Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-06-19
THE TAR1FF.
MIR. sewrad's Speech I'm the U. s.. Sen
nte, on FrldaY Last. ~

. 80 StCcCD IN GhG Os os sen
ate, on Friday Last.
Mr.. Seward, of N. Y. (Rep.l. said he
wished to enter into no lengthy discussion
but simply to enter his, protest against
any postponement on the grounds which
are proposed by those who desire such
postpouemeut. The proposition is to post
pone this question, as measure opposed
to loan, over from the end of this sess.
ion to the beginning of the next. This
proposition involves the question of the
true value of our present time, aud also
leads us to consider the prospects of q
moro favorable season at the next session
of Congress. We are here in the middle
of the month of June, which is yet one or
4 two or even three months earlier than
| Congress has been Accustomed to o'adjourn.
Before the adoption of the present salary
system no man would have felt himself
bound to put off this question of tariff,
at this season of the year, because of a
want of time. 1t is now of no consequence
| as to n question of economy, to the public
at all whether We sit here until August, or
| adjourn to-day. If we have not time to
consider this question, somebody is re-
sponsible for this lack of time. Who is
Iresponsible2 We are Mt liberty to sit
here till the month of December next.
| But ten days ago majority of
the Senate majority of whom were
understood to be opposed to this
| principle of protection, fixed an arbitrary
period, and shortened up the time of Con-
gress, until Monday next, with tine full
knowledge that this question was to be nc-
| ted upon. Then we fixed the day for the
adjournment of Congress too short TO en-
able. us to consider this subject, and now
we plead the shortness of the time which
we ourselves have created. But, Sir, there
| is no snch plea to be considered. Let the
Senate but once take up this bill and act
upon it, and the House of Representatives
will at once extend the session long enough
! to enable both Houses to give it full aud
| ample examination. Therefore there is
no objection on that account. Now, what
is the prospect for the next session? The
next session will begin on the first Monday
in. December, and must close about the
first Monday in March. If there is not
time in session of six months, or when
the session may be extended through pc
riod of twelve months, will anybody say
that three months in the next year will lie
adequate for the performance of duty
which six or twelve months during this
year is not sufficient for? Besides, there
can be no more favorable conjunction
of circumstances for the consideration
of this subject. Here we arc, brought
to 1t ut once by the recommendation of
the Treasurer, who desires $2l ,OOO, 900, and
we must raise that, eithsr by q loan, or by
a revision of the tariff. What will be the
condition next year? Political considera-
tions have also been urged as objections
to taking up this question now. But will
the condition of things Mt the last session
of this Congress, and at the last session,
under the present President, be more ia
| oo,sNnoEtn,1 F.,no .f,trO bla
ination of a question so important as
this? The Administration will then be
going out, and will have no sense of re-
sponsibility, and the Administration which
| will be coming in will be unorgauized, ,nnd
it will be impossible at the next session OF
Congress to combine the necessary forces
and concentrate the necessary attention
upon the subject. 1t is therefore prac-
ticnlly, in regard to this question to con-
slider it, now or never. To postpone this
bill to the next session is to postpone it
indefinitely. 1t would be quite as we'll to
come to direct vote. have not examin-
ed the bill carefully, but have heard many
of its provisions spoken of in terms of the
highest censurc. But this must be the
case with every bill like this. 1t is utter
ly impossible that tariff embracing
so many details, and operating upon
so many and such various interests, can
be matured by one Committee so that il
will not be subject to criticism. We are
told that this bill is not only wretchedly
bad, but that it is not even adequate to be
the basis of any bill that can be adopted
by Congress- fit is so bad thatit cannot
form even the basis of Tariff bill for the
future, ] ask, in Heavens name, why il
should be kept alive until the next session
of Congress, instead of putting itiat once
out of the way, and disposing of the sub
ject SO that some wise Committee can
j prepare bill at the next session which
will answer such a purpose. The argu-
ments for ipostponing this, seem to be SO
weak rs to show a manifest disposition to
4 avoid ithe whole subject, rs we'll at this
| session as at the next. 1t is not my pur-
i pose to go into general discussion oi
free trade, but / must make a remark on
one fact alluded to by the Senator from
Pennsylvania, Mr.. Cameron. He referred
tosthe town of Phenixville as one of the
largest towns where the manufacture o.
ironsis carried opin the State ofPennsyl-
vania, and he states that this town, which
1 lcommunisates with the market through
4 the canals aud railways, has a population
of 5000 persons, who are dependent upoH
1.-THE iron manufactures there. Those who
90 through Great Britain will be able tC
| 90 into thirty manufactures in n single
Itown, where the number of mechanics
and operatives actually employed in
single manufactory of iron is greater that
the whole population of Phenixyille.-
Whoever goes through Great Britain
aud sees this great process OF manu-
featuring iron, sees railroads running
4 ~