The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-16
THE TARIFF DEBATE IN THE SENATE

the ABOVE statement. very inherent are Mr.. Me-
Duties opinions and feelings towards the President
THE TARIFF DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
The opposition to the tariff in the Senate has thus
far taken new and singular shape. The senator
from Maine, who, il will be remembered, had the
charge Of the law of lS42 during its passage through
the Senate, and who certainly fought its battle with
very distinguished ability, has taken two days to
open the Of the protectonizIs against the pro-
posed bill He has spoken professsdy IN view of
his coming departure from his place in the public
councils, and as if to leave on record acomprehen-
s,e and final statement Of his objections to tariff re-
form. IL is very remarkable that, in so speaking,
he has not ft advocate at all the principle Of
protection. His objections against the proposed
bill are Of wholly different character; and while
we admit that every man must Judge for himself
what line Of argument best suits his case we can.
not but think that the opposition party in the SEN
ale thus far has rallied upon a line Of argument
which comes somewhat strangely from the lips Of
an opposition.
The gist and burden Of the whole attack upon the
new tariff bill hitherto is summed up in the general
and sweeping assertion that the administration, in
bringing forward this BILL /, not taking proper care Of
belC The bill, is said in the first place, If fairly
administered willeav deficit in the revenue and, in
the second place that cannot be fairly administered
and so that deficit will be enlarged by frauds. Now,
in reply to this, we urge that these are matters in
which the opposition may, as We think, very prop
erIy leave the administration look out for its own
interests and take care Of ITSELF II the government
measure is about to njure the country-to break
up the business Of and throw their affairs into
confusion or, il again, the proposed by the
government is in itself oppressive, unjust, or I'M
equal, or if the country want tariff for pro-
lection, instead Of a tariff for revenue-then
it is very proper for an opposition, speaking
in behalf Of the country, to demonstrate such
to be the case, But our opposition seems to have
most parental and guardian anxiety lest the adj
mnistration, il et to ITSELF should hereafter find
itself embarrassed by the want of funds Meaning
no disrespect any whig gentlemen, we think they
might spare themselves this anxiety ill the admin
istraion shall have proved itself incapable OF franz
ing measure to raise a suitable revenue, and shall
apply to them for their aid and epasssL---~ greet. 7
i When the chancellor Of the exchequer in Eng
land, or the minister Of the interior in France,
brings forward his budget, it is usual for oppo-
sition membera and deputies to get up and say that
the taxes proposed are too low and that they will
leave deficit in the revenue On the contrary, the
point which the opposition in those cases feels
bound mainly to press, and the charge which il
brings, usually is that the iarss too high and
that the people are unnecessarily burdened.
But with us the opposition fit to manage
very differently. The Secretary Of the Treasury,
acting under the direction Of the Executive frames
BILL which, according to his estimate, will give to
the treasury suitable revenue. The chairman Of
he Committee of Ways and Means revises these
estimates makes some alterations in the bill which
he thinks are demanded by the interests of the rev.
enue, and reports the measure to the House II
; passes that body, and is then brought up in the
Senate, without farther amendment, by the chair
man of the Committee on Finance. It really ap
pears somewhat strange that the opposition should
in this state Of things rally upon the position iha
the bill does notta the people heavily enough, and
that the administration is not collecting money
enough to carry on the government!
is surely no answer to this to say that an issue
of treasury notes is about to be authorized to meet
the expenses of the war. The new tariff looks to
permanent, peace revenue. 1t should manifestly
in its permanent provisions, look to nothing else
And the creation of sufficient amount of such rev.
enuc is surely matter in which the administration
is abundan,ly interested to take of itself. 1t is
odd that the opposition should be found crying ou
for heavier the people, in order that the ad
ministration may have more money to spend thar
itself sees fit TO raise.
The charge that the revenue will be defraudet
under the new bill, is Of the same character TIL,
| first effect of such fraud will be to embarrass tn,
administration. 1t is matter for the admnis,ra
ZION to look to, and to guard against The Secretary
the Treasury will spare pains to OBTAIN in ever,
port The most competent and honest assessors 1t is L
ay the least Of it, mpefuous and graiuitous kndnes
IN the part Of the opposonto argue at great length
,gainst the government revenue measure, that it vii
!. cheat the government out of revenue. Have tn
Treasury Department and the Committees of Way
n md Means and Finance shown themselves so in
S Competent to do their own business, that the.
: should thus summarily be put under guardianship
It would seem proper to give them one years. iris
e first at all events.
The fact s, this great clamor against ad polorc'
and in favor OF specific duties, the ground of fraud
will be short-lived, it is Of recent origin. 1t
not true at all---it is not pausble--to say that W
have heretofore resorted specific duties to avoi
;, frauds. Was it for such a purpose that such dr
lies were laid on anchors and chain-cables, or iro
= castings, or spikes and nas' The raiues Of thes
articles cannot remain unknown, as they pass hroug
the custon-house. The chance Of fraud on them
an absolute minimum. Their weight determine
: their worth--so many pounds, so many dollar
Again: II specific duties are laid on dry goods, eve
81 TO avoid frauds, why not put them on fine cotton
~ and linens, and cassimeres and fabrics of silk an
z wooIlen, as well as on silksI In view OF all OF
- tariff Legislation, it is monsrous to urge that
}, have adopted specific duties for scfiy. We see
ri in our various high tarfs-in those Of 1923 ar
70 lS42 especialy--to have carefully chosen ii
10 wrong articles, and to have carefully omitted I
. -, - r.