Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-07-21
CONGRESSIONAL.


SPEECH OF R. NJ. T. HUNTER, OF VIHU
MA, on the Bill reducing the duty on imports
and for other purposes. Delivered in the Hons.
of Representatives., Tuesday, June 80, 1916.
Mr. HUNTER next obta ned the floor, and ad
dressed The COMMITTEE as follows:
MIR. Chairman: | am aware OF The many prac
teal difficulties in the way OF Legislation upon
subject 40 complicated as that oi Tariff, whether
imposed tor revenue or protection. There are S,
many conflicting opinions and interests 10 be re-
copcied, and so mauy subjects 10 be embraced in
such BILL that il would be as unreasonable 10
expect it to satisfy all, as ii would be impossible
10 foreell with precision The entire results Of So
complicateda system. Ii every man in Inc House
concurred in opinion 10 the end 10 be sought
whether OF revenue or protection, il is scarcely
possible but tina; they would differ as 10 the best
mode OF attaining it, With this view OF the dit.
ficullies 10 be encountered by those who were 10
frame this bill, have never entertained The hope
,ha, i, would be eniircly satisfactory 10 myself
But, although il is by no means such as wouid
have made il, had there been no opinions bur
mine TO consult, am still prepared TO sustain it,
as being, in my estimation, great improvement
upon The acl of 1912. regard as relief and a
blessing every approach to system OF imposl>
laid for revenue merely, and will move onward,
whether fast or slow, towards snch an obecl, in
preference TO standing STILL Each step OF pro.
press which we make towards removing all ihe
restrictions upon trade, except those which NAV
be required for revenue, is, in my opinion, a bes
sing 10 ourselves and mankind II is 10 the prn
cipes Of the fiee-rade school that we are to look
for the lessons which are to teach US best how
to lay the deep foundations Of internal prosperity,
and promote the general peace OF the world
With these opinions OF their importance, should
be recreant 10 the highest duties which owe, moi
only 10 my country, ou, 10 humanity, II were Ia
neglect any Of The means Of vndicalins and as
serling them IN our domestic legislation.
The day has pas when these doctrines could
be treated as the dreams oi The visionary They
no longer find an exclusive abode in he closet oil
the philosopher; they Save catered into the caoi
net Of the statesman, into th- halls Of legislation.
into the hearts and min I, ot the masses, and eve.
ry step in their progress has been marked by be-
nefcence and reform Ii y nearly four ceninrie.
since one OF The wises, 81 English monarchs &C.
clared in his instructions 10 commissioned Sch;
10 negotiate = commercial treaty with Naples
that, SHE earth being The common mother of US
all, what can BE- mere desirable or praisewouny
than, b. means o. commerce. 10 communicate
her various productions 10 all her children7'-
Andrews, p. 3l3.
This sir, is Inc irsi official document in which
is 10 be found the germ 81 the grand conception
Of a republic oil commerce as universal as that oil
letters claiming ,ns world Tor lis empire and GO
verned b. the s-ii-cxecu,ing laws Of equality and
Justice which are founded in nature, and ex-
FOUNDED by experience. But il was not until at.
Ter centuries OF error and hard earned experience
that this theory has been reduced TO practice
in the country oil its origin. |; was reserved for
the present day. and highlands master statesman
since the days OF Chatham, 10 introduce these
principles into the legislation OF his country in
opposition 10 most powerful vested interests and
a, the sacrifice Of his preconceived opinions oil
long cherished party attachments, and, il may be,
Of power and place Itself.
This wonderful revelation in the British com.
mercial system is triumph achieved b. expe
rence after reason had failed. The great N mis-
ter rested his justification of the change, not on
theoretical reasoning, but upon the experience Of
his own country, and the practical results Of his
own system as lar as il had been developed &c
this he nigh, we'll have added the experience Of
this country, and Of Others II any man in thi,
House were called upon to poiat oui the proyis
ion in our Constitution which, next 10 The inn
pulse given by free installations, mad mnistere1
most TO our growth and prosperity he woulc
doubtless select that which cst.5 lishes per
feet freedom of intercourse and trade be
tween the States Of this contederacy. Here, sir
are TO be found the ndssolubie bonds OF our con
federacy and the true secret of our wonderful pro
eress. Suppose the case that each State had re
manned free, separate, and independent, enjoying
peace al home and abroad, and hedged around b,
a restrictive or protective system, and ask Iht
question Of any man present, whether, in his OPT
nion the sum total OF the wealth Of all the Stale.
would have been as great as il now isl think
sir. hazard lille in venturing the assertion lha
no one would answer IN the affirmative lf ,hi
be so, what is it but experience OF the most posi-
tive character in favor Of the vast and inestina
BILE blessings OF free rade2 Our own experienc,
in this respect is by no means an isolated in
stance. We see in the customs union of Ger
many confederacy, formed for no other end thar
that Of securing The benefits Of free trade amongs
themselves. lis results have already been sue!
as TO excite admiration and expectation in III,
minds of all Europe. With the disappearance
of the cuslom-house barriers we see fast passin,
away the rivalreS and ealousies which have s,
long distracted Northern Germany, and have ari
sen from its separation into small communities
and the difference Of races amongst those VIII
inhabit it, The great work OF na,ionalizng Ger
many has already commenced under federa,iv
system, first founded for commercial purposes
More distant and magnificent PROJECTS are open
ing 10 the view 10 each step in the development @
the grand experiment, and the confederacy is al
ready looking tar beyond The ends for which
was created But il may be said that this union
like our own, has adopted restrictive policy 10
wards the residue OF tn world This may b
proof that neither We nor they have understood
the whole lesson taught by experience, but ii b
no means impairs the force OF the evidence 10 b
derived from the happy results OF The partial ex
pertinent which these States have already made
As far as these States have tried the expert
ment amongs, each other, il has operated we'll
wonderfully well; and apart from the march Q
truth and the force ofreason, there are natural an
physical causes at work which mus, extend lhei
principles still farther Freedom OF trade mus
follow as natural consequence upon freedom
and increased facilities OF human intercourse
Steam power is destined 10 work as wonderful re
volutions in the moral as the physical world
It's path 10 not terminated by The boundaries be
tween nations 1t traverses the ocean and III
plain; il spans the valleys; j, pierces the noun
tains, and conducts The tide OF human n,ercours
and trade from cline 10 cline, and land 10 lane
in despite of The Obstacles interposed by the pre-
judices of race the divisions OF nations, and sec
tional legislation. Steam routes in Europe ar
already regarded not in sectional, but cont
mental point ofvew. States may furnish the di
feren, links, but each firms part oil one eres
whole, and national boundaries will not re ALLOW
ed to break the continuity Of the endless chain {
travel and OF trade We already hear OF i've 3rea