Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-25

collected il be presumed that the Government
needed them The Government did not need these
taxes and therefore he proposed 10 repeal them. He
held that was the duty ofthe Government to repeal un-
necessary taxes. af# M
The amendment of Mr.. MEAcHAm was then rejected.
Mr.. 'WASHBURN moved to amend the amendment of
Mr. CLsGMAS by substituting in lieu thereof provision
directing the Committee Of Ways and Means to report
the subject of the tariff before the first Monday of
February next He thought il be admitted by all
that there should be reduction of the tariff and he
saw no good reason why they should postpone measures
having that object in view He believed the contrary
that every reason existed why they should take early
ton upon the subject Now the time consider the
question without reference to politics. and he trusted that
measures would be taken revise the whole subject
MIR. HOWARD said that it seemed to him that this
movement on the part OF gentlemen the other side
certainly political movement upon the chess board
Ii those gentlemen came forward and admitted that their
whole pshcy IN relation to the tariff erroneous and
that 1t their purpose that policy and
before the country their political errors they would
at least address themselves the onsderaon of the
House and country for their candor. But this was not
the case They s odhered to the protective policy in
all their arguments - he believed that the object of the
whole movement was to get protective tariff under the
pretence OF free trade. S8
Mr. TAYLOR moved substitute in lieu Of the one pro-
posed by Mr. WAsHBuRS, to the effect that the Committee
OF Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the pro-
pety Of substituting specific for ad yalorem duties when
It may practicable home valuation instead of
III
posed by the tariff of 1916 in accordance with the re-
commentator of President Fillmore in his last annual
message.
Mr. T. said that he should not trouble the committee
with any remarks upon this subject but that he differed
materially from the opinions expressed by of his
friends both sides of the committee in relation what
be the great danger to arise from the surplus
in the Treasury of the United States the first day of
last July He thought that if the Government would pay
its honest debts and provide for the Just claimants who
had been knocking at the doors Of the Treasury for the
last fifty years the country would have surplus We
were in debt sixty eighty millions of dollars Now if
man was in debt sixty eighty thousand dollars and
happened to have fifteen thousand dollars hand had
he surplus! Certainly not On the principle,
the Government had no surplus but what they might
properly apply to the payment of the honest debts the
4 Government They could apply part of the supposed
surplus SO as to pay OF portion of the public debt they
could provide for the French indemnity i've mions-a
claim which justly due in the opinion Of branch
of the Government and which had been pending near
y fifty yearsone which was provided for by Con-
gress but which vetoed by Mr. Polk, upon grounds
| which he (Mr IT, never could sanction
The President in his message the last session Of Con-
gress made certain recommendations in relation to the
riff not that he expected Democratic House Of Repre-
sentatyes would adopt what called the Wing policy
of discriminating protective duties but he called the at
tention of Congress to the immense frauds which
practced upon the Treasury and faithful President
he asked them to provide means by which to detect and
punish such frauds and to prevent them in future That
message laid upon the table nine months, and not
referred greatly to his regret Now the President
renewed his recommendation and also reiterated his
commentator for discriminating protective policy for
specific instead of ad valorem duties and though the
House might not be willing to adopt the
it given in good faith by Mr. Fillmore, who about
retire. respected he believed by all honest Of the
country of all parties Some committee standing
ec should take into consideration the recommendations
contained in the message, and endeavor to take
ton to prevent frauds upon the Treasury at least to
provide for the protection of American industry against
/ foreign competition.
Mr. VENABLE expressed himself in favor of the pro-
position to repeal the duties railroad ron and decar
ed that he trade man, out and out though he
did not believe the country at present prepared for
an abolition of duties
/ The amendment of Mr.. TAYLOR then rejected
i Ayes 46, noes 80.
i Mr. DUNCAN moved substitute for the amendment of
Mr.. WAsHBuRS, nstructing the Committee of Ways and
Means report bill to reduce the duties certain
tces and exempt the duties others, and addressed the
committee in its favor.
Mr. EWING said that he was opposed to the amend
men and all similar Ones believing that they were i'm
practicable and calculated defeat the object in view
He in favor of repeating the duty upon railroad iron,
being of the opinion that it could be sustained upon
the principle of protection.
{ The amendment Of Mr. DUNCAN then rejected.
Mr. MEADE offered substitute for the amendment OF
Mr.. WAsHBuRS, instrucng the Committee of Ways and
Means to report bill reducing the duties railroad ror
that point which their opinion would ensure as mucl
revenue, and more, received from iporra
ton of iron during the last fiscal year lie explained tina
he had offered his amendment because he believed iron
which adopted the amendment Of the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. JONES' that it the purpose of th
committee not to reduce the present revenue collected
from iron. ,f4f
Mr.. SHELTON opposed the amendment and also ex-
pressed himself against any alteration of the tariff at the
present time
The amendment OF Mr.. MEADE was then rejected
\ Mr.. FICKLIN offered amendment and stated that
he desired the tariff of 1916 modified reducing the taxes
which it imposed upon the imports Of the country
Mr. HOUSTON opposed any interference with the tariff
at this time believing that at the ensuing Congress it
would be necessary that entire revision should be made
/ The amendment of Mr. FIcKLN was then rejected,
was also the substitute offered by Mr. WAsHBURs.
4 The question next taken the amendment Of Mr.
CLISGMAN amended motion of Mr. JONES, and it
rejected.
The original resolution, as offered by Mr. HousroS, was
i then agreed to.
Various other amendments were offered to the remain
ing resolutions, and having all been disposed Of
The committee and reported their action to the
4 House. -t AeH
All the resolutions then adopted, except to
which amendment was pending before disposng Of
which, the House adjourned.
/ WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER %, 1852
Il IN SENATE.
The PRESIDENT Of the Senate laid before the body q
communication from the Secretary Of the Interior in
answer resolution Of the Dist instant giving the
the 10th March last requiring information In relation
the Commission appointed to and mark the bounda
ry between the United States and Mexico which was
i laid the table and ordered to be printed.
The Secretary states that in consequence Of the Fifth
Auditor having furnished him the information called