The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-11
FalpAr, December 10. 1862.

4
SENATE.
| The SENxfE was not in session to-day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
pREsIpENr's MEssAoE-rHE TARIFF
| On motion Of Mr.. HOUSTON. the House re-
| solved itself into a Committee of the Whole on
the state of the Union-Mr. STU NRT in the CHAIR
| on the Presidents annual message.
| Mr.. HOUSTON submitted series OF resolu.
tions, proposing TO refer the aeveral branches OF
that document to the appropriate standing com
| mittees, He said he did not propose to occu py
| the attention Of the House in discussion at TINS
| time. He believed that with one exception those
| were the usual resolutions; and he expressed the
hope that they would now be adopted, in order
| that the committees may have the severai
| branches of the message before them at the ear
| liest practical period.
MIR. BROOKS proposed to amend the second
resolution Ito read as follows: Except 80 much
of the messake as refers TO the tariff and revenue
| from customs, which shall be referred TO select
committee Of seven members, with power 70 eA,
anime witnesses and collect testimony here ana
elsewhere, and with instructions TO report by Dill
or otherwise before the 25th of January next
He proposed to submit very few remarks, In az
dition to those expressed by him on former day
upon this subject. He did not deslre to enter
into discussion of the tariff, or tho prlaciples
connected with the revenue, for this would DO pre-
mature. He repeated his objections to the CON
mittee of Ways and Means having entire control
Of the revenue. II was not subject legitimately
within their control, and therefore such direction
should not be given to it. Beside, 1t was utterly
impossible, with all the appropriation bills before
them, with assiduous labor, to attend to any
other business within the ninety day. OF the session
II the subject should be delayed until all the np-
preparation bills prepared it would then be
too late to act upon it all Therefore he had pro-
posed to refer il to select committee, with in
structions to collect the facts forthwith and report
on or before the twenty fifth of January. Some
thing must be done As a representative OF the
commercial and trading interests, he did not feel
easy, nor did bis feel easy with hfteen
or twenty millions Of surplus in the treasury
the accumulation being likely to continue. The
sub treasury is but miser, boarding the treasures
of the Government; and when the amount OF
unemployed revenue in New York goes beyond
six millions, the whole subject Of the currency is
seriously affected. He had therefore embraced the
opportunity, at this early period of the session to
lay bis proposition before the House. He did not
intend, far as his vote concerned, to permit
twenty millions of surplus TO remain in the trea-
sury, but he would vote it out as the general In
terests of the country require. He would rather
vote for the widest schemes of internal improve
mont he would rather vote to double the army
| and the navy than consent for such large surplus
to be disconnected from the commerce OF the
country. 1t would be wise to make the most
wasteful appropriations rather than 10 retain this
surplus and permit it's further increase.
He then replied to the remarks of Mr.. BROWN
of Mississippi, delivered on Tuesday last
Mr.. MILLSON inquired whether the resolution
introduced by the gentleman this morning differed
from that offered by him several days ago.
WI. bhOOAS repued tnat ne nad CnanBeo tue
phraseology Of the resolution, because it was voted
down BY nineteen majority; and that he had o.
fered the one now under consideration to meet the
sesse Of the majority. His object was the same
now as twas the other day-he wanted lcss reve-
| nue. to como into the treasury, and reduce it In
such manner as the House might determine The
reduction, he repeated, must be made ny all sides
of the House. 1t will not do for the Wings, with
twenty millions of surplus, to say the tariff must
not be touched; fer when it shall be increased to
forty millons, it will be wasted in extravaganza,
The question must be met now. If the majority
not disposed to take it up, on them be the re-
sponsibility. $50
Mr.. SWEETSER asked the gentleman to point
| out the particular reductions which he proposed>
either general or particular.
Mr.. BROOKS replied that the first proposition
was to reduce the duty on the raw material which
enters into the consumption of the manufactured
article, and to enlarge the list Of the free ARTICLES
He desired more specific and less ad paiorem du-
ties; and, after speaking further in this connex-
ion, he remarked that the Democratic party and
the incoming administration must meet this state
of things. If they let the surplus revenue in
crease, it will be said it is with view of waste
full disbursement of the public money. And tho
Wings would bold them to a strict accountability
for the expenditure. He knew they would cay
| they would take the responsibility. He knew
they would take il, but he wanted them to under
| stand its magnitude.
RMr. MEADE desired TO offer amendment to
the pending resolution, 30 to express the object
OF the select committee to be reduction OF the
revenue by reduction of the duty on imports.
Mr.. BROOKS said that was what the gentleman
voted against the other day. a.
Mr.. MEADE explained, saying the gentleman
entirely mistook, as the amendment is not the
| same as the proposition Submitted by the gentle
man TO the House on Tuesday
MIR. BROOKS declined TO accept the amend
| ment; and after further remarks
Mr.. LOCKHART offered an amendment, in
| structing the select committee to report bill to
graduate and reduce the tariff to revenue
| standard l.... .-4#.
Mr.. BAYLY, of Virginia, approved of the prac.
tice which the gentleman from New York desired
| to introduce. II was borrowed from the British
Parliament, where they never undertake to legs-
late any great subject Of policy without insti-
| tuting commission with regard to it. So far as
the tariff concerned, he would favor 1t, because
the manufacturers can always act in concert and
present their views in the most favorable manner
to the country, whereas the great body of agrcul-
turists must individually combat the movement
| on the other side. He would support it at the
| proper time. But there another practice
Of the British Parliament wise ths, and
| one more becoming to us, because here greater
| Difference is. and ought to be, paid to pub
| going of parliament and the out going Of an
| administration, no radical reforms are attempted
| When ministry are falling, and find it necessary
to go before the country, they have discovered il to
be the better way to pass the usual appropriation
bills, and to attempt no radical change OF policy.
The House and Administration stand precisely in
such an attitude at this time In little more than
| two months President will be installed, and
! one half of the members OF this House have bsen
passed upon by the people. 1t therefore seemed to
| him that the House, considering this short
session, could have its time sufficiently occupied
with the appropriation bills and other questions
| which will not admit of delay. The honorable
| gentleman made further remarks upon this sub.
ject ..
| MIR. JONES, of Tennessee, offered a resolution
| instrocting the committee TO observe the nd udlo-
rem principle, and that in adjusting the duty on
imports more revenue be raised than will de.
fray the penscs of the Government economically
| administered. E
MIR. WOODWARD said the subject came before
the committee expectedly but he should not pre-
tend to enter into full discussion of the merits Of
| the question now under consider alton. He was sat-
isfed the House would not admit of any general or
| fundamental action upon the subject But, be-
cause this was true, and because the longest sea-
sion is not long enough 10 mature action, he was
! in favor OF bringing up the question now. He was
in favor OF discussion al this session, knowing that
would go before the people, and the puolic mind be
] brought TO bear on the next Congress He spoke