Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-08-01

taken, he had word to say and should be the last with
which he would trouble the Senate on this subject
We said Mr. g. ascertain what is TO be the fate
OF this measure IL 10 evident that this bill is to pass
and that is to pass by the of the Senator from Tennes
see, (Mr JARsAeIS acting in this under instructions
from his Legislature, he being Whg and personally OPP
posed TO the whole thing have heard il objected in the
of this debate that the tariff 1912 was passed by
majority Of oneiht being given by a member
who approved the bill but this bill is to pass by majority
Of one vote ALSO that being against the private and
sonal opinion OF the Senator who views the bill measure
for mischief and for mischief only. Now wish the country
to understand the true state of facts in this natter
origin of the votes given. Wing for the bin under
instructions from majority, and, will add very small
majority indeed of Democratic Legislature may saw in
deed an accidental majority for in the very year after these
instructions were given by the Legislature given
by the people, by the whole body of the people of Tennessee
and majority of the whole State voted in favor Of Henry
Clay for President Of the United statesman whose
name was synonymous with the policy Of protection yet is
by vote under instructions gven that this bill To be
carried The Senator himself has very canddly explain
ed to us the whole state Of the Moreover the nstruc-
tons to that Senator given in lime of peace, and
iered to prospective condition Of peace The circumstances
OF the country are changed, and The
revenue then needed is insufficient and resources
which might then have been dispensed WITH indis-
pensabe
Now, sir, under this state Of things, wish the gentlemen
on the other side of the chamber have the whole RESPONSE
biIity of this measure
(severa voices the other side We take the respon-
sibility." "We ready to meet it"]
i
sponsbiy, the whole merit the whole credit if credit there
be- in originating and passing this which,
be iemembered the sanction of single Wing
in this chamber The all their own, material
and all. laugh.l The Wings Of Kentucky and of Ten
nessee identified in origin they aiarized with each
others habits and principles they have been raised together
and are destined to together and, for myself fully be-
eve that majority Of the people Tennessee thorough
united with the Wings Of this body in utterly epudatng
and opposing the policy embodied in this bill regret
ceedngy that Senator from that State feels himself
strained by of duty to conform to instructions given
him under the circumstances have mentioned But such is
his of duty, and respect him for obeyng it. Now
gentlemen the other side Of this chamber responsibility
of this bill rests upon you, and upon you alone
Voices "Yes, and we are willing to take it.
Mr. CAMERON moved to amend the bill as follows
$50 strike the first FIVE sections and insert That
from and after the LIST day of December there shall be
reduction of Is per cent of the duties whether specific or adj
yalorem imposed by law articles of imported mercha
Disc wherever duties exceeding 80 per adj vaorem
now charged Provided nevertheless, That duties articles
charged with than 80 shall not be reduced
below so and by striking the 9TH and 8h sections
Mr. CRIrTENDEN said he sorry the Senator from
Pennsy had offered this amendment He could not
support much he respected that gentleman he should
vote for no amendment from any quarter.
Mr. CAMERON said he could not tell what course might
be pursued by other Senators he considered his duty
support bill but which should protect the industry Of
his country and if this bill should be left in such form that
its provisions would be injurious all those interests he
be constrained to vote against it. He wished decision Of
the Senate on the amendment he had proposed.
The question being now put the amendment moved by
Mr.. CAMERON, it was rejected without count
Loud cries for the question.
Mr. CAMERON said he must further amendment
to the bill in the shape of proviso as follows
Provided That this shall only be construed in
gard the duties COAL and iron and all the kinds and
features of TO reduce the duties thereon
ceedng 25 cent below the duties imposed thereon by the
act of 3oth Of August, 1872"
On this amendment he requested the yeas and nays but
the Senate refused to order them
And the question being put, the amendment rejected
The question coming up on ordering the bill TO its
third reading
The VICE PRESIDENT rose and in voice Of great
and decision, which listened breahess silence
delivered the following expose of the vote he about
give
The Senate being equally divided this important ques-
ton, may be INDUCED in briefly stating the principal
sons for the vote required by the constitution to give
Excluded from any participation in forming modifying
the BILL am bound to sanction condemn it exactly in the
shape in which stands The responsibility is deeply felt
II belongs however, to the Office assigned TO by my fell
low citizens, and will be assumed with anknes and hope
not unbecoming frmness. The consequences Of my dec
sion, either way, may seriously affect the country No
can enertain TO that profounder socude But after
summonng my aid the best purposes and best lights that
can command the consequences be they what they may
must be hazarted.
he system for Obtaining the necessary support
their Government is established, directly indirectly, by the
people of the United States within the limits and ageeaby
to the prescribed forms of the constitution Whatever
certained to be their will the subject all should undoub
edy acquesce That there known and approved modes
by which their will is expressed cannot be questioned and
the public officer who reads that will with candor and nteg
y feel assured that he conforms the institutions Of
his country when he makes the guide Of his conduct To
my mind ample proof has been furnished that majority
the people and of the States desire change, great
tent in principle fundamentally the system heretofore
pursued in assessing the duties foreign imports That
ony has manifested itself in various ways, and is aested by
its representatives in the other House of Congress- by whom
this bill has been approved and whose votes undenaby nd
the popular in the large proportion of eighteen
of the twenty States In this Senate analysis Of the
vote before dsoses that while six States Oho, Virginia.
New Hampshire Georgia, Michigan, and Mane) equal
y divided, eleven Louisiana Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ken
ucky Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island Connec
cut, Maryland North Carolina and Vermont) against
and eleven Arkansas, Missouri Alabama Illinois, Indiana
South Carolina Mississippi, New York, Texas, Tennessee
and Floda for the change Peculiarly situated as
in my relation to the National Legislature these impressive
facts cannot be overlooked In free from constitution
al objection, could not ustfably counteact by Of
official veto, the general will
The struggle to exert without abatement the constitutional
power of taxation in such protect by high du
ties imports many of the productions Of soil and
labor from the competition Of other countries has endured for
than thirty years. During that period system of high
taxation has prevailed, with fluctuations Of and fail
II vigorously and exactngy insisted upon
and indeed would seem, in instances if
the longer the advantage Of particular enjoyed the
stronger became the desire for its continuance and its
augmentation And yet it ought TO be remembered that tbs
exercise of the taxing power by which the great of
made swell the profits Of few branches Of in
dusty, originally intended to be temporary, to be con
nued only long its continuance necessary the in
the language, the nculcaton the spirit in which
proposrd iusied bv earliest friends The