The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-10

feated, the measure remained imperative until 1871;
when ssfedera Congress" exhumed it from the grave,
and galvani.ed it into sort of quondam ncketty exist
ence Tradition tells then that II was distribution,
and that other short lived and execabe shape the bank
rupt aar came forth twin and dependent offspring OF
the same of political adultery They came forth as
the formidable shapes that sprang from the brain OF Luz
cifer to guard the gates OF Hell;
"The one seem'd woman to the waist, and fairs
But ended foul in many sealy Told, ,
Volumnous and vast! serpent armd
With mortal sting about her middle round,
A cry of helhounds never ceasine barkd
Will wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung
A hideous peal yet, when they list. would creep,
If taught DISTURBED their noise, into her womb
And kennel there"
Such was the image of that ghtiu moral prodigy, the
bankrupt law with its foul and double features OF yolah
ary and involuntary ban rupcy; which Knocked at the
faith OF contracts, and afforded sanctuary Tor near tty
thousand debtors against the demands OF their creditors
'Ihe other shape,
If shape it might be called that shape had none
+ Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb;
Or substance Nigh be called, that shadow seemed,
What seemed his head,
The likeness of a kngy crown had on
This, sir was the likeness of distribution, with its
shadowy and conditional operation to disperse the pro-
ceeds of the sales of the public lands among the States,
when the from Imports taxed at certain maxi
mum rate of Duties should prove sufficient TO support the
This measure Objectionable on many
was to pepetuae land system which has already drawn
more than SO0,oo0ooO from the infant communities OF
the west and southwest the price of the homes they
have found in the wilderness, and dignity by their cou-
age and patriotism which has drawn from Illinois alone
more than $00o0,00o, and which, aggravated by disr-
button would tend degrade the States TO the character
of mendcans at the throne of federal power by the hope
of receiving periodical aims. Distribution sir is the en-
terng wedge OF high restrictive tariff, which must tax
the people OF the States unequally consumers to
buy more and lands to be sold chiefly to themselves
at advanced price, in order that the proceeds thereof
may be distributed among all the States and Tor these
and other unnecessary here 10 be nenoned hc
distribution act was repealed 80
Yes sir distribution not only repealed, but Mr..
Polk and the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Walker,
unaplp1
ure of the graduation and reduction of the price OF the
public lands to settlers and cuitivators. They recon-
mended this measure and |, a member OF the Commit
tee on Public Lands, had the honor of bringing it in a
legislative form before this House And what was the
result 1t srenuousy opposed by the whole federal
phaanx; particularly by the gentleman from Vermont,
| tMr CoLLAMERl whose abilities now grace the head Of
the land commee-by the distinguished gentleman from
Ohio, mir VINToN,] who has been promoted to be char
loquent gentleman from Georgia, mr. STEPHENS with
whom have the honor to be associated on the land COM
m,tee, and hope not without the prospect OF moving
his bowels to compassion for the menorous but much
abused class of pioneers and settlers. IL was thus OPP
posed yet sir after of the most tremendous strug
giles which occurred in Congress, was passed by
this House, and afterwards by the Senate, with some
modification, which caused it to be lost for the want OF
time for it's further consideration.
Ii is to be regretted that important measure
should have been lost Its enactment into the force of
law would have been attended with the most beneficial
consequences 1t would have reduced and graduated the
prices of the public lands according to their actual value
and thus strengthened the liberties of the country by in
creasng the number OF independent freehoders II
would have increased our agricultural surplus. and
agricultural labor. 1t would have FASTENED the Pc
Rod for looping Oft cumbrous and expensive branch
of federal patronage 1t would have secured 10 the
government fair equivalent for the public lands.
In fine, it would have crowned the labors OF demo-
cratic administration with complete success Lost how
ever as the measure was 1t is SUI the merit OF eeTo
the first time, concurreny approved under their aus
pces, by two departments Of the government.
But, sir, glorious as are these results another
equally. if not more glorious, remains to be added
refer to the liberation OF the country, and ITS labor
and interests, from the shackes OF restrictive and
oppressive tariff AS Jefferson had contributed to redeem
the country from the dcspotsm OF the alien and sedon
laws-as Jackson. with a bold hand, had struck down
that haot of niquty, the United States Bank--as Van
connection with State banks, and poised it upon
its self-acting and sell preserving powers, un-
der the constitutions so President Polk, emulating
these great examples, has contributed poweruly by
his welI-dreced and perseverlng efforts, to relieve
the country from the blighting system of CONNER.
cia restrictions The oppressive and unjust tariff OF
when Mr. Polk came to the presidency; and, like all
other enactments founded in the interests of favored
classes, strong in its very principle OF exclusion
Five hundred thousand manufacturers, with all their IN
uence of capital business, and association, sustained It
with the unity OF common interest and the activity OF
will. Clad in purple and tinselled with gold, they
conended for the retention of profit OF So 00 and $50
per cent per annum upon capital against more than four
millions of agycultusts, artisans and navigaors whose
only object TO Obtain f2r reward lot aOor Inc
contest was for long time doubtful. Once taWdry
wealth honest toll but justice and the denoc
raoy of numbers finally triumphed, and the back tariff"
of 1912 replaced by the revenue tariff OF S46 Hap
py glorious result The emancipation of labor from the
bonds OF capital IA second declaration OF independence
The grand and instructive event should ever stand as
! light and guide for the future
Whatever sir may be the policy OF other nations, that
of the United States consists pre-eminenty in free
trade Experience not only bears testimony TO this great
truth but God himself has stamped it with omnpoent
hand in the everlasting features OF the counry-n its
extent its dversiiies OF soil and climate lis supe
rior adaptation the production OF beadstuts and cot
ton the great staples for feeding and clothing mankind
which, in our hands, must eventually secure to the
control of the and exchanges OF the world
Treasury Department says of its benefcen operation and
promise in his late report:
! "The new tariff has now been in operation more than
twelve months, and has greatly augmented the
and prosperity of the country. The nett revenue from
duties (see table NM during the twelve months ending
Is, December 1917 under The new tariff is 1871 500 900;
being SIS ,52s 500 more than was received during the
twelve months preceding under the tariff of 1912 The
nett of the first quarter OF the first fiscal year
under the tariff Sll ,106,257 Al, whilst in the
same quarter of the preceding year. under the tariff of
| 1912. the nett revenue only &6l53,S26 IS. If the
for the three remaining quarters should equal in
the average the first then the nett revenue from duties
during the first fiscal year of the tariff would be
SII425 029 Ca If, however, the comparison is found
ed all the quarterly returns for rs years. Gas far back
as given quarterly in the Treasury recodsO and the
proportion TOR the several quarters applied to the FIRST
quarter OF this year il would make its nett revenue $780,
| 1885 0t5 (per table Cg
fret trypt he sfnI