Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-09-03
HON ?, ", WM !. L nAYwooD's REASONS FOR

Our feaders arc already aware that Hon, VIM
II. HAYWOOD, the eminent and able Polk Senator
from North Carolina, resigned his seat on the 9th
ut. rather than vote for tho new Tariff, holding
himself bound by Legislative instructions not to
vote against it. Mi. H. was ferociously denounced
Tor his course in the House next day, and hereup-
on declared that he should give his reasons in full
Tor MS course at proper season. That pledge has
been fulfilled in An Address to the People Of
North Carolina" which has Just reached u.s. It is
fraaBi iorclble, and must to thousands be conclu-
sive. We have room only for Mr. llaywood's rea-
sons FOR opposing lhe new Tariff bill, Which are as
ltollows.-.N Y. Tribune
FIRST. Our country is involved in an expensive
war, and the wlsest among you cannot loresee its
close. We have a large army invading Mexico,
and large navy off her coasts, along The Pacific
Ocean and in the Gulf of Mexico. The sum al
ready appropriated by Congress for the Govern
ment expenditures of the fiscal year, exceeds FIJI
TY MILLIONS of dollars. VIII the Experimental
lantl raise revenue sufficient to "pay as we go"
Certainly not Congress knew that, and therefore
authorized loan of ten millions, at the very time
we we're passing this Tariff; and the first act Of
The next session will probably be one for ten mill
ions more! VIII it produce revenue enough TO pay
lone-haY OF the appropriations? | am quite 1t
VIII not It's advocates did not assert that it will
do much more. Wherefore if this experiment
works as well as its warmest friends have predict
ed, the Government will fall in debt twenty-five
millions tins (tacaD year. So long as the war lasts,
ana Tor such period of time after it az the war
expenses continue, it will be the same thing. But
II the experiment works lily its more violent
opposer5 have said Of it, why, then it will hardly
80 at all. think the truth lies between them. 1t
VIII work, but it will work badly, and work you
deeply in debt; and if it is adhered to without
alteration" the public debt will be increased, not
much snort OF thirty millions the first year, and |
can see no honest way to prevent its yearly in
crease, except by resort TO direct taxes
Direct taxes ought to be our very last resort
Public debt is evil that abhor more than ever,
since was member Of Congress; and therefore
II was the conclusion Of my mind, that this Tariff
experiment ought not to be tried, and certainly not
at ms particular time. The acts Of u Congress
winch went to diminish the revenue, but to increase
inc expenditures, did not seem TO me to be consis-
tent with prudence in any Government, more es-
pcclaIly IN time of war. The Tariff SYSTEM ac-
cordlng TO my Judgment was most unfit subject
ior party experiments; and, at the time of yearly
expenditure OF fifty millions of dollars, and of a
Iorelgn war, such experiments amounted to party
rashness. If the war should end soon, still the
Government here, we knew, expected to terminate
II by treaty for peace and new territory, viz
california. No honest country would take the ter.
lfllory without paying the owner for it, and If we
would, Mexico cannot yield itupon any other terms
Hence, whether we wore to have peace or war with
Mexico, we needed much more money to carry on
the Government When the painest rules of arith-
metlc and common sense thus compelled me TO
withhold my support from Tariff experiment, to
be made now, at the expense Of the Nations cred
it, how could hesitate?
SECOND. The Tariff of 1912 ought to have been
modified, but not by act which reduced the duties
as carly as the LIST December
In all great alterations of the Tariff diminishing
duties, the reductions ought to be made upon reas-
enable notice to the people, whose property and bu
siness will be affected by them In that case there
nm hp ipcp 70, hut IL no,
bring ruin down upon so many innocent people
Not giving tlme infant factories are destroyed by
the hand of legislation, and the older and more
mature establishments are compelled to diminish
their operations forthwith, and consequently to dis
charge number of their laborers, and reduce the
wages of all. The laborers suffer more than the
owners, because they are less able to bear it. The
sudden loss OF work will be to many of them and
their families a loss of food and raiment; and that
which the Iawunaker is commanded to pray for
his daily bread "-he would be thus rudely taking
by law from the working man Of his country. And
the experimental Tariff act was the more obiec-
tonaOle, lnasnuch as many of our countrymen-
the Northern laborers, who to suffer under it
VIII be put out OF employment in the beginning Of
WINTER, when other empoymens will be obtained
with greater difficulty; and at the North, the poor
when without labor and wages, encounter Il degree
OF suffering, IN that nclement season, which We
have no lust conception of at the South. You
"S'NiN y
so, sudden alteration Of the Tariff must, OF ne
cesslty, disturb the home market of our manulac.
tnrers, coal -dlggers, and mechanics, and involve
hundreds and thousands-in losses to some, ruin t
others and suffering to many.
Even bad Tariff law, then, should not be re.
Peaed so as to fall down toe hastily, when its grad
cal a6rogaon would create less Inconvenience t
the Government and its sudden change may op
press the poor, or do injustice to any section. The
Government ought to have compassion on all the
people, and particularly upon tho laboring classes
The manufacturers at the North are not all Alb
bolt Lawrcnces," whose fortune has been the theme
OF so many Tariff speeches. The COMPROMISE
Tariff Act under General Jackson, in 1888, reduc
ed the duties gradually and periodically for nlnt
years. gave nine years. notice. This expert
mental TariG will reduce all the duties upon only
four months notice The latter was harsh, cruel
unjust legisation-harsh to the wealthy, cruel tC
the laborer, unjust TO both and the general wei
fare did not require it.
Third. The Independent Treasury, Of itself, i:
a great change; the Warehousing act, another s.
and the Experimental Tariff, the greatest of then
all-will, when taken together, work an entire rev
olutlon of our financial system. One at time
they might have been introduced more safely, some
of them wisely. But by being so nearly united, as
they VIII be- in the tine Of their commencement
It Is calculated to excite apprehension and alarm
10 put them into simultaneous operation, was in
deed, political move OF party too violent and toe
potent for good. They will affect all the business
OF the people most lniurousy; and with Il Govern.
ment expenditure Of fifty millions, and a revenue
under twenty uillons the Government itself may
be crushed under. their combined operation. TC
attempt 1t when the nation was at war abroad, anC
the Government was in the money market or soon
expected there, as borrower at home, clearly ap
peared TO ny glind to be unwisely ieoparding pub
Inc credit aud private confidence Revolutions are
seldom reforms, and certainly reforms need not al
ways be revolutions. One must reasonably fear
that, without miracle such strong measures, act
ing with their combined power against the exist
ing order Of things in the country, may create a re
vulsion in trade, pecunary distress, hard times pop
ular eXcllements, and sectional ogltatlons, proceed
ing another contest for the Presidency, and do no
body any good but few political agiiators ant
rich spectators. thought they would 60 very
far toward producing an overthrow of the Demo