North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-03-15

Sneeoh of Hon. T. l.. Clingman,
OF NORTH CAROLINA,

Mr.. CL1NeMAN said: Mr.: Chalrman-A wide
range has been taken by those gentlemen who
have embarked in the debate on this bill. Among
III subjects discussed by them Is one great CUES
ton irectly connected in IFS relation to the mme,
ii ote subicct matter Before speaking TO the bill
itself nropose to direct the attention OF the com
m ittee 10 this preliminary question This meas.
IRE. if it should pass, will make heavy demand
nm The treasury. With our other llaolltles we
shall almost certainly have a deficiency OF reve-
nue.. This is so generally admitted, that we have
already had before US propositions to change the
existing revenue laws with view, as the movers
alIepe of increasing the amount derived by the
existing duties on imports. 1t was formerly the
practice when an increase OF The tariff was at
tempted to allow full discussion before the
House was brought to vote on the measure. A
different mode, however, is now resorted 10 by the
friends of higher duties. Their propositions are
brought mp at time and in a mode when no de-
bate can be had. We are thus required to vote
on measures of the eravest moment, and affecting
the vital interests of the whole country, without
one word Of explanation by their friends, or OF oo-
lection by opponents | shall therefore IN the
first place ask the attention of the committee 10
this branch of the subject, in order that the primer
Piles which govern my action may be iEuica'eu ~
the House and the country.
You we'll remember, Mr.. Chairman that al Inc
man from Ohio before me MR. Vintonl introduce
ed proposition which if passed into 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 previous question
and had friends enough TO carry 1t, ana mus CUT
off all debate and brought the House at once to
direct vote The movement, however. notwIth-
Standing all the preparation and effort OF lis
friends, failed for The want OF two or three votes
only.
On that occasion 1 was in connection with Ine
of nv colleagues, denounced by portion OF the
press. attributing to US properly no doubt the de-
feat of the measure We were charged with hav-
ing misrepresented the views of our party and
State. Since then, however, North Carolina has
spoken on the subject drought the action OF her
LEGISLATURE BY vote unanimous in one House and
with but two disSenlients in the other Our posi-
ton on that occasion has been fully sustained, Not
only did the legislature implicitly thus denounce
that particular proposition. bat has gone so ar as
to condemn any increase of duties and all addition
al protection to the mining and manufacturing in
terests 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 Re-
peated attempts have been made, Mr.. Chairman.
to make this subject of the tariff mere party qnes
ton Such efforts have in practice failed to be
successful For example, when the tariff act of
1912, often called the Wing 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 Democ ratio
parties of that section were found voting against
it, 1t was carried nevertheless by the joint fort
of tho Northern Wings and Democrats, embrac
ing most of the leading men of the latter party
then in Congress
When the bill of 1896 the present law, was
passed. it received The vote of a single Southern
Wing. my friend from Alabama on my right mr.
HiIliard1 To the tariff of l824 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 defend
ed and sustained tariffs not only for revenue but
also for protection as an incident upon Certain
principles In 1874, in the debate with Dr. Dun.
can OF Ohio, while defending the actor of the
Wing party with reference to this question: and
assaiIing that of the Northern Democracy, and
while stating the principles which it seemed to me
ought to govern Legislation on this subject de-
clined to commit myself to he support of the tar
if as it then stood, rs permanent measure and
left myself free to vote for its modification as
might subsequently, think proper. When ques-
toned three years since by committee appointed
by the Democratic mnmbe rs of the legislature of
North Carolina in relation TO the existing tariff
law, not only refused to pledge myself to its
support, but expressed the opinion that it needed
modification, and declared my purpose to sanction
such changes as might regard proper and nPces-
sary at any future day. The support, Mr. Chair
man, heretofore given TO the tariff policy by the
Southern 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 North
and Southern States. 1t was agreed that in
consideration of the importation of slaves being
permitted up to the year 1908, of the representa-
ton of three-iths of the slaves generally, and of
the delivering up of the fugitives, all of which
concessions made at the solicitation of South
ern members, that they should consent their
part: that the Congress should in accordance with
the wishes of the North have the power by mere
majority vote to pass navigation or tariff laws
While, therefore. the stpuations for the benefit of
the slave interest were faithfully carried out, we
of the South felt that we were under strong obi
CATIONS our part to assent to such policy as
might be liberal and fair to Northern interests,
and in some instances event submitted 10 exaclions
greatly beyond anything that they could reasona-
bly, have claimed.
In the second place, at the time when our pro-
tective policy had its origin we were surrounded
and hemmed in BY inc restrictive systems of
those nations with which we had most CONNER
cial intercourse 1t was deemed therefore, by
Mr. Jefferson and others, wise policy 10 coun-
tervail the oppressive tariffs of foreign countries
by retaiatorylaws within certain limits upon our
part.
In the third place, it was commended that we
ought to give such encouragement to our manu-
featuring establishments during their earlier
stages, as might be necessary to give them q fair