Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-03-20
CARLISLE'S SPEECH
At the Dinner of the New York Free
Trade club.

Saturday night. The tables were full
Guests from various parts OF the country
had gstheret together in the hope of
hearing John g. Carlisle, Speaker Of the
House OF Representatives, say something
on the principle that gave the club its
name. The tables were beautifully deco
rated and music accompanied the diners
in their discussion Of the menu. Among
those present besides the speakers were
Msnton Marble, District Attorney
William C. Bvecber, Gen. Christiansep,
Professor H.aW. sFsrnum,ss,W w. G. Floyi
Jones, Street Commissioner Coleman,
Colonel B. A. Willis, Simon Stern,
Wheeler II. Peckham, Horace White,
George Jones, John 7. Agnew, K. 8.
Jaffrsy and mluy other known free
traders. Before the dinner was com
pieted letters of regret were read from
Senators Bsyard Of Delaware Pendletop
Of Ohio, and Beck OF Kentucky /; Charles
Francis Adams and Henry Ward
| Beechsr.
Speaker Carlisle responded to the toast
"0ur Federal Union" saying
/ should be glad indeed, II | were not
| profoundly grateful, tor tue very friendly
| reception, which is SO much more than |
expected or had auy right to expect that
| feel myself almost unable to express my
| appreciation Tor II. am obliged always
tor an opportunity of saying lew words
in response to the toast which 10 assigned
to me. Although will be- unable TO do
anything like justice to thu subject |
shall coIfine myself to it, Certainly |
shall not do more than to call your atteD.
tion to one Of the most conspicuous
changes offered by the American people
by the Union established l779. The
formation of union, peacefully and
voluntarily entered, the conditions Of
which made suoh radical changes in the
relations between the several states them
selves and between Them and the general
government, WAS undoubtedly one OF the |
greatest political achievements Of modern |
times. 1t is, think, safe to say that in |
no other part OF the world could such a
change have been peacefully made at
that in time and perhaps 1t is equally |
safe to say that it could not have been |
mad Q here 81 or 80 years later.
Why and how this Union are formed
are questions which It would bs |
impossible to discuss upon the occasion.
What benefits, what changes it has |
already conferred upon ns, how it should |
be strengthened ard, perhaps, all its
parts increased, are questions which
should be considered. The old federation
po Isessed no mesns OF sustaining itself.
In fact, 1t had no power TO impose taxes,
to regulate commerce. or TO administer |
Justice, II had but ons of the essential |
departments of a real government, the |
legislative, aud even TINT was defective |
aud almost impotent. Each state had a |
right o lay aud impose duties, subj ,ot |
al .La
not interfere with the duties entered into |
by the United Ststas and with foreign |
countries or ntstes, There was no |
limitation whatever upon the power OF |
any state to impose duties upon he |
prcduo:s Of any other American stale |
Brought witi,in Its limits FOR con, um p.i0n. |
For the pnrrcse of projecting its own |
manufacturers the state OF New York had |
full poeer to impose any rate OF duty |
upon Philadelphia goods and New Jersey |
possessed the same power in regard to /
the products Of New York.
II free trade is what 1t is and every one |
clsims, II 1t enables them to overcome |
natural disadvantages and secure q
higher degree OF transportation 1t must |
be admitted that the arrangement exst
ing under the confederation was wise
one and Ought never to have ls9n dis |
tufbed. But the trainers of the constitu |
tion-tlie men who founded tho F9d,ral |
ITDion-did not think 80. They believed |
til at free tyaia--abB1lnta free trade be |
tween the seTers! statss--was impera-
tively demsEded 10y the jnterppts OF tho |
psople, IL Is true that 1t was said in
con sIti III, while thlr sutjsot was under
consideration, II the re.iasnt5 of the |
siStr could not res ulate tLeir own ms1u
factures without boiBg III conf iGt wish |
other status that they were not iii TO COM
peSe a nation.
FREE TRADE BY TIE CONSTITUTION.
When ths vote was tsksp no other vlte |
vas recorded against it. This free trade |
wss established by the constitution, net |
only for trade between the states then
exisdng, but between all the states that
might thereafter exist as members of the
Federal U1ion, sra most all will admit
thst the wonderful transportation of this
country is attributable largely TO that
provision, more largely than to any other
thing. With free commercial Intercourse
between the states our Internal commerce
has e.iily aud rapidly grown. What a
different picture this country presents
rom what it would have presented II the
| policy of restriction and protection had
| prevailed among the states, ss 1t has
prevailed for 30 many years between the
| United States and the toreign nations.
| Under the liberal policy established
by the constitution our means OF
| internal communication and tfanspor-
tation is increasing. Free commercial
Intercourse between the states has pre-
santed the development of our ratioral
resources, fOstered agriculture and manu-
!aoture and added millions to the wealth
OF the people, while the protective system
has to a large extent, At least, shut ua
out from the markets of other counties
and brought us substantially to the de
mands of home consumption and in many
cases has actually arrested the free
development of great industrial interests.
The constitution not only prohibited the
states from laying imports from duties on
imports or exports, but 1t expressly dele
gated to Congress power to collect duties
to pay for general welfare. This !s
simply the power to raise revenue for
public purposes. 1t is monstrcus abuse
to use if not for the purpose OF raising
revenue, but for the purpose of prohibit
ing commerce. 1t is, II possible, still
greater abuse of that power to employ 1t
for private instead Of for public purposes.
An Interesting Case.
Peter Mohr, OF Philadelphia, died on