The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-14
THE TARIFF OF Is42 JUDGED BY THE
MAKERS OF 1T.

While the wing journals are clamoring vio-
lendy against the repeal of the existing tariff t may
be proper to look back little and sec what was
thought Of that law by the men whose votes enact
ed IT, Ii is well known that the law passed the Sen
ate by vote Of "a to %, and that both Mr. Blu
chanan and Mr.. Wright voted in its favor. Both
their votes course, necessary TO its passage
These two gentlemen, however, took occasion,
each for himself TO leave on record their opiaiOns
Of the measure for which the crying exigeneies Of
the country then compelled them TO vote.
Mr. Buchanan, after pointing out with grea,
force the absolute ntesssy of passing some revenue
law without delay said Of the tariff Of 1912, "it Ia
bill Of which do not approve, and for which
would not VOTE were it not for the present unparal
leled condition of the existing law, the treasury,
and the country"
Mr. Wright said, "the alternative presented
them is this bill or none" and the deep and dslibe-
pass, bad and loaded ,oh dssei,," as he believed il
70 be, "rathsr than that none should pass" - .
Upon the agricultural interest this bill must ope-
rate in the main as tax and BURDEN and upon
very few articles OF agricultural production where
protection might be afforded ii is not given to an
extent anything like equal in proportion to that
which is given to the manufactured article"
So much for the democratic support which the law
Of 1912 obtained upon its passage from Pennsylva-
MIA and New York
But the condemnation Of the measure, even by
those who were compelled to give it their support,
was by no means confined to the democratic ranks
The following testimony upon this subject has been
collected and published by the Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Fillmore, (whig,) the chairman Of the Com.
mittee Of Ways and Means, who introduced II stated
1t to be "Oniy rspsnus measure"
Mr. Simmons, one Of the strongest friends OF the
protective policy in the Senate, and whig senator
from Rhode Island, said:
at was we'll known that he did not agree with
oil the friends of the bill in many particulars. HI
admitted il was not the best bill that could be formed
but he believed il would be allowed that 1t
the only measure which at this late period OF the
session would be likely to accomplish the main Oh.
sct of providing revenue. In his opinion, there
was not time within the few days which Congress
had yet remain in session, to adjust the tariff in
such as to give the greatesr possible salts
faction to the several interests concerned"
Mr.. Evans, senator from Maine, said the 'bill
was already sufficiently onerous on the shipping
interest Of the country. Already every article tina
enters into the consumption OF shipbulders h
htauily tarsd;" che did not think, for the sake
some four or FIVE manufacturers, that the whole Of
the shipping interest ought to be sacrificed"
Mr.. Merrick, from Maryland another whie
senator and friend Of protection, said sit was bill
TO tax the interests Of the agricutursts for the ben
eft OF the manufacturersn that it was unjust and
unequal" and moved that il last but hro years, and
said: "Hs object was to give to the next Congress
an opportunity TO deliberate nine months the sub
iect and to read just and arrange II on proper prn
| cpes"
On this Limitation motion Of Mr.. Merrick, the
votes stood-yeas 81, nays %. or the yeas, 9 are
wing votes, and among these the votes Of
Messrs. Crittenden, Preston, Berrien, and Rves.
But these gentlemen were not contented with
simply voting for the limitation of the measure
| They took care 70 define thsir positions yet more
distinctly.
Mr. Crittenden stated that he had ",oiih relue
| bill"
Mr.. Preston said che supposed it must be OBJ
vious to everybody that there could now be hardly
such an adjustment of the tariff could be considered
permanent but that some revenue bill was indispen
sable"
Mr.. Rives protested strongly against the bill
"He confidently believed that it would prove as Diet
rimental to those particular interests which it pro
essed to subserve as would be adverse to the gener
al interest, Of the country"
We commend the opinions Of these distinguished
wing senators especially to the attention of thos
wing journals which are now clamoring so loud
y that the repeal Of the tariff of ls42 is to be thu
ruin of the country. The truth is, that tariff ha
already lasted much longer than tho makers of j
supposed it would last, or intended that i. SHOULD
| last.