The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-01

advantages oi even an hpPIoFeu tneoiy' w men
therefore, the progress Of a wel-consderd publi,
opinion demands change, il should be psoachec
with caution, and with just regard to Existing
rights. If large amount Of capital haskeen in
vested in any branch Of industry TO kich the
fostering care Of government is absolutely sfessary
and upon the implied faith that il would continue
TO be extended TO il, il would he impolitH as well
as unjust, by any sudden action Of this gotrnment
to involve such important interests In total un. II
is with a view to this consideration, In ynnexion
with others, that shall vote for the sub4ute pro-
posed for the bill by my colleague, Mr. IiUseER.
FORD Ii is believed TO be adjusted, neak pos
sble, with due regard 10 all the numeroubnd con-
hicing interests Of this widely spread reputc IL 70
ects most Of the odious features Of the exig tariff
and is modelled in strict conformity .t3he issue
presented to the people at the election l944-a
tariff for revenue merely, and modsfAI@ dsHmina-
ton for the protection Of home indutfyI Sir, IL |
had other inducement TO prefer tia Substitute to
this bill, IL would be sufficient that IL hyony sys-
tenn which invites confidence and ppmses stabili-
ty. The extreme, illy-considered, I'll impractical
bic provisions of the compromise act ysrthtew tho
dominant party in 1910; and the sopton Of the
opposite extreme in the existing ut contributed
largely to the political revolution 1874. Is il,
then, | ask, patriotic and wise in j To reject the
admontions Of the past, and continu4his perpetual
warfare Of extremes, A suecessioif party reyo-
lutions is the necessary consequence I'm the mean
time business Ii paTalyzed, the cdktry impoyer-
ished, her debts remain unpaid he character and
capital sacrificed alike, and wisdt and mode
ration in her counsels are forgotten the predom-
nance Of those wild passions with are engen-
dered in, and IN turn stimulate the yeaoe Of party
strife. Sir, cannot vote for this biln lis present
form. | will not consent to be lrgooned by
party tactics into measure which eem so hostile
TO the best interests of my country.
But, sir, there other obesuos 10 this bill
which with me are insuperabe. Processes to
equallze the tariff by placing asricuure upon the
same footing with other branches otndustry; and
yet, whilst It recognises the priitpld ofproection
and amply provides for il In rsgardto some agri-
cultural productions of Southern rro stb il wholly
neglects the very few staples Of thu Worth upon
which the principle Of proteetiol could be brought
TO operate favorably. Ii proppses toreduce the
duty upon fine wool from 80 Ter cent and 3 cents
per pound specific, TO IS per chit; and o raise the
duty on coarse wool, of the talue of cents per
pound or under, from to 25 pa cent this, how
ever, Is TO be estimated upon its value at the last
port or place whence exported b the United States.
The duty upon apound of wod Of this description,
OF the value OF cents per pound would not exceed
al inns rate one and three-quarsr This is the
only KIND oil wool that comes IN competition with
'he wool growers OF this countU; and tie increase
Of the duty, 1t will be readily p,rceived taken with
view to protection is wholly hllacious. To make
the duty OF IS per cent available for that purpose
il should be estimated upon the value Of the WOO
at our own ports. The duty on Aaxseed, also
another agricultural staple and with which the
foreign Importation comes in direct competition
IS reduced one-half by this bill Again, sir
this bill proposes to levy duty Of ten pei
cent. upon tea and coffee In arranging the details
Of tariff, II is not denied that Discrimination Is
proper for the purpose of adjusungthe burden
as near as may be TO property bass of tax.
alton Articles of general consumption, in nearly
equal proportions, by all classes Of the community
should IN no case be subjected to a duty. Tea
and coffee are entitled by custom TO be ranked with
the necessaries OF life and are consumed in about
equal quantities by rich aud poor. To nrr them,
therefore, would be adopting a most odifus feature
Of very Objectionable system of taxation. l can
not vote for any bill the design Of which is
merely to meet the ordinary expenses ofgovsrnmenA
which imposes a tax upon these two articles
How might view an impost Of this Kind included
in a supplemental bill deslgled for the extraordi
nary expenses Of wan, and to expire with the ne
cessty Of the occasion, | am not prepared to say
MY determination would be mainly Influenced by
the extent TO which other and more ustihsbl,
sources Of revenue had been exhausted. Rut TAX,
from this bill the articles of tea and cofa, and it il
admitted on all hands thatthe revenue tobe derived
from its provisions would tt wholly inadequate to the
ordinary expenses Of thu government BY the
adoption of this bill we shall then have 1 perspec
tive an enormous debt growing out of tn expenses
of prosecuting the Mexica, war, added B the I'M
paid balance of the ordinary expenses O admins
tering the government; and all this to belischarged
with diminished means Of payment, resting from
universal business embarrassment, creed by the
unsettled policy of the government, and e existing
necessity of a change.
| But, sir, ! must submit tito the judg,ent of al
parties in this House, Whether it is notbeir inter
est to adopt the substitute proposed The exist
|
| the necessity of circumstances result ns from the
peculiar organization of the government that time
and was carried by the votes of manywhs inclined
| to more liberal views, eVen openly opposed Il
many of its provisions, and only gave \thet assen
to 1t under protest that at the first favorble op
portunity it should be made the subject d raeal Of
amendment. Carried in the first instance bys bar,
and reluctant Majority its friends cannot hop lone
| to defend It's many vulnerable points against tvigi
liant foe, ever fruitful in resources, and enegeti ant
fearless in attack. Besides, sir, insist tiht til bill
proposed as a substitute, whilst it keep stictl,
within the revenue limits, affords all the roteao
to which any manufacturing interest can nakean,
reasonable claim. Many branches of dohes,c in
dusry need no protection; they have arrive at tina
stage of perfection which enables them 10 :ompet
with the foreign fabric in its own unrlet, AM
many others may not need the whole AMOUNT Q
protection which the interests of the Trashy wi
furnish them; but If any one cannot sultan itse
with that discrimination in its favor whic tgard t
revenue will justify and require it is tetainly
grave question for the decision of this bdy, wheth
er such an enterprise ia the proper chnnel int
which to direct the productive labor of he nation
whether it is the duty of government to nstain it
dead weight upon the national resources, or b
Withdrawing its protection, to permit it nergies
seek more legitimate field for their Development
Our vast and as yet UNEMPLOYED sourcesof wealt
and Incentives TO enterprise provide annie employ
ment for the whole productive industryof the ms
ton; the evils of dense population nd Unite
means of subsistence do not compel reort to er
terprises not adapted to our physical md scott
condition. In government constituted like our,
yielding to every pulsaton ola progressvean somt
what huc'uatng public opinion, no branch Of bus
pable OF sustaining itself under the oper,tio
Of the natural laws of trade, mod6e
by the moderate protection which revtnu
tariff will afford. An enterprise may advtpc
prosperously under the favorable influences of Or
administration; but is destined to whitening revds
under its successors and involves in its fall Ri
widespread and desolating in proportion to its p
mer prosperity and success. But in undertaking
based upon better foundation, have already sal.
that steadiness and uniformity in the action Of
goVenmen, in regard to them, is of vastly more il
| DOrtance than pnV nd ,ntou,e ,yhich ,,,a,y ba n