The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-02

the committee, by taking part IN the debate upon
the bill now under consideration; but have a con
sttuency deeply Interested in this question, and
cannot consent to record my vote without first as
signing the reasons which govern me- and, like the
gentleman from Virginia, Mr.. BEDRGER,l | should
not dare to return To them without first raising my
feeble voice IN defence Of system which honest
ly believe is guarding their best interests IL is moi
my design 10 upon the discussion Of this ques
ton in a captous partisan spirit; regard il
great American question, involving common rights
and common interests In The remarks which will
venture TO make, shall not be governed by the the.
DRY Of any man, or yield to any party dogma am
not bound TO any. will endeavor to take a com.
nonsense view of the question, and will bring tC
my aid the experience Of over twenty years Of &C
tive commercial pursuits, and the experience Of men
now engaged in the foreign commerce Of the coun-
try.
Some seven months Of the session are gone, and
we are Just entering upon some OF the most lmpor
tsnt measures. We are 20 be kept from our homes
to legslre "under the burning rays OF a midsum-
, mer sun" The eyes OF our constituents are fixed
upon US. From the centre Of this Union to its re-
hottest border an intense interest is felt in
ton.
object to the bill and the amendment now before
the committee various grounds, but mainly thai
It Is entire abandonment OF the protective policy
IL proposes a system OF ad valorem in the place oil
specific duties and that 1t is not what It purports to
be-a tariff for revenue.
the several laws and their effects upon the
country. The tariff bills Of 1916, 1924 1923, and
1882, and the influence they exerted upon the COM
merce agriculture, and manufactures Of the country
matters Of history they are part of the annals
of our day and generation, and their monitory voice
bids US to beware OF the errors Of some, and to
profit by the wise provisions Of others.
Mr.. Chairman, let us take glance at the cOun-
try during the few years which preceded the pas.
sage Of the tariff act Of 1912 and what was its con-
ditionl Commerce almost destroyed; our ships ly.
ing at our wharves without employment our man.
ufacturing interests FRUSTRATED, and agricultural
productions worth little nothing-no market
either at home abroad; the labor Of the country
fast running down to a level with the pauper labor
Of Europe;-in short, ruin seemed TO have fixed Its
iron grasp upon the energies Of the country. The
country was largely in debt, and the government
was forced to the necessity of borrowing many mil
lions Of dollars; the large surplus IN the treasury
when Mr.. Van Buren, came into power was used
up; the duties on imports had been undergoing a
slow but gradual reduction and with 1t the revenue
of the country diminishing with increased mo-
mentum;--in short, the country was in a sad con-
dition. | point TO the record to prove it,
What, SIR, is the state of things with now
Look around US. Whence comes all this prosperi-
ty. The country teeming with wealth. Commerce,
manufacturer, and agriculture, all prosperous, and
each contributing OF It's qaota 10 llss assoaa good
Labor receiving high wages Whenee comes all
this' Il is not caused by an anusual demand from
sbroad for our productons-not by an inflated pa
percurrency initiating prices, which friends the
other side of the House talk so much about. No,
sir is caused by the blessed influences of the pro-
tecve policy, fostering and protecting the industry
Of our people Will you disturb this state Of things
Would you experiment upon nations prosperity
1t is an old maxim, land all common sayings are
founded in experience and TRUTH to leave good
enough alone. The thing works WELL and my vote
shall not be given to disturb il.
The gentleman from Georgia Mr.. JoNEs] told
us that he would Judge the tree by its fruit. So will
|. The tree planted in 1912, by wise Congress,
has been most prolific bearer. II has yielded
abundant fruit; then do not let us cut it down. If
mistake not it has struck its roots deep into the
hearts of the American people, and wo be to that
man or "party" who lays an axe at its root.
The question is often asked Of myself, and my
honored colleagues, how it is that We who represent
the greatest commercial interests Of the country
found among the supporters Of the protective policy
Why, SIR, 60 to those merchants, whose ships viii
ten every sea, and ask them what they have to say
in relation to this question? Have they asked you
TO change this policy-to repeal the tariff No, sir
they are intelligent mem Of practical knowledge;
worth more in deciding this question than volumes
of your fne-spun theory, such as the Secretary of
the Treasury has given They know we'll that
the sun never yet shown upon the people who be-
distinguished for their commerce that did not
protect and foster its home industry.
Cast your eye, sir, over the civilized world, "and
without solitary exception, you will find those ma
tons whose industry is protected and nourished, oc-
cupyng an elevated position, and exercising con-
trolling influence neghborng nations;" and, on
the other hand In those countries where their pecu-
liar institutions operate to paralyze industry, you
will find the people in miserable and abject state
without commerce. without any Of the constituent
Of national wealth. The merchants have the honor
TO represent understand this matter, sir it is oI
them men lcgislating, wait ill they ask you to
do IT, They have no desire to disturb the existing
n uffu Rrin the with In
which now unfortunately and unnecessary
engaged, to speedy termination, and preserve ouI
present amicable relations with other countries and
the commerce Of the country, far as our present
action is concerned, can take care of itself
II is said that protective duties cheaper prices
Why, sir, il requires no argument to demonstrate
this. l know that the doctrine is ridiculed But
The first package Of domestic calico I ever saw
for sale in the city of New York, in the year
1894. II was common blue print and was sold
for something like thirty cents per yard; and at the
same time better article every respect, Except in
the thickness Of the clolh,) could be purchased Of
English manufacture, at a less price, Now, SIR, you
can buy an article Of own manufacture, superior
in every respect for l2 cents IL Is little singu
lar, but | recoec it very well, that my friend and
colleague, tMr. HUNGERFoRD,l who introduced the
amendment, purchased some of those very goods
ard would have listened to him with great pleasure
when he took the floor, if he had told us what pro-
0uce0 TINS ETeht oHninuilOn III price, Slaih u w 10
home competition, induced and fostered by protec-
ton.
will take another article, that Of Kentucky jeans,
which enters largely into the consumption of the
country What has been the effect Of protection
upon that article! In 1884 they we're worth one
dollar per yard. In 1886 eighty cents per yard. In
1888 and 1899 sixty-fve cents per yard. better
article was exhibited at the fair in this city, at thir'
ty-seven and half cents. could go on and emu
merae variety Of other articles, tho manufacture OF
which has been commenced in this country within
the last twenty years, but refer to these as llusra'
tive Of all the other varieties ....-F
lake now another branch Of our manufactures, and
one which is becoming Of very great Importance to
u.s. Iallude, sir, to flint glass No one could have
visited the fair without being struck with the rich
ness and variety OF th- specimens thsre exhibited
hold in my hand memorial Of five hundred opera
tves in flint glass; praying Congress that the duties
imposed on flint glass by the tariff Of ls42 may re-
- rnain unsltered, or, il altered, to be specific
In lS42, when the tariff went into operation, we
Il Ill a.