The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-27
THE DAILY UNION.

Note TOT THIS amendment, but hope Il will be the last
one offered hops We will vote at once upon the
blL " we were able TO act up the elevation OF our
circumstances, and act like statesmen In periactng
ohi, should be glad 10 90 into Il, and contribute
| my labors to make good bill. But We are not able
80 TO aet, and am not willing 10 be a machine and
10 appear like pertecling and maturing ball which Is
not TO be changed or altered. We find ourselves in
extraordinary eircumslances--in conluncture
which does not often occur. In all three divisions Of
the legislative power there is accord the leading
| character OF tariff. The President, and the
majority OF each house OF Congress- are against
the tariff OF lel2i they for tariff But
areVenue 'auh 10 not a genus without species. IL
may have many species; and judgment, reason,
knowledge, consideration, deliberaIion, may all be
requisite TO decide which species OF the genus should
be adopted, repeat II were able To act up TO
theeleyation Of the fortunate circumstances in which
the party now hnds itself, and could act like legis-
lators should feel proud TO bring all the conribu.
ton Of my knowledge and industry 10 perfeetng the
details OF bill Bot we are not able to act up to
that elevation, and have no notion Of being worked
as machine, | can vote for the bill, as Oyerlurning
the act Of lSl2, and wish to give but that vote
alone. am ready to give that vote, and hope |
shall be spared from voting on further propositions
OF amendment
Mr. MoDUFFIE then rose and said
Mr. PRESIDENT | very much regret the necessity
Of protracting this discussion. believe that the
nature and purposes Of tins clause OF the bill
entirely msapprehecded on both sides Of the cham
Der. The senatos from Missouri takes a view Of
it totally opposite hat taken the other side Of
the House. So far from regarding Il as clause in.
tended TO favor the importer, and to facilitate fraud,
he regards as very oppressive act, scarcely JUS
| uhablo by the constitution Of the United States
Now, Mr.. President, think the senator from Ken
| lucky is altogether mistaken, when he supposes
this clause intended to apply to Of under
valuation, with intent TO defraud the revenue; and
think that my friend from Missouri will perceive
that there is nothing unconstitutional, oppressive
| or unusual in the clause. The senator from Ken
| tacky supposed that in cases Of this kind, where
characterization Was made with the view OF defraud-
ing the treasury, the goods should be forfeited al
| together. That Is not provided in the act Of 1912
| But IL il were so, sarely my friend from Missouri
could not regard this harsh law, which, IN a case
Of defrRuding the revenue, instead Of foTelting the
goods altogether, simply leaves the matter 10 the
discretion OF the Secretary Of the Treasury II he
thinks proper 10 take the goods al the valuation and
Ave per cent, suppose TO pay the cost OF importa-
Iion. II il clearly lax intended to give additional
remedy against frauds upon the reyenue--a remedy
not al all harsh when applied in cases OF fraud with
evil intent, but possibly harsh II applied in other
cases where fraud was not intended. But, Mr.
President, come TO the point raised on the other
side OF the house. Does this 9Th section repeal
any clause Of any law that Is not Tepugnant 10 IL
The act 1912 contains clause providing for forfeit.
ure in OF false invoices Does this clause re.
real thaI Does II repeal that clause which provides
for the punishment OF false swearing2 Not AT all
There is not one single clause IN the law OF ls42
repealed by this section, IL does not pass upon the
same subjects. There clause Of the act Of 1870
like H. What u ~ Reads the SJh socion.l Now
let me ask the senator from Massachusetts, suppose
the Secretary Of the Treasury should not see
proper to proceed in the case would the treasury be
stlll len unprotected This is len 20 the dis
eretion Of the Secretary Of the Treasury and con
peal no other law whatever. II is not "shal do 50. 4"
Ii Is discretionary altogether. And u is one Of the
most effective laws that be conceived. In case
ofundervaua,Ion, whout dishonest intent, II might
be very severe, but FOE such there is proper
provision made, and the power would be exercised
by the secretary only in cases Of fraudulent intent
Mr.. JARNAGlN then spoke at same length ex.
prcssiye Of his opposition 10 the bill, and Imploring
the senators on the opposite aide TO pause before
they pressed the bil TO a hnal vote. lie said that
he was ready 10 vote for all proper amendments,
not striking at the principle Of the bill for which he
instructed 10 vote.
Mr.. TURNKEY said he had no intention Of IN
Alcung a speech upon the Senate in reference to
the subject nsx be fore them bot his colleague had
alluded 10 certain Instructions from the legislature Of
his State, and had stated that the amendment Of
fered did not conform to the principle lad down IN
those instructions. As far as that principle was
concerned, that all mnimums and specific duties
should be abolished, his colleague and himself
agreed perfectly. They were instructed also to 90
for q revenue standard OF duties Wheeler this bill
would fall below the reveEus standard was altogether
matter ofspeculanon. IL was, be believed, admit
ted all hands, that the bi proposed a new system
Of revenue, and consequently Il hut experi-
nent. Upon which ground then he 10 go He
10 sc, under Instructions without knowing, or
having the means Of knowing whether the require
mcnIs ofthose instructions would be fulfilled by this
bill or not His instructions required ball leyyIng
duties at the revenue standard, Here vas oil
which VAS bat experiment, though he Was told
by the Secretary OF the Treasury, whose Official
ard solemn duty il to make and submit for the
consideration OF Congress, the proper estimates
for the guidance Of senators forming their uds-
ments, that this was the revenue standard. He was
required thea to obey these Instructions and to re-
duoe the tsTlf a standard: and he found
emsnS,Ing from that distinguished officer TO whom he
had referred, aud 10 ~hose judgement he had great
confidence, Statement thai THIS bja would |
weld = spfScieIscy OF revenue The tariff Of |
lSls produced too much revenue for q tune Of 1
peace, and the question nov was hn~ much
tins bill wouli Wed. Would u Weld more than |
enough for the economical administration Of the
government Resolved to o@ey the Instructions Of
the legislature n hls State tar IS he eouh and
being led TO the hesfthst this hil would nrsuc- rs
the secretary SeckNre3 j, would satciencv Of rev.
snGc, he WAS p-spersd 70 give hrs support He /
wpgd nNl say. that this precisely such bail as
he wcWli have framed, ia, he wNs hanry to find 4
that al responsibility this croand Was removed 1
HIS constituents had rslisrsd him frou, ru-c rhinrs
thew had rslVcved hum from the trouble Of thinking
snd from TIE responsibility Of vcSnS for measure
upcn ms ogn esSlREatsNn II its merits
Mr.. J. Nj. CLAYTON then sad, that in order !
II teSs The srEsse q the Senate o. thus disflnc-
I've Feature Of the bIgl. he would move 10 con-
uail Il 10 Ihe Coapigtse al Fln&nes with io<trye-
slas to rvstors the rlnuaunss and syscakc duIes of
he Of lsEs and II ira; s&iEe4, he would otr the
Hoao~irc
'~Co<nEs;; The hiH to the Committee or PInRnes /
wish lrst-sEsass 10 rvgove the icsSss imposed
BY sssS ha IN al cases where ar fors&sn rau TAR
isrssl is taxed 70 the p-s5s3lss OA any EeehaESc
rnsnstseE@rer, 80 thai csAsr higher 3Gty shall
he eolAeescl Env s2eh material thar Is prs-
rsasA by TIA ahs Of August ~ IStA XRi further.
~ regulate aE the artss r,TNssn@ by thss ball II
raiss rrenas sasssn; fo- the srns-ssroass Of The
nszEsrr."
M IARNAGEN rysA has 5-strac;soas ard seated |
thai By sAe, hs q coarse hoard 70 ro.s SsRsass
the sraenaaezt-
Mr.. CALHOUN Sad he WAS casi that rhSs no 4
tSon hsi heSl rsN&c, Seoss hroHEA; % the HASs1
ssss.saw wAe.h-r the ~ az TIS Should srsrE ss The