The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-19
THE DAILY UNION


the ayaricious or the selfish let ns hrmly and uni
teddy discharge the important trust committed to us
of thorough revision and modification OF the exist
ing tariff laws.
i am asked, sir, why do not abandon agriculture
and 60 to manufacturing myself ! answer, mat
NV hairs are BEGINNING to bleach under the influence
Of the years have spent In agriculture pursuits
II is an employment TO my taste ! delight TO see
the mighty power Of Providence displayed IN the
terminating and pushing vegetation 10 lis maturity
In our land of freedom, and favored as We are IA
soil and climate, do not wish, by oppressive legis
ation, TO be driven, in my years, from inc employ
ment Of my choice the employment oil my anees.
tors, to engage in pursuits, the minulla OF which
should yet have to learn, and in which have no
desire 10 engage. If a government, representing
those who should be free, is disposed 10 heaP OPP
pressions upon the farmers Of the country am AIS
posed to suffer the expressions with ihem VII wiser
eounses shall prevail in our halls Of legislation But
as love my country, nv voice shall ever be raised
in protesiations against these expressions. arm
asked whether in visiting the Manufacturers Far,
am not disposed to favor laws which give bounues
10 men, who are able 10 show such evidences OF
wealth and righteousness. ! answer that all the
pomp Of royalty, all the splendor OF the inlleHes'
would not reconcile me to the expressions OF mon
archy. Nor will the gorgeous display oil manuiae-
lures reconcile TO oppression TO myself, OF
TO its being inflicted upon my countrymen' IL that
display of wealth has been wruDg from the sweat
and toll of our aboring millions, Is now hlgh ume
that our government should adopt pohcy, lnat
labor may be rewarded by the fruits OF us own IN
dustry.
Mr.. CHAPMAN, after some preliminary remarks,
proceeded 10 observe that what he had to say on
this aimpOrtant subject would be said boldly and
fearlessy, and he had taken the other side OF the
House from that which he usually occupied, Tor the
purpose of demanding from the advocates OF the
present oppressive system Of taxation an answer 10
Of he he ahoull To them. lie
should submit TO their consideration documentary
Observation-Disclosures from the highest authorities on
this side of the House-from the honorable gentle
man from Massachusetts,, who, with all honest,
sober, thinking men, was conclusive that the con-
Stunning portion OF the country pay every cent OF
tax alton derived from the tariff law Of 1912. He
laid down this proposition boldly, that the consumer
not only OF the foreign fabric but Of the domestic,
pays the full amount Of the imposition on the Tor
eign article in addition TO its real cost, or the price II
would otherwise bear In Market and further pays
a price upon the domestic fabric, enhanced IN the
extent Of the whole consumption, to an amount
equal the increased prices Of the foreign product
by the imposition Of taxation upon It.
He laid down also the proposition that the hrlii
Of lSi2 was framed for the express purpose OF tax
ing labor, and allowing capital TO go exempt. A
baser attempt at fraud, oppression and partial ie-
gslation was never conceived or executed by any
legislative body. Under it the higher imposltIons
were on the necessaries of life. As, for instance
the duty on coarse woollsns was from lOOt l9O
per cent.
The answer given by those who we're receiving the
benefits Of this exorblant system Of oppression was
keep quiet, we will give you an equivalent by the
home market we will furnish for your surplus pro.
ducts. Mr.. c. secuted this iimsy subterfuge and
an unqualified absurdity and imposabiIty. His State
alone produced five million bushels OF wheat sur
plus. Even were il possible, he enforced the Inc
quality Of advantages enjoyed by the respective
classes. The farmer Of Michigan when he got his
-four to New York, received say 50 SO per barrel
barely sufficient to afford him a meagre compensa-
ton for his labor and expenses while in return for
it, he received the manufactures Of the North, upon
which the manufacturers levied profit Of some 80
| 40, so, and 100 per cent. This was the boosted
advantage which the agricultural class derived
from the present system of taxation.
Mr. C. exposed and denounced with much car
nestness various other sophistres advanced by the
protectionists to bolster up their favorte system
or these, one was that high duties make low
prices-a fragrant absurdity on its very face.
With reference to the plea that for the protection
received they would to the agrcuturlsts and
other classes an equivalent, he argued that the pro-
lection received being protection which was to be
fed nurtured and bloated by the sweat and blood Of
the great leading interest Of agriculture the giving
them an equivalent would be n surrender entirely the
protection. The great interest which was thus op-
pressed for the benefit Of manufacturing arstoc'
racy, for the "lords of the SPINDLE" was one which
he trusted would later rise to assert and
maintain its Just rights. The day would soon
come when forbearance would cease to be virtue
when the great masses of the West would have the
power to redress their wrongs and would do So
by violence, but peacefully, by the force Of truth
justice, and equity.
In reply to the argument that the protective sys
tenn should be sustained, because articles OF GER
tain class had fallen in price during It's existence, he
denied that this decrease ofprice the Legitimate
result Of the system Of protection unless 1t was car
red TO the inhibition, so as to give play for
domestic competition to the full extent-of which
the manufacturers themselves were afraid. be
ascribcd the decrease of prices mainly to the won
derful improve ments of the age-in machinery skill
and enterprise; which would have tended to produce
IA still, greater reduction had it not been for counter
efforts and legislation for protection.
He commented upon the impolicy and prohigacy
of the system which tended to force men from theil
natural pursuits--compeling them by legislation tc
pursue certain avocation or to starve. He mus
be excused for warmth on this subject, when he
looked at the State which he had the honor to rep
resent, with its five million bushels Of surplus
wheat, and still robbed and plundered to bank
ruptcy under this very species of legislation.
He held the doctrine that this government has nc
right whatever under the constitution to impose
taxation upon the people for the purpose Of protec
ton, as conuadistingushed from revenue-taxa
ton for the benefit of the few, favored class, to the
oppression Of the great masses of the people.
Recurring to the position that the duty on the i'm
ported article was paid by the consumer, and moi
alone upon the foreign product, but that it operates
an equal increase upon the whole amount of the
domestic article consumed in the country, he illus
trated it by supposng the amour, of duties paid by
the consumer for the support Of government to be
thirty millions of dollars upon say one hundred
millions of dollars imported into the country. The
domestic manufacturer sells side by side with these
foreign articles, say two hundred million Of dollars
of his abrcs-the prizes Of which were enhanced "a
the consumer to the same amount as the duty paid
on the foreign article. While, then, the consumer
pays thirty millions Of dollars the foreign article
for the support Of government, he payssxty millions
Of dollars (upon the gross amount of two hundred
millions of dollars) bonus to the manufacturer
by way ofprotection.
Mr. C. then proceeded, in accordance with his no
tice, at the outset Of his remarks, to read extracts
from report of Mr.. ADAMS, chairman Of the Com
mittee on Manufactures, in 1882; and from speech
Of Mr.. WEBSTER, in 1884, in defence of his MIR
C.'s) position, that the duties upon imported art
Giles are paid by the consumers, &c, He commend
ed To the ad of the protectiye svaen thosf