Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-04-21
THE TARIFF BILL.
Speech Of General Packard.

We present our readers this weel
with the speech of our Representa-
tive on the Tariff Bill, delivered II
the House on the 2Sth ultimc. 1t /.
regarded as an able speech, and {
valuable campaign document. 1t is
commended to the consideration Of
every Republican reader.
Mr. Speaker, When the command,
who has lost the day on the battle
field looks around him is easy
then to see how the plan of battle
might have been SO changed % to
give him the victory His mistakes
stand out in relief; and he regrets
when too late that he did not fore
see the consequences of this move
l9ent or thas. But it was his bus
mess to foresee and it is the bns-
mess of the legislator to forcsee, 81
least enough to understand some
thing of the effect on the people OF
the passage of a great measure OF
political economy.
sail not, in the few moments
allowed me, enter into any detail on
the provisions of this bill. j only
wish to bring one thought into
prominence.-It is a thought that
should blaze in this Hall, and refuse
to hide its light until it compelled
adoption. 1t is reduction of TAXA
ton. We are now near the close of
the discussion Of this bill, and do
not see that i. is lifting tie weights
from the shoulders of the people as
it ought. 1t was my purpose to re-
main silent to the close. and then
vote as 1 thought the interests of
he country required. I have wait
ed for some ringing voice, some
voice ofinfluence and power, to
sound the alarm and tell this House
that the burdens of taxation must
lie lightened. 1 have frequently
assured the people that the Forty
First Congress would do three
things: that j. would reduce expen-
olturts that it would reduce the
rate of interest on the public debt
aad that it would reduce taxa.io n
1t has already done and is still do
ing the first; it is about doing the
second; and here and now is an Cd
portunity to acconpli sh the third
1t Is measure which the people
demand, one which their necessities
quIre; and we shall not prove true
10 the CONSTITUENCIES which we rep
resent II we return to them having
made no effort to remove the crush
ing burdens they bear. We reduced
and are still.reducing expenditures;
let that be taken out of the taxes
we shall reach q low rate of interest
on the debt +; let this saving be taken
from the taxes. Then let us stor
SD rapid a payment Oft the debt.
L know it sounds well TO say that
we are paying onr debts at the rate
OF 500, 100000 per year; and i
the Government owned fund on
which it could draw at will without
going to the people 1 should insis
on the most rapid payment possible
But every dollar that goes into you
treasury must first come out of til,
/, property and labor OF the country
The Government stands on one side
the people on the other. If we re
gard the Government alone, i'm it
! organic being, we should say tina
It osght to pay its debts as fast a
money could be found to aiScLarg
them. But what effect has this "a
pid pay ment on the people? l
takes from them much of their earn
ings- 1t eripples their energies
1t swallows up the products of thei
industry. 1t retards the Inateris
progress OF the nation.
Iwant to see the surplus revenue
diminished unit. $3.50, 00O,G GOO eac
year and 10 more shall be apple
to the payment, first Of interes
t and the remainder to the Faymer
of the principal # the debt. / wal
to see the debt become each succe.
s:ve year little less than the pre-
ceding. 1t should be all the tim
: in the course Of gradual extinction
e but its liquidation should not be S
I rapid as seriously to burden Il
people not rapid enough to pla,
l letters on the accumulation
;. wealth or the increase of population
d The progress of the nation in pol
! ulation and wealth has been m o
remarkable remarkable both in Il
rapidity and in the regularity of t!
e progress, the minimum rate of il
# crease ir a decade being 32,67, al
the maximum rate 36,42. The la
>. seven decades show the foliowil
d increase Of population;
d Rate
a | D1,,,,1ofso,s s.,n.o<,