The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-04-10

ment no necessity for departing from them
for believe that under existing circum
stances they allow sufficient latitude 70
such a course of policy as will meet tn
wants and secure the prosperity of tn
country.
But Sir, it is further objected to the Ac
of 1912 that it is unconstitutional, becaus,
it is protective in its character. The Sena
tor from New Hampshire has labored hard
but very unnecessarily, to prove that tn,
duties imposed by it were arranged with
view to sustain the industry the country
Sir it was this feature in the bill which
commended it to my Judgment and ensur
ed my support. Had it not been framed
with a regard to this fundamental anC
necessary principle of national economy
it would not have received my vote.
90 further and say openly and without
qualification that will vote for no meas
ure which disregards or is hostile to the
protective policy.
This subject of the tariff has been com.
plicated by the conflicting and inconsis.
tent objections raised by the advocates Of
free trade. In one section the &C, is un.
constitutional because it is protective,-in
another it does not afford protection
enough. Ipropose TO examine these OBJ.
jections separately.
Sir assert the constitutional power of
Congress to impose duties for the purpose
of protection and protection alone, irres-
pective of the finacial exigencies of the
country. And found this doctrine upon
the power to regulate commerce and the
power to levy revenue conformity. When
the Constitution was framed this subject
was well and maturely considered. The
power for which contend was assented
to the first revenue law enacted under it,
and has never until very recent period
been denied.
What was the origin of this power to
regulate commerce? Before the adop>
ton Of The Constitution the power was
possessed by the several States, as SOW
reign, independent communities. 1t was
held by them, full, ample, absolute, and
unlimited subject to no restriction or
qualification, and falling in no respect
short of the "omnipotence Of Parliament"
When that instrument was adopted, the
power was transferred 10 Congress without
abridgment or limitation, TO be held as the
states had held it, and is now vested in
that body as full and perfect as it exists
In the sovereign legislation of any indepen.
dent nation upon earth, to be exercised in
sound legislative discretion guided by
the pole star of all our deliberations the
public veal. 1t was a concession of ex-
elusive jurisdiction, leaving no residuum
or remainder in the States. Unless then
the power is possessed by US as fully and
amply as they possessed it, this strange
result is produced, that by the attempt TO
frame more perfect system Of govern
ment, power inherent in every sovreign
community and essential to its prosper
ily, if not to ifs national existence, is abb
rogated, annihilated, and lost forever. If
we possess il imperlectly only and can
exercise but partially, the power TO all
practical utility is essentially lost. The
existence of this power in the several
Stale sovreignties, giving rise as il nee
essarily must TO selfish and conflicting
regulations, was one Of the principal caus-
es which led to the adoption Of the consti-
tuition and the establishment Of this gov
eminent. The concentration Of it in one
body, when its exercise would be control
ed, not by local and partial considerations,
but by more catholic comprehensive re-
gard for the interests Of all,of great and
united people, was one of The great pur>
poses of our glorious union. Can it be
conceived that the statesmen Of that day,
deeply impressed as they were with the
necessity Of more perfect and efficient
control over commerce, should, at the
very moment when they were endeavor-
ing to give it form and consistency and
energy have sought to cripple the power
or hamper its exercise ? Sir, they tell us
in the letter submitting the constitution TO
Congress that "thc friends Of our country
have long seen and desired, that the pow
er of regulating commerce should be fully
and efcctuazy rested in the general gov
eminent Of the Union" Here is no al
fusion to partial or limited exercise of it,
nor does the constitution itself contain
syllable pointing 10 its limitation or abridg-
ment. Senators will look in vain there
for the indications of any such purpose.
The power to levy a revenue by duties OF
imposts upon imports or exports, being con-
ferred exclusively upon Congress stands up
on the same footing. Itwas transferred from
the States as they held it, and the same argu-