Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-10
Debate in the Senate.

/ In the Senate, on Tuesday, thc resolution
. previously offered by Mr.. Bglcr. drcarin :,
| the creation If national debt contrary +"
he policy of the country and advocating an
Increase IF the public rcIcnuc- for purp's"
ufdrtraviug existing Indebtedness, was taken
: up.
Mr. Bigl"r proceeded in an elaborate arcn-
mcnt t. enforce the policy Indicated 10y the
term, If his resolution. After rcmarking "n
the exciting nature Of the discussions prcyI-
ouslv had upon the subject Of the tariff. and
after aiIuding (" the romplcxity 1T the qu"s-
tion- involved i'll every revenue measure. n"
laid down the proposition that Congress IN
the discharge of its constitutional power t"
levy duties on imports, might property CON
slider. within revenue limits, the effect OF ITS
impost1 on tn" industry and products ot the
country. There vas room for Il wise and Ju-
licious discrimination under this head, and
all experience. IL well IL sound political
rcunoIny. pointed to the expcdiency Of in
ves;ing raw material with the greatest posi-
bic value before it was sent abroad y Ia
riff might therefore properly seek 10 promote
this end. as also to build up Il home market
for the purpose of creating the conditions "i
healthtul competition between the domes-
tie and foreign producer or manufacturer
/ That Il revision ofthr present tariff was abso-
lutely necessary he thought could not be de-
MED, in view of the actual and prospective
indebtedness of the Government. We must
increase our revenue or consent to increase
the national debt TO the latter alternative
he WIS opposed, and therefore hoped that
Congress would make suitable provision for
the liabilities of the Government.
Mr.. Bgler then commented on the recon-
mcndations If President Buchanan and Mr..
Secretary Cobb. for the purpose Of showing
that they were not ST. dissiml!nr ~ some
seemed 10 imagine. lie remarked AZ length
on The working Of specific duties ~ contra
distinguished from those levied according to
the value of articles imported. Both kinds
of duties night be made equally protective,
but specific duties seemed PARTICULAR cXpe-
dent in the case of certain commodities
The Stat. Of Pennsylvania was specially M
trrc-t.d IN the manufacture of iron. and nat
uraly sought for this branch of industry the
in,terin. care of the Government. not from
selfish considerations alone but because II
was believed that this policy sub,cryed the
hes; interests of the whole country.
ne senator tlltll pTottcith l" 'l''i'"'
,hc Northern and Eastern States from the
charge of being dependent on the bounty of
the Federal Government. 1.-THE South and the
est complain of Federal aid given to man
ufa"tureS. it was equally Legitimate for the
North and the East to complain OF tn" fcd"-
raj aid given the Southern and Western
States in the shape Of vast donations OF pub
lie lands. rs also in the benefits Of the postal
system, which, not being >cli-suStanlng
among the latter. was Supported at the cost
of the General Government. Mr.. Is. quoted
ropiou- statistics in confirmation 1t his state
mrnt> undcr tbs head. He alluded ais" to
thu expenses of the Indian wars waged III the
South and West. This was II branch of the
general discussion in which he INDUCED with
no pleasure. and only with view Of defend
Ing hi, constituents from the charge of being
prnsion"r, upon the bounty "t others.
Mr. Tpomb- then took the floor for the
purp">" of replying 10 Mr. Bigler, but gave
way 10 "A motion. which was carried, that the
further consideration of the subject be- post
ronrd ill yesterday AT one o'clock.