Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1866-07-20
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THE TARIFF BILL DISCUSSION.


members, with quite number Of Senators
and other privileged persons; while among
the crowds in the galleries were manuhctur-
ers whose fortunes depended upon the result.
No time was wasted in the customary morn
ing business, and Mr.. Wentworth commenced
the days debate by a laborod argument in
favor OF protecting and developing the agr-
cultural interests Of the country.
Mr. Morrill, Of Vermont said the bin had
been changed aud made different from what
he bad hoped and expected, but he would not
now turn his back upon il, but trusted some
changes might be effected in the Senate
Mr. Delauo Of Ohio addressed the House
in advocacy Of the bill. He believed il com.
bned the healthy features that had long been
desirable, but apparently una,tainabie. 1t
was The first time that an opportunity was
afforded OF protecting the agricultural inter-
ests OF the country. Ia the coutse of his re-
marks Mr.. Delsno said he was surprised to
find an opposition to the bill coming from
New England. few days ago a New Eng
land Senator taid that his section did not
want this Tariff bill aud upon that declara-
tion all the free traders of the country sound
ed the alarm.
Mr. Delano spoke especially upon the me-
agricultural interests, and appealed to the
representatives of New England, whose man
ufactures were protected, to assist in placing
adequate protection upon the products of ag
riculture.
Mr.. Boutwell,, of Massachusetts, replied
that If he apprehended the sentiments and the
purposes Of the people Of New England, they
are not anxious to continue contest Of that
sort. While they mean to maintain the prin-
ciple and the policy Of protection with refer
enee to their own interests, they do so also
with reference to the interests Of the whole
country. What they ask of Congress and of
the country is a protective system which shall
not only protect the interests Of New Eng
land, but shall so protect all the interests Of
the country as to commend itself generally to
the whole country. The difficulty in New
England to-day Is, then, not with reference to
this bin, but it is from the circumstances that
in other sections Of the country, and ratticu-
larly in the great West--with which New
England desires to be in accord upon this
great subject Of protec ion there appears to
be a determined hostility to this bill.
Mr.. Hooper Of Massachusetts, also defined
the position Of New England in few pointed
remarks and said tha. her representatives
had not demanded this tariff bill Many Of
the changes proposed were positively adverse
TO the interests OF New England. He an
nounced his intention Of voting for the bill,
however, other sections of the country de-
mqnded protection, but he should ask for
separate votes upon some of the measures.
Mr.. Kasson Of Iowa argued that the people
Of the West did not desire the passage Of this /
bill, for it was imposing uni lst burdens up
on them. The bill should be recommitted
with Instructions TO modify its fundamental
principles. Instead Of being system of
equal protection. it should be more properly
denominAted a system Of equal robbery, for it /
simply provided for taking money from one
to pay another
Mr.. Wilson Of Iowa spoke in opposition to
the bill.
Mr. Dodge Of NewYork advocated the bill, .
but thought that there were many features in
it which bore hard upon commerce But he
believed that its general features were of ad-
vantage to the whole country aud he should .
Therefore vote Tor it.
Mr. Garfield Of Ohio addressed the House
in favor Of the bill. He argued that it was
tariff for the protection of the agricultural
interests Of the country. He denied the ar
gument frequently made since this bill has
been under consideration that is was gotten
up in the interest of New England. There
were some features Of the bill to which he
objected, and he hoped to see many of them
modified. Mr.. Garfield then proceeded to
argue in favor Of, and to set forth what to his .
mind we're the great advantages OF tariff for .
protection. He held that protection was abb [
solutely necessary to the fostering Of the
manufacturing interests Of the country.
Mr.. Morrill, then called the previous quest
ion upon the adoption Of certain amendments
proposed. and separate votes were demanded
upon some of the paragraphs as given below.
On motion Of Mr.. Morrill,, the duty on cot
ton, raw or manufactured, was fixed at three
cents per pound.
Mr.. Allison Of Iowa subsequently made an
effort to make the duty Ave cents, but the
House refused to reconsider its first action.
There was an animated discussion on the
duty on railroad iron, which was finally fixed
at seventy cents per hundred pounds instead
Of one cent per pound as adopted in Commit
tee Of the Whole. When this concession
was made by the iron men the chances OF the
passage of the bill improved.
The Western members were further con-
ciliated by reduction Of the proposed duty
on salt ia sacks to thirty-six cents per hun
dred pounds, and the proposed duty on salt
in bulk to twenty.four cents per hundred
pounds.
An effort to reconsider the amendment
adopted in committee by which New England
will have to pay high duty on Nova Scotia
coal was unsuccessful by three votes.
The amendment adopted in Committee Of
the Whole, on motion OF Mr.. Allison, grant
ing certain privileges to the Alabama and
Florida Railroad, was disagreed to.
The increased rates on agricultural prod
ucts, and the amendment with regard to lum-
ber, were left a. adopted in Committee Of the
Whole.
The House sustained the action of the
Committee Of the Whole reducing the duty
on tea to II l-2 cents per pound and the du (
" on coffee TO 10 cents per pound
The motion to strike out the twenty-third .
section, which creates bureau OF statistics,
WAS not agreed to.
The amendments having been disposed Of
and the bill perfected, the attempts to defeat
its passage by parliamentary lodges were com
menced. But Mr.. Morrill, was not to be foil /
ed and, after tLe usual exciting preliminary
struggle which invariably attends the passage
o. any important measure, the bill was passed
by vote Of "a yeas to So nays
New England voted aye in solid ranks, the
noes came from the copperheads and few