Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-08-27

and il could no longer be said thai all the mo
pey collected by high rates would be absorbed
bgh Justice, sound policy, and pubic opin-
ION all demanded that for the future no more
revenue should be levied than would meet the
ordinary expenses Of the Government Mr..
ctAY acted upon full and clear comprehen-
sion of these considerations, and upon an en-
larged survey Of the interests and sentiments
of all paris Of the Union. under the peculiar
and controlling circumstances Of that day, in
the construction Of MS compromise bill.
At the session Of lsii-'42, Mr.. Clay was
still a member os the Senate, and the time was
rapidly approaching when the compromise
project was, If ever. To be put inio perma-
neni form, by establishing the home valuation
upon foreign imports, and making other ne
eessary regulations. The same able and faith
ful adviser, than whom no man IN America -
better informed on the general subject Oh me
tariff, Mr.. SIafMoss. was also member oil iie
Senate. lie had been an original ana unWa-
veriug friend Of the principle OF an az Saiorehi
duty upon the home valuation. Ailer luil
consultation with him and other gentlemen,
and with their hearty appreciation, Mr. Clay,
early in that session, introduced series Of res
olutlons setting forth general principles, pre-
liminary to proper bill After stating it 10
adequate revenue for the support OF the Gov
eminent by imposts on foreign commerce, he
followed il up by these additional resolutions :
'Resoircd, That such an adequate revenue
cannot be obtained by duties upon imports,
adopting higher rate than twenty per cent,
as provided for by the compromise act, winch,
at the time of its passage, was supposed and
assumed al rate that would supply sufh-
cient revenue for an economical admInlstra-
ton Of tie Government.
Resided, therefore. That the rate oil duties
on foreign imports ought TO be augmented be-
yond the rate OF twenty per cent, so as to pro-
dnce a nett revenue Of twenty-slx millions OF
dollars--twenY two for the ordinary expenses
of the Government, two for the payment o.
the existing debt, and two millions as reserve
fund tor contingencies.
"Resotred, That in an adjustment ola tariff
10 raise an amount Of twenty-six millions Of
revenue, the principles Of the compromise act,
generally, should be adhered to; and that espe
ciaitya nlarntn rate Of ad relorern duties should
be established, from which there ought to be as
Little departure as possible"
Mr.. CLAY explained and enforced these res
cutons in the Senate, but resigned his seat
before they Were brought 10 the vote, and they
were never afterwards called up. Three prn.
cipes are distinctly embodied inN them
First. All the revenue necessary for the sup
mort Of Government, is 10 be raised by duties
upon foreign imports. Second. That such
duties are to be laid apoll The home oGt,ta,ion Of
fa7rig1, goods to be established By ia,c. Third.
That the rate should be twenty-five per cent.
,pop the home radiation on d.tiable articles
alore Ii was provided that the principles of
the compromise bill should be adhered TO in
framing the new measure, and those stated
were taken from the law Instead Of adopting
the inefficient and abused notion OF an ad "a
loren duty upon the foreign invoice, this plan
requires the home calue Of all dutiable articles
10 be declared and established in the law and
upon this GsceytdiRed, fred, and intiesible raj
uaiion of all articles duty of twenty per cent.
was to be laid So far from abandoning the
principle OF specific duties, it made all duties
specific, by specifying the value of every class
Of articles, and levying specific rate Of duty
upon that value Thus in the law Russia
hemp being valued at two hundred dollars per
Ion, would be subject 10 to specific duty of
forty dollars pig iron being valued at thirty
two dollars per ton, would be subject 70 spe-
cic duty Of eight dollars molasses being val
ned at twenty-four cents per gallon, would be
subject TO a specific duty of SIX cents and so
on throughout the whole list OF dutiabie art-
CleS.
Before Mr. CLAY left the Senate, Mr. SIM
MONS. after full understanding and accord
aBce with him upon these principles, com
menced the preparation of bill based upon
them. lie completed it after great and labori-
Gus care and reported it to the Senate; but
not until some time after Mr.. GAYS resgna-
ton The Till contains a large list Of free arti-
cIeS for the benefit and encouragement OF man
uiacturcs. Ii establishes rate of duty Of
twenty five per cent. upon all dutlable articles
except upon sugars and fine ron upon thsm
the rate is thirty per cent. 1t enumerateS and
specifies the home rdiue Of more than twelve
hundred aud thirty eight articles BY name; and
on every non enumerated article, II establishes
the same value and levies the same dsty as
attaches 10 the enumerated articles which 1t
most resembles.
So far from adopting the principle OF the ia
rdf bill Of Mr.. WALKER, of levying an ad va
loren duty upon the fraudulent under valua-
ton Of the foreign invoice, or Of abandoning
specific duties, il establishes duties universally
specific, and cuts off all possibility Of custom
house frauds by double invoice or under valu-
alton This bill establishes the value Of wheat
to be one dollar and twenty five cents per
buShcl, and il levios upon that value twenty
per cent, or a specific duty of thirty -one-and-
aourth cents per bushel. II declares the val
ne OF Indian cora 10 be sixty cents per bushel 4;
OF wool, unmanuiactured, and not otherwise
specified, nifty cents per pound bleached and
unbleached cotton clothing. twenty-four cents
perSquare yard; milled and fulled cloths, known
by the name Of Kendall coltons and plains, of
which wool shall be the only material, sixty
cents Der square yard; finer's or run out iron.
beng iron IN advance of pig iron, forty dollars
per ton mems pumps, Shoes and slippers, at
two dollars per par; coal, and all preparations
thereof, al eight dollars and sixty eight cents
per caldron Of thirty six bushels, cord wood,
four dollars per cord. Twenty five per cent.
upon these several values, and upon the de-
claral value Of every dutiable article named in
tne bill, except sugar and fine iron, and
th"y per cent upon them, will ascertain a
Te,yjc duty, Gad he exact specific dutg, upon
each and all. The values in this bill may be
100 nigh ur too low, but they show any bill
upon the home valuation OF MIR. GAYS com
promise act 10 be altogether specific, Mr..
SnMoN's particular bin received the support
" every Wing Senator in caucus TO which
Il was submitted. ABBoTT LAWRENCE and
N'rHN APPLETON, names known and res
pe'led not only throughout New England but
~ ~ 4