The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-07-14
MR. BRINK ERH0FF
OF OHIO;
On oregon ana the Tariff.


The bill for reducing the existing
Tariff being under consideration in the
House of Representatives, an the 29th
ultimo, AIr. Brinkcnhof,a a locofoco mem
Der from Ohio. made the following speech
in oppsition to its passage, which we
publish for the purpose Of showing our
readers in what light the present Admin
istraton is viewed and how severely its
acts are condemned by the more honest
portion of The "unterrifed Democracy"
we copy from the National Intelligen-
Ger
Mr.. BRINKERHOFF obtained the
floor; and said he had risen at this time
for The purpose Of ka9ing little plain
talk; Of telling that committee what Ohio
could DO, and what she could not do;what
she woRld 90, and what she would not
do. They had had a great deal Of discus
sion here on the doctrines of protection
and free tIadc, which led TO little more
pratical result than the discourse held by
the fallen angels who waited on the shores
OF hell, while their great chief was absent
on his expedition through chaos
"and reasoned high
OF providence, foreknowledge, will, and
fate,
Fixed fate, free will; foreknowledge ab-
solute,
And found 10 end, in wandering mazes
lost
Mr.. B. said he was warranted to speak
the unanimous sentiments of the entire
Ohio delegation, without the exception
of man. Did gentlemen suppose that
they were going to support this bill?-
They would dc no such thing. And
why? They had some objections against
ii, which, though strong, would not Of
themselves be insuperable; but there
were others which nothing could remove.
They objected 10 the BILL first, because ii
made wide and improper distinction in
the duties levied on spirits and upon wine.
There ought 10 have been TO such dis
elimination between these two articles.
II there was a good reason for laying a
daty oa the one, there was reason G.
quaily good for imposing duty on the
other. Both articles were equally un-
necessary; nor did he think that the
health and morals of the American peo-
pie would be at all injured should both
be permanently excluded. Their next
objection TO the bill was the discrimina-
ton made between the articles of wool
lens and that of wool. The duty on
wooIIen goods was put down at 80 per
cent, the duty on wool at 25 per cent.
Both articles were imported, and they
sheuld both have been taxed alike. Ohio
was largely interested in the growing of
wool ,and she held that the wool-growers
were entitled TO the same protection with
the manufacturer Of woollen cloth. They
objected, in the third place, to tie distinc-
ton made between faxseed oil and fax
seed. The one being taxed 20 per cent,
and the other 10 per cent They had
the same objection to the distinction be-
tween raw hides and leather. The hides
in the raw state were taxed per cent;
the effect Of which would be 10 destroy
the manufacture Of leather in this coun-
try.
Bat these objections might all be got
over under proper modification. There
were other objections to the bill which
could not, but which were insuperable.
The bill proposed tax, contingent IN
deed upon the face Of the bill. but certain
IN It's operation and effect on tea and cof
fee. To this they could not submit, and
they would not, the Union to the countra-
ry notwithstanding. They could not
consent 10 harmonic their votes with the
cracked and discordant and squeaking
notes of the government organ. The tax
on tea and coffee was TO all intents and
purposes a poll tax. It might as well
have been laid on every man, woman, and
child iii the country. 1t was poll tax,
and the people Of Ohio would not pay it.
These articles were in use by all the peo.
pie, and most used by the poor. 1t was
the poor mans refreshment when he
came home from his toll, and it was often
the poor woman's only luxury. Many
families in the West made use of it three
times day. Besides the tax on these
articles was sectional tax. The people
Of the North and Middle States al made
use Of them. The laboring population as
much if not more than any, while those
who performed labor in the South scarce
used them at all.
Bat il was said by the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. JoNEs) that the Govern
mcnt could not raise enough revenue TO