The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-08
OBS
[ConIins.ed from frsl pags.l

revenue for economical administration Of the govern
ment ..... .. f.. ...H. .....
I'D That the OF duties foreign imports ought to
be augmented beyond ~ per cent so as produce neu rev
enue OF twenty six millions Of dollars, &C.
"4th That in the adjustment Of the tariff TO raise an
amount Of wsBysx millions OF revenue the principles o.
the compromise generally should be adhered oi andthat
especially maximam rate Of al yaloTem duties should he
established from which there ought to be as little departure
as possible"
Here, then, was another solemn recognition Of
the binding force of the compromise act; and it was
not only that Mr.. Chairman, but il was an injunc-
ton TO establish "a rate Of ad yaorem duties from
which there should be little departure as posi-
ble."
In tracing legislation on this question up TO l842
we have found two great free-rade principles TO
have been acknowledged and agreed upon as the
'principle of mutual accommodation, TO satisfy US
far practicable both parties, and to increase the
stability Of legislation" TO wit: lst that "dutes
shall be laid for the purpose Of raising such
may be necessary TO an economical administration
of government" and, ID. "that such duties shall he
assessed on the nd valorem principle" We have
the opinion and evidence too of the great author Of
this system of protection, (Mr Ciay,) and Of lbs
great attorney and advocate, (Mr. Webster that d
duty upon an article becomes part ofits price; that
decrease Of duties increases "the aggregate amount
of revenue such articles;' and that, under the
system, the farmer ia forced to give more for what
he buys, and TO receive less for what he sells. One
would naturally suppose that, aer thirty years Of
such experience, and after he solemn compact 81
1888, the system would have been gracefully yield
ed and the constitution more strictly adhered to IN
all after imposition Of duties. Not so, however,
sir, was the result. That infant which Mr.. Clay
SAIL he had found about being stranged in its era
die and which he had snatehed from danger and
placed upon bed Of repose, where II was agreed u
should have nine years to rest, and recruit, and
grow in strength, in order TO enable II 10 stand
Thereafter, "unsided by government, in competition
with foreign Imports !" had, indeed, grown 10 such
giant size upon the bed which free-traders as well
as protectonsls had smoothed for it, and had guard
cd from all danger, that when, in lS42, it arose
from it, il had the strength to resist all attempts 70
prevent its preying upon the substance Of the gov
eminent, and, aided by peculiar State necessities,
again TO fasten itself upon the treasury. The act oil
1912 passed into law violating 10 its passage every
principle Of the compromises act-spurning aside
every pledge which had been made by its friends
trumpling upon every principle held valuable in po-
litical consistency and political fath And yet we
are told that il we repeal il now we shall be but
giving the world another evidence Of loco-foco love
of destruction, and hatred of American labor Mr.
Chairman the act OF 1912, as have said, pass
ed by the proteconists, aided by the great and un
looked-for necessities Of the state at that time
The treasury was empty. The laws for the col
lection of revenue were expiring. The day Of final
adjournment agreed upon by Congress was at hand
great conflict about the land-dlstribution clause
had prevented the passage Of the tariff law at ear
lier date. Parties had become deeply exasperated
To save the country from total bankruptcy, and the
evils of being flooded with goods paying no duty,
that act finally passed. II passed the Senate by
one majority. II received but two democratic votes
Ifether had refused to vote for it, 1t would moi
have become a law. Their opinions, therefore, IN
voting for thet BILL are the best sources to apply "a
10 know whether il was designed to be the perma-
nent, fixed policy Of the government, or whether II
not expressly avowed that it should be repeal
ed and notice thus given to all concerned that il
temporary measure.
I reab fpW frnu he rks Of n
Buchanan on the tariff act Of 1872 made in the Sen
nte on the 9th August, l642
81 admit cheerfy that the bill is ertravsgsnt IL
The protection which affords and in some instances ii
altogether prohihary. II is bill of which do not ap
prove and for which would not vote, were not for The
present unparalleled condition of the existing law the ea
n shall accept this now as much the least Of two evils
md look forward with hope to better times for adjust
ment OF the tirH scae consonant with all the
great and various interests Of the Union, without sec
Honorable Mr.. Wright said, on the day:
The alternative presented. then, is this bill
And he deep and Deliberate convictions Of his mind
that this E hlud pIs bad and loaded with defects b,
b"}cYed to be, Fi'isr than that none should pass
Those extracts show that nsthing but the extra
OrJ0ary eXgencies of the treasury, at that partIcu
Iar perod induced those two distinguished senator.
10 vote for that bl..1 They show that those soma
tors-the savours Of the bil--deemed ii to beabom
Unable in its details and principles thRtit was ''load
ed with defects;' that sit was extravagant in the
instances altogether prohibitory" They show that
both in giving the votes that passed the measure
looked forward with hope 10 better times for an
adjustment of the tariff" on different principles
Passed. then in acknowledged violation of the com.
PROMISE which pledged all parties to du.
ties, and against '.prohlbtory" and "extravagant
protection" duties and which pledged all parties to
lad parorem" duties and against the specifics and
minimums with which that act is full shall we be
accused of an attempt to destroy the industry
of the country, and to PROSTATE the labor of the
country-of an attempt to legslate upon 'absrac-
lions, if we now repeal that abominable law--if
now that ''the better times" have arrived when a
party is in power solemny pledged to 'adjust the
tariff on scale more consonant with all the great
and varions interests of the country, without sec
tions," we proceed To do so?
| think not, sir. The country expects this at on
hands. For the first time since the passage of thu
act of lS42, we are in condition to redeem our prom
Uses. We have President who is sound on THU
issue; we have Secretary of the Treasury, who il
engaged heart and soul in the great cause of FREE
trade; we have majority in the Senate, and dem
ocratc ma jority Of about 60 votes in this House
1t is now seven months since met here. A bill
has been reported by the Committee Of Ways ant
Means on the ad vaorem principle, with rates o
duties calculated to raise such revenue as may b
needed by the government. What have been til,
demonstrations made upon it thus far Why SIR
representatives from Pennsylvania, elected as dem
ocrats, tying themselves members ofthe great demo
cratic party have united, will, one single and bril-
liant exception, Mr.. WiLMor j against any mod
fcaon of the tariff of 1912. Though the great Is
sue which divides parties is that of taxation ant
oxpendure-for no question about our foreign re
Iations can be considered as party issue-upon
we find the almost entire representation OF demo
cratic Pennsylvania against us Though their grea
and eloquent statesman Mr. Buchanan pro
nounccd the act to be so Objectionable
and voted for it with the avowed hope tina
"better times" would soon arrive in which tt
readjust it, and to throw his hopes and his charac
ter for political consistency upon the action which
he and his friends might pursue in those "bettel
times" yet still the democracy Of Pennsylvania re
fhses to aid in its read justment, and holds out fo
It's "extravagant protection"-its "prohibitory" du
ties! Am wrong when say that, in my humble
opinion such course is more compatible with thu
wing, than with the democratic doctrine : Ant
would it not be far better for both parties that hes
gentlemen should range themselves with those with
whom they think on these great questions, rather
than remain to be stumbling-block to those who
differ with them altogether The bank question is