The daily union., 1846-06-30
DEFERRED DEBATE.
In HousE OF RrrREsEsTArTEs, June %, lS46.
THE TARIFF.

In HoUsE OF RErREsEsTATTEs, June %, ls46.
TARIFF.
On motion Of Mr. MCKAY, the House resolved
itself into Committee of the Whole the state OF
the Union (Mr. CoBB of Georgia in the chair, and
resume the consideration Of the bill TO reduce the
duty on imports, and for other purposes.
Mr. TIBBATTS was entitled to the floor, and
addressed the committee as follows
Ma. CHAIRMAN; | am no ultralst, unless may be
considered in regard to the relations Of this gov
ernment with foreign nations | was, and am,
Rfty-four-forty TO our northwestern bounds-
ry, as we'll as Rio Grande man as to our south
western boundary. believe that our title to the
one is as clear to the other. | would not have
sacrificed the one any sooner than the other.
would have gone TO war for the one soon as for
the other; and believe that brave and gallant
army and our patriotic people, particularly Of the
West, would have yindcated our title TO the one
easily as they have done TO the other. | do not
therefore, shrink from the position which | and
others have taken upon this Oregon question; nor
do | regard the sneers that on that
count. | am told that it is said by some that the
President has displayed high degree OF diplomatic
skill upon this subject, by using Of the ffty-four
forties as stool.pgeons to decoy wings and doubtful
democrats into the trap of torty-nins-hke
skilfuI fisherman to catch suckers. This compli-
ment to the President is no doubt highly to the
credit Of both the fortynnes and the ffty-four-for
ties. Which Of US is the most highly honored by
the position assigned us, will pretend to say
A day Of reckoning will come, sir, however, after
the smoke Of this Mexican war shall have been dis
sipated, when those who have been concerned in
the abandonment of territory will be called to
Just accountability. In tsat day. sir, "let the galld
JADE vince" we, who have sustained the right Of the
country to $40 40, will have nothing to for
We can then say that "our wlthers unwrung."
When think of the manner in which IL is said
that this Oregon question has been settled cannot
but feel humlliated-l cannot but think that the
proud American
Eagle, towering in her pride Of place
Has been hawked at by housing owl,
And killed"
Whilst we buster and boast over imbecile Mex.
no. present the ridiculous attitude Of yielding to
England what have asserted to be our Just
right, "clear and indisputable," and finding our
selves in the humiliating position OF whipped
hound, sneakina to his kennel at the roar of the
British lion We are told that
"rh're Brutqs once who would have brookd
The eternal devil himself 10 have held his state Rome
As easily as a king"
much more queen, sir; and we know that we had
u President once (Jackson) who would not tave
yielded what he considered the just title of this gov
ernment to any nation on earth, however powerful.
He was man who would
Beard the lion in his den
And fright him there and make him
I'remble there"
This Oregon question of the great issues
in the last presidential and congressional elections
The sacred invioability of pledges made by a can
ddate to the people, before his election and a strict
accountability to the people for any violation of
such pledges is the only safeguard to republican
institutions. hope that the President will be able
TO account for his position in a satisfactory
TO the country. | do not design to condemn him
IN advance wish that the veil of secrecy had been
torn from the proceedings in relation to this sub
ect that the country might the true position Of
affairs. ! will not anticipate; | may refer to this
subject again when the veil of secrecy is removed
have deemed it necessary to say thus much in de-
fence OF myself and those who occupy the same
position with me; and now leave this DEPRESSION,
repeating the sincere hope that when the veil is re-
moved, the President may find justification for his
course.
| have said that am no ultraist at least in re-
gard to the domestic and internal relations of this
country. lapproach all such questions in spirit
of concession and compromise Our government
is one of concession and compromise. 1t would be
impossible without such spirit to get along at all;
and more particularly upon question like that of
the tariff, which involves probably more than any
other the conflicting interests of the different occ-
patons and the different sections of this widespread
confederacy.
There are two extreme parties on the subject of
the tariff on this floor, and in this country. The
one, which is denomnated the free-trade party, who
advocate taritt for revenue alone discriminating for
alone, and not for protection or for any other
purpose, and who deny that Congress possesses the
constitutional power to discriminate for the protec-
ton of American industry in djusng a tariff
The other party, who for high and exorbi-
tant tariff having protection for its object and ma
king the subject OF revenue merely incidental.
What may have to say may not be very pleas
ing to either Of these parties. differ from both of
these extremes. think thsy are both wrong.
IN medic futtSsimS ibo i approach this question
with feelings OF the utmost kindness to both of these
parties. say to both-"come brethren, let us
reason together" | beg the attention of both; Ie,
ON boy do all
ers, IN spirit of compromise and concession Let
us see If we caunot find some common ground on
which you can both stand Unless this question ia
settled in this way it never will be settled in a man
Eer satisfactory to the country The people of this
country will never be satisfied with tariff based
upon the doctrines Of either the high protectionsts
or the free etraders Both, then, must Weld some
,hlng If both will act in this spirit, it seems to
me that there would exist no difficulty in arranging
a tariff which would give general satisfaction to the
country.
No man is more opposed to the principles Of the
act of lS42 than am, and no one would 90 more
readily for its modification, or amendment, or in
deed its repeal, and the substitution Of a new and
more satisfactory system of taxation.
look upon it as, in its operation highly unjust
and oppressive to the aboring classes every where
and to the southern and western sections of the
country particularly.
But differ from my friends Of the free-trade mr.
tynot IN their opposition to the act Of 1s42 for
will go heart and hand with them iu repeating lis
unjust and oppressive provisions but in tbisebe.
cnuse that they, IN endeavorng TO relieve ,ben,.
selves from the burdens of an unjust taxation nm.
der the operation of the act of is42, are not only
disposed to give up, but do actually deny. the exis
tenoe Of a power which candidy and honestly be
Ieve eonstitutionaly exists in this government ant
which in nv opinion, is essential to ts safet,
and independence as regards foreign nations. !
The constitution expressly confers upon Congress
the power "o lay and collect taxes, duties, imPosts
and excises," and the power "to regulate com
merce."
The power TO regulate is TO prescribe rule h,
which commerce is to be governed; the term com
merce is not to be limited TO traffic, the buyin