Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-18
CARLISLE ON THE TARIFF.
FREE TRADE PRINCIPLES AT
THE NATIONS BIRTH.

is a revised copy of Speaker Carlisle's
| speech at the New York Free Trade Club
on Saturday evening last:
Kr. President and Gentlemen Of the CLUB:
| | should be cold indeed if / were not pro-
| foundly grateful for this very friendly recep-
| tiOn. 1t is so much more than expected or
| nad any right to expect that | feel myself
| wholly unable to express my appreciation of
1t. am obliged to you also for the OppOrtu-
nlty TO say lew words IN response to the
toast lust announced, although of course it
will be impossible under the circumstances to
do anything like justice to the subject and
perhaps shall not confine myself to it. Ger
talnly snail not attempt 10 do more than
call your attention very briefly &c one or two
OF the most conspicuous advantages con-
ferred upon the American people by
the Union established IN 1879. The peace
able and voluntary formation of that
Union under the constitution which made
such radical changes in the relations pre-
viOusly existing between the several States
themselves and between them snd the General
Government, was undoubtedly one of The
greatest political achievements of modern
times. 1t is difficult to say which is the more
entitled TO cur admiration, the craftsmanship
which framed the constitution. or the
patriotism and intelligence of the people
of the several States who ratified it and made
it for themselves and their pOsterity the su-
preme law of the land. 1t is 1 think, safe to
assert that in no other part of the world
could such a fundamental change have
been peaceably made at that time, and per-
haps, gentlemen, it is equally safe to say that it
could not have been made here twenty or thir-
ty years later. Why and how this Union was
formed are historical questions which it
would De superuu0us anu, IN TACT. impossible
to discuss on this occasion. What bene-
fits and advantages it has already conferred
upon us, how its bonds shall be strengthened
and the prosperity of all its parts increased
and perpetuated, are questions which chal-
lenge our attention constantly. The old con-
federation possessed no means OF sustaining
ltseu. In lacC, III was but skeleton OF q gov
ernment. 1t had no power to impose taxes or
regulate commerce, or to administer justice.
STATES RIGHTS.
1t had but one of the essential departments
Of real gOvernment-the legislative-and
even that was defective and almost impOtent.
Each State had right to lay imposts and
duties subject only to the condition that they
should not interfere with treaties entered
into by the United States. in Congress as
sembled, with foreign Kings, Princes or
States. There was limitation whatever
upon the power of any State to impose duties
State brought within its limits for sale
or consumption. For the purpose of
raising raising a, revenue y9dn3,u or for the
aging Its own domestic manufactures
the State of New York had full powers
to impose any of the duty its authorities
might see proper to establish upon the pro-
ducts Of New Jersey, brought here in search
of a market, and New Jersey possessed the
same power in respect to the products of New
York. If the doctrine of protection is what
its friends claim, if its application TO infant
industries in new States enables them to over
come natural disadvantages and to secure a
higher degree Of prosperity than would be
otherwise attainable, it must be admitted that
the arrangement existing under the confeder-
alton was a wise one and ought never to have
been disturbed; but, gentlemen, the trainers of
ed this Federal Union did not
think so. They believed that free trade-ab-
solute free trade between the several States
was lmperatively demanded by the interests v
of the people. Applause.l Accordingly they
adopted this provision as part of the con-
stituton without single dissenting vote
mo State shall, without the consent of Con-
gress, lay or impost duties upon imports
or exports except what may be absolutely
necessary for executing its inspection laws
and the net proceeds Of all duties or impOsts
levied by any State imports or exports
shall be for the of the Treasury of the
United States and all such laws shall be sub
ject to the revision and control of Congress"
THE BIRTH OF FREE TRADE.
1t is true that George Clvmer, of Penn
sylyania, said IN the convention while this
subject was under consideration, IF the
States have such different interests that they
cannot be left to regulate their own manu-
factures without encOuntering the interests
of other States, it is proof that they are not fit
to compose one nation" But he stood
substantially alone in his opposition to this
provision, and when vote was taken not
single State was recorded against it.
Thus free trade was established by the con-
stltution, not only between the States
that might thereafter exist as members of
the Federal Union applausel. and /
venture to believe, my friends that the most
ardent advocate OF the protective system will
admit that the wonderful growth and pros
perity of this country since 1890 are attrbu-
table largely to this provision, more largely
than TO any other one thing. fApplause.1 |
With free commercial intercourse between
the States our internal commerce
has steadily and rapidly grown until
it amounts to thousands Of millions of
dollars anQuaIlV. ifae eafl
railroad have been constructed. over which
almost innumerable trains are constantly pass
ing. carrying manufactured and other articles
of commerce from State to State, while our
great waterways are crowded with steamers
and barges and other RATS laden with pro-
ducts of every part of the Union. The
markets of New York are as free as the mar
kets of Philadelphia for iron and steel and
the coal of Pennsylvania: as free as the
markets OF savannah or Mobile or Charleston
for the cotton and fruits of the South.
What different picture this country pre-
sents from what 1t would have presented if
the policy of restriction and protection had
prevailed among the States as 1t has prevailed
for so many years between the United States
and foreign nations. Applause Under the
liberal policy established by the constitution
our means OF internal communication and |
transportation nave increased and are still
increasing. while under the restrictive and
obstructive policy Of Congress our merchant
marine, once source of pride and profit
has almost disappeared from the seas, and
unless something can be done to ar
rest its further decline it will disap-
pear entirely. Free commercial intercourse
between the States has encouraged trade, pro-
NOTED the developments of our natural resour-
ces. .fOstered agriculture and manufactures and
added'unt0ld millions to the wealth Of the
people; while the protective system main
tanned by Congressional legislation has, to a
large extent at least, shut us out from the
markets of the outside world. limited produc-
tiOn substantially to the demands OF home
consumption, and in many cases actually ar
rested further development of great industrial
interests Applause.l Under this system,
when any highly protected manufactur-
ing industry has reached a stage of develop
ment which enables it to supply the home de
mand its growth must virtually cease because
its products can have access to no other mar
kets.
The constitution not only prohibited the
states from laying impOsts or duties upon i'm
ports or exports, but iG expressly deegated to
Congress power 20 lay and collect taxes,
duties, imposts and excises TO pay debts
and provide for the common defense and gem
eral welfare.
REVENUE VERSUS COMMERCE.
This is simply power to raise reve-
nue. for public purposes. [Cheers.l 1t
is wholly separate and distinct from the
power to regulate commerce between the
United States and foreign nations and among
the several States and with the various Indian
tribes which is conferred by another clause Of
the constitution. The two powers were dele
gated for entirely different purposes: and it
Is monstrous abuse of the power OF taxation
to use it, not for the purpose Of raising rev.
enue, but 4Of the purpose OF regulating or pro-
hibiting commerce. lCheers. 1t Is, if pOssi-
BILE, still greater abuse of that power to en-
ploy it for private instead of public purposes.
Applause Let no one, / pray you.
misunderstood me upon this point.
The experience of mankind has shown
that it Is almost if not quite impossible to
devise any system scheme of duties upon
imports that will not incidentally, TO a greater
or less degree, either injure or benefit private
industrial interests, and / have never hesi-
tated TO say that would rather benefit them
than injure them; but what | mean to assert
is that when the primary principal object
of a tax imposed by public authority IS to
foster private interest it is not legitimate
use of the power of taxation, but is simply
spOliatiOn. Cheers.
SUDDEN CHANGE NOT ADVOCATED.
Whether what is called protection. direct
| or incidental, is or is not really beneficial to
| protected industry is a question about which,
! imagine, there will never be ANYTHING
! like perfect unanlmity Of opinion But
whatever may be our opinions upon that
| question, most Of us will agree / think. that
there may be conditions under which it would
not be wise to make sudden change, even
| from bad policy to a good one. Applause.
| When manufacturing interests have grown
| up under high protective system, and during
series OF years have adjusted themselves to
| it, and when those engaged in them have be-
aePuSfamp6 n rnft fIt,H saF