Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-03-05
.gbs Obio 6tatesnrar'
7 K R MS.
Remarks Of Mr.. Douglas, In the Senate, Feb
ruary 90, on the Revenue System.

i have teW femarkb W supmib vi tno vi
generally, and probably there will be no occa-
sion when they will be more appropriate thar
upon the Offering of the substitute for the entire
bill. The question now presented brings up fol
consideration the original bill, and also thu
substitute.
II am brought to vote between the substi-
tute and the original bill, shall vote for the
amendment offered by the member from Ore
gon. can not vote for the final passage OF
either, for the reason that think it unwise al
this time to make any radical changes In the
existing revenue system. The time Ia inaus-
picious for legslating upon this subject The
condition of the Southern States Of this Confed
eracy ought to warn us agaSnst any OF these
radical changes. which would Increase the irri-
tatlon and excitement In that quarter. We all
know the repugnance of that section Of the Un-
ion to a protective tariff ut all times. Under
existing circumstances, the passage OF O tariff
bill Of the character Of the one now under con-
slderation cannot fall to Increase that irritation,
and to ALLEVIATE, In some degree, their affections
| to this Union, which have already been mater
Tally ehaken. While tho bill itself is not In ao-
cordance with my judgment Of what revenue
bill ought to be; while think It Ia highly pro.
tectiye; while know some Of Its features are
oppressive on many great Interests in the coun-
try; even If were satis6ed on these points,
would not vote to pass the bill at this time, in
view of our present difficulties.
Then again, sir, there is q necessity for d.
recting our attention TO our commercial rela-
tions with our nelghbors upon the north. The
unfriendly or adverse legislation which has
been adopted by the Canadian Parliament, In
tended to defeat the beneficial effects, 30 far as
this country Ia interested, Of the reciprocity
treaty, ought also to be taken into considera-
tion. We have arrived at the period where
our commercial system should extend to the
whole continent; when, in arranging our own
list of duties, we should take into considerable on
the effects, especially upon those countries that
adjoin US upon this continent, had hoped
that the time had arrived when we could ma
ture and adopt continental system that would
embrace, In one commercial union, all the
States Of the North American continent, with
uniform system of duties. Such CONNER
cial union could be adopted, In my opinion, tha,
would be beneficial to all the States and coun-
tries who should become parties to IL. would
like to see It embrace not only the United
States, but the Canadas upon the north, the
British Possessions upon the east and the north.
weat, and Mexico, Cuba and the Central Amer
lean States upon the south. would like to see
them ell brought within the circle Of one COM
mercial union and q uniform system of duties,
30 far as all these States were concerned. de-
sire 10 see all custom houses in the interior
abolished, all restrictions upon internal COM
merce done away with, 30 that there should be
entire free trade unrestricted between every
State, province or country upon the American
continent and the adjacent islands.
think the present time is auspicous To ma.
ture system Of that kind. We arc~Hbout to
inaugurate new Administration, and hope
IT. IA
fact that we have internal difficulties at home;
the fact that there has been revolution In
Mexico which brings into power party friend-
ly to free and unrestricted commercial inter.
course; the fact that We have difficulties to ad-
just with the Canadas and British Provinces
growing out of tho reciprocity treatyI the fact
that the commercial system Of the Island of Gu.
ba, 80 far 1t affects our interests, is not satis
factory to us, nor is that Of Central America,
renders It eminently proper that we should TAX Q
up this subject as awhole, considering 1t with
reference to one grand system. ae A
The idea, sir, Of unrestricted commercial in
tercourse between contiguous countries is not
novel one. IL may be novel, 80 far as applicable
to the American continent; but if we direct our
attention to Europe, especially to Germany, we
will find there model which, with such modi-
fcations as would make 1t applicable to this
country, We might adopt, think, with great
profit and great usefulness. Iallude to the Ger.
man Zollverein. There you find commercial
Union, consisting Of twenty.iour sovereign, In
dependent States or countries, combined into
one Union for commercial purposes, with uni
form system of duties applicable to the whole,
and free trade as between those different coun-
tries. take It for granted the Senate is fam.
iliar with the German Zollverein. It was in
itiated in 1878, but was 80 imperfect that 1t did
not realize the advantages that were expected
from 1t until 1888. Prior to the latter day,
there were such restrictions In examinations and
In certain tolls, on the boundaries of tho inte-
rior States, as to deprive tho arrangement of
most Of its advantages; but In 1888, u treaty
was effected between the principal States of
Germany by which these restrictions were en-
tirely removed, the interior custom.houses abol.
ished, and only the exterior ones kept up for
the common benefit of all those States and Gov.
ernments that became parties to the tariff slli-
ance. a.i
From 1888 to this day, that system has work.
ed 80 well and go satisfactorily, that it has late
ly been extended until IL embraces nearly all of
Germany. Il now embeaces tWenty-four
States; and Ibelieve there ID movement now
on foot BY which Austria, Hungary, Transylva.
mia, In fact the whole Austrian empire, is about
w w bIoubhs INV sno pyoteuS ~ Wub ROuu9
may pass from the head of the Danube to the
Black sea, as we'll as down the Rhine into the
Baltic, by the most unrestricted free trade be-
tween these people. The system is very sim
pie one. All the custom. houses are upon the
frontier. They collect duties which are uni
form upon all the frontiers, and these duties 20
into Q common fund, and the proceeds. after
defraying expenses, are divided between the
different States composing the commercial
league In proportion TO population. The basis Of
the distribution Of the receipts 10 that Of the rel
alive population Of the several States aud coun-
tries composing the league. It is true, there
are one or two exceptions TO that ratio Of distr.
bution--exceptious founded upon local causes,
or upon other causes satisfactory to the parties,
and which have been adopted by unanimous
consent. f
Now, sir, Idesre to invite the attention of
the Senate and Of the country to she inquiry
whether We may not proftaby form CONNER
cial union, to comprise all the North Amer.
ican continent, on the basis Of the German Zoll.
vereln. Our continent is admirably adapted
to such system. You would at once abolish
all the Interior custom houses All those cus~
tom houses upon the northern frontier would be
sbandonedj all upon the dividing line between
us and Mexico would be abandoned; ali the in.
ternal restrictions upon trade would be swept
away; and all you would require would be cue
tom houses at the ports on the Atlantic and Pa
cifc. Why can not we form the whole Ameri.
can continent into one commercial union for
commercial purposes, without interfering In the