The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-09

on rIlE rARuT
Mr. BlGlER moved that the Senate proceed to the
sideaon OF the resolution submitted by him several days
since declaring the opinion of the Senate that the
creation OF large public debt in time Of peace is ncon
sstent with the true policy Of the United States and
the present insufficient to meet the navoid
able expenses OF the government Congress should pro-
ceed without delay so To redtust the revenue laws not
only to meet the current expenses but to pay off the
ent debt far il may be liable to immediate cancel
| lation.
Mr. BROWN hoped that motion would not be agreed
TO- IL would dspaee the rcgula order Of business The
railroad bill had been fully discussed and 1t would
/ be finally disposed Of in a brief period.
Mr. TOoMBS had objection to taking up the subject
referred to by the senator from PennSy lyani with the
understanding that it to be continued He did not
desire to have the discussion opened side without
giving him opportunity to be heard the other He
ready to enter fully into the discussion at the earliest
moment that would suit the senator from Pennsylvania
/ Mr. MALLORY could not bc party to any such
| arrangement He wanted at the earliest moment, TO
take up the bill providing for the payment OF the Florida
claims
Mr.. HUNTER willing to abide by the sense Of tho
Senate but If the subject to be taken up he should
! insist upon general discussion
Mr. MASON objected to the consideration OF the rcso.
lution it seemed to be interference with the pre-
rogative of the House of Representatives which alone
could originate appropriation bills What good object
could result from the discussion subject on which
we were powerless to act
Mr. BIGIliR that the constitution eonfided
to the House of Representatives the exclusive right to
"A
osition originate but he heard it suggested before
that it incompetent for the Senate give expression
to its views upon any subject This resolution did not
attempt to Introduce revenue it merely
declaration of the opinion Of the Senate He thought
there were many precedents for such course and his
main object was to get his views before his constituents
| and before the country
Mr.. MASON regarded it as Legislative discourtesy
and constitutional indecorum for the Senate IN adj
to intimate to the House of Representatives what
It's opinion IS upon the subject of raising the
Mr.. BlGLEk was surprised to hear such objection
No senator pretended that this body had right to ORR
gnate revenue measure but he could see how It
could be claimed that it discourtesy to the House
OF Representatives to consider In advance this any
other subject which that body has consider II he
had proposed, rs had been done since he had been a
member OF the body the consideration of law egala
ting the finances, and increasing decreasing the rev.
enue, then the senator's objection would be we'll taken
Mr.. BAYARD thought inasmuch as the House OF }sep
esenatyes had to act first upon this subject the Senate
ought not to forestall their action by expressing any
opinion what that action should be-
Mr. CLINGMAN presumed nobody could doubt the y
right OF the Senate to express its opinion Some Of the
most elaborate debates In the Senate had taken place on
the tariff resolutions introduced by Mr. Clay In 1882
and ten years later he offered similar proposition 1t
had been the habit for number years to put In these
propositions, not in the form of regular tariff bills but
as amendments to appropriation bills There have been
occasions in the other house from time to time when
they have endeayored and once or twice they have
ceeded to put these tariff bills amendments to appro
priation bills and they would the Senate during
the last two or three days OF session. when there
ought to o bsa &c taken n G at dce il t ia afe
uactures making vigorous effort to have the tariff
increased for their protection and those who entertained
different opinion ought to have opportunity to pre-
sent their views before the last days of the session He
hoped the resolution would be taken and discussed
both sides. ,
The question being taken the motion of Mr.. BfaLRR
was agreed to--yeas 33, nays 23as follows:
YEAS Mossrs Bates Bell Bsler Bright nrodorlok cmcrsn
kee, Foot Gwin Hale lamn Harlan Houston Kennedy King
Thomson Of New Jersey Toombs Wade, aud WILSON
NaHsMesss M Allen H yard Benjamin. Brown Chandler Gcs
Trulnbul, and Ward-23
Mr.. BIGLER remarked that he had been instructed by
the legislature of Pennsylvania to support Of
this kind and those instructions mbodied the senti
ments OF an overwhelming majority Of the people OF that
State He was bound to his best efforts to carry out
their wishes, and ho should checrfuly do so those
wishes accorded with the convictions Of his judg
mcnt. He fully endorsed the sentiments Of the prcs
dent Of the United States this subject expressed in
his annual message but he had not expected to hear
such objection had been urged by the senator from
Virginia The last thing that he would be capable Of
doing would be interference with the prerogatve of tho
other branch of Congress If he had erred in this
spect he had done while following the example and
suggestion of older and experienced senator's than
himself But this question Of the tariff was one OF
exceeding importance question, save one. con-
nectcd with form Of government, has led to
much controversy, in and out of Congress, and given
rise to much dissimilar opinions that Of the
tariff well in reference to the theoretical principles
involved in reference to its practical workings Nor
is this at all singular, for III its very nature ii Is, to
greater less extent subject of conflicting differences
real or imaginary, between the different sections Of
country, and different classes within the
section. This subject that had always bafled the
Judgment of public OF all the different revenue
laws that have been passed since tho organization Of
government not has fully met the expectations of
those by whom it supported and all have produced
results different from what anticipated Not
only have the results of changes in the system been such
to disappont the expectations Of the country but
there has been wide variation between the operation OF
the same system in two successive years With this
persnce of the past before u.s. may fairly that
tariff law be framed which will suit every
body, will operate through series of years without
requiring some revision Heproceeded to lay down
general principles which he thought should guide Con-
gress in the imposition of duties We should cndeAvor
to distribute the burdens incident thereto, equally
may be, giving such aid and protection may such
manufacturing other interests the ost yg
competition from abroad That country is the
prosperous and independent which produce the greatest
variety and largest quantity Of the great staples Of life,
Our country is blessed beyond in these a1tcu
lars she possesses all the clements OF prosperity IN the
great branches OF industry agriculture, nalunctures.
and the mechanic arts. SO far sysetl
leavor to assist the weak rather than the strong He
had always held the doctrine of tariff for revenue alone
and in shaping law to this end he would conform t..
no arbitrary rule principle but would both specific
and ad poren duties and in instances the battev
to equaze the rates of charge all ARTICLES he wonll
compound the two modes He would discriminate 80 as
tain If ,<3e