The daily union., 1856-03-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF non. CHARLES II. JANE
or RHODE BLAND,

my views the subject and the reasons which viii in
duce me 10 vote for H. In doing so / will not occupy
your allenhon ior great length Of time. The bin has
been prepared with great care and deiberaton and in
any estimation Is admirably calculated the wishes
I OF the community in general.
Mr. President am an advocate for the doctrine of ,
trade as tr as that doctrine can be carried out In con
fofmiy win the legitimate laws Of trade and consistently
with the common interests Of country not in
aFor OF gh duties Tor the protection of any
Interests OF branches Of enterprise by which one may be
benefited NJ The expense Of another But sir hold that
when any branch Of business that tends promote
common good and 10 Increase tbe national wealth and
render our country less dependent foreign aid estab
shed amongst ii is but just and right and In full ac-
cord with our national institutions and with patriotic
feeling that 1t receive the fostering Of government
when that can be done without loss TO the government
injury 10 the pnblic or to individual interests
With these views SIR discard all political hobbies con-
neoled with tbs question: and regardless of all standards
OF political orthodoxy my mode OF action shall be such as
IN my judgment may be best calculated promote the
ests OF my oouatry and the same time Just and right
may be dehcint Of that political sagay which processes
TO detect encotchmens pure democracy in every prof
tered MODE to extend encouragement TO domestic in
dusy But have yet to learn if il be not possible de-
wise some mode ny which object desirable and vaua
BILE may be reahed which, instead of ouraging demo-
cratic principles will perfectly harmonze with them and
fully and properly within the pale of the legitimate
laws OF trade. SGch measure is, in my humble iudg
menL proposed by this bill 1t is in my opinion, adma-
6y calculated for he great objects has 10 view without
ehcroaching at all democratic principles the true
terests OF any portion of the community.
Mr. President ts bill dots propose tariff embrae-
ing duties imposed for the purpose of protection Ii is
framed the prunpe of ueng the duties on foreign
imports TO the prooer standard in other words
to raise revenue adequate only may be- to the
actual wants Of The goVernentan amount to which
y 1t now beieve generally conceded The government
has the legitimate right tax the people The articles
braced in this bill it will be perceived separated into
fouy classes Glass consists only of spritnous liquors
which TO pay aduty of eighty cent aR udI0renl
Glass embraces al articles that pay duty Of thirty
per cent and ovG except sprituous liquors together
with two oners which now pay duty of twenty
I c.. L.
Giles of foreign Manufacture and which into the gene
raj consumption. free list including materials
for manuacturerA mechanics sc, which produced
either not at all in this country 10 great extent And
the class marked is composed of articles enumerated
in either of the otter lists and taxed with duty of twenty
per cent 1t will be that this classification very prop
erly dscrimnateS between the rich and the poor by
ranging the taHf Of duties that the heaviest will tall
the luxures and eeganoes of life and the lighter
the cheaper comforts and necessaes of life which
into the general consumption OF the poorer and laborng
classes
Mr. Presden one very important feature in the BILL
which will Ere refer but for moment is its free list
This adopted will relieve manufacturers mechanics
and artisans from tax the materials
sary 10 their business and which, not being produced
many Of thsm all and others 10 considerable
tent IN this country they are compelled TO import from
abroad Such relief would do much To ensb bic them
tbe foreign competition in market it would
much reduce the cost of production ..a- .. l..
II Is difficult for discover how any valid objection
be raised 10 this or 10 any other portion of the bill
lis legitimate object is the proper amount Of revenue
aud consequently the market value Of our domestic
factUred products
Sir il IS my firm conviction that change is required in
our system. So long TO derive the
for the support Of government from duties
imports system that in the very nature Of things must
bear somewhat unequally the peope-our laws should
have already suggested equslEs far practio
bic the burden between the rich and the poor in the ratio
Of their Of payment Such the design Of our
ad raL0rca system Of duties but such 10 lie eject
There many ways left open for tine fraudulent
siu Of of
importers at all times ready to avail themselves that the
payment Of about onehAH the tax the most costly art
ces consumed by the rich evaded while the
and cheaper articles consumed by the poor the full
is paid And long our laws remain ct present
long will these abuses continue One powerful
which will induce vote for this bill is what
slider the OhecuR barrier presents against this system
Of frauds.
Mr. President Of the 6ner qualities of imported fabrics
Of cotton woolen linen aud silks and costly articles Of
other descriptions there scarcely that reve
system stands pays duty Of than fifty PER
Of what the Law demands On the other hand, sir
Rrics Of and less valuable descriptions such
mostly consumed by the lAboring and poorer classes
generally pay the full amount Of duty their value
With the Atter qualities Of goods II is difficult TO
practise fraud because OF their lower cost which leaves
ess margin TO operate aud because IL also renders the
be saved much less II becomes hardly worth
the hazard Thus sir the poor man has to pay the tax
Of sixty bis yard Of cloth which costs bat two
dollars while the rich pays but the amount on
bis which four dollars II partly in this way that
the laws in their present form by Of the
/
pense OF the poor All will agree that this s right
Then sir let have Law that win remedy the evil DO
the best the support Of government by means OF
duties imports cannot fail 10 cast comparatively large
portion Of the burden The shoulders Of the poor labor
ing and contend that for this and other reasons
the ought be framed and enforced relieve
labor from the ruinous effects Of foreign competition far
practicable to make up in degree for the seeming
/ inequality
Mr. President labor il The great creative instrument OF
all cur wealth. yet least him who contributes 1t
but bare living price and IL becomes duty and
ineret foster IL and to extend TO all due encour-
agement instead Of looking ii thing beneath
tce Sir le suppose arm about 10 ask, or 10 rec
ommend what usually denominated protective duties
or duties created and assessed for the purpose Of protec
ton No sir have such object in view. The idea q
mechanics have ceased ask wish for them and A.
most think OF them This bin presents such feature
II Is designed amendment 20 the existing tariff law
changing Of It's details conform it fullJ
TO the proper standard but not disturbing III
principles IL plain and simple in its provisions and re
quirements and will feel certain prove Efficient and ex
tfernely difficult of evasion
Sir have said few words the subject Of the fire.
list of the main features Of the bill Permit here 4
that subject will here repeat the articles enume
rated in that list such not produced in thi
country any great extent A large number Of then
must be bad by the manufacturer mechanic and artisan
aud the duty imposed them about neutraizes nj
the benefits to him Of the duties the imported manuac
tured article The consequence H. the cost Of his produc
ton much enhanced that be successfully with
stand the foreign competition.
Mr. President believe Il is not the policy Of foreig
governments impose duties on imported materials neres
sary their industrial operations not produced in suh
cient quantities within their domnions. They lon
since discovered that this n policy which offered