The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-16

- The prime necssssries OF lie (Which DO pro
mted free ofday The free list in this regard should b
, as aTgea as possible
IS Upon foreign products and manufacture which ar
ri'aIs OIL ana come Ia composition with won
impose such duties would best protect American laho
- Upon rival products Of own which are indispen
sable IN time ofwsr would impose duty with view t.
- TARIFF can he elective. either for the purpos,
ofsupPlying the government with protecting
American industry, with unsonnd nnsted paper
rency The history Of prices imports and banking IN
ISIS MIS-, ani lssS sS,s7, clearly proves this posi-
II To these sentiments never heard any objections
upon the part OF my constituents; and they did me
the honor to return to this Congress by a larger
democratic majority thas that given 10 any member
now upon this floor. do not say that il was on
account ofmy tariff opinions alone that caused them
to do so; II may have been generous confidence,
which Il shall always be my duty and pleasure To
deserve, for next to the appreciation of my own con-
science, prize the good will and appreciation OF my
constituents All that have been, all that ! am,
politically, or In the way Of official station, TO
their generous confidence and steady support.
know, sir, that my tariff notions msy not accord
with those expressed by gentlemen upon this floor
and elsewhere who claim TO be democratic leaders;
but as obtained this place by no unworthy means
would scorn TO hold by the sacrifice Of that indie
pendence Of thought and action which should ever
distinguish the representative Of free people. A
public man who has not frmnsss enough to act and
speak as he thinks right, has hardly virtue enough
TO deserve friend, an certainly not a seat in this
great representative body.
| come now, Mr.. Chairman, to notice the posi-
ions OF the Secretary Of the Treasury upon which
the bill now under consideration is based. He first
states that no more money should be collected than
Is necessary for the wants Of the government, econ
omieally administered. In this sentiment, ! most
cheerfuly concur To levy import duties, with a
view to distribute them among the States, would be
IN contravention Of the sp rit Of the constitution.
do not think that would be expedent for Congress
| 10 regulate commerce with that view Nor
would II lie proper TO distribute the proceeds of the
public land sales among the States, because It
would lead 10 heart burnings among our southern
| brethren, who think il UNCONSTITUTIONAL and with
much show Of reason; and besides, 1t might lead To
the necessity OF imposing duties upon articles OF
necessity, which do not produce in this country.
The next position which he advances 10 one from
which | entirely dissent. II is one which is in
violation of the revenue policy Of this government
from its organization to the present day, and which
u carried out, will produce a complete revolution in
the business of this country. undertake to say
here, in my place, that if direct tax of $500 900
was annually imposed upon the people Of Pennsyl-
yana for the purposes of the general government il
would not be so much or injuriously felt as to
have the doctrine laid down by Mr.. Walker acted
upon He says that II is revenue alone which we
are TO look to in the imposition of dutes that specific
duties should be abandoned; and that discrimina-
ton for protection should be allowed. AT idea Of
protection to any or all classes of our people by
means Of commercial regulations is to be abandoned
1t makes no difference what foreign restrictions
imposed upon us; and the same duty must be i'm
posed upon articles Of luxury, such wines and
silks, as are imposed upon hats clothing, or shoes
IL is revenue alone which is to be looked to. even
though our markets to be given to foreigners,
and our mechanics deprived Of profitable labor. If
20 per cent. article will yield much reve-
nue. as 10 per cent, the ten per cent is to be prefer
red. am for the system which will produce sufi-
Gent revenue, and afford protection. An ad vaIo-
rem duty is to be adopted, which will give great pro-
lection when it is not wanted and none when il is
For example: " the price of ron from any caase, is
raised IN England, and 30 per cent upon It's value
Is imposed when brought INTO this country the price
OF the article is enhanced to the consumer; whereas,
II specific duty of so much per ton imposed, il
would make no difference what the price OF the for
eIgn iron might be, the duty would be the same
The consumer and the manufacturer In this country
would, therefore, both he beaefted the revenue
would he more certain, and the manufacturer would
be protected from an excessive importation when
the foreign article is very cheap. No commercial
nation has ever yet adopted entire system of al
valorem duties. But have not time to go into de-
tail. The British government, which is governed
by interest and policy alone, knows very well what
will be the effect of Mr. Walkers opinions, if Con-
gress should adopt them and hence 1t was that Par
lament ordered his report to be published. Great
Britain, having been deprived of market in the
German states by the German league, or ZoIl-Ve-
rein, turns, with anxo solictude, to this country
and asks to be permitted, in the language of Lord
John Russell, in his late Oregon speech, to "clothe
the American people," Sir, the people whom
have the honor to represent have little too much
pride to suffer that. Twenty-six millions Of people,
united under what is called the ZolVerein, to i'm
pose counteryallIng duties on British goods and thus
protect their own manufactures; and it is therefore,
no wonder that markets soug hit in America. Wha
other statesman in this country has ever been hon
ored by having his reports speeches ordered
to be printed by the Parliament representing the
great robber nation, which has always looked upon
the rising greatness and increasing of this
country with a jealous eyer Has the British Par
lament been much pleased with our de-
caration of Independence, the constitution Of the
United States, the farewell address of Washington
or Jackson, the Texas letter of Mr.. Walker him
self, as to order them to be republished and thereby
give the doctrines which they contain its sanction
But, sir, this ia not the only notice which is taken
OF our secreary's report. Sir Robert Peel, now
at the head of the British government, in his great
speech on the corn b in the House of Commons,
ON the 26h Of January, 1886 after speaking in the
highest terms of the report, says: 81 see some
symptoms Already Of an adherence to the principles
by which have been guided. Look at the report
Of the American Secretary of the Treasury, Mr.
| Walker That sto,cs that example has not been
unapaiing" So that il seems, our secretary follows
the example Of the British statesmen, instead OF
looking to the fathers of our republic. Mr.. Jefer
son once exclaimed, "What have done, that my
enemies praise mei" Our secretary might vel
pause, and make the same inquiry. We then, i,
seems, to follow the example Of the British govern
ment That is not the lead follow. If the fathers OF
our republic had been guided by the principles of our
| cruel stepmother across the water, we would have
been compelled to purchase our manufactured arti-
cles from her at the present day. British arms have
twice been "unavaIling" against this country and
| trust IN God that we not now to be seduced by
the force of example If to become colo
MES again Of Great Britain let it be done by force
ofarms, not by the seductive influence Of example.
Ii we to be shorn our locks let it not be done in
| the lap Of Deah. But let look little further
into this business. We are to be governed by Eng
sh principles in legislating in regard to CONNER
cial regulations and public revenues; that is to say,
the same laws which would be beneficial 10 Eng.
land would be beneficial here. Sir, deny the fact
England is old, her population dense, TIE laborers
mere machines, capital is cheap, her manufactur-
ins interest the leading one. America is young,
her territory large, her population scattered, her
government republican, and agriculture the prnc-
| Al l., .,A h., f,nt,,r