The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-28


amended The question then Is this: will you pass
thiS Oil 10 amend Il, or permit the present law 30
remain and amend that Which, then, is the proper
course Lor statesmen and honest legislators 20 pur-
I I' 10 you say 'eat nus IS less objectionable
law than the act of 1912 II this was admitted
which do not admit Il does not settle the question
i have submitted. The act Of 1912, if a bad law
mas been IN operation three or four years and its
evils, u evils have attended il, are gone by; the
business Of the country has become adapted 10 n
and Is now settled and quiet Why then moi lei the
Ia" remain until you can amend il, or supersede il
oy suitable and proper law adapted TO the condi-
uon OF the country, the wants Of the country, and
lne opinions OF the peoplei Why disturb the bu-
Sizes anu pursuits OF the PeoPle' Why unneces
sarIy agitate and alarm the country Why do
tnis 70 get mere temporary measure, which you
aunt you must either repeal or amend IL seems
mat to-day we have called out an advocate for the
1e,ehce OF TINS measure In the honorable senator
| Mr.. MeDUFFE from South Cirolina and from him
we have at least reason for the passage of ths bill
nave again and again asked for the reasons for
passing thls Dill at this time, and could get no re
| Spouse, no reason We now have one and what is
/ W why to curtail the profits Of the large and
weaithymanufacturers. But, sir, the fact is assum
ed there 10 no evidence as TO these large profits
but admitting II TO be so, will not competition cor
rect the eyls'-wiu il not bring down these enor-
nous prohtsS-with enterprisng people like ours
WIN mere not be enough 70 rush into any business
4 which Affords enormous profits But is not this
something new' Is il not a strange reason, Can
any example be found ia the history Of the world
OF legislature passing laws arrest the prosperity
u he country, or TO reduce the profits OF any par
Gcu.ai class OF euzens in pursuit open TO alp
Cerany' sir, this must be the great of the
age when We consider the great good il Is 20 effect
wheh y Ii 10 stop individuals from getting rich too
fast, and TO check the prosperity of the country.
Inc senator says will not affect the laborers, the
| mechanics, nor the small manufacturers. How does
he know this | tell him he is mistaken; these
are the very men on whom this blow will
iai' VOW may diminish the profits of the
large Establishments soae, but you cannot
crush lhemi they can stand by warding of the
| blow, and transferring the sacrifice To others
They have hundreds, and some Thousands of labor
ers IN ,heir employ, and they will save themselves
1 6y reducing the wages Of those in their employ,
Inc olow then, falls directly the laborers. But
now Is II win The mechanics and small msnufactu-
rers-those who do their own work and perhaos
employ few apprentices They must sustain the
saerince themselves. They will be able to sus-
tain competition with the large establishments
But why - this experiment TO be tried2 To see how
much reduction labor will bear Is 1t TO carry out
thsoryt Is II to test the cold, heartess miserable
theory Of free trade'-a theory which no nation on
earth ever put IN practice-a theory which must
ever remain mere theory which is fit only for
speculative minds and the closet-wholly unworthy
ofsatesmen or enlightened legislators. Mr.. Pres-
dent, the attempt TO pass this bill. and by way of
surprise upon the country will bring up this great
question OF domestic policy in way to sgitate the
whole country, and the agitation will not cease until
II Ii settled on a basis consistent with the condition
the interests, and the business ofthe country and the
wants and opinions Of the people. This sir will
truly be the great question Of the aga question as
TO the basis on which the busne and the industry of
the people Of this great country TO rest This great
question has been at rest for some years; il is now
brought up, bga conflict between extreme princi- |
pies on one hand and what are held to be extreme
on the other. The interests to be affected by il
now are vastly greater than at any time heretofore
| Let me say 10 the honorable senator from South |
Carolina, Cunning to. Mr.. CALHoUs,) that in the
contest which he has now 10 meet on this great
question, It will be presented under very different
circumstances from what il was in 1892 when Il
seemed to threaten the solidty OF the Union. The
interests now at stake are, compared with what they
were then, as two or three 10 one; they are aug
mented two or three hundred per cent and thew
are no longer confined TO two sections of the
country they have extended 10 the south and the
west, and are daily Increasing and taking deep root
IN those quarters. They are also blended with
all other interestsZeo navigation and agri
culture, All the great interests OF the country are
now banded together, and if you strike blow at
one-if you break link, the whole fabric Of ma
uona industry may not fall, but it will feel most
sensbly feel, the shock. Yes, air. this great cues.
ton OF domestic policy on which the prosperity and
greatness OF the country essentially depends must
now be settled; there can be no peace, no quiet
until Is put at rest and it will now be settled for
the last time, so far its principles are concerned
II Is brought before the country arouse the at
tention of the whole people, and 10 call forth sll
their energies; and 1t will not be conflict Of opin-
ions only; there too many, and so important in
terests involved, so many dependent upon it for
their daily employment and daily subsistence that
| It cannot fail to awake the deepest and most inn
| Uttered feelings Mr. President, have now dis
charged my last duty in relation to this measure,
which suppose is to pass. My appeal to my
northern friends, suppose, will not be Needed /
am aware that they have gone far with it, too far,
fear, to stop short of Its final contamination at this
| time. A delay of few months is too much |
suppose, to hope for If so, have only to say to
| the Samsons, who are prepared to complete this
| work, come forward with your locks unshorn,
raise up the pillars of the nations prosperity, and
overthrow the mighty fabric. But must be per-
mitted to add in the spirit of friendly warning-be
careful that you are not yourselves crushed in the
| common ruin.
Mr. CAMERON said he rose only to repeat his
opposition to this BILL to enter his solemn protest
against It's passage and to give notice that the word
| 'repeal' will this day go forth and continue until
the loud voice of the laborers of the north shall COM
pei their oppressors to respect them. This Che
sad) was no bank question, in which the rich CAPT.
| aliss only were concerned. Here will be found
the laborers and the mechanics reused to indigpa-
ton against those who care not how much they rob
them of their comforts in the pursuit of wild alb
| stracuon. If the bill had been made by British
statesman, 1t could not have Disseminated more in
favor OF the English workmen, nor have done more
| WRONG 10 our mechanics ana manufacturers. He
repeated that, from henceforh repeal would be the
word among the democracy of the north, and that it
would not cease until it triumphed.
| Mr. ]. M. CLAYTON addressed a few remarks
to the Chair, the point of which was, that the
| President could, consistently with the remarks |
which he had submitted few minutes previously, |
vote in favor of the pending notion He [the
Presidentl had said that his duty as representa-
tive of the whole country impeled him to act for
the majority of the people, ard he only desired to
| w was ne vii off he Ha-
Mr.. McDUFFIE called the senator from Della |
ware to order. He could not address an argument
to the presiding officer.
Mr.. J. M. CLAYTON replied that he was speak
ing upon the motion to postpone Upon that ques-
| ton the President had a vote, and he (Mr. G. y
hada right to speak of considerations which might
| control that vote.
| Mr., ALLEN. The chairman has no vote, as far |
| as we know at present
Mr., ]. M: CLAYTON. He may have, and, at