The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-10

ositions concerning taxation.
Secondly, was told that the great State Of New
York--the Empire State by claim and by eourte-
sy-frpm whose democracy American republicans
have learned the msde Of producing efficient unity,
having been disconnected by the action of the last
national democratic convention, would, in the per
sons and by the votes Of her sons in the national
councils, be found ready by action, direct or indi-
rect, TO defeat the reform upon the subject OF the
tariff, 10 which the democratic party is pledged.
Sir, was told that the democracy Of that State was
not al nit-that the sons Of Saint Tammany had
degenerated into old hunkers, barn-burners and Of
fee seekers.
Thirdly, | was told that the democratic members
Of Congress from the State Of Pennsylvania were
pledged to oppose any modification Of the tariff OF
ls42
Thus far, sir, | have seen no evidence ofthe truth
Of the allegation against the senator named either in
his own action in that Of his peculiar friends, and
| am prepared to find them fair and reasonable in
their action upon the subject Of the tariff.
am the mors inclined to expect this from the
fact that another prophecy concerning this senator
and his friends has, during the present session,
been most signaly nailed TO the counter. allude
to the preasserIion Of politicians Of the sefsyed
liberty party, commonly called abolitionsts. When
that senator and his friends took ground in favor OF
an adj ustment ofihe Oregon question by division
OF the territory upon the basis OF latitude AZ,
II was asserted by these people (the abolliIonslsl
very ready TO assert our title TO the territory be-
tween the Nueces and Rio Grande, and that he and
they would be anxious TO bring on war IN that
quarter, with view 10 further acquisition of ter
ritory beyond the Rio Grande, as thereby TO ea-
tend the of the peculiar institution" OF the
South | thought at the time that this opinion
would turn out TO be incorrect as It was unchar-
table. ! presumed that these people judged OF
others by themselves. Having but one idea them
selves, 1t seemed natural that they would suspect
others Of the same contraction Of political vision.
Events have proved that was right; and consider
II most fortunate, IN one respect that II should be
so. IL is, believe, we'll known now that the sena-
tor alluded TO and his friends advised, IL they did
not demonstrate, against the marching Of our army
under General Taylor from the Nueces to the Rio
Grande. And the political records Of the coun-
try disclose the fact that the senator allu-
ded to, opposed TO the last the declara-
ton Of the existence Of state Of war
with Mexico, recommended by the Executive and
sanctioned by each branch Of Congress with singu
lar unanmty; and that in this course he was sus-
ained to good extent, by those called his peculiar
frends II is fact of great notorley that in refer
ence to the adjustment with Mexico of the boun-
dary and other questions in controversy the senator
alluded to much an advocate Of ''masterly
inactivity as he was in reference to the Oregon
subject; and that he was Just much the advocate
Of peace with Mexico with Great Britain and
manifested Just much respect for the tattered en-
sign of the Mexican anomaly for the British lion.
Our country being involved in with Mexico,
which he opposed, he supports the prosecution of
that war and the inference is logical that if, by
insisting upon our claim to Oregon up to $40 40, a
war with England had ensued, he would have been
equally ready to render his aid in carrying il on.
My present conclusion is that, in reference to
gresslona action upon the tariff the senator alluded
to, and his peculiar friends, will be found rendering
their aid in good faith towards modification of the
tariff Of lS42; and that, to effect this object, they
will be found ready TO compromise upon points of
expediency not involving grand principles. But ]
will continue to "keep red eye out, )" and if find
them "frauduently intending, and crafty and sub
tely contrivng,n to defeat action upon the subject
Of the tariff, | shall believe in the existence of the
bad motive alleged, and shall not be backward to
speak my mind upon the occasion.
The allegation against the political condition Of
the State of New York is, l apprehend likely to be
very successfully disproved, to the great majority
of her democratic sons in Congress. The very best
calculations of the democratic tariff faith which have
been delivered this floor during the present ses-
sion, are TO be found in the speeches of New York
democrats. Barn-burners and old hunkers have
alike distinguished themselves during this discus
sion. IL were rich, and it lawful to frank
by an amanuensis, | would scatter their well-con-
sdered, ard most orthodox speeches, with liberal
hand among my constituents. But it may turn out
that few Of the New York democratic representa-
tIves have "gone whoring after strange GODS"
that they are under the influence of the iron
hand Of monopoly; that they have compromised
with monopoly, and here the advocates of legis-
laton for classes. Their position is false one, de-
plorably so. They are in the predicament of one
aiming to "serve God and mammon;" task beyond
angels power.
What has been meant by any New Yorker here
calling himself democrat, who has consistently
voted with the opposition, whenever he could do 80
without having his name recorded; who has time
nd aDain inined uth the N def ino
democratic action in this House, and in delaying
the transaction Of business, and whose cachination
at democratic defeat has, on thousand occasions,
mingled with the laugh of derison from the other
side of the House-a laugh which the opposition
had perfect right to indulge in-was at first to me
a problem not soluble by anything written in my
philosophy. l have heard something of clerkships
refused and pageships vetoed. [lf that hits it will
gall.
have a word fer my native State, Pennsylvania.
love her TO my soul But III mournfully true that her
democratic sons in this hall, with one or two illus
trious exceptions are pledged to vote against any
modification of the tariff Of 1912 In other words,
they are pledged to sustain that which the great
mass of the democratic party is pledged to reform
In special manner they insist on retaining specific
duties upon iron and steel, and articles manufac-
tured thereof. Now, sir, specific and minimum
duties are the chief abuses which it is our bounden
duty to obiterate from our statute book. Min
imums sre what Mr.. Secretary Walker has APPLY
called them-a mode of taxing according to false
valuation. But the extent to which they are fraud
is limited Specific duties, in this respect, are more
Objectionable than minimums for the extent to
which they operate false valuations is indefinite.
Minimums and specifics are looked upon by those
| represent with no kind Of indulgence. If were
to vote for bill into which they are admitted, it
would be with view to relieve my true democratic
friends in New York and Pennsylvania; and might
do So provided the extent to which so false prin-
ciple might be admitted, should be very limited
and provided that thereby the friends | have men
toned could vote with me, and not otherwise.
have enumerated the obstacles in the way Of
democratic tariff reform, of which have for time
past had prescience, and proceed to consider, or
rather inventory another which has been sprung upon
most suddenly, and unexpectedly. An honorable
member from Ohio, Mr.. BRMKERHoFF,l addressed
the House on. yesterday, and, in the name of the
democratic delegation from his State, with much
earnestness and excitement if he desired to wake
US up, gave us to know that neither he nor his coli
leagues could would vote for the bill as reported
by the Committee Of Ways and Means The
honorable member Mr.. BRMKERHorFl enumerated
the objections Of the Ohio delegation to the bill re-
ported by the Committee Of Ways and Means, and