The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-08
CON RES SION AL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 80, 1886.
THE TARIFF.


Mr.. CHAIRMAN: The character Of this debate,
thus far, has been in unison with that which has
distinguished all legislation on the tariff question
since the war Of 1912, with the single exception of
the tariff act Of March 10, 1888 The legislation
which has characterized this great question has been
had more with reference TO It's effect upon particular
local interests than with desire to conform TO the
constitutional powers Of congress. The passage Of
the tariff act Of 1916 10 eminent instance Of the
truth Of this remark. (And | will here passngly
observe that the gentleman from Kentucky, Mr..
McHEHRr,l who has Just preceded me, is in error
in his assertion that the minimum system" has
ever been ingredient Of legislation on this sub
ject, for it was first incorporated in tariff act IN
1861 Soon followed the supplementary acts Of
1918 and 1919, all Of which were strenuously re-
sisted constitutional grounds by that section Of
the country now most tenacious IN lis adhesion 10 the
principle upon which those acis framed-pro-
lection to certain classes Of industry IL has been
repeatedly urged, IN answer 10 tins faci, that New
England AT that day had her capital invested IN com
mercia, and other pursuits different from that Of
manufacturing, and therefore opposed a system
which would force her 10 change that investment
l have no doubt of the truth Of this explanation,
nor Of the force and propnety Of that objection TO
interference by Congress with the great Industrial
pursuits of the counry-an interference which
should compel capital TO seek hannels not pointed
out by the wants and course Of trade, but by
political legislation. IL Is the very ground we
Of the South, and of those other sections which
are opposed TO protective tariffs, assume In this dis
| cussion. Attacked, then, as New England found
herself to be in 6l6 1918, and 1919, by restrictive
tariff laws she, as we do now, sought protection
against an unjust system Of legislation beneath the
shield Of the constitution. To that sacred chart,
which contained an enumeration OF the powers and
duties Of Congress- she appealed not as have mad
vertently said for protection butfor the privilege OF
being let alone in her domestic pursuits. ! hold in
my hands sir, the proceedings Of a meeting held in
Iam IL Til 10
Of its most important committees are found the
| names of Daniel Webster, Nathan Appleton, and
| Abbot Lawrence, now leading and distinguished ad-
vocates of protection" Having appointed sub
committee 10 prepare and publish an address, the
| object of which was "to avert the calamity which
must eventually flow from the passage Of the tariff
bill, &c" the meeting adjourned to meet again at
| the same place the Sd October, 1920. MIR.
Webster having been the first named upon the com
mittee appointed to "prepare and publish an ad-
dress is understood to have been the author of the
address, which may be found in the papers Of the
day, and also of the following resolutions
From the n Z. Palladium and Commercial Advertiser.
TvEsnAY, October g. 1870.
GENERAL MEETING
Yesterday adjourned meeting the subject OF the
proposed tariff held at Faneu Hall, Hon. William
Gray chairman, and william Foster, jr secretary.
Along interesting report read from the respect
BILE Committee appointed at former meeting, which CON
| cluded with the following resolves:
LIST Rssoived That have regarded it'll pleasure the
establishment and success Of manufactures among and
consider their growth when natural and spontaneous and
evidence Of general wealth and prosperity.
I'd. That relying the ingenuity, enterprise, and skill
Of our feow-ozens believe that ali manufacture
adapted characters and circumstances will be intro
duced and extended as soon as will promote
public interest without any further protection than they
| now receive. I'D. .hr '..'
Sd That no objection ought erer to be made to any
amount OF equally apporoned and imposed for the
purpose Of rasng revenue Necessary Tor The support O.
| o
en with the principles OF our constitution and with sound
| policy
4th That the suppositon that until the proposed tariff
similar measure be adopted we are and shall be
defence is in our opinion altogether faacious fanc
full and derogstory to the character of the nation
as are principally benefited by that tariff great cap
tas rather than personal industry or the owners OF small
capitals and therefore that we do not perceive its tendency
9th. That equally incapable Of discovering its
beneficial effects agriculture since the obvious
of its adoption would be that the farmer must give
than hc now does for all he buys, and receive less
| for all he sells
7h. That the imposition of duties which enormous
and deemed by large portion OF the people to be unequal
and unjust dangerous as encourages the practice Of
| smuggling
9Th. That in opinion, the proposed tariff and the
principles on which it is avowedly founded, would ii
adopted have tendency however different may be the
tons Of those who recommend them to diminish the indus
try impede the prosperity and corrupt the morals OF the
| people.
James T. Austin esq, and the Hon Daniel Webster al
dressed their fellow in favor of the report and re
solves in speeches which distinguished for closenes
of argument, variety of illustrations and abundance o.
fact
mended by the committee unanimously passed
vote Of thanks to the Hon Mr. Otis of the Senate ant
to those members from this State in the House of Repre-
sentaves of the United States who opposed the tariff
was unanimously agreed to-
In addressing that meeting Mr.. Webster thus ar
gued:
"There is a power in Names and those who had pressed
the tariff Congress and on the country had represented
as immediately, and almost exc usvey connected will
domestic industry and national ndepen IN n, opn
country and nothing was ancitu than the opinion
that national rendered such
gess wod not be acting someWhat against the spirit and m
.sma the zee pursuits and occupations Of in hs
private concerns; power to force great and sudder
both ." ana pert. upon @ @
stantia and direct poWer such changes wsre drought IN
s" and "tr s adr pyo .s
enact then they could not be comPiaindo Ba he doubiet
he Congress fairly possessed n, ps%sr Of turning ne Incl
protection oil such laws should be passed with pr
mary regard to of enacting laws with the avowe
object OF giving preference to particular manufactures
with dsre gard to all the Considerations of revenue
and instead of laying such imposs as would best answe
the purpose of raising with the least burden tn
public carrying the mpos certain articles to burden
some excess, with full knowledge that the increase
duty will diminish the amount of revenue raised"
Mr.. Chairman these are sound views. The res
olutions adopted by that meeting Of men who ar
now the great advocates Of the restrictive policy
the country, might well find place in the proceed
ngs Of a Baltimore democratic convention. The.
properly say that the sole object Of the taxing powe
is TO raise revenue and that if taxes imposed 70
the sole benefit of any one class of men, they ar
mpo!itic and unconstitutional. They repudate II
manly terms the idea now advanced by the advo
Gates of protection, that unless we do thus encour
age our own manufactures we shall be dependen
on foreigners for subsistence and defence. A mi
norty at that day, they rightfuy turned for defenc
Of their rights to the constitution which was mad
to be guide to majorities and protection to mnorl
ties. But of all this the interest Of New England wa
the moving cause She strove to "avert The eefamit
which must eventually flow from the passage Of tn
tariff bill" referred to. Her peculiar local interest
would be injuriously affected by it. Great an
sudden changes, both of occupation and property
would De forced and consequently her Websters
her Appletons, and her Lawrences-then, as now
champions of those pursuits, whatever they. wer
and now may be-desired only such legislation a
should favor those pursuits In the hour OF thel
= calamity" they cried out that " taxes imposed o.
the people for the sole benefit Of any one class o
men are equally inconsistent with the principles G