The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-02-03
SPEECH OF MR.. A. STEWART,
on the portion OF the Presi
dents Message and Treasury Report
relating 10 the Tariff, and

relating 10 the Tariff, and
Made in the House of Representatives, on
a motion 10 instruct the Committee Of WAYS
and Means 10 report that no alienation ought
TO be made in the Tariff OF 1912, exposes the
ialacies of the Secretary in manner 81
plain, that we see not how he can well es-
cane from the impuraiioE of Ignorance and
| absurdiiy. To the Secreiary's declarations
| hat the Tariff is unconstitutional. Mr.. Stew
ART opposes the declarations OF Washington
Jefferson, Madison and Jackson. This how
ever. Mr.. Stewart said was but one oil the ex-
| Iraordinary doctrines OF this document. In
reference to the doctrine of protection Mr..
Stewart said
The Secretary told the nation that the
poor man was taxed eighty-two per cent, on
cotton goods over the rich man. Yes this
poor man seemed a special favorte Of the
honorable Secretary. He had introduced
him ten times iE The course OF Two para
graphs OF the report. His sympathy was
greatly excited that this unhappy poor man
was taxed one hundred and fifty per cent. on
his cotton shirt, because there was duty OIL
imported cotton goods of nine cents yard.
Now if this specific duty of pine cents a.
mounted TO a hundred and fifty per cent; dd
rGlOTeTn, that fixed the price OF cotton 10 a
poor man at six cents yard, for nine cents
was just one hundred and fifty per cent. on
six cents. So the practical effect OF the hor
rid tax was, thai this poor man, got good
shirt at sixpence yard. And Mr.. Stewart
would tell The gentleman another thing
When those most abomnabIe minimums
which so excited the wrath of the Secretary
had first been introduced in 1916, by William
Lowndes-one of the purest patriots and
most intelligent statesmen that had ever
graced these legislative halls, and sustained
too, by John G. Calhoun, scarcely less distin
guished-India cotton goods of the very
coarsest quality, known 10 every lady al The
time by the name Of hum!rums, cost thirty
three cents yard, so that the poor man
would then have had 10 pay four dollars for
twelve yards of it, and the effect of the infa-
nous minimums had been that every poor
man in the country could now get better
article for six and a quarter cents. Thai
was the way the people were taxed and OPP
oppressed by the productive system. and this
was the manner in which the poor man was
ground down 10 the dust TO benefit his rich
monopoist! The Secretary persuaded this
poor man that he was taxed eighty-tw two per
cent more than the rich man, and this was
quite insufierabIe yet he paid only six cents
and Of an inferior quality at that. On that
thirty six cents, projection laid duty ofnine
cents which was but twenty-five per cent
dd rdlorem.
These dreadful nininums had, in their
practical consequences given the farmers a
market, given their children employment
made their cattle profitable, filed the coun-
try with the hum of conienied industry, and |
had brought down the price of the poor
mans clothing from thirty-six cts. ayard-
down-down-down as the system proceed |
ed, till at last it gave 10 him at six cents |
yard. Now the Secretary cried out that the |
duty on these cottons was hundred and fifty |
per cent. ad raIorem Enormous Horrdi
And whyl The duty had not changed, but
he price had. As the price went down the |
luty went up. At thirty six cents per yard,
line cents, duty would be twenty-five per
cen l.; at six cents yard. the duty would be
me hundred and fifty per cent; and if the
Price decended to one cent yard, then the !