Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-07-25
speech of Hon. Justin 8. M0rrtll,
Closing the Debate on the T~if Blu, de-
lipsred JULY 10Th. 1856.

CIOs.ng the Debats on the Twif Blu, de-
lirsred July 10Th. 1856.
Mr.. Speaker, am quite sensible that one of
.be grossest evils which characterises the
American legislation, especially on the subject
e the tariff, is instability. 1t is an evil so
great ana of such constant recurrence that |
slmost wonder that men can be found willing
TO embark their capital in commerce, trade or
manufactures. Beyond the ordinary vicissi.
tudes which affect the business of the world,
We have the viclssitudes of politics and the
changes of whole delegations, even in the abb
sence OF any political change, In consequence of
the system of rotation which prevails, and Of
shich do not complain, but mention as
fact Although not much of a veteran myself
yet there is now no member in the House
from New England who commenced service
shen did, and but two other members from any
art OF the country who began and have been
n continuous service Tor the same leDg of time.
New members come from different stand-points
and reach different conclusions. Amid some
thing good in all this there is somewhat of evil
Our standing committees stand for one Con-
gress only and then they are all made up
anew.
When l came here last December l fondly
anticipated that our first duty would be to
tighten the burden of internal taxation. That
duty has been .aboriously and faithfully per-
formed by Doth branches of Congress- | pc
.ieve the Isw on that subject, finally passed
snd as whole, will be approved by the judg-
ment OF the country, and 1t may be hoped BY
another year, that nothing in our political or
financial conditIon viii then exist which will
prevent our going still further in the same d.
recuon- | did not, however, expect that We
snould be called upon 10 increase the Ia
riff, except upon wool, and, as merely
compensatory, upon woolens. On the other
naad, | even hoped for some reduction upon
many articles OF foreign growth or production.
Inc acLlon OF Congress lnterdicting any meas
ures for retiring our redundant paper money,
except = very limited amount, and the un-
eIpectedIy reluctant action of the Secretary of
the IressUry IN exercising even what power
he nas mad to effect the same great object,
changed the whole aspect of our financial af-
lairs- Paper money became dominant, and it
~ss al once apparent that it must to a large ex-
tent rule cur financial affairs for several wears
10 come. From necessity the business of the
country and our tax and revenue laws must be
gagged BY that standard, huctuating as it may
be, and never for moment at rest. To-day
the wave sets in from the tarthess West and
money 10 w all street is abundant Gold goes
up. Tomorrow a demand from abroad or q
demand to move the produce of the great basin
drained by the Mississippi springs up and the
street, and gold goes down. That barometer,
It's rising or sinking indications flashed
over the Geographic wires, regulates the busi-
ness transactions of the next hour at Eastport
and ST. Paul, at New Orleans aud San Fran
cisco. The cost of living is unreduced. The
aborer abates nothing of his wages while paid
n a currency that mas exchangeable value
equal TO only Two thirds of its nominal value.
Our people find themselves IN competition
u-sL I'D, . h. "A
,-andard, and the cry from one end of the land
to the other Immediately arises, Save US or
re sink
Intelligent men and men of the highest in
tegrity from all parts of the country have been
before the Committee of Ways and Means for
the past six months, and their testimony shows
that We cannot keep our people at work at
their accustomed avocatIons without immediate
and what, under ordinary circumstances, would
be considered extraordinary measures.
The Committee of Ways and Means in re-
porting this bill, whatever gentlemen may
think about il, have scarcely IN any instance
reported propositions bearing anything like the
proportions which have been earnestly repre-
.ented to them as no more than adequate TO the
occasion. Let say that these demands for
higher tariff come less from New England
thal any other quarter. The bill will be more
10 aid of the &" lnfantie branches Of industry -
tem<n from Iowa (Mr. Kasson) calls them,
than from those longer established and requir-
ing less care. The bill also is not by a great
deal 20 higf in its rates those proposed by
tne revenue commission. The judgment OF
this commission has received much and de-
served credit throughout the country, and the
Committee OF Ways and deans deemed it un-
wise, if not imprudent, to accept of their rec
lamentations as a whole as to the tariff, and
naUa rod r.. chav. of RI Il
vlsed, (more especially by the learned and
distinguished gentleman, Mr.. Colwell, who
gave this subject the largest share of atten-
uon.)
lie tariff bill presented to the Committee
OF Ways and Means by the revenue commission
psopored one and half cents per pound on
bar IRON, but We only reported one and quar-
Ter cents. On sheet iron, where three cents
were reported We offered two and half cents
On chains less than one quarter inch in diane
Ter, eight cents was proposed and but five
reported IN the bill. On galvanized iron eight
cents per pound Was proposed, while in rhe bill
'he rate Is only four and half cents. On
smiths vses the commission proposed eight
cents per pound, and the article in tie bill was
reported at four and half cents. Common
Ten by fifteen window-glass was reported to
a. two aud threee-fourth cents per square foot,
and We offered only two cents. Above thirty
10y 4"OHCs square II Was IcpoIttO at seven
cents per square fo1t, while We only placed it
a lour cents. So that it will be seen the care
July considered rates not only not aooept-
60 but very severely RACED by the Committee
Of Ways and Means. l do not cite these facts
10 prove that all the rates of duty in the bill
a'e how right, but to show that the committee
Or s part of them at least, we're not inclined
20 adopt what may be considered extreme
Estes
shall not undertake to defend all the prop.
osI;ions found in this bill. Many of them did
not receive my approval in the Committee of
Ways and Means, and the action of the House
hes disappointed me. The tendency here has
been rather to increase than diminish the rat es
proposed, but shall not now turn my back
upon the bill, ss | believe something should
De done at any rate, and passing the bill in this
House will insure the usual and proper revis-
Ion Of 1t by the Senate and by its able Com
nittee on Finance, just as surely as 1t would
10 Tecommit the bill TO The Committee of Ways
aud Means, and will accomplish this object
perhaps more speedily. Certainly Congress
ought not aud believe will not adjourn until
some tariff bill has been passed, even if it
proongs he session until September. know
theIr Is great clamor made against the bill
Hom quarter where we had q right to expect
calmer judgment. Those States where cap
rsi has not yet had time to accumulate where
less machinery is at work, and where the steam
engine does not do the work OF hand labor,
Law lave most need of some increase of the tariff.
Inc more abundant capital, the skilled labor
shd the improved machinery of Older and more
lensey populated States might. get along