The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-26
THE REPUBLIC.

anticipatious. accorded with my views Of what 10
sound policy better than the principles Of the an
tAgonist party, then should not have hesitated TO
cooperate with them say now. Mr.. Chairman.
thatif the old Republican party ofthe deye OF Jeier
son and Madison--that party which was broken to
pieces IN is2o by reason Of ~ n nav SoTnany
party could be called together, upon it, old prnci
ples, would rather march under its flag than that
OF any other likely 10 be found. know that it,
name has somctimes been brought into disreputc'
because many protesting the name have in prac-
tice apostatzed from its principles, while others
have incurred ridiculc by their misappiication OF
those principles. True religion has been brought
into disrepute by the hypocrisy Of its professors,
and good coin Is sometimes dscredited by counter
fcits
The principles of this old party regardful Of the
rights Of the States, strictly defining the powers Of
the Federal Government. and limiting AZ much as
possible the lines of its action, are those only on
which our system can permanently stand In the
part of the Union from which come tho great body
Of men of all classes have originally belonged to
or protested the principles of that party. Many,
even of the old Federalists, having seen the mis-
chief of different line of policy, would be ready to
embrace its principles As for myself, sir, shall
at all tmes Be ready to sustain whatever measures
sound policy and the permanent interests OF the
country shall, in my judgment, require, without
regard to the parties or individuals with whom
may for tho time be placed. A public man here
can find no compensation for his surrender OF the
right of private Judgment and Independence Of &C
ton on all practical issues of moment.
present revenue system ought TO be reviewed, and
modified in some respects The frauds in the
collection of duties complained of should be reme-
died az far practicable; but those who are
making most clamor are doing 1t with view OF
deceiving the country TO their real object,
which 10 to ioist on il tariff enormously high.
am ready myself now to vote for specific duty
ON bar iron, for example, but will not VOTE as the
gentleman from Ohio proposed last session, to
make it $20per ton, or even TO increase it gencr-
ally. Everybody knows that the higher the rate
OF duty the greater the temptation to evade it by
fraudulent devices If there were timo which there
ia not, at the present session, should be willing
to review the whole system. Some of the duties
are too high. Others possibly ought TO be in
creased. The mode Of assessing many Of them
would be willing, for the sake Of revenue, to see
an imposition on every thing that is imported.
cay now, that II any one article ought to be made
absolutely free of duty, know mono having
stronger claims to the exemption than railroad
iron.
The navigation laws, too, need essential modif-
cation. Why should the agriculturist, when he has
conveyed his produce to the seaside, not have tho
privilege Of sending It of in the vessel that will
carry Il cheapest? By extending the reciprocity
system lately adopted with Great Britain (but linn
tied TO the foreign commercel to the coast wise
trade, the enormous rates of freight between
southern and northern ports would be greatly re-
duced. Our farmers and citizens generally would
be gamers thereby. Nor do ! think that our ship
ping interest would materially suffer. The adop-
ton Of the reciprocity system in the foreign trade
has not injured at ALL Its extension with proper
qualifications ought not to be objected to Our ship
owners would doubtless sustain themselves, though
their freight would be less than under the present
monopoly. Let the question Of Canadian recipro-
city and the free navigation Of the st. Lawrence be
considered in connexion with these things. They
are perhaps right in themselves but should prefer
that the system should be re-examined q whole
at tho same time.
With reference to the bill now under consdera-
ton, have little to say: The strongest objection
to the system of internal improvement is It's liza
bility to gross abuse, by Of its partial ten
denotes, veil as the dishonest political combna
tons to which it is apt to give rise. For some of
the items in This bill can readily vote. The Mis-
sssippi river is proper subject for expenditure.
So is the opening of the inlet to tho Albemarle
sound, which my colleague (Mr OurLAw) has 90
much at heart. The same may doubtless be said
AZ to some OF the other appropriations for works
on the coasts and on the lakes. My vote,
therefore, on this bill, will be guided by the pre-
else form it may ultimately assume; but the incli
nation of my mind is strongly against the system.
! doubt whether it will not always be 10 man
aged to be productive of mischief rather than
benefits.