Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-03-14
THE TARIFF BILL.

that.
THE TARIFF BILL.
We announce, with great regret,
the defeat of the Senate Tariff Bill, Ill
the Lower House of Congress, on the
2Sth ult The result was brought
about by Northern Free-Traders CALI
as Copperheads), and members from
the Western States. Such men as
WAsHBURN Of Illinois, voting with
Copperheads, and some twenty-five Or
six others. One hundred and five
members voted for the Tariff Bill, and
sixty-four against it, thus showing a
large majority in favor Of the meas
ure. The reader will ask why it was
defe:. ted on such a vote? Since the
bill came to the House it has been
before the Committee of the Whole,
and it's enemies kept it there by
amendments and speeches. If once
through the Committee OF the Whole,
the bill could be passed by bare
majority, and hence the reason Tor
keeping it there. At last, seeing no
alternative, Mr.. MORRILL, moved to
take it out of the Committee of the
Whole, and as this required a sus-
pension of a rule of the House, two
thirds vote was necessary to carry 1t.
This it failed to receive, and was con
sequently defeated ; and were it not
for the fact that the next or present
Congress was organized on the 4th
inst, where another effort will be
made for Tariff law, we would look
upon the defeat Of the Senate Bill, as
most disastrous to the country.
A very large proportion of the rev,
enue which now goes to sustain the
Government in its enormous expend
itures, and pay the interest on the
public debt, is paid by the manufac
turers of the country, and this tax, to
gether with the severe competition
from abroad, is rapidly destroying
the manufacturing interests of the
nation; and if they are crushed where
are we to get money to meet the IN
terest and government expenses
We can not get it, and Government
and Government credit will follow
the manufacturers to ruin. This is
the up-shot of the whole matter We
do not wonder that Copperheads fight
the Tariff, for they fight the country
and every interest connected with it.
but we do wonder at those Western
Republican members, and perhaps
even they, are in a measure excusa
BILE. The Western people are oppos
ed to Tariff, and their members vote
against them to secure reflections
but it is not a hattcring commenda
tion of these men that they vote tC
secure their own return to Congress
and at the same time to ruin the
country and such is the fact. 1t is
a great pity that the members O
| Congress, favoring Tariff law, can
not be more united on measure. A
great variety of heavy interests come
! in collision whenever Tariff laws are
under revision by Congress, and it is
therefore, very hard to get a bill tha'
will suit all; but concessions should
and must be the order of the day
now, or no bill will be passed. w
hope all lovers Of the Union will JOIN
hands in patriotic effort to save us
Let the Republican members bear il
mind that the Government is in ou
hands, that our party is responsible,
for its credit, and that financial cri
sis before the next Presidential elec
ton will materially effect its result
and that unless we have a judiciou
Tariff law, bankruptcy of govern
ment and people must follow. w
are glad to know that our membe
voted right, every time, on this ques
ton.