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

among all civilized nations OF eHectlng tna
object. Being aware of this fact the con-
vention conferred that power as auxiliary to
the other. How was commerce to be regu-
lated without resort to the usual means p
And why was the power to lay duties confer
red, exclusively and without restriction, if il
was not to be exercised for the ends to which
was not to be exercised for the ends to which
it has been made subservient wherever COM
merce and revenue exist
After all, Mr.. President, readily admit
that this question is, at the present moment,
and in the existing state of things, one rather
of speculation than Of practical importance.
The time may come when it will be otherwise.
If so, Senators NAV rest assured that the pow
err which have asserted will not be surren-
dered. In the present condition of tue coun-
! try, its commerce. and its revenue, am sat
/ isfied that tariff adequate, in the aggregate,
, to the financial wants of the government,
with just and proper discrimination, would
afford to our agricultural and manufacturing
industry all the protection we desire, and all
which in the end would prove beneficial
Should we transcend that limit, | have my
fear that an unnatural and artificial state Of
things would be produced and our purpose
would be defeated.
MIR. President l was gratifed to hear the
Hon. Senator from S. Carolina express his
opinion in favor of determination. congrat
ulate him and the country upon the abandon
ment of the absurd and impracticable motion
of horizontal tariff. Such 4 system never
has been and never will be adopted. Dis
elimination is necessary to the purpose Of
revenue. as some articles will bear higher
rate of duty than others. In indiscriminate
duly would in some cases fall short of the
revenue which night be derived from an ar
ticle of expectation, and in others defeat the
purpose of revenue by operating as prohi-
bition. 1t would be at the same time I'm just
in its operation by imposing unequal burdens
upon different portions Of the country.
But the Hon. Senator, in applying the
principle of discrimination. does not go far
enough. lie stops satisfied with consulting
the interests Of commerce, leaving other and
more important branches Of industrial pur-
suits to shift for themselves. He has put
case which will illustrate most happily the
difference between us. lie supposed that an
article is charged with 40 per cent. duty, and
that 90 per cent. will produce an equal
amount Of revenue, because the reduction of
the duty would double the importation. To
the purpose Of revenue, then, it is utterly IN
important which rate of duty you select
But the Senator would take the smallest rate.
Why sol With a view to the interests of
commerce. Here then he takes his leave Of
the purpose of revenue and consults other in
terests. He is governed, in the exercise of
this taxing or revenue power, by regard TO
the commercial industry Of the country, with
a view to foster and encourage it, and in doing
so adopts practically the principle of the pro-
tective policy, to wit, that imposts are to be
laid, not with view TO the greatest amount
of revenue alone, but also TO other i'm
portant interests affecting the general pros
perity. The Senator is right thus far; but
he confines his fostering care to the interests
of commerce alone. IwOuld go further, and
take in the great and paramount interests of
agriculture and manufactures. He desires
the greatest expansion Of commerce; Iwould
regulate il so as TO make it profitable COM
merce conducting 10 the prosperity Of the
whole community, rather than exhausting the
resources of our productive industry. He
omits the more important branches Of that in
dustry-more important because they are the
basis of your commerce. You can not en-
graft prosperous commerce upon an idle and
unproductiye population, and all experience
has shown, that people who cherish only
one branch OF Industry can neverbe extensive
ly commercial. The principle Of protection
has always been extended to commerce. Ii
has been favored interest with this govern
ment from its foundation to this moment
We have uniformly legislated for its encour-
agenent. and have expended immense sums
for its protection. There has been but sin
gle exception to this policy, and that was a
resort to the system of reciprocity treaties, the
operation of which has been severely felt by
your navigating interest. So far the prlnci-
pie of protection has been abandoned,-ap par
tiaI experiment has been made of the free
trade, and the folly of the measure has been
fully illustrated in the consequences.
Can the Senator find distinction in prln-
ciple between one branch Of industry and
another! Will he extend the fostering care
of legislation to the 1000 people engaged
in commerce, and will he deny it to the mil
lions employed in the agricultural and man
uiacturing pursuits Is it constitutional to
protect the smaller interest and not so TO pro-
tect the greaterl Will he protect the fruits
of our domestic production as exhibited in
our commerce and deny it to that mass of
labor which gives birth 10 and sustains that
commerce and without which commerce must
Iartkuish and diel
Mr. President will now proceed to con-
slider the merits Of the act Of 1912 as ques-
ton of expediencv. The Senator denounces
the policy of that law, denies its expediency,
and proposes its repeal.
Sir, in judging Of the merits of that law we
must look to its origin-tO the exigencywhich
called it forth-to the origin and nature of the
evil demanding remedy. We can then
Judge whether the remedy be appropriate.
When this act was passed we had just pas
sed through the most extraordinary political
revolution which this nation had ever exPe-
rienced. That revolution was produced by
the storm Of adversity which had visited and
desolated the country. Your commerce had
been annihilated, your internal trade had
ceased, industry, in all its various pursuits
was suspended, your resources dried up
Your currency was deranged, confidence de-
stroved. the produce of the country rottlng
upon your hands, property Of every descrip-
ton deprecated, your nation and your peo-
nile were involved in debt, and general bank
ruptcy. both national and individual, impend-
ing. Alarm and dependency prevailed
Your people were repaying the bitter fruits
of an ill-indged national policy and of mis-
-, r.1..:on The canvulsive apOny