Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-02-21

palpable and unjustifablc usurpation Blu
the rapacous hand Of Government, 'fcelips
power and forgetting right, has at all time,
seized upon the surplus of the proceeds o
labor for the accomplishment Of its capri
cious, profigate, aud mischievous schemes.
I subscribe, cordially subscribe to these
doctrines of Governor Giles, and I regard
it as very important that they should b.
borne in mind III the consideration and ad-
justment of this measure We all well re-
member the effects which were produced by
the enactment of the tariff of 1928. It was
followed by fierce sectional strife which
threatened, at one period of its existence, a
collision between the Federal Government
and the State of South Carolina Never
have | witnessed such excitement as existed
at that time in al sections Of the Union; and
but speak what all feel and know when |
say, if blow had been struck, the bond OF
affection that unites these States, would
have been severed, and severed forever, -
Every patriot throughout the land depreoa-
ted the then existing state of things.
| do not desire to see such result bro't
about by the action of this House now, In
the adjustment of the tariff, by which the
revenue is TO be collected to support this
Government. trust our action now will be
marked by prudence, a sense of Justice, and
q due regard for the rights, interests, and
prejudiccs even, fall sections. desire to
see it adjusted, and its details arranged and
settled, on some fair principle, which will
enable Representatives and Senators from
the North and the South (while neither sec
ton may get all it demands) to retnrn to
their constituents, and satisfy them that the
measure is just and equal in its operation.
If We thus act, a just and generous constit-
uoncy will not only approve and abide by
the measure that we may adopt, but they
will hail the spirit which actuatcs us as an
omen of future peace to the country. de-
sire to see nothing more Of those sectional
disputes which have east a gloom over oul
land, and divided our people. | desire to
see the kind feelings Of early and better days
restored to our country and our councils. =
The affections of the people il the only safe
aud secure foundation on which this Gov
ernment can rest. Wfhdraw them from its
support, and its days are numbered. Let Us
cease our wrangles. terminate our hostile
opposition, and no longer waste our strength
in war from which we can reap only "a
harvest of woe"
| imagine then, yon will agree with me
that the farmer the planter, the day-labor-
er, every class in society represented in the
professions and otherwise, and the meehan-
ical interests, all-all are interested in re-
lluction of the revenue to the standard OF the
Governments wants on an economical scale;
aud that the only interest opposed to a re-
duetoa of revenue will come from the own
ers of the manufacturing establishments and
stocks, who have been growing fat upon pro-
lection. Are there not enough here repre-
senting all these various interests that |
have enumerated. who are ready to agree
upon some measure which promises to settle
this question upon a fair and just basis, that
the country will recognize and approve p
We must settle this question we must pre-
serve the people from the evils Of this sur
plus in the Treasury and having settled it,
and saved them, it will perhaps not be dis
turbed for years to come.
But suppose you come to o determination
to adopt some bill that will be acceptable to
the manufacturing interests of one section
of the country, while it is obnoxious and un-
acceptable to the other section, or to other
interests the question will not be settled.
You cannot expect acquiescence; and you
must return, at the next session of Congress-
prepared to have the question rcopened, and
to renew the war. You will have this sub
iect kept before Congress and the country,
as a bone of contention, probably for years
to come. You will open again til, fountain
of bitter waters.
In 1916 the question was settled by the
adoption of the existing tariff. So far as my
observation has extended, the principle on
which that tariff rests has met with general
concurrence in the public mind throughout
the country-north and south, east & west.
If, then, we have this point to start from
if the principle on which the question was
then adjusted is acceptable, and we are now
called on, as we are, to revise the measure,
is there any other safer or surer plan to meet
with public appreciation, and to command
popular favor in behalf of our scheme, than
to start at that point, and make a uniform
reduction, as far as may be necessary to meet
Government wants, on the various schedules
then recognized as the proper basis for the
adjustment of the controversy?
Mr. CAMPBELL, of Pennsylvania Let
me ask the gentleman question. | under
stand him to say that he is in favor of a re-
duc.on of duty on imports Oh the schedules
Of the tariff of 1916 in order to diminish the
revenue of the Government. Now is not the
gentleman aware that further reduction
would increase the revenue on the principle
that the law of 1916 increased the revenue
largely compared with that collected under
the tariff of 1912?
Mr.. LETCHER. I do not know a great
deal about it; and as my friend from Penn
sylvania and the Secretary of the Treasury
are travelling on the same line, l will answer
him through the Secretary. The Secretary
of the Treasury, in his report of lS54-55,
undertook to ascertain what would be tho
reduction of duties under the operation of a
bill somewhat similar to the ono now offer,
and which was then presented by my friend
from Alabama, Mr.. Housros, the reduc-
ton under the existing tariff, and the reduce
tion under his own pr4iet. Under the bill
Of my friend from Alabama, the revenue
would be, on an average for SIX years. $50
1913 81 IS, and $43, 1857 ,0Sl l6 for the
next preceding year; under the existing
tariff it would be, ON an average for six years
$40, 907, 71S 90 and for the preceding