Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-03-01
S;tate Of tbt llatiOn.
SPEECH OF JUSTIN S. MORRILL,.

UlH GtCdt britain, dtHDTed IN We HOb@ 0
Representatives, Jan. 27, 1864
The House being in tho Committee OF the
Whole On the state of the Union (Mr. Wash
BURN, OF Illinois, in the chalr)
Mr. MORRILL, said
Mr. Cha,rman, while would not like to r..
t4rd Tho pr0 ress ofthis bill by the discussion Of
irrelevant matter, regard early acton upon
the Joint resolution tyr the termination Of tlr
reciprocity treaty a. uol uuimportant and,
not knowing when the Committee On Com
ncrce will be able to report upon that subject
I shall avail myself Of the privilege Of general
debate. nos ylt closed, to present the views !
al designed o. oler, whenever tho subject
should le Wvg..iy before the EouFo.'
Tn pint r.s9l4tlon relative 70 the reciprocity
trctty wltu Grcal Britain was introduced by
mc lOI discussion and action now because TIC
ALLOTTED tlue Wi ua the vars notice iOr the ter-
minat1n Of Che treaty oau be legally given
draw near, aul because il is subject upon
which, however We may be divided upon Other
que tl5ns ! AIN willing 10 assume every member
D. this liJuse WIl reach atd az, upon cOnclu
sOns Justified by sound itatesmanshlp, and 'up-
rOrted by what take to be the general voice
OF the American people, as It - not too much
go tlke i1r granted that no part Of our looPla
~, clntcntcd w.l the treaty as it now stands.
VI q are nation Of producers, and one OF tho
par mount duties Of legislators Is to SEQ that
producers afC pr0litably employed and have
mlrAet lor thHr uloduc's. Now, more than
even, should xlorts be encouraged, aud any
exc 50 OF imports yiglantly avoided Bat the
treaty is framed Oh The idea that we are a na-
ton Vt ujlsam is and therefore gVcs employ
maul n 4 to o., but to provincial producers 10
o. tb. tr.I
Productions Of The provinces, rather than t"f
thIsu % ,he United states
rHl i1iut res lutioo is not moved from petty
spite, useadercd by tha unlrlendy sentiments
whioh ieg subjects OF The British Crown have
been ecoutly so swift to ayow, as II appears 60
mc ior the interest ana reputation OF both
countries 90 maintain the cordial Citations OF
perpetual amity and good viii bnt lie treaty,
whether viewed 60 urelRn or dumesnc mea-
sure, seems to have been equally lmpolitic. Be-
yond % cayil 1t has proved unfortunate as %
contract, and 10 oe it appears equally clear 70
be, 30 iA. as it Is positive or negative revenue
measure, unconstitutional Not only Is It one
sided ana prohdess to oc, people but among its
fruits Wc 10 NOT ind any compensation ct graft
tule or Increased respect ior US on the part OF
Che Cove. nmeat Ut Vt thoee Of its dependencies
most benefited, and our own self respect requires
ils carlies termination. Ia the disposal OF this
and kindred questions, it is also time the au-
thorty To-! the House was asserted ana yludic1-
ted
c0SsTlruuoSAL OBJECTIONS TO the TREATY.
The trainers Of the Constitution OF the United
States n,ended to place the power OF taxation,
whether xterna- Or internal, within the con
trol of th. liouse Of K presentauSos, the most
D.. Lac -. ..ak ffN 10 .aun
and most directly responsible to the people.
Wi,h this view they copied a part OF the IN
written c.ustisution oi England which has pre-
gailsd there since the time Of Charles |, and .
this cay more resolutdly insisted upon by the
House o Commons than any other privilege OF
liberty ung from reluctant mobiles or obst-
pate kings. Our constitution declares that
" b!ils las never been directly in hostility 20
this rule, although IN 1856, under the lead 1
Mr.. Hunter and Mr. loopbs, the Seuate at
tempted To originate appropriation billi Thee
fnoHfy blHs were placed IN the control oi tie
Representatives OF the people as an offset for the
equal representation OF States IN the Senate In
bills OF supply IN the British Parliament so
iealoua are ia Commons, that 10 the preamble
the name Of the House OF Lords Is omitled-th1
enactng clause rccltinc the grant as wholly
their own.
The originating power OF taxation Is lnduhi
-laDly placed ia The House OF Commons, which
claims 90 have 8 fundamental right as q mat
tel. measure, and the time. The exalted att
tude Of England, it is declared by British au'
th0rltics, Is mostly owing t) this transierence Of
executive power 10 the tlouse OF Commons
On this subject il was intended to confer up
on the House of X representatives power and re
sponslblllty which cannot be and ought not n
be reuuuuced. 10 Congress, not TO the treaty
making power, belong the power OF regulating
commerce with foreign nators, as wall us thJ
power to levy and collect taxes, duties, lmpos's
ana eXclses
DO not hesitate to say that commercial troa'
ties. OF the character OF the reciprocity treaty
20 Tar " wrest ir0m the House Its proper co
stitutonal authority, ami the oo.oparauen o
the House puts IN peri, tie rule which Is one OF
the prominent safeguards OF American liberty
30 long as external taxation, or duty upon im
ports, OF 30 long as internal taxation, or tax
upon home productions, must be ros0rted to toi
the support 0l the Government, the House al
REPRESENTATIVE has no right TO surrender ol
even h)ld in abcyanoe any part oi its Legitimate
functions touching the power OF taxation. Suet
treaties obviously shacklc us by engagement
which preclude the free regulation OF our domes
tic interests, however great the emergency
The unlimited power OF the British Crown t
make treaties aud to make war places thu
question there, it is true, opOn different loot
inr from what il rests on here under tho Con
stitnrion of the United States 4 treaty mad,
only in behalf ol colonies, also, Is not the sam
as one embracing the mother country. And
Furthermore, as q practical question in Grea
Britain, no other nation producing manulac
lures more cheapy, revenue from duties upo
imports has become OF trivial importance.
II will be hardly cOnlroverted that tho lious
Of Representatives. lshoLld be free at all tunes
aud especially now, to exert its just powers, un
trameIed by treaties aud clear OF enchroach
ments upon tie part OF other branches OF th
Government. Il cannot be Tor the interest {
any department Of the Government to see an
other crippled or falling Into disuse and disr'
pute, and 1t Is IN the interest OF Liberty that til
rights lnd privileges OF The House should b
IoiSS RESOLUTION
Whereas by the Reciprocity Treaty co included the ii
,iay Of June and ratified the 9th day Of Septemhe
Anno Domtni one thousand eight hundred and nflyfou
between tue United states OF America and the Queen
Great Britain for the period OF ten years from the da
At Whlrn should come into GRAFTON, aud further
he expiration Of twelve mouths after either OF the biz
contracting parties sh ud give notice TO tne other OF
wish to terminate the same each OF the high eonraetn
pares ccofdng to the provisions OF article ann OF Ai
treaty, being at liberty to give such notice to The 9th
At the end Of said term OF ten Sears, and any time
terwarIs and hereby annul and ahroglte SAID treay
And whereastt has become desirable TO erm rate sal
treaty In lu manner therein proY0ed for, rs is tern
no longer appear recptocaly benedoiacr satisseofy
Nnh view, therefore, that steps be ,sken for The I,
mnaunn u the sail treaty Of the 9th sf June, A. d. OF
and tait tr.