New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-11
THE SOUTHERN CONGRESS.
TwENTY-FOURTH DAY.

Congress met to-day at III a. m The journals OF the
preceding day were read and confirmed.
Mr. Harris (of Mss).-I desire to submit the follow
Ing resolution, to which shall add few remarks;
Rolred That the Committee Finance he Instructed TO
Win view 10 the gradual rrdoetan Of the Iss c duties ana
The enlargement Of the free hit by the exemption Of such
lection Of duties dOpoOnse to the revenue arising there
from
Mr.. Harris said: At the very commencement Of the
eession of this body, under the Provisional Govern
ment l introduced bl which was passed, putting
IN force the body Of Federal laws so far as applicable
70 condition. end not inconsistent with our cOnst
tuition When this done all q advocates Of free
trade met me with the Objection that notwithstanding
our rretenses in favor of lJw duties had put upon
the country the tariff of 1857. They said that that
tariff contrary 10 the Professions we had made
answered we must have tariff and that, for the time
ssiag VOC mnst nave sou iaw IN fc:ce. Bot it was
we'll Understood that Congress would at once enter
npon the revision of all laws With had thus been
adop,ed aud especially upon revision OF the tarlH
law with a view TO the future ADOPTION 0l lhat POI ~
which was to invite the great North-Nest 10 o'her
and Gamer markets than Ose to be iouhd III boston
and New.York and aleO enable the merchants Of the
Confederate States to obtain t0eir goods az lower raes
than those purchased Ivy the merchants oi the Chleu
Sc, and consequently be enabled to underfell the
Istter This policy would throw the evils Of lllclt
traffic upon the shoulders Of tie Northern Ssies ana
put the crown Of commercial supremacy upon te IN L
federte States; in other words, acliev one OF the
oent poeifive advantages atiDg from our tparaloh
from the unfrendy States Of North Amerlca-to VII,
commercial independence DO not Mr. rrssiaen.,
ditrus the Committee Finance, which mas ma.'ers
of this character in charge Ior has this resolution Oen
offered for any such reason but my OBJECT Is 70
from that Committee public response ana thus uece
a publ, expression on the part 81 Copg'eth Ia IeIe.
en- to this subiect in order that the country may
Tullv understand our position on these matters. 4,
NJ, Toonbs-I will remark, Mr.. President, that the
Committee Finance has eaa TINS ve1 a1a bons
tbev will be able TO make report at Ill early gay III
Sbe object VI the resolution IL to instruct tne Iom
TEE am oppoed to il. think there should De 10 ln-
trnctin on this subject. Whether there can De re-
Sn,ion of duties or not and the Government be eft
ith snfeieut funds to cary On lis operations am
not now prepared to state II Is very important that
we shOuld raise large revenue at thls tne psgnig
Of oar political existence. We must provide Tor an
eruv and navy. We must be prepared TO defend our
rights and liberties, and maintain our national inde'
Iendence among the NATIONS OF the earth lnefe may
r. objections TO the wisdom exhibited IN the pTovisons
~ detsls of tie proposed tariff but surely we expect
90 raise the our preten Necessities require, II
ought 70 be done in that way, and that tamil There
arr my views. do not speak for The COMMITTEE. To
assume ia this country that the tariff law which OBJ.
fained almost the unaUmous vote OF the members IN
the United States Congress from every state repre-
scented in this Congress IL taIiH law which viii not
give satisfaction 10 the people, something that am
not prepared 10 admit No. can understand how We
are prepared, this time, TO make reduction without
seriously repairing prospects Of revenue adequate
20 the wants OF the Government Such reduction
would be unwise ia the last decree.
Mr. Barnwell OF South Carolina-biy views are DIFF
fereut from those expressed by the gentleman from
Georgia. l. is my opinion that we eau make large
and speedy reduction in the duties imposed by tue
tariff Of 1857 and yet provide ample revenues for the
necessities of oor Government. Bat willie my views
difer from his no necessity for the adoption OF
the resolution. Ii 10 me II ia rather TOO pre- use
in its language and that the Committee shoald be al
lowed wider latitude do not think that the tariii
of 1857 is the beet in this country. Ii was based on
the tariff act Of 1876, which was decidedly bll for
protection. The duties reduced by the htef blL,
but still in s essential features IL IL tarh for protec'
ton think we can make Large reductions on the
bill, bat object the ground as stated that II ID
too precise ia ts Instructions.
Mr.. Hsrns-With due Difference to the gentleman
from South Carolina do not think that the language
Of the resolution ia precise. 1t does provide
Sor sudden reduction Of the tariff but simply that the
reduction shall be made early as practicableit may
be in six eight, or twelve months henceand provides
further that the reduction sbal be gradual Ii will be
perceived that it gives ample latitude TO the Commit
Tee, and must commend itself to the good sense Of
ayery pancier. My object in Introducing the resoll
kon was 10 obtain public expression TO satisfy the
country as our people had reason 20 expect that
would adopt the policy Of 10" duties IN the enaenen
of our tariff laws IL was 70 assure tne country tha
1sh a system that would meet their expectations al
nearly a. possible. do not wish 10 jump from the
tariff Of 1857 10 free.trade.
Mr.. McRae of Ala.-The Committee will be pre-
pared, hope and think, 10 make report on Monday
Mr. Miles Of s. CT am one Of those, Mr.. Pres'
dent. who have always supposed that the South-tbe
Slayeboding Ststes-were DESTROYS of approximatiDe
On tariff laws as possible 10 the system oil Free
Trade. We are 10 different condition now from what
we were when the tariff Of 1857 passed. Ieann0'
concur 10 the views which my friend from Georgia has
Expressed There is one thing 10 which l desire to
fal bis attention The United States Is now foreign
government Ia reference TO this Confederacy. We i'm
port from them O large amount Of duiable goods,
which win be charged according 10 the regular ratee OF
me present laws which regulate our revenues from I'M
HNAtSlA We can, therefore, raise great deal more