The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-06-28
SP@DCH
HON. SAMUEL S. BLAIR, OF PERN'A.
Delivered in the u. s. House of
Representatives, Esay5, 1850.

Representatives, May z, ASSS.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN The bill under con-
I'sideration, reported from the Committee
of Ways and Means, for the rcadiustment
Of the duties on foreign imports, suppose
to be second III Importance to none now on
the calendar, nor indeed TO any measure
that has heretofore been considered by the
present Congress. | am aware that more
exciting topics Of discussion touching the
fundamental princi piles of constitutional
government have at different times enga-
ged the attention OF Congress and Of the
| country, the Importance Of which | would
not underestimate. Whenever they are
presented by real occasions, they will
| justly challenge the attention Of all men,
whether in public or private station. But,
| sir, they must not be permitted to monop-
olize the grave thought and anxious sohc-
| itude of those to whom the high trust of
| legislation is committed at a time like the
present, when the public necessities which
| have called forth the bill before us invite
attention. | therefore desire to submit
an outline of the view which [ have taken
| Of this measure, and the reasons which
! govern me in giving my vote IN its favor.
| Although, in the arrangement Of some OF
| its details the bill falls short of that stan
/ dard of protection to the Industrial pur-
suits of the nation, which protectionists
| had hoped would be reached by the dellb-
! erations Of the committee, yet in the main
it exhibits a fair appreciation Of the wants
| Of the country, and commendable recog-
milton Of the claims Of American labor to
the fostering care Of the Government
And whilst it is acceptable to us because
1t Is to some extent protective, | had in
| dulgcd the expectation that its moderate
| Determinations in favor Of all the leading
branches Of industry in our country would
rot be obnoxious even to the prejudices
of those who favor the imposition Of du-
ties on foreign imports solely with a view
to the public revenue. The bill comes to
us from the Committee Of Ways and
Means, with It's provisions matured by a
wide and comprehensive investigation, as
we'll of the wants of the Treasury as OF
the present condition Of trade. 1t Is the
| fruit, am inclined to believe, Of careful
and severe study and though, as I have
observed, protectionists have anticipated
! more radical changes of the existing tariff
| law than are TO be found in the bill, yet
! in nv Judgment it has received, and will
continue to receive, the general approba-
ton Of the country. There has not been
bill on YOUR table for near twenty years
that has excited an anxiety for its passage
into law so intense, and go widespread
as that which now animatcs the hopes or
alarms the tears Of all classes and condi-
tions of men, for the ultimate fate Of this
measure. It's defea5 can be justified in
the eyes of the people by no tallacy how
ever artful, by 10 excuse however plausi'
BILE; neither can they be deceived by I'M
practicable substitutes, or misled by par
tisan promises, which they have learned
by bitter experience are often made only
to be broken and trampled under foot
when they have served the temporary
! purposes Of a selfish ambition.
Whatever objections the future discus
gions of the different clauses Of the bill
may present, have thus far heard Of none
from its enemies, except to the dutle!
proposed tC be levied on the imports OF
iron in its various stages Of manufacture
In the production Of this commodity
many of the citizens Of Pennsylvania
though not alone, are nevertheless eXten
siyely engaged, and it is but natural tha
her Representatives, fully realizing th
! extent TO WHICH inc SSHCISA
the State, and of the country, depends OF
the maintenance Of her numerous estab
Hshments, and those of other States, shoul'
manifest a corresponding interest in what
ever may affect their welfare. We do no
claim, in the Determinations of this bill
rate of protection for the iron interest
which we do not cheerfully accord to 9th
er pursuits, in which our own people, Il
common with the people of other States
are so largely engaged. We have beel
accustomed to regard the prosperity Q
, each branch of labor as indispensable to
healthful development of every other, an
would hail with the liveliest satisfaction
; the promotion and encouragement OF a
the arts in every part of the Confederacy
The enemies of protection, anxious
avail themselves of narrow, sectional pre-
iudices against its adoption, are accu:
toned sometimes TO define it as peculiar
Iy Pennsylvania policy, as If we wer
. selfishly committed to principle at wa
with the interests and prosperity OF ever
other part of the Republic At oth'
times, seeking to enlist in their serviC
. another class of prejudices, they teach tha