New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-09-07
Nsm @rlsans 4ailp Gresttrt.
MONDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 7, 1857.
(CoNN
HON. MILES TAYLOR.

Messrs. Editors Il have carefully examined the
journal Of the House OF Representatives and have
noted every movement made in that body during the
last session Of Congress the Tariff question. What
has already been stated by me- and what hope here
after to state on that subject is, and shall be exclu
svely taken from that authority The pages of that
record are given by which it is made easy to refer to
the book itself for the correctness Of my statements
therefore invite scrutiny and challenge refutation
Let us now review the whole ground on which the
subject has been presented to the public Mr. Taylor
has said through the Pioneer of Assumption, and in
defence Of himself, that he found at Washington
" the national treasury overfowing-the revenue
from duties was too arge-a reduction of the Tariff
Dust take placethe duties must be lessened or en-
tirely removed on articles which were ncidenty pro-
tected by the Tariff Of 1886. The Black Republi-
cans as ever on the alert to nure Southern interests
would use the occasion and temporary power to
injure the South by insisting not that the duty on
sugar should be reduced propotionatey with that of
other great national products but that the duty on
sugar should be entirely stricken off"
Here Mr.. Taylor seems to have been egregriously
in error. He is alarmed by the menaces of the Black
Republicans, and he becomes unnecessarily so, be-
cause the duty could not have been totally repealed
for the simple reason that decided majority was
opposed to it, which will very conclusively show
before this article is finished.
Mr.. Taylor has further sad that if the welfare of
the government required reduction of the duties on
imports let it be so. If the protection Of the great
interests of the country is to be reduced, be it.
Against this Louisiana would not complain, but let
the reduction be equal
This sounds patriotic enough, and comes with
good grace from the South, where true patriotism is
abundant. But while it is thus commendabe as the
sentiment of true Americans it falls like feathers
upon marble when directed to minds such as those
which alarmed Mr. Taylor The free surrender of our
whole sugar interests, and all rights besides in the
South would never have subdued the insatiate ami
mosties and cravings of Black Republicans To give
up all the duty and give up slavery ITSELF would
satisfy the pestiferous faction. Like the horse
leech their cry is give give. They would take
our lands and would then want us to work them
besides. There was, therefore, no concession we
could make to them with which they would be con-
tent, and to have made concessions at all to few
Black Republicans, while a majority Of the House
not only asked but opposed those concessions,
is what we had not authorized Mr. Taylor to yield
have said that Mr.. Taylor, by his votes in Con-
gess did not protect the interests of his constituents
have said that his speech on the tariff, and his
votes the subject, did not conform each with
the other
have said that his fears of total repeal Of the
duty on sugar had no foundation in fact
have said that large majority of the House was
opposed not only to the repeal but to any reduction
| Of the duty.
have said that the reduction did not originate in
the House but in the Senate
have said that the Tariff bill which first passed
the House made no allusion whatever to sugar and
therefore left the duty untouched, and that Mr. Tay
or voted against it.
| l have said that this bill was then sent to the
Senate and was there amended by the reduction of
the duty on sugar to % per centum.
have said that upon its return to the House, Sc
amended by that reduction then Mr.. Taylor voted
for its adoption.
have said that it was Immediately rejected by the
House on a vote Of yeas 63, nays 1O6 notwithstand
ing Mr.. Taylor voted for it. See page 5S3.
l have said that it was then referred to joint
Committee of Conference between the two bodies
which after deberation reported it back to the HOUSE
amended with the duty increased from % per centum
for which Mr.. Taylor had voted, to "a pei centum.
have said that upon the final vote on this bill thu:
reported which established the reduction at "a pei
centum as the law of the land Mr. Taylor voted for it
And have said that Mr.. Taylor had previously
voted in favor of Letchers amendment to reduce thu
duty from so to "a per centum but it was defeated
Here is compendium of the whole case as set fortl
in the official journal which records every member
vote in the House of Representatives. If am wrong
it is because the journal is wrong; give the authority
for my statements and refer every sugar planter il
Louisiana to the book itself for their truth.
Now the chief ground assumed by Mr.. Taylor il
vindcation of his course being the compulson super
induced by the fear of total repeal, think it vii
be made to appear to my readers before my conclu
sion, that Mr.. Taylor had other and more cogen
grounds which he has not thought proper to announce
But propose first to establish the fact that his ea
was imaginary.
The tariff of 1916 under which foreign sugar pait
duty of so per centum ad ualorem, was proposed tt
be amended. The first amendment was that intro
dnced by the Chairman of the Committee of Way
and Means proposing to reduce the duty on sugar tt
ten per centum. This bill was considered in Commit
tee of the Whole and was there Immediately rejected
by striking out the enacting clause, so that Mr. Tay
lor had no cause for alarm from this first demonstra
ton of the Black Republicans. See page 479.
Mr.. Colfax then introduced bill to repeal the dut
entirely He also presented resolutions from tn
Legislature of Indiana requesting the total repeal
But neither the bill of Mr. ColiaX the request
his Legislature were ever considered by the House,
that Mr.. Taylor had no cause for alarm from thi
second and last demonstration of the Black Republ
; cans See pages ll3, 224, 40.
Mr. Letcher's bill to reduce the duty from 80 t
"a per cent. was then introduced, and was negative
by the House by vote OF liz nays to "a yeas S
that Mr.. Taylor had no cause for alarm from tina
demonstration, although he himself voted for it, Sc
page sol.
Here were the only demonstrations made agains
sugar. the result of which ought to have aroused Nj
Taylor's confidence, instead of his terror. But b
, was frightened. Whence did he contract his alarm
, Was it from the speeches of Black Republicans
Surely, speeches do no good except to electionee
I upon. The votes do everything. He ought not
: have been alarmed by the speeches Of Mr.. Cola
e and Mr.. Bliss they were but words, and Black IL
:. publican words. at that. They could not decide
question of vital Importance which involved result
deeply affecting one of the most valued agriculture
pursuits in our country. The voters could alone Oh
eide all such questions, and Mr.. Taylor had 40 to
of these majority with him at every ballot! How
o then, in the name of all that is parliamentary, ca
e Mr.. Taylor say that the Black Republicans "wou
use the occasion and their temporary power not
reduce the duty proportionatGy with other great n
tonal products but to strike of the duty entirely
Il Whatever may have been the SO OCCASION the
), temporary power was totally inadequate The