Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-11


submit report III he understood the tenor Of the gen.
tlemans remarks, his object was to make the present
tariff more unequal than ii now was His MIR. C.s)
object would be rather TO equaize it, He believed that
the duties high and did not think there any
reason why the Government should have twenty millions
OF surplus revenue in the Treasury He disposed to
go into the whole subject fairly and believed that they
should reduce the duty upon WOOL For the benefit
OF wool manufacturers he would reduce the duty to
twenty per cent, but he willing to increase it
upon manufactured articles He thought that the tariff
OF 1916 made too great and sudden reduction and 1t
did fall heavily upon the manufacturers of that day But
now they were at the point to which he thought they
should have come more gradually But he thanked gen.
tlemen for bringing them it, They were now reduced
to point from which they could make further step
The object should be to collect the with the least
burden to the people, and, having large surplus they
should move gradually forward.
In regard to the daty iron, he believed that the
whole country called for a repeal of that duty.
He gratfed that this proposition from gen.
teman who was identified with the protectionist party
While he would vote for it, he wished it be understood
that he did agree with the gentleman in all the views
he had expressed to-day. He hoped the House would
take the subject up and permit the committee to be
raised.
Mr. BROWN, Of Mississippi, said that he had listened
with pleasure to the remarks Of the gentleman from New
York. He always listened to that gentleman with plea
sure but he listened to him to-day with degree Of
surprise He recolected very well that when the tariff
Of 1916 being adjusted the gentleman from New York
and his friends confident in the opinion it would
80 cut up the literally to the Govern
gentleman
longer member Of the House, Che alluded to Mr. VIM
ros confident that the receipts from it would mot
exceed eighteen millions Of dollars and his party friends
equally confident that that would be the result But
that great measure of had been fairly tested
and the gentleman from New York came in-he sup
posed speaking by authority of his party-o tell them
that the tariff of 1916 not only supplied all the needf
venue of the Government-he (Mr. b. would add of
wastefu and extravagant Government-bu that under
surplus had accumulated with which they did not know
what to do.
There was, he granted not twenty Millions but per-
haps some fourteen millions Of surplus revenue in the
Treasury but how many millions the Government in
debty Some sixty seventy mlions-he believed the
message did not disclose the amount-of Indebtedness.
Here was excellent way dispose of the surplus
nue-pay debts with it, This was the most legiti-
mate and proper mode of dsposng of the surplus
accommodating in the Treasury Besides he had yet to
learn that the appropriations Of the last session. and those
necessarily dependant upon them in future had been pro-
vided for. Our Government had delicate relations with
Mexico which might yet involve us in the payment Of
large sum- What had been the depredatons committed
upon friendly Power by Indians in violation of the
ty of Guadalupe Hdago remained yet to be told but
those claims would have to be adjudcated and paid.
So far the tariff concerned he had intention
OF entering into discussion of that subject He did not
suppose that at this early day this question would be
sprung For himself he satisfied with the tariff Of
1886 As to their returning to the minmums and specifics
limited at by the gentleman from New York. he OPP
posed it and before he voted for this reference with
the instructions embodied in it, he must know what were
the purposes of the gentleman what kind of modifca
ton of the tariff did he desres Was it proposed to re-
duce the tariff upon all imports, upon part only If
this the purpose would the gentleman by that means
increase diminish the revenuey Representing as he
did planting constituency who had prospered under the
operations of this tariff they had prospered be-
FORE he unwilling to touched unless he should
first understand the purposes which was to be DONE
and what would be the facts in reference to it. His
stituents were producing of the raw material
cotton and were obtaining better prices for it. than
former period They satisfied with the present tariff
laws They paid, and he thought he could demonstrate
it. more revenue in proportion to the population than the
people at the North and they willing do this if
they would let them alone He hoped these suggestions
would elicit from the other side Of the House what they
expected to accomplish by this movement.
Mr. DEAN expressed his establishment at the PROPOSE
ton that had been made by his colleague reduce the
revenue-partcuary after hearing the Presidents mes
sage in favor Of increase Of the tariff Of 1846 and
particularly after the party Of which the gentleman was
member had been through campaign in the New Eng
land States in which they had made the distinct point
that increase Of duty necessary for the protection
Of manufacturer In the New England States during the
election almost the only question raised in relation
TO the tariff Of 1846-that odous free trade tar-and
now the gentleman forward and said that he was
in favor of reducing the tariff of 1876 There was al
ready committee whose especial duty il to INQUIRE
into the revenue and he would ask his colleague il he
not member Of the Committee Of Ways aud Means
whose duty it to inquire into the Of the Gov
ernment and If he or any other member of that commit
tee had proposed any bin to reduce the revenues
MIR. BROOKS replied that he was member of the
Committee Of Ways and Means and the gentleman would
permit him to that that committee Of the last session
OF Congress not aware that the first of last July
there was fourteen millions of surplus revenue In the
Treasury and that by the first Of January in all proba
bility there would be surplus Of twenty millions. He
would be happy TO inform his colleague what he would
be after If he had the appointment of the committee
But what the committee would be after would be for the
majority Of the House to say, for the Speaker had the
appointment Of it.
Mr. DEAN said that he did rise to debate the SUBJ
Ject He was willing at the proper time enter into
discussion the tariff Of 1886 but to changing that
tariff, against that he trusted that majority Of the
House. he knew majority of the country were utter
y opposed Its principles had been sustained by the
people As to the surplus revenue, the Government
indebted about sixty millions, and they could lquidate
this debt with the surplus. In conclusion he deemed it
his duty to move the previous question.
The previous question seconded.
Mr. HOUSTON inquired if the House should vote down
the amendment Of the gentleman from New York would
it not be competent when the message should have been
referred to the Committee Of the Whole give the pre-
else reference which proposed this reference
with such modification as might suit the Of
jorityl
The SPEAKER replied in the affirmative.
Mr.. STEPHENS, OF Georgia, desired TO make an in |
qury Suppose the message should be referred TO the
Committee Of the Whole and that committee should
act upon IT. would IL then be acted upon by the House
Laughter
The question then taken and the amendment Of
Mr.. Brooks was rejected by the following vote:
YEAS-Messrs. Abererombie, Bennett Bibighaus Bovine
Boyd Brenton, Briggs Brooks f. Cabel Chandler Chap
man. Churchwel Clingman Cottman Cuonn, Disney, Dock
cry, Doty Eastman Edmundson, Gaylord Gentry, Harper
Haw Hascal Haven Hebard Horsford, John w. Howe, T.
NJ Howe, t. Y. Howe, Hunter James johnson, George g.
King Kuhns, Meachsm Miller, Mllson Miner, Molony IL
D. Moore, John Moore Morehead, Nabers, Orr, Outlaw