Daily Kennebec journal., 1870-07-12
SPEAKER BLAINE AND THE COZ
PER TARIFF BILL.

we nave nOtlCeu Will DOtIi iutCiSoe oh" ~
riosity the savage yet harmless attacks made
bv the Democratic press of this State on the
rentiemsn whose name stands at the head OF
this article. The Maine Standard has OF late
beiched forth several columns every week for
the purpose Of utterly annihilating towns
man In whose record Of public service, other
portions of the State, without regard to par
ty. indulge some honorable and praiseworthy
pride.
But this fact has especially arrested our at
tention: viz: that all the carping, envy and
malice Of the Standard, can find no vote CIV
en- in Congress by Mr.. Blame worthy of CEN
sure, and hence it launches all its fury on his
failure to vote on the Copper Tariff Bill
when that measure was vetoed by President
johnson We submit at the outset, that If the
votes actually given by Representative nave
all been true and honorable, and his assallants
can only find single instance in which they
assume he ought TO have voted, but did not,
his record must be singularly and exception
ally correct.
We have of late taken some pains by ref
ference to the files of the Congressional
Globe, to ascertain the precise and accurate
facts in regard to the Copper Tariff Bill, and
we shall lay them before our readers. II
these facts involve any public recreancy on
the part of Mr.. Blaine let him be condemn
ed but il not, let all this silly twaddle about
the Copper Tariff forever cease.
A bill to increase the tariff on certain vari-
cites of copper passed Congress by an over.
whelming majority in both branches, towards
the close of January, 1863. 1t was returned
shortly after with veto from President John
son, and was promptly passed over the veto
in the House, on the 23d of February, and in
tie Senate on the 24th. In the House but
twenty two (22) out of one hundred and six
ty O6O) Republican Representatives voted
to sustain the veto. and in the Senate but six
out Of fifty-six (56) Republican Senators vo-
ted t0 sustain the veto. The great bulk of
the Republicans in both branches voted to
pass the bill despite the veto, From this
State Senator Morrill, and Mr.. Blaine are re-
corded as not voting, while the remainder OF
the delegation voted to sustain the veto. OF
the remaining New England members only
Mr.. Starkweather of Connecticut voted to
sustain the veto. Ten New England men,
hers, including Mr.. Boutwell,, the present
Secretary of the Treasury, voted to pass the
bill over the veto, while twelve New England
members, including Mr. Blaine, failed to
vote. In the Senate, Mr.. Fessenden, Mr..
Snmner. Mr.. Ferry and Mr.. Dixon voted to
sustain the veto. Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont,
and Mr.. Anthony voted to pass the bill over
the veto, while the six remaining New Eng
land Senator's, including Mr.. Morrill, of
Maine, failed to vote.
But no matter how any one from Maine or
the other New England States voted or failed
to vote--the responsibility of passing the bill
belonged and still belongs TO the Republican
party-and the Ways and Means Committee
in reporting it, maintained that its effect in
checking at the moment an extraordinary i'm
portasion Of copper would be in the end and
very shortly, to reduce the price by preserv-
ing to the American mines fair home com
petition. And it was with this view and no
With the design of increasing the price O.
copper that the bill was passed.
Nov what has been the effect? Let the fact
be cited and let Mr.. Blaine and Mr. Nor
sifl and every one else stand or fall by thu
facts. by recurring to the Prices current
in New York for Feb. "a, 1869, the day tn
Copper Tariff Bill became law, we find tn
following quotations:
corrxR-Ingot-A---26i 81 cts.
.mn" Sheathing (new) SO 334 g
sB (old) 20 2l4 q
Nov BY he Prices current Of last week
into operation We fad the {eilowing quota
lions:
CorPER--ingot--- 20 2OA cts.
+" Sheathing new 2sA 80 "
casa (old) l6A II ("
The effect was precisely what the Way
and Means Committee declared it would be
The threatened excessive importation wa
checked and the competition of our own va,
Americas mines has ever since steadily r,
duced the price until the reduction on a
kinds of copper averages from Is to 25 pt
cent, a. compared With the price the day III
Copper Tariff was passed. Had the foreig
importation been allowed to check and de
troy the American products, the immedia
effect would probably have been ruino,
rise Of price for all kinds Of copper. as th
has always been the trick of the foreign in
porter when seeking to break down compe
6nx American product.
These are the simple facts of the case. v
extract them from public and easily accessib
records. and ve submit that on this showir
that neither Mr.. Blaine nor Senator Morr
HsAa offer any apology for their failure
vosA on the Presidents veto. The vot
cosA ass BY any possibility have changed Il
ssssk. sn4 Il Is by no means demonstrab
that the result ought 10 have been change,