The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-08-15
THE ,CALED0NIAN,
s p \: {: C N
TACOB COLLAMER


OfVennont, upon the Administration Bill I,
reduce the Tariff, delivered in the House of
Representatives of the U. S. June 26, 1876
the Question being on the passage of the Bill
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: At the commencement of
this session the attention of Congress was
both by the Presidents message and the re-
port of the Secretary of the Treasury, drawn
to the duty of remodelIng and changing ON
system OF national policy by an entire new
tariff of duties. Whatever Of nisrepresenta.
ton or doubt existed, in some sections of the
country, ms to the course To be taken by the
new Administration on this subject, all now
is made certain. For the first time in the his
tory of our Government the Executive has
openly and Internationally espoused the doc
tlinc OF free trade, by describing, us impolitc
and unconstitutional, all such determinations
inrasing II revenue us are designed to foster.
encourage, and protect any branch of home
production or fabric, however necessary that
article mny be, even to our national indepen-
denCe. These Executive papers Law down
certain principles on which the tariff should
be formed and moulded. frhey were referred
10 the Committee ofWuys and Mems, which
reported the bill now under consideration.
which is the visible embodiment of those
principles. Such are its general principles
and leading clluracterlstics. A few items
have been inserted Inconsistent with its zen
eral principles bur it is quite obvious that
this has been done only to catch few more
votes TO secure its present passage, and that
100, with the avowed intention of ultimately
destroying those features MS soon hereafter
as praciCable ..
This bill, then, was reported to be adopted
as great, permanent and abiding national
policy. Since it was formed and reported,
aud within few days, It is suggested that
now other entire new provisions must be adj
ded in order to raise more revenue, called
for by the present war.
is TO mo difficult to perceive the proprjc-
~ Of any such alteration and | protest u
gainst it, a, well for The general cause, as for
the sake tven of those WHO arc PROPOSING the
now policy. This bill was presented MS Il
new modelling OF our whole national policy.
as an enduring measure for all time to come.
Surely, then, it il disiugeuuous now 10 al
tempt TO pass it into law by mere Temporal
ny provisions. adapted only To condition
oil war; This would be TO abandon the
prolect, as testing our general ard abiding
principles, and its friends would he recrcnnt
10 the doctrines they profess If they have
confidence in the principles on which this bill
was formed; il they profess any degree Of
fairness and ineeunousneSs in aFgtncnt tliey
will not now attempt TO bolster M aud carry
'hro"|h '"'S ON ny nltHchin@ to II provisions
.e"PornE III 'heir charActer however Inpor-
"h' " me eS'gencies OF the war require
any "'"I"rhrI ana perullar provision OF.
money. as no doubt they win, let a bill pro-
Vidln@ therefor be presented by itself; bur
let this not he Mingled with, mud enIbarrass
the great question of our abiding national
policy The true question beforc us is Whr-
ihor Tie radical change in our system recoDl-
'h1HT,G ny 'He ireSdeht ana Secretary,
N""u'u "e aH'I"ed ana carried ont as per-
,,'l''en' SIs'eh'' SOUND IA MS principles and
e'uu''''S W lis rhaTac'or' some gentlemen,
yes many &ei,'emel present, no doubt sill
;.oIeiy eita'heo tnIs oPIh'on. however strange
II may appear 10 others. The question was
"''weeh taf'l'' Amounting, IN effect 10 ac-
u''' iree iofri&h trade ana tariff to raise the
tcNtnue' anu ut we same uine, discriminate
Tor protection mus is the dividing point
1t ,sa question winch has long agiIated the
cou'ltrE' NOW, lei gentlemen come up TO the
!iiarN ana meet u inallfuIiy. II the majority
III th's liouse he'leVe mat free trade tariff,
formed as recommended by the Executive,
WIZ peS' ralSe the revenue, and heneticla'Iy
advance the best and permanent interest of
the country, let them try it, and. when tried.
II u WORKS Daily, they must take the RESPONSE
nlIlty OF the consequences, and should have
the trankness 10 acknowledge and abandon
such chlmcra; and though the country and
individuals may suffer much in the experiment,
they vii! at least be temporarily relieved
from their present approximations, and uncer-
tainties; for Mt present, most branches of in
dustry are, from The fear Of death. ali their life
Time subject to bondage. Now, let gentlemen
do one thing or the other, and fight openly
under a true flag. Ifthey disguise their pur-
pose; if they run one system into the other.