The North-Carolina standard., 1846-08-26


Dallas the Secretary Of the Treasury, in report
to the House of Representatives, and in answer to
a resolution of the preceding session, amer
thorough examination, said:
"That articles imported great amount should
rather be charged with specific duties upon their
weight and measure, in order guard against eva
sions and frauds. than with ad valorem duties on
their vaIue."-(See American State Papers, Fl-
nance, VOL 8, p. 9l)
In 1918, under Monroe's administration, Will
liam H. Crawford, the Secretary ofthe Treasury,
in answer to a resolution of 1917, directing him
TO report such measures as might be necessary for
the more efectual execution of the revenve laws,
said: :
"In order to provide an adequate remedy against
the frauds and evasons which already exist, and
prevent their further increase, 1t Is respectfully
submitted" }" &c.
And then, after recommending twenty-four ad
| diona laws, he adds:
| " Whatever may be the reliance that ought to be
placed in the efficacy OF the foregoing provisions, it
is certainly prudent to diminish as far as practical
ble the list Of articles paying dd rdtore dut!es-
! (See American State Papers, vol. 3, p. 1861
These opinions of the great and eminent men of
our country were never controversies so far as we
know, until the present time and upon what prin-
cipIe of patriotism or Of democracy was expected
10 refuse to them the homage of my confidence and
support What should have induced me to forego
the conclusions of my own Judgment fortified by
such authority and confirmed by the experience
of the government for half a century2 In all my
conferences with senators, no better reason was
given 10 me for it than that the bill would destroy
the tariff of 1912; but the remedy was as bad, if
not worse, than the disease, and the operation
!; semcd to me almost as unwse as to "cut off the
head for cure of the tooth-ache."
u have now explained to you the ori gin and re-
minded you of the character of McKay's bill OF
} 1874. l have inmated to you the nature of those
party, not to say, those moral obligations, which
were contracted antrcedcnt to the elections OF 1844
and have told yon how they were imposed upon
me- one of your senators, in my best attempts TO
/; sustain the democratic party by harmonizing the
country generally upon distracting conflict OF
local Interests. have also shown you how the
tariff bill proposed at this session altogether
different one, and every way Objectionable in its
Fl d'ais and in its principles and in the time of its
operation, and, might have added. in the manner
it was urged upon the Senate, ard how utterly i'm
possible it was with me, on account of all these
things, TO vote for the bill without amendment,
even along with other democratic senators, with
+ our mouths gagged, our judgments unconvinced,
and our dcIibe rations forestaled upon question
which always thought TO be national one, n
bove the dominion of any political party whatever.
| now proceed 10 lay before you an unadorncd
narrative Of my party conferences in conncxion
with this subject and leave it for you to character
ze it deserves the injustice that has been done
me by oil those who have brought into question my
faithfulness to the democratic party Where my
dcfamers have been prompted by malice, they are
entitled to my compassion where they have been
led by the spirit of envy, they more worthy Of
their own; where they have been stimulated into ac-
tivity BY vain conce the love of notoriety of
petty political eclat, they are deserving of my
tempt, and richly are they rewarded with it. But
owe it TO honest men, who may have been mis-
led By their unfounded accusations, to disabuse
their minds, far as can do it without q bctrav-
al of that confidence which, amongst eeatLen.en
is implied in private conversations, no matter what
may be their subject, and which is seldom bclray-
cd without misrepresentation. II necessary, have
liberty to do otherwise, but | shall avoid all un-
necessary repetition of the declarations of others 10
me.
When the tariff bill first reached the Senate,
was in Raleigh, and then communicated to an in
innate political friend how difficult should find
it 10 support it without important amendments,
expressing to him my exceeding anxiety and fears
upon the subject. Immediately alter my return to
this city, the first day Of the debate in the Senate
told several ofthe senators (democrats)with whom
was most Intimate, the same thing, and, upon
conference, suggested TO two OF them that might
have to resort to a resignation: but they did not
agree with me- and l consented 10 think further
of that. II had been voted by the party to have
no reference, and agreed to have no amendment
to the bill. Next day, held long and confiden-
! tIal conversation with the PRESIDENT OF THE
: UNITED STATES himself upon this subject and
informed him of my determination not 10 vote for
the bill but left it to his discretion whether 10
keep that purpose secret not In that interview,
such was my anxiety to reconcile my duty with
the wishes OF others, that consented to waive nv
opposition, and vote for the BILL however reIuc-
family, provided ii were amended so that the new
tariff would not 90 into operation before the 4th
March, l647. The bill would then have operated
as repeal of the tariff act of 1912, and so far was
willing to support it. But desired its operation
to be postponed to some period which would be
less oppressive to existing manufactures and which
might allow Congress time to its errors and
alter tull deIberalion, to amend before the exist
ing system had been destroyed-for dcliberation
had been refused, and amendments excluded. al
though the one was due 10 the subject and the
others were admitted to be necessary. By that
time, too. hoped we ght have peace with Mex.
lco, and, indeed, entertained no doubt that Con-
gress would see the necessity for modifying the
act at the next session. knew we'll that the Sen.
ate were about passing the BILL contrary to the
Judgment ota majority, under the duress ofa martin
dT1H; yet, unwise as that was, nv feelings we're
nVerse to going against the course Of nv patty in
mat body; These reasons assigned to the PREsr-
DENT whose name is not used toithoHt his erpress
EaeenSe. upon my return to the Senate chamber
as had promised TO do, told several senator's
who were regarded as leaders upon this oucsl;on
that could not vote for the BILL unless 4 shond
be amended as above; but, if it were SO amended
Mould gtre II aHY Uote. And again promisod