The daily union., 1846-06-26

pound This cheap wool was claimed to be coars'
Smyrna wool, not like the product OF our owl
country.
This is platform enough for me to stand upor
in asking for a change. But J do not want to leaf
out of the frying pan into the FIRE. | want such
bill as will impose a reasonable, honest, and fail
duty on foreign wool: a revenue duty the highes
rate of revenue duty too, if We can get it, Our ex
penses, innependent Of the war, are large; and We
are now engaged in southern war. Wha
the expense will ultimately amount to, no mar
1 can foretek And southern gentlemen should not be
very squeamish on this subject. do nOt ask them
TO 90 beyond the revenue point but to come square
up TO IT, because this war ID waged IN the Soulful
is waged for the defence Of southern territory. ID
war on the southern border-reprlling aggression
upon southern territory. The ma jOrty Of the troops
will be from the South, All the money will be ex-
pended in the South. Yet we will submit TO the
cessaTy amount OF taxation, under d revenue stan
dard, 10 defray the expenses Of the war and trust
that the South will impose sufficient and adequate
revenue duty on this and other articles to meet all
these expenses manfully and patrioucsly
II is suggested to me that wool costs more than
seven pound in foreign countries, and that II
is entered at that rate fraudulenty And it is said
that the bill under consideration makes provision
for detecting and Furnishing these frauds.
am not going to make this wholesale charge OF
fraud upon importers. The act Of 1912 provides
them. The result under both laws will be the same.
have no doubt, next year. if trade and manu-
factures continue 10 prosper as they have done
for the year past, that this foreign ImpOT-
ation Of wool will increase, and not diminish.
The manufacturers are culuvatng It IN the vast
plains of South America. ask, then, fair amount
Of duty for this interest in which my own eOnsttu
ents and the people of the middle and western States
are concerned. One Of my colleagues suggested the
other day, that it you impose duty on wool it
would be produced on the praiTies OF the West Let
il be So The people Of that section are my fellow
citizens; they will supply the American market
and, hope, export tho article TO foreign countries.
1t makes difference with me. ] ask, then, for
this nterest-for this staple productions fair a
high revenue duty, one that shall at least mete out
eyen-hsnded justice to the wool-grower. II there is
any benefit to be derived, Of any sort under reye-
nue. tariff desire that the agrlcuurists Of the
try shall at lie ST have a fair share. And when the
proper time comes shall offer an amendment, (un-
less the chairman Of the Committee Of Ways and
Means shall do so, to place the article of wool on
fair fooung-suCh will be satisfactory TO my
self, and hope TO my constituents.
One word in relation to the speech Of the gentle
man from Indiana, Mr.. OWEN. | must differ IN
opinion with him as to one Of the consequences Of
protective tariff law. The gentleman seemed to
think that but for the compromise act Of 1888, this
Union was in danger Of dissolution. That idea and
sentiment he boldly and prominently put forth.
The gentleman never labored under greater mis-.
take than when he conceived that idea, and never
committed a greater blunder than when he uttered
it There is such thing as breaking up this
Union by nulllhcatlOn There was danger 20 GER
tain individuals engaged in that controversy arising
out of the extent to which they carried il. And the
compromise, instead Of saving the Union, saved
these individuals and settled forever the question
Of nulllfcatlon in this country. Notification will
in he m he in h. E.a,
or in the West, rear its hydra head to breed dis.
iurbance, confusion, and rebellion in these harmo-
NOUS States. | beg the gentleman to revise his
opinion; and to have more confidence in the power
and patriotism OF the people all the land-on
this and on the other side ofths mountains too.
Mr.. JOHN 4. ROCKWELL said:
Mr.. CHAlRMAN: Although 1t may be we'll said on
this subject that "the field Of argument has been
trodden a waste" my views of duty to my con-
stltuens and to myself constraln me to enter as one
Of the labOrers In this harvest.
Before entering on this discussion, il may be we'll
for a moment TO take an observation to examine the
present situation Of the country, and it's condition
at the time Of the passage of the tariff of Is42 1t
is we'll known fact, that at that time the ator OF
the country in all its departments was depressed
IN price, and all forms Of business were unprof a
he; the labor Of the farmer, the mechanic in the
Workshop and the operative in the factory had de-
clIned and was declining. Those engaged in the
more extensive branches Of manufacture had for
year two previous not only made no profits.
but had lost money in the business. Some factories
had closed their do0rs, and many, many more were
only waiting the action Of Congress in relation to the
passage of the tariff OF that year TO determine
whether the one hand to proceed at existing
Of labor, either to close their mills, or so to re-
duce the price Of labor as TO give reRuneratng
profit
With this state ofthings, contrast the condition of
ho ~ 81
session Of Congress The whole country, in every
branch and department of business, was never more
prosperous. The farmer, the planter, the mechanic
the manufacturer, the merchant, the capitalist, and
the laborer, were all in most prosperous condi-
ton.
am aware, sir, that those who are opposed to
the tariff of 1912, and all protective tariffs, claim
that this prosperity has arisen in spite of the system
and not by reason Of it. 1t would seem to be some
what difficult matter, however to show that a system
of legislation confessedIy 80 important and nhuen-
tal, either for good evil, which accompanied this
sudden and beneficial change, had no influence in
producing the change, but, on the contrary, was
frnught with those enormous evils to the country
which are claimed by the opponents of the sys-
TEN.
But whatever may be the abstract opinions of
on this question, there surely is great wisdom
in managing the affairs of great nation, in adopt-
ing the homely adage "to let we'll enough alone;n
ard when country is in the highest state of pros
perity, not to undertake TO tamper with its system
of revenue and finances, and to seek a radical
change in the policy Of the government.
Men Of the most enlarged views or statesmen of
the most ample experience and information, would
approach such question cautiously, and if they
effected any changes, would make these changes by
degrees Such men, with the modesty Of true wis
dom, would doubt the results of their own reason
ing when opposed to the light of experience and
facts.
But such is not the course now pursued by the
men in power in this country, A radical and total
change Of system and policy is proposed, and by
those who most surely have not, in other matters,
shown themselves to be, the wsest of men, the most
experienced of men, or the most practical and
sound Of politicians.
lfthese changes to be made it becomes those
who propose to make them to give some very good
reasons-not such as may suit demagogue or a
portsan-not the pitfu carping at some rihing de-
tails of the system-bu such enlarged and statesman
like views, based upon experience, practical in their
operation, addressed to men Of sense and sound
wisdom, and such as would influence such men in
the management of their own affairs.
But the committee have not degned TO give US
any report giving the "strong reasons' which have
Influenced them in the upheavng and overturning op.