The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-03-18
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. WILLIAM SMITH,
OF VIRGINIA,

On the tariff delivered in the House Of
February IA, 1857.
The House being In the Committee Of the Whole the
state OF the Union aud having under consideration the
bill to reduce the duty imports and for other pnrpoes
Mr.. SMITH, OF Virginis, said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN: Ii was not my purpose to participate in
this debate nor is it my purpose occupy much Of
the time attention of the committee but there
some extraordinary positions taken by gentlemen occupy
Ing the other side of the question: which have Induced
TO change my original intent and to address myself not
only to the subject but sso TO the positions they ocupy
The gentleman from New York, mr. GRANGER if re-
member Alright for have not seen his reported speech
took The ground upon this question, that tariff ought
be imposed incidentally TO revenue and directly pro-
tection That Is strength of position which did not
suppose would be taken upon this hoor and which, may
say, is taken for the first time, certainly for many
years. in the American Congress IL has always been said
that protection should be incidental because have
right TO collect revenue by the imposition OF tariff except
for the purpose of paying the debts and providing the
general welfare Of the United States as defined in the
OF powers in the constitution.
Mr. Chairman, the gentleman the way from Massa
chuses MIR. De WITT who certainly in manner enter
tanned the committee few days ago, he did also by the
power OF his argument took extraordinary posons
to which shall ALSO in the course of my remarks very
briefly address myself and shall ask that gentleman
reconcile himself with the position lie took because have
not been able to do it with the brief attention have be-
slowed upon his remarks. 1t is not my intention go
into the subject of political economy except incidentally
but shall state what is we'll understood and known in
the history OF our own country to be the natural appca
tion OF capital and labor. .1.s.
to supply our actual wants In the settlement of
countries the first object is to provide necessary food and
raiment Hence we have agriculture and household
factures These objects being attained we next seek to
create surplus which desire exchange for the pro
ducon OF other nations and this begets commerce aud
navigation The first and great industry of the country
being agriculture it is naturally entitled to- and should
receive all legitimate protection. Being the foundation of
all other interests it should be oppressed for other
ests the handmads of agriculture being and
navigation should be equally exempt from burdens and
imposons and should equally enjoy the fostering care OF
government to the full of all can
legumatey do When these departments of industry
hlled and cease to afford that ordinary of profit
dspensabe 10 all investments our attention to as
soeiated or corporate manufacturing Manufacturing is
the last the very last branch of industry that is known
society," when society is left unrammeed pursue its own
instincts and It's own interests. .. Ill. ......
The committee will readily see that by advertiug to
these views is not my purpose to indulge further than
TO make this simple reference to elementary principles
will now proceed to the consideration of the subject for
the purpose of illustrating of the positions which
take and for the purpose of illustrating the truth of the
view which have thus briefly adverted to- 1t is curious
fact land beg the committees attention it) that the
whole history OF the tariff policy the United States is in
illustration and support OF these distinctions.
In 1885, when the present constitution put into ope
ration, we know very well that the idea of the tariff policy
it has been since known at that time enterta
ed for moment The average rate of duty in 1880 $780,
and l79l down to r. Jeersons administration WAS per-
baps not exceeding twelve per cent aud il is
curious fact that late Mr. Adamss ndminsra
on the excise system existed d excise was
levied on the manufacture OF snuff and other commodities
Of the United s, ,ates
In 1910 the amount of registered and enrolled ship
ping was 9s4269 toms That had grown from 23s93 tons
in l789an accumulation of navigation nteres,s without
parallel perhaps, in the history of this of any other
country. There nothing then to clip the wings of
commerce. There was nothing then to tranmel the free
interchange OF commodities AS have said the ton
mage of l23S93 tons in 1889 grew up 984 269 tons in
1910. AT that me 1t is well known, the country was re-
srcted and embarrassed by policy which then prevail
ed Assailed and bese as were, oy the great bege
rents of Europe and our embargo policy our navga
ton interests declined and in lSl2 when war
reduced to 760624 TONS These causes ia them
selves constituted restrictive policy and the result ap
pears On the Sd OF December 1914 had 633 tons
and at the end Of the year 1915 had 259 TONS
Now, 1t is well known to this committee that in 1916
had oppressive tariff 1t is well known that it was
excused and justified the ground Of the ces,es of
the country We also know that in 1926, this tariff was
revised and although it re ieved of some of the on
pressive features of the tariff of 1876 was Il greatly
oppressive the interests of the country But in 1928
that great bl of abomnations has been called and
apty called, after infinite labor and toll bee ,me Ia w.
Let look the effect of its restrictions on the coun
try, and wish the gentlemen interested in navigation
and commerce. and the gentlemen Of the producing States
especially, to bear it in mind
BY reference the tables before me- find that under
the operation oe the tariff law OF 1916 our tonnage went
down from 854 294 tons in 1916 to sl2 6 tons 1924 II
is singular fact that these tariffs 1916 aud 1924 were
more destructive to and navigation the
with Great Britain, with all the power of the British
navy and British prvateers warning upon commerce.
In 1925 when the tariff of that year established our
tonnage 8l2 6l9 TONS In 1924 single year-t was
down to $50 l43 ions. What it in 1880 y IL was
down to 575046 tonsa destruction of navigation in
teress without parallel in the history of nations in time of
peacea destruction infinitely beyond that which the war
of 1912 produced. Under the compromise act of 1892
which designed to this 1928 and to sub
ject tariff policy to sliding SCALE there was an i'm
mediate and rapid reaction In 1882 our tonnage had
risen 6S6,l43 tons; aud in S42 when the compromise
tariff repealed and the high tariff established
II had risen TO 970638 TONS In 1885, when the tariff of
1912 modifea il bad grown, by very slow and slug
gish paces to 23999 tons whereas under the modified
tariff which is in force shipping has in years
increased to the enormous amount Of 687 tonsmore
than hundred per centum in only years lS46
it was ll20,999 TONS In 1856 it was 240l 6S7 tons
ask the committee whether it does see this increase
practical commentary the effects of restrictive poll
cyl ask the committee whether it cannot plainly see
that the restrictive policy is the destruction large
tent of the navigation neress2 Those gentlemen whose
constituents interested in that branch of industry are
deeply interested in the proper consideration of this great
question, as is, indeed, the whole country.
Mr. Chairman, these facts naturally excite very interest,"
ing reflections have shown that the war Of 1872 was
less destructive shipping interests than the tariffs of
1876 1924 and 1928 But this not the most important
interest which shared it's fate With every decline in our
tonnage hnow that exports declined also that low
prices necessarily followed and with low prices distress
and ruin. Mr. Adams in his fourth message says
"In our country uniform experience of forty years has
shown that whatever the tariff Of duties upon articles inn
ported from abroad has been the
has always borne average value nearly approaching
that of the exports though occasionally differing the bal
ance-sometimes being more, and sometimes less"
Mr. Guthrie in his report on the finances page IL
says that
Commerce being the exchange Of the productions of one
country nation for the productions Of another
made indirectly by sale and purchase for money or directly
by barter the conclusion irresistible that both domestic
and foreign commerce have generally been equivalent and
profitable to all parties"
II these high officials expressed sound opinions (and