Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-03-25
HON. JOHN WEIGH.

I
The following is an extract frol
the late speech of this gentleman j
Congress. We only give such POI
ton as relates TO the Tariff:
| wish now TO say a few word
upon another subject, which is not
| in fact, connected with this bill a
all, but which has been adverted t,
by the gentleman from Massachu
setts. TMr. Rantoul]-I mean th'
tariff. cannot for my life see wha
connection that has with the subiec
under consideration-the construc
ton OF these railroads. The gentle.
man placed his advocacy of this
measure upon the principle that il
would be a great public benefit to
construct this road its entire length,
but, like other gentlemen, fell into
the mistake of taking Il for granted,
that il tieseroads IN Missouri were
constructed the balance Of the road
would be constructed by the people
themselves. 1t is true that the peo-
pie have taken this matter in hand;
that they have exerted all their ener-
gies; that they have left no stone
unturned. They have resorted to
every means, TO taxation, 10 every
description of bonds-county bonds,
corporation bonds, and railroad
bonds; but, tell you, you must not
and cannot safely take il for granted
that the middle portions of this road
will be closed up and completed
We are just in the condition in which
the man was when he called upon
Hercules 10 help him out of the
mud. One lift from Uncle Sam,
even with his left hand,-his little
finger, would take US out of the
mIre and set US on our feet. 1t is
not true that there is any reasonable
hope that, within any time not in
definitely remote, these roads can be
completed by the people unaided.-I
Now is the very time to extend to
them this aid. ] assure you il would
be most acceptable.
But | was going on to remark,
that if was taking this view of the
question and starting from this point,
that the gentleman from Massachu-
setts branched off on to the tariff,
and made an onslaught upon it, the
per:insncy Of which | could not see.
IF his remarks were in order, it will
certainly be in order for me to reply |
10 them.
| wish only to notice one or two
which seemed to be the
sum and substance OF all that the
gentleman said in regard TO the
tariff. The first proposition Of the
gentleman from Massachusetts was
This: that the price Of the produce
exported from the United States for
The four years ending in lS42, and
also for the four years ending in
1850, exceeded, by $l25,O00,O00,
The price of the same articles expor-
ted during the four years that CON-
nenced in lS42. The gentleman
seemed to wish to deduce from this
IN argument against the tariff of
IS42. That seemed TO be the drift
If his argument upon this subject,
throughout. But grant the gentle
mans facts, and what do they prove?
t it be true, that articles of domes-
ic produce commanded higher
'rices during the last four years than
hey did during the middle term,
hat proves nothing. You will re-
lember that during the period,
rices were regulated, and regulated
t very high notches, by the inflated ..
tate oil the currency. During the
utter period, terminating in 1850, !
re had, in lS47-'S, the famine in
Europe, and in IS49 we had the
allure of the wheat crop here, and 5
hese facts are sufficient TO account =
,r the fact-if it be a fact-tha!
rices were comparatively high du-
ing this latter period.
The gentleman's estimates of pro- ,.
uce exported during the twelve :
ears named consisted mainly in the |
cry large amount of cotton expor-
ed. He has not seen proper to !.
lace in comparison the prices. dn- !,
ing that period, of the staple arti-
les of the produce of the North,
uch as wheat, -four, and pork. We
II know how it is with cotton.-
he price OF that article depends : :
pom the quantity produced; no :
nti- proteclionist ever denied that il 7
ou were TO take away from the I
otton growers their domestic mar |
ct for cotton, and leave them the !
European market alone, that the
fleet would be to diminish The price |
er pound of cotton. 1t is not
ossible that il should be otherwise, S
rovided the crop grown were the a
anne. You cannot eat cotton as ?
ou do wheat. 1t must all go to i
market, the entire crop. Ii must all 9
% to the manufacturer, either here I
II elsewhere, Now, is IL probable Z