Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-08-06
From hs" Uaioa," July %.
MIR. Webster on the Tariff System

Mr.. Webster has intimated his intention to give r.
the Senate and TO the country his views in detail upor
the new tariff bill. In anticipation of such an ex.
preston of his present opinions we make the follow
Ing extracts from speeches delivered by him in the
House of Representatives in 1924 and in tie Senate
In 1875 and 1880. MIR. Webster's opposition to the
tariff Of 1916 is well known, and we have recently
published the free-tade resolutions which were sub
mited at the Boston free-trade meeting in Faneuil
Hall IN lo2U, by committee, of which Mr.. Webster
was prominent member. The extracts we now
give show his views of the tariff up to the year 1890
these are his modified, and as may be supposed, his
deliberate opinions. He put them forth in view of
the inconsistency which was charged upon him when
be became the advocate of the protective system.
They are TO considerable extent therefore, profess
sedy explanations; and in so far they shrink from
the ultra views of the protectoniss, they are entitled
to the more attention because put forth apparently
with the purpose of fully and finally defining Mr..
Websers position upon the principle in question
We may add that make our quotations from the
first volume of Mr.. Webster's published speeches:
The high Tariff policy not an American policy"
according to Mr.. We6Ster's rielc an 1924.
Sand allow me, sir, in the first place to state my
regret, if indeed ! ought not to express a warmer
sentiment, at the designations which Mr..
Speaker (Clay) has fit to adopt for the purpose
OF describing the advocates and the opposers Of the
present bill. II is question, he says, between the
friends of an American policy and those of
foreign policy This, sir, is an assumption which
take the liberty most directly to deny"
Indeed sir, ii is little astonishing,
if 1t seemed convenient TO Mr.. Speaker for the pur
pose of distinction to make of the Ameri-
can policy, and foreign policy, that he should not
have applied them in manner precisely the reverse
of that in which he has in fact used them. If names
thought necessary, ii would BE- we'll enough one
would think, that the should be, in some meas
ure descriptive of the thing and since Mr.. Speaker
denominates the policy which he recommends a new
policy in this country since he speaks of the present
measure as new era IN our legislation; since he
processes to invite US to depart from accustomed
course to instruct ourselves by the wisdom of others
foreign States, one is little curious to know with
what propriety of speech this imitation of other
nations is denomnated an American policy while
the contrary preference for established sys-
tenn, it now actually exists and always has existed
is called foreign policyp This fayorite American
policy is what America has tried; and this obi
Gus foreign policy are told, foreignSates
have never pursued Sir, that is The truest American
policy which shall most usefully employ American
labor, and best sustain the whole population. With
me it is fundamental axiom; 1t is interviewer with
all my opinions that the great interests of the country
are united and inseparable; that agriculture, COM
merce and manufactures will prosper together, or
anguish together; and that all Legislation is danger
Gus which proposes to benefit one of these without
looking to consequences which may fall onthe Others
Mr.. Webster'S riep Of DOMESTIC INDUSTRY, REA-
soNABLE PROTECTION and Of the HOME MARKET
as affected By Protection-also an 1924.
"Gentlemen tell us, that they are in favor of do
nestle industry; so am |. They would give it pro-
lection; so would l. But them all domestic industry
is not confined to manufactures. The employments
of agriculture, commerce and navigation are all
branches of the same domestic industry they all
furnish employment for American capital and Ameri
can labor. And when the question is, whether new
L L e Al r
encouragement to particular manufactures, every
reasonable man must ask himself, both whether tie
proposed new encouragement be necessary, and whe-
Their it be given ithou injustice to other branches
of industry
at is desirable to know, also, somewhat more
distinctly how the proposed measures will produce the
intended effect One great object proposed for ex-
ample, is the increase of the home market for the
consumption of agricultural products. This certainly
is much to be desired but what provisions of the
bill are expected wholly, or principally, to produce
this, is not stated. would not suggest that some
increase of the home market may not follow from the
adoption of this bill but all its provisions have not
an equal tendency to produce this effect Those
manufactures which employ most labor, create of
course most demand for articles Of consumption and
these create least the production of which capital
and skill enter the Chief ingredients of cost"
Mr.. Websler's rie,c Of the BRITISH PROTECTIVE sYs
TEM-in the gear.
eve have heard from sir. Speaker warm COM
mendaton of the complex mechanism of the British
system. The British empire, it is said, is, in the
first place. to be protected against the rest of the
world; then the British isles against the colonies;
next, the isles respectively against each other
England herself as the heart of the empire, being
protected most of ALL and against all.
"And, sir imagine, nothing would strike the
public men of England more slnguary, than to find
gentlemen of real information, and much weight, In
the counsels of this country expressing sentiments
like these in regard to the existing state of these
English laws. | have said indeed, that pro-
hibtory laws did not exist in England; we all know
they do: but the question u.s. does she owe her pros
perty and greatness to those laws! venture to say
that such is not the opinion of the public men now in
England; and the continuance of the laws, even
without any alteration, would not be evidence that
their opinion is different from what have represented
it.
.sIn fine, sir, think it is clear, that, if
embrace the system of prohibitions and restrictions,
we shall show an affection for what others have dis
carded and be attempting to ornament ourselves with
cast-of apparel"
Mr.. Webster's uiec Of the PROTECTIVE effect Of a
TARIFF EoR REVENUE.
But what, then, becomes of the interests of 9TH
ers The power of collecting revenue by duties on
imports and the habit Of the government of collecting
almost its whole in that mcde will enable us,
without exceeding the bounds of moderation. TO give
great advantages to those classes of manufactures
which we may think most useful to promote at home."
81 can hardly express the surprise | feel that Mr..
Speaker should fall into the common modes of ex-
preston used elsewhere, and ask If we will give our
manufacturers protection Sir, look TO the history
of our laws; look the present state of our laws.
Consider that our whole revenue, with trihing ex-
cepton is collected at the custom-house and always
has been and then say what propriety there is in
calling on the government for protection as if no pro-