The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-21


TO whom missed him Here perhaps, the curtain had
as well be dropped, except 10 say that when next
able to take full and unobstrucied view OF his position
and pursuit, the color OF his plume changed and the
black weeper OF protection was in It's place the cry OF
"Siate sovereignty had died upon his lips, and he muir
mured not loud, but Deep .ionsoiidation' in its stead
and instead OF striking, as OF old, against monopoes
found and s, find him upholdng them with all his
Bruce.like power. Here the curtain shall fall 1 am, in
all sincerity grateful TO the honorable senator for much
learned from his preeepts and example twenty odd
years ago. trust do him no injustice now.
But 10 return TO the tariff OF 1928 That year witnessed
the expulsion Of the monoposs from executive power;
and then commenced the real struggle for the repeal OF
he bill OF denominations" Ii is needless TO do more than
allude to the fact OF that struggle. the crisis in the
fate of the Union 10 which it led in 1882 and 1888
Those incidents but too fresh and painful in the
minds oil all and many yet survive who still
healed OF wounds received in the struggle which devel
oped them II is enough that the crisis imminent
that extremes met and, as It were OF necessity joined
hands in compromise" which, allowing ten years to
equaze its burdens and its benefits, soemnly agreed
to be sacred league and that upon the ques
lions il adjusted there should be no more strife among
brethren forever And for ten years that covenant
kept; for during that period the friends OF "lree trade
in power. and they, they have done, kept
! BILE coincidence, "monopoIists" gained power again
And sad spectacle it was sad for the country lin the
very hour OF their triumph and il to signaze il by
deed which might mark the age that witnessed It's per-
peiraon, with stone so black that the memory OF man
should never etlace its impresson-n that hour they
broke that covenant which had owed its existence almost
10 the death throes OF the Unonhad been sealed, ii
were with the hearts blood OF the nation, and been rat
ed by which be violated with npunity
But those violated, | have said, and sure
and swift followed punishment in the track OF the viola
ton. The tariff act of lS42 returning to high proec
ton, erected upon the ruins OF the compromise OF
1888. Again was the country agiaied, again were the
Sluarts expelled and again were the friends of "free
trade restored to power. Upon that followed the tariff
act oil l5i6-a return, in substance, to the compromise
a revenue tarif-of 1888; and once again upon this
question the country was at rest And so upon that
question il has remained until this time for, although
the "monopolists," under new nane under peculiar
circumstances, and upon no distinct definite issues OF
public policy, gained access 10 executive power in 1S4S
and retain now they have not yet been bold enough 10
disregard the past or venture upon that experiment d.
rectly, any palpabe form which has proved
fatal to their predecessors OF the same faith.
My object in making this incidental recurrence to the
sGy san ana az s 'ars seep OF 70
pleasant TO enter into any argument against
further than to remind the Senate and the country how
disturbing and injurious that legislation has been 10 the
general interest OF the country, sometimes even threaten
ing the very existence of the Union ITSELF and all this,
without coneTring that benefit upon the particular inter-
est it designed 10 protect which led 10 lis adoption
for after ALL what has been the real benefit to manufac
lures of all this much coveted protection Fiuctuaon,
FLUcTUATIoNthe greatest curse curse which no bene
hi, all benefits combined, can compensatehas been
its unfaling and fatal attendant As said before, it
stimulates the business for the time; and, thus
aged investments extended operations enlarged,
and expenses multiplied; and, as consequence OF this,
the productions excessively increased. And this not
in view of the real wants OF the country in accord
ance with the laws OF demand and supply, which
alone have given, or can give stability and
10 any legitimate useful pursuit; but grow
ing out OF mere enactments OF arbitrary, special egs-
lation, conceived in spirit The single
interest it would subseIye neither comprehends the
relations which necessarily subsst between every
other interest and every pursuit. nor competent TO
tain the conflicts which, like comet shot madly from
its sphere" must unavoidably encounter its eccentric
course among interests with which, If left nndlsturbed
10 the general laws, i would be 10 perfect harmony That
this is SO, appeal TO the manufacturers themselves,
whether IN their workshops al home, here by their
enlightened representatives in both houses OF Congress
III il be otherwise, what mean these Jeremlads and
tales OF terrible disaster, which crowd the columns Of
every newspaper OF factories closed, o operatives with
out employment, OF fortunes ruined OF opuence reduced
10 beggaryl Or perhaps, significant still, what
those memorials which besiege the doors.
and pile the tables, and m the committee OF Con-
gress, session after session. for "protection protection
more protection Sir, il is like hot bed crying for
fire TO sustain the unnatural plants sckly from artificial
nutrition, and weak from excessive growth against
the bracing atmosphere which gives life, and Wig
or, and healthy luxurance TO every other tree, and
shrub, and fruit bearing herb, which God intended
Tor the proper OF man, and which always thrves
bes, under the influence OF his natural laws Sir, you
hear OF these complaints and receive of these
memorials from the farmers and planters Of the country.
And the OF this is twofod: First, because, as
have sad their pursuits left in the hands OF those
who best know how to conduct tbem and thrive they
progress in the free and wholesome air OF individual in
egence, enterprise and exerton and under the opera
uon OF Their own general and saiulary laws and sec,
self relying spirit those pursuits are calculated TO foster
and maintain.
And all this Mr. President brings me back almost TO
the starting point OF my argument, and resolves itself into
the general principle with which set out-hat the gov
ernmen should restrict itself TO the exercise Of its few,
simple, weldehned functions, by OF general laws,
OF equal uniform, and universal application leaving
plating, all and all pursuits upon the relative
and substantial footing which Nature gave them, and
trusting individual pursuits TO individual choice and the
results of their industry 10 be determined by the general
laws oil demand and supply.
Now, SIR, il these general propositions be trucand
apprehend there few members OF the political party
to which belong and which in decided majority
in this chamber who will deny them-l say, if these be
true, and more especially il, as have undertaken TO
show, and the party has always maintained they
be applicable 10 the agricultural and manufacturing in
terests, why-phy ask, are they not applicabe-wby
shall they not be applied to the eouEdI pursuits OF
people
Sir it needs no industrious search after facts and still
less does il require labored ingenious argument 10
answer this question. The facts before and before
the world They to be from the top OF this Capitol
They 10 be seen every nver and harbor and n-
land sea- OF this vast continent OF They asserted
with bodness which s,artes the world, under every SKI
where float the stars and stripes from American mast
and where every is cut by the swift keel OF an Amer
lean ship whether that ship be waited by the free winds
OF heaven propelled by the steam OF American genius
The growth and vgor OF commercial marine, and
especially the rich argosles OF commerce which II waits
to and from shores, and through every vein and
terry OF our land are among the chief gories and boasts
OF the nation And yet they sir, starring from nothing,
have grown and hourshed as the commerce OF other
people the whole world has grown and nourished.
since the Ph9nicians first ventured in little boats from
Aradus to Mount Carmel, TO the hour when the last
new clipper left her ways" at Baltimore TO shame the