Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-02-13
POLITICAL.


The Committee Finance u postpone 'ndehni'eiy
the bill introduced by him for the reduction OF the
present Tariff to the standard OF the COMPROMISE act
Mr. McDUFFlE, in reply to the arguments nrsed
nv Mr. Evans and Mr.. Huntington when the resoiu.
ton was under discussion the day before addressed Tue
Senate as follows
Mr. President If one OF the illus,rous patriots who
framed the Constitution under which we are no" oe
l;heratinr could have presented himself before us du
ring the debate of Yesterday, he would have been
struck with utter astonshment 10 find the constitutions
al proyision-however inadequate 10 us pu'p"se-
which was designed to protect The people OF Tue oeo
States from unjust and oppressive TAXATION UP
as a barrier against relieving an indignant people from
the most monstrous unequal aud unjust system oil lax
alton that ever stained the legislative annals oil inns
country. In their great anxiety to save the peop, o.
the United States from unnecessary ana pu
dens those ustrious patriots, VINO nae oeen o'ooe"
nm in the school of the Revolution, where they were
taught 10 regard unconstitutional taxation as the great
est Of all political evils very naturally 'nterposed every
possible obstacle which nigh, secure Their pos'er'y
from so great For this purpose, they pfoVdeo
that no bill raising revenue should originate IN me Se
nate: hut that all. such bills should originate IN tna'
house which directly represented me people oil 'h
United States. Now, Sir, presume that the senate o.
the United States will not be disposed 70 oee'e ta'
the ustrious trainers Of this Constitution T7aut 70
denl in mere idle words-tha they would insert IN the
Constitution of the United States clause which had
no practical utility. | ask you, then, what rational,
what sensible meaning be given TO that clause out
inn hills 10 raise revenue by the imposition Of d1ss?
1t was not that they wished TO prevent you from put
ting money in the treasury, but TO prevent you rom
taking money out of the pockets OF the people 10
raise revenue is in ITSELF nothing; but to raise It by
imposing excessive burdens the people, was obv'-
ously the grievance they designed to prevent one OF
the Senators Mr.. Huntngtcn not now IN ms pace,
unntentionaly 10 answering an argument OF my .leno
fran, Hampshirs mr. Woodbury., let out what s The
true view of this question. My friend from n. Hamp
shire had argued that various instances, the senate
of the United States had originated bills PFovio,hs
public revenue; giving, as an ins'auc' Jaws pv.'"s
ra.a. NJ hostage In answer 10 that the Senator irnm
Conneetcu, TMr Huntingdon said Qhough the facts
did not ustify the argumenO that this was not Fa'ss
revenue by imposing tazesclearly admitting Inc t'sh'
of the Senate originate bills raising revenue, "h'"
did not impose taxes Suppose, Mr. i'eSu'h'' '.a'
we had some mysterious power to raise revenue WIN
ont ;mnos,no pecuniary burdens on lie peoPls-sup-
nose we are endowed with the power OF necrouahcy'
and could call down showers OF god rom Tue heavens
or strike the earth with Our magic wanc ana cause "
throw up its hidden treasures was II against lnat Vi
,nv silar mode of raising revenue, that our ancestors
intended TO guard; repeat, that no sehsioie
taton can be given to the clause under consioe1at"'
that does not look the imposition OF taxes as tue soe
subject of the restriction imposes on the Senate Ne
pardinp i, in any other light, would &c mere r'Vo
Ious and unmeaning waste oil words
But, Sir let us look to the practical constuc'ioh-t'
tho true nature Of the bill which have had the honor
10 Introduce TO the SENATE Is 1t, IN Torn! or IN soo
revenue, VIII its effect be to ra'sa revenue oy IT'S own
inherent yipor the words oil the Senator from
Connecticut Assuredy not IL IS bl', on the con
trsry totally and exclusively operating to reduce ana
repeal duties Il imposes no duties Whatever. Tvs 70
whole object s 10 mitigate the oppressive burdens Of
unjust taxaton and yet is to be scented out OF inc
Senate by plea to the jurisdiction; and The people are
to be told have not the power TO originate law ~
eny such purpose! 1t is maintained, Sir, oy ''e
tor from Connecticut, and also by the Chshan oil Tue
~
collected If this bill should become Jaw, viii De I'M
posed and collected by it's authority 1T thai be true
in any substantial sense, then, Sir give up 'He CUES
ton.
Rnt how can duty Of 90 per cent be collected under
the authority of law which repeats oneha the duty,
and simply leaves the other hal. unrePeaed, ana what
does the ge say Of this operaton That by lsas-
ing 20 per cent unrepealed, you impose H. Ii to repeal
part Of the duties; makes the Senate responsible ior
imposing the remainder, confess do not understand
The force of language. cannot comprehend the ar
pument 1t is absolute puzzle, inveruns the mean
mo Of words, and coniounding lie substance o "ss'
40 tb.t no analysis of which it is susceptible, can rem
der the sole more obvious 1t has striking SIM
larty 10 an argument once used by sportsman, VINO
bet $50 horse race, and inslsieo, "htn 'ne deI
went against him. that he had lost S4o "fo', su'u
he 81 lost the $40 staked; but, if had won ihe Del
should have saved that, and gained $50 more THAT
is to saw because he had not the stake oil his aa-
yersary. he had lost it And says the Senator
from Connecticut because you have not repeated 'e
remaining ~ per cent OF Inc uuty ihposeu " '"S 49,
of 1892 YOU have imposed ii!
Aid MOT intend TO 90 into this branch of the sub
ieot except vindcale the Constitution from con
s,ructon that would totally pervert The object oil Inc
clause IN question 80 ::
The Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Buchananl IN
ouired Yesterday what would be the effect OF propos-
ton here to amend this bill by inserting clause 70
raise the rate of duties And 'taPpea7ed tha' MS mlhd
labored under some doubt, whether such uh a"ie,io
ment would give this b'li such character thai
Tho Senate could not proceed with il-furnishing an
ARGUMENT that because would raise duties, cannn
originate here The answer to that 10 very pia,H. II
,h;s were true could not report any hall IN thi-
lIonae relative to the revenue, ID which an amendment
,n;rbt moi he offered increasing duties, and thereby
ons,inu the Senate of its jurisdiction Suppose OH
introduced on the subject of revenue neither nrrea'
ing nor diminishing duties where Inc right OF Tue 'e
nate to originate is undoubtsd: "oud " ho' oe c'"P
tent for any Senator Offer clause increasing duties
admit that such an amendment, ii adopted would mol
he consistent with the powers oil ts BODY; ont ne
Il for granted that the Senate would lect It. on
question of ORDER vote 1T down; for TIE OBVIOUS fsa
son that it would be unconstitutional.
Tho senator from Connecticut (Mr. Huntington, }
nakes another supposition Of similar Characterised
this bill should pass here be sent to The other and
he there amended to increase instead oil reducing
duties That House has the power Of DONG hs we nave
mot But the puzzle which embafasses the gentle man
IT, how the President is to act upon IT. "hen Inc ol IS
semitic him He supposes the President might put his
veto on the bill, and would not know in which House
0riOiDQted ana Wnere 10 return w uouct
the President over whelmed he is with difficulties,
would be able to overcome this. The Senator from
Connectic may dismiss all apprehensiOns on that
subject will tell you, sir where, IN The case s"ppo-
eed the bill would originate. II would originate here
as bill to reduce duties and in the other House as
bill raising revenue by increasing du'ies-a character
which that House alone has ght to give II
Il appears to me obvious that the whole purpose OF
this clause in the constitution to prevent the Sc
nate Of the United S'a.es from originating all bulls IN
posing burdens the psope-an idea borrowed II"
doubt from the exclusive right of the British House OF
Commons TO originate tax o,lls-there called money
bills.
With regard precedens this subject, that OF me
compromise act-which IS directly in point seems I"
be regarded as OF little weight; but regard It as one
of the most solemn decisions question OF order or
of privilege ever made By the Senate
You know, Strive all know-the deep exctemen,
which prevailed throughout the United States, and
which was allayed ty the bill introduced BY d'st'n-
puished Senator from Kentucky, Mr. Cl'y,J 10 com
promise the conflicting interests which then ag'la,ed
- has ALWAYS Sad-that