of our own
production; for instance, by this bill one
half the protection is taken off hats; two
fitths off ready-madc clothing; two-,hirds
off shoes; one-half off manufactures Of
iron; so that the hattcrs, tailors, shoema.
kers, and biacksmiths lose one. half of their
protection, and the Treasury one-half the
revenue; and to make up for this loss of
revenue we must of course double the i'm
portation of hats, shoes, manufactures of
iron, and ready-made clothing, destroying
corresponding amount Of our own pro.
duction, as the consumption will continue
the same whether the supply be furnished
at home or from abroad; three cents is
taken off every pound of imported wool
costing over seven cents; of course we
must greatly increase the importation of
wool to make good this loss of revenue.
To understand the injurious operation of
tlis bill upon every branch of the national
Industry, agricultural, manufacturing, and
mechanical, | would suggest to the reader
10 turn 10 the table marked &C" in the ap-
pendix to the report of the Committee of
Ways and Means where they would see
the precise extent TO which every branch |
of industry would be affected by this
measure. This report itself would thus
furnish the best and most conclusive cvi. |