The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-22
SPEECH OF T. L. CLIN0MAN,

SPEECH OF T. l.. CLINGMAN,
on THE FUTURE POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT,
Delivered in Committee 9 the Whole of the
houseof Representatives. February 18th 1851
Mr. CHAIRMAN "A wide range has been
taken by those gentlemen who have embarked
in the debate on this bill. Among the subjects
discussed by them, is one great question direct
ly connected in its relation to the Immediate sub
Jet matter. Before speaking to the bill itself
propose to direct the attention OF the commit
tee to this preliminary question. This measure
it it should pass. will make heavy demand on
the TREASURY. With our other liabilities we shall
almost certainly have deficiency of revenue
This 10 20 generally admitted, that we have al
ready had before US propositions to change the
existing revenue laws, with view, as the NOV
ers aliege, OF increasing the amount derived by
the existing duties on imports. TWAS formerly
the practice, when an increase OF the tariff was
attempted, TO allow full discussion before the
House was brought to vote on the measure
A different mode, however, is now resorted to
by the friends of higher duties. Their pro-
positions are brought up at time and in mode
when no debate can be had. We are thus re-
quired to vote on measures of the gravest mo.
ment, and affecting the vital interests of the
by their friends or Of objection by opponents
shall therefore in the first place ask the atten
tion of the committee to this branch of the sub
ject, in order that the principles which govern
my action may be indicated to the House and
the country. sa.eot
You we'll remember, Mr.. Chairman, that at
the close ofthe last session of Congress the gent
leman from Ohio before me Mr.. VINToN, intro
duced proE osition which If passed into n law.
would have added more than hundred per
cent. to many of the existing taxes, and would
have increased all of them. He moved the pre-
vious question and had friends enough to carry
it, and thus cut off all debate and brought the
House at once to direct vote The movement,
however notwithstanding all the preparation
and effort of its friends, failed for the want of
two or three votes only.
On that occasion was, in connection with one
Of my colleagues, denounced by portion of the
press, attributing to US properly no doubt the de-
feat of the measure. We were charged with hav-
having misrepresented the views of our party and
State. Since then, however, North Carolina has
spoken on the subject through the action of her
legislature, by a vote unanimous in one House
and with but two dissentients in the other. Our
position on that occasion has been fully sustained.
Not only did the legislature implicitly thus de-
nounce that particular proposition, but it has
gone so far as to cOndem any increase of duties
and all additional protection to the mining and
manufacturing interests of the Northern States.
With the general propositions embraced in their
resolutions, fully concur, and shall hold myself
ready at all times to maintain substantially their
truth and justice. Repeated attempts have been
made, Mr.. Chairman, to make this subject Of the
tariff mere party question. Such efforts have
10 practice failed to be successful. For example
when the tariff net of l842, often called the
aWhig tariff" was enacted, it was passed with
the opposition of almost the entire South. With
the exception of one or two gentlemen only, the
entire Wing and Democratic parties Of that Sec
ton were found voting against it. 1t was car
ried nevertheless by the joint effort of the North
ern Wings and Democrats, embracing most of
the leading men of the latter party then in Con-
gress.
When the bill Of 1886 the present law, was
passed, it received the vote Of a single South
ern Wing, my friend from Alabama on my right
[Mr. HrLIARD. To the tariff of 1924 and
1928, ] need hardly say that the entire body of
the Southern delegations were opposed 1t is
true, however, Mr.. Chairman, that Southern
Wings have defended and sustained tariffs, not
only for revenue but also for protection as an
incident upon certain principles. In 1874, in the
debate with DIR. Duncan Ohio, while defending
the action of the Wing party with reference to
this question, and assailing that of the North
ern Democracy, aud while stating the principles
which it seemed to me ought to govern legisla.
ton on this subject, declined to commit N.Y.
self to the support Of the tariff as it then stood
as permanent measure, and left myself free to
vote for its modification as ! might subsequently
think proper When questioned three years
since by committee appointed by the Demo-
cratic members Of the Legislature Of North Caro-
lima, in rel ,tion to the existing tariff law, not
only refused to pledge myself TO its support, but
expressed the opinion that 1t needed modification,
and declined my purpose to sanction such
changes MS might regard proper and necessary
at any future day. The support, Mr.. Chairman,
heretofore given to the tariff policy by the South
ern Statesmen. seems to have rested on the fol-
lowing grounds. In the first place, as had oc-
casion to bring to the attention of the House,
three years since, there was in the convention
which formed the federal Constitution, direct
bargain between the representatives Of the
Northern and Southern States 1t was agreed
that in consideration Of the importation of slaves
being permitted up TO the year 1903, Of the rep.
resentaton Of three-ffths of the slaves gen
orally and OF the delivering up Of the fugitives,
all Of which concessions were made ut the 90
licitation of Southern members. that they should
consent on their part, that the Congress should
in accordance with the wishes of the North have
the power BY mere majority vote to pass nav-
CATION or tariff laws. While, therefore, the stpu
lations for the benefit Of the slave interest were
faithful y carried out, we Of the South felt that
we were under strong obligations on our part to
assent to such policy "a might be liberal
and frr to Northern interests, and in some in
stances even submitted 10 cxuti,a, great,
bevont anything that they could reasonably
have claimed.
In the second place, Mt the time when our pro
tective policy had its origin, we were surrounded
and hemmed in by the restrictive systems OF
those nations, with which we had most CONNER
cid in ercouse. 1t was deemed, therefore, by
Mr.. Jefferson and others, wise policy to coun-
tervni the oppressive tariffs of foreign countries
by retalltory law, within certain limits upon ou
put.
In the third place, II was commended that W,
ought to give such encouragement to our manu-
featuring establishments during their earle
stages, as might be necessary to give them a fai
start in the race Of competition with the rest o
kt,, IL T.. n ~