The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-07-30
The Voice of the People has been
heard

LISTS against the People IN the Senate-
Let The PEOPLE no,o sustai,, their Re
presentaf'reS throughout the country, By
expressions Of appreciation IN their pa1-
mary assemblies.
We have the pleasure of announcing the glo
rous news that the Senate have passed tina, grea,
Reform Bill, the Tarif-reducing the duties
foreign manufactures. that the planter. the me
chanic. and the sailor, may not be compelled Ia
psy extravagant tribute to the Eastern Manufac-
turers. while their own legitimate business is de-
srnyed. |, passed the Senate on Monday last,
by the casting vote of Vice President Dallas
The stood TWENTY. SEVEN for re-
dncti"n Of the Tariff Of lS42. and TWENTY.
SEVEN against a reduction, when the Vice
President voted in favor Of reduction and The
Democracy triumphed. Thanks to George Nj.
Dallas. the able Vice President of the United
States.
The following is the address of the Vice Pres
dent on giving the casting vnte for the third
reading and engrossmpnt of the bill While he
reading il the Senate Chamber was denselv
crowded by spectators. and the floor by the mem
bers of the House, WIN had just adjourned. II
proud day tnr Vice President Dallas.
glorious one for the Democracy. and one long to
be recolPcied in the annals of the country as the
time when the constitution trumphed and the
monster Of monopoly was crushed II was
moment of deep and exciting interest," and while
the Vice President was speaking a member of the
House said &c would rather be that man now.
the" the frs, crowned head in all Europe!'
The President rose AND said
The Senate being equally divided ON this i'm
poriant question. may he indnlged in briefly
stating the principal reasons for the vote ain re-.
quired by the constitution to give.
Excluded from any participation in forming or
modifying the bill. am bound To sanction or CON
dem it exactly in the shape in which il stands
The responsibility is deeply felt. Ii belonus.
however, TO the office assigned 10 me by nv
fellow citizens. and will be assumed with frank
ness, and, hupe, not unbecoming irmness The
consequence of my decision, either way NAV
seriously affect the country. No one can enter
thin, as to that. prnfnunder solicitude But
after summoning to my aid the best purposes and
best lights that can command, the consequences
be they what they may, must be hazarded
The system for obtaining the revenue necessary
to support their government is established direct
ly or indirectly. by The people of the United
States, within the limits. and agreeahIy to the
prescribed forms Of the constitution. Whatever
is ascertained 10 be their will on the subject all
should undoubtedly acquiesce in. That there are
known and approved modes by which their will
is expressed. cannot be questioned ; and the pub
lie officer who reads that will with candor and
integrity, may feel assured that he conforms to
the institutions of his country when he makes it
the guide of his conduct. To my mind ample
proof has been furnished that majority of the
people and of the States desire to change, to a
great extent, in principle, if not fundamentally,
the system heretofore pursued in assessing the
duties on foreign imports. That majority has
manifested itself in various ways. and is attested
by lis representatives in The other house of Con
gress, by whom this bill has been approved. and
whose votes undeniably indicate the popular sense
in the large proportion of eg hieen out of the TWEEN
ty-eight States. In this Senate an analysis of
the vote before discloses that while six States
(Ohio, Virginia, New Hampshire, Georgia,
Michigan, and Mane) are equally divided. eleven
Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Kentucky,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Con
necticut, Maryland. North Carolina, and Yer
mont) are against, and eleven (Arkansas Mis-
souri,. Alabama. Illinois, Indiana, South Carolina,
Mississippi, New York. Texas. Tennessee, and
Florida) are for the change. Peculiarly situated
as am in my relation to the national legislature,
these impressive facts cannot be overlooked In
case Tree from constitutional objection, | could
not justifably counterfeit by sort of official Veto
the general will
The Struggle 10 exert without abatement the
constitutional power of taxation in such manner
as TO protect by high duties on imports many of
The productions of our soil and labor from the
competition of other countries. has endured for
more than thirty years. During that period
system of high taxation has prevailed with fuc-
tuailons of success and failure II is as vigorous
ly and as exacDgy insisted upon now as ever
and indeed II would seem, in some instances as
" me longer the advantage ola particular tax was
enjoyed, the stronger became the desire for its
continuance. and even its augmentation And
yet 1t onght To he remembered that this exercise
ut The taxing power by which The great mass OF
consumers are made TO swell The profits of few
branches Oi industry, was originally intended lu
De temporary, TO he continued only so long as its
continuance was necessary To the industrial i'm
independence and safety of the whole people.
Such was the language, the incucation. The
spirit, in which it was proposed and justified nv
Its earliest and wisest friends The DESIGN was
To foster feeble 9 infant" manufactures esneci
ally such were essential TO The defence Of the
country in time Of In this design the oeo
pie have persevered until, with some Int not
weighty exceptions, these saplings have taken
deep root, have hecOme vigorous. expanded. and
powerful, and are prepared TO share the common
lot Of human pursuits, and TO enter with conf
dence the field of free, fair, and universal compe
titun.
The arrival Of this period of time, long prom
ised' has been anxiousy looked for by large
ana justly respected portion Of our fellow citizens
VINO deemed themselves peculiar and almost ex
elusive sufferers by the policy Of prOie ctiOn -
Ihey have someilmes--perhaps imprudenty-
endeayored 10 anticipate IT, Their numbers. at
irst entitled I" influence only from their patriot
ism and intelligence. have gone on gradually in
creasing as the system fipened to lis fruit. and thew
now constitute what ] am bound by registered
facts to regard as decided majority II the peo.
pie and Of the Unon.
IL is undoubtedly true that this change of fioan
cial arrangement brought about by public opinion