The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-18
N protection, and to prom ts tho


thousand eight hundred and lory+wo.
Mr. Nee. continued, Now, as the gentleman
from Ohio Mr.. SAwYEkl remarked the other dsy
on another subject, this 10 the text from which |
mean TO preach short sermon. | will not raise the
point here as to the right Of the Legislature of State
to instruct, or request Its representatives on this
floor in relation 10 their action any particular
question. am democrat | hold to the right Of
instruction from my people, and | will permit no
man, nor any body Of men, 10 stand between me
and the people represent | hold that the repre-
sentative IS the mere agent, the servant, if you
choose, of his constituents. He is the mirror
through which their wishes and their desires should
be reflected in these halls.
But these resolutions and requests, coming from
the legislature Of my native Slaie-from the demo-
cratic legislature Of both houses, signed and approx
| ed by democratic goyernOr-and being, as | be-
lleye these resolutions are strict accordance with
the wishes OF the people whom have the honor
more Immediately to represent | feel bound in my
acIon here 10 pay me sITieest regard TO them.
II has been said that the tariff OF 1912 was a tenn
porOry measure, and the Of our distinguished
Secretary Of State, our late democratic senator,
| and his action and vote on that bi have been
referred to. SIR that gentleman needs no euogy
from me. His motives and patriotism have
| never been questioned at homo OF abroad. admit
that the tariff Of 1912 may have been considered as
| a temporary measure by those who enacted H. but
| ask Is this the time TO repeal iR IL this the time,
situated as our country is, TO act calmly and de-
| hberalely on this question: | came here unin-
sructed, unpledged, untrammelled, in relation TO
my course upon il. ] am willing to admit that
| there were some mperfeetions in the bill Of 1912.
There is system Of human legislation that is per-
feet. IL cannot be expected that in bill containing
| 30 many items, everything should be perfect; or
that they could be so adapted to equalize the du-
ties on imports over the whole extent Of our
try. But we now in the seventh month ofthe ses.
| sion. We are at war. Our country 10 in state Of
| excitement. ! asked whether this 10 the time
| to revise our tariff, and TO enact system
Of duties that shall be permanent Our eoun-
uy-its manufacturing interests-the prosperity
Of its ins,ulions-sl require that when We
| again enact such system il shall be permanent
| one, that our people may know upon what they
have TO depend. And | contend, for the reasons
stated, that the time is unfayorable 10 the ac-
| complishment Of such an object We who are
| farmers feel that to remain here five and six hours
day, in this close and heated atmosphere, is litde
| better than imprisonment. The country is becom-
| ing impatient Let US vote supplies Of men and
money 10 prosecute the existing war, and let ad.
joun. Let US go home 70 our constituents. Let US
| consult with them as TO what our action should be-
and what kind Of peace-tari il is proper adopt
Is this the time, in state of war, when levies Of
men coming on the different State, to act calmly
and deliberately on this great question: judge not
| judge that whatever the views Of the people
may be the question of the tariff Of
| 1912, they will sustain US in adjouming
and holding the subject over for future consdera.
lion. Ia expressing these views, believe that am
speaking in accordance with the views Of the people
| OF Pennsylvania. do not rise here to euogize my
native State. She needs no eulogy. And II she
did, there others ofmy colleagues more compe-
tent to the task than profess to be- We ask you
| TO look at her not only as she is, but she has
been, great and glorious. Her past history Is
written IN the records OF your country The part
she bore in the wars Of the revolution the part she
bore in the late war; is matter of history And le,
mel ard IN he war in vuh
engaged, that she will not be backward In obeying
her cOuntry's call In my own district, meetings
have been held without distinction Of party. Wings
| and democrats have Wed with each other in their
endeavors TO come to the support Of the Ex-
ecutive IN carrying on ills war, and bringing il to
a speedy and glorious termination. Pennsylvania
was the frat to abolish institution which has
been an unfortunate one for our country In the
year 1850 she abolished the Institution OF slavery
| There was time when, strange as it may appear,
| the term abolition was an honorable term. Ii ap-
piled to a repeal of that which had right to re-
peal Ii referred to the action Of our State and
Of those States that abolished that institution.
| And here let not be misunderstood. | was not
warm in my seat in this House, when, for the first
vote that | ever gave Of legislative character |
was attacked by four wing papers in my own dis
trict for the vote gave the rule respecting the
presentation Of abolition petitions. Ittwas my first
votei and confess that differing did with most
Of my colleagues, felt some hesitation concerning
U
me for 1t, | felt satisfied that had done right and
that their attack was good enough endorsement Of
my course. This is the first opportunity have
ever had Of making any allusion to that matter
Pennsylvania has been always democratic She
has never wavered in her democratic course
A voice. How was it in 1S40'
Mr.. MCLEAN. Well, it is true that in 1910
she did cast her vote for the wing candidate-not,
indeed, by majority, but by less than majority
Her vote for Gen Harrison was plurality vote
only. She has always sustained democratic exc
cutive of our country. Her institutions are demo-
cratic. And | beg gentlemen here not to drive
her too close to the wall; beg them to estimate
properly the position in which her representatives
on this floor are placed. am glad that in the vote
gave che other day against taxing up this BILL |
feeling thus sustained, and relieving that shall be
sustained by my own people, the remarks now
propose to make shall be directed to the propriety of
delay In action on this bill.
Since came here, have, with whatever feebcl
ability possessed, sustained the Executive and
the administration. have cast my vote for large
expenditures called for by the exigencics of the
counry-expenditures which ] would have been
10th to vote for in any other contingency than that
OF war represent an intelligent, liberal, and at
the same time, thrifty and frugal people, who like
70 see where their money goes; but who, in time Of
war, when the character and the honor of the coun
try are at stake, will hesitate to vote liberal sup
plies OF men and money to carry the war.
Mr. Chairman, am not going to raise the ques
ton whether tariff for protection is such one as
the interests of the country, the progressive char
acter OF our institutions and the new light which is
every year cast upon upon US will justify, or not Il
Is sufficient for to know that the tariff of ls42
works well. The gentleman who preceded me mr.
;. JONES says that we should judge the tree by its
fruits. am willing to take him at his word.
can only speak with reference to that por-
uon OF the country with which | am more inn
mediately acquainted. And what do see there'
every where around me, in whatsoever direction
may travel, see the evidences Of prosperous,
thappy and cheerful people. Go where will,
licences OF improvement-of prosperity, was going
to say, almost unexampled in the history OF our
country. The farmer has good price for his pro-
uuce' Durng the last season he has had abundance
to spare The wages Of labor are fair. The cur. i
rency is as good as ii was it has never in my
recollection been better. The system works we'll |
The tree bears fruit The fruit is good; and, as he