The North-Carolina standard., 1846-08-26

all of my objection to the new tariff Of 1916, i'm
properly named " "McKays bill :" and which
shall, for the sake Of discrimination, more pro-
perIy call the "experimental tariff" 1
My opinions shall be laid before you without
disguise, and you shall see whether, taken in con.
nexIon with an unnecessary and improper aban-
donment Of the real Mckay bill of 1914, they do
not show that in my hostility TO the experimental
tariff, was faithful to you and my country, and
true to myself and my party. -
fortunately for me, those opinions so far as
they looked forward to its ultimate consequences,
on the harmony of the party or the welfare Of the
republic, am no longer under the necessity of
supporting bv labored arguments. For good or
evil the law has passed. IF it should be repealed
or modified at the next session. that will be of it.
self complete vindication of my opposition to it
at the present. Ifit should be permitted to remain
in force in the form was required to vote upon it.
then time will soon determine whether my opinion
of it was right or wrong l abide the result with
out fear yet, if know myself, without wish to
see evil come of it, merely for the sake of claim
ing hereafter the merit of political sagacity for
my resistance to it.
These, then, were my opinions as they are
now: -e.s.
First. Our country is involved in al expensive
war, and the wisest among you cannot foresee its
close. We have a large army invading Mexico,
Ocean and in The Gulfof Mexico. The sum already
appropriated by Congress for the government ex-
penditures of the fiscal year. exceeds FIFTY MIL
LIONS of dollars. Will the experimental tariff
raise revenue sufficient to "pay as we go?" Ger
tainy not. Congress knew that and, therefore,
authorized loan of ten millions, at the very time
we are passing this tariff and the first act Of the
next session will probably be one for ten millions
more2 Will it, produce revenue enough to pay
.boIf f0ft he
it will not. lis advocates did not assert that it will
do much more. Wherefore, # this experiment
works as well as its warmest friends have predict
ed, the government will fall in debt twenty-five
millions this (6scaD year. So long as the war
lasts, and for such period oftme after as the
expenses continue, it will be The same thing But
If the experiment works as i'll as its more violent
opponents have said of it, why then it will hardly
go at all. think the the truth lies between
them. 1t will work, but it will work badly, and
work you deeply in debt; and if it is adhered to
without alteration" the public debt will be in
creased, not much short of THIRTY MILLIONS the
first year, and can see no way prevent its year
ly increase, except by resort 10 direct taxes.
Direct taxes ought 10 be very last resort
Public debt is an evil that | abhor more than
ever since | was member of Congress and
therefore it was the conclusion of my mind, that
this tariff experiment ought not to be tried, and
certainly not at this particular time. The acts of
n Congress which went to diminish the revenue.
but to increase the expenditures, did not seem to
me 10 be consistent with prudence in any govern
ment, more especially in time of war. The Ia
riff system, according to my judgement, was
most unfit subject for party experiments; and, at
the time of yearly expenditure of fifty millions
Of dollars, and of foreign war, such experiments
amounted 10 party rashness. II the war should
end soon, still the government here, we knew,
expected TO terminate il bv treaty for peace and
new territory, viz: California. No honest coun-
try would take the territory without paying the
owner for it, and if we would Mexico cannot yield
it upon any other terms. Hence, whether we
were to have peace or war with Mexico, we need
ed much more money to carry on the government.
When the plninest rules of arithmetic and COM
mon sense thus compelled me to withhold my sup.
port from tariff experiment, to be made now. at
the expense of the nations credit, how could l
hesitate # -...f ......... ~.
Second. The tariff of 1912 ought 10 have been
modified but not by which reduced the
duties early as the 1st December
In all great alterations of the tariff diminishing
duties. the reductions ought to be made upon rea-
sonable notice to the people, whose property and
business will be affected by them. In that case,
there may be Inconvenience to some, but it does not
bring down ruin upon so many innocent people.
Not giving time, infant factories are destroyed by
the hand of legislation, and the older and more
mature establishments, are compelled to diminish
their operations forthwith, and consequently to
discharge number Of their laborers and reduce
the wages of ALL The laborers suffer more than
the owners, because they less able to bear it.
The sudden loss Of work will be to many of them
and their families loss OF food and raiment, and
that which the law-malxer is commanded to pray
for-his daily bread"--he would be thus rude.
ly taking by law from the workingman of his
country And the experimental tariff act was the
more objectionable, inasmuch as many of onrcoun-
trymen--the northern laborers, who are to suffer
under twill be put out of employment in the
beginning of winter, when other employment will
be obtained with great difficulty; and at the north,
the poor, without labor and without wages, en-
counter a degree Of suffering, in that inclement
season, which we have no Just conception of at
the south. You must see it, before you can fully
appreciate it. Also, sudden alteration Of the ta-
riff must, of necessity, disturb the home market Of
our manufacturers, coal-diggers, and mechanics,
and involve hundreds and thousands--in losses to
some ruin TO others, and suffering to many.
Even a bad tariff law, then, should not be re-
peaIed so as to fall down too hastily, when It's
gradual abrogalion would create less Inconvenience
to the government, and its sudden change may op-
press the poor or do injatice to any section. The
government ought TO have compassion on all the
people, and particularly upon the laboring classes
The manufacturers at the north are not all
/" A bbott Lawrences," /" whose fortune has been the
theme of so many tariff speeches. The compro-
mise tariff act under General Jackson, in 1888,
reduced the duties gradually and periodically for
nine wears. IL gave nine years notice. This cz-
1eyimsntaL tariff will reduce all the duties upon