The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-05-22
MR.. BRECKENRIDGE
Makes a Grand Speech in the
Senate.
THE soUTH'S PRESTIGE SUSTAINED
BY the Eloquent Senator from
Kentucky.


Mr.. Breckenridge began his speech with a
review of the situation so far as the surplus in
the treasury is concerned and with state
ment Of the dangers attendant on further ac-
emulation OF surplus i'll the treasury. lie
then said
When the committee on ways and means was
announced on January 5th, it necessarily he'd TO
confront this condition OF affairs and attempt TO
frame bin which would 50 reduce the revenues Of
the government as to bring its legitimate expenses
and its revenues close together and this burden Of
taxation upon the people; 1t recognized that reve-
hminnry standard. But this only increased
the burdens of taxation. The repeal
Oh tho entire internal revenue %9 olni
where there might be an annual deficit OF $1,000,
COO; but this deficit could not wOrk harm Tor the
present. as the surplus remaining on June 30 1888,
would be sufficient 10 comply with the require
ments Of the sinking fund until 1891, when four and
q hnlfs fail due. But lnrge section of the Ameri
can people really favored pan which removed
taxation from spirits beer and tobacco, aud left the
nccessarles of life buidened; nor WA tie committee
willing IN the asserting OF taxes in the attempt to
give substantial relief from tA0 present unnecessary
taxation to adopt plan which did not light sin
cial activity any burden, nor from
the san ,oo ANY from a6s p5 The
treasury thatnmount of taxes which we're Yolun-
tary paid in mode which distributed those
taxes equally, impartlally and not by burdens upon
the necessities OF life Rejecting, therefore, the
proI osition to Increase the industries for the pur
pose of reducing the revenues OF the government
and increasing the revenues of manufacturers, and
the proposition 70 repeal the internal reyenee sys-
TEN, the committee attempted to frame bill which
would reduce the revenue by safe amount and
would relieve, us far as moderate bill could do the
eyns of the present tariff and promote American in
dustTy by giving TO American labor the hope of
permanent, staple and profitable market. 1t rccog-
n1ed that the systcm which had been in eX-
latenee for over quarter OF century cQnl9
to harm 10 industry IT. constantly leaned in favor
of established rates Of duty and In case of doubt
proposed which 1t believed TO be entirely saei
No one can appreciate more than that the biz
reported by us does not answer all the conditions Of
today; that many duties are left at a rate entirely
too high; that the relief which ought to be given
has not been granted 10 the extent which the con-
diton of the country and of labor required; but
venture to affirm that under all the circumstances
which surround us, trying to perform an enormous
public duty with an eye single 10 the public good,
we have reported bill which every fair minded
man in America may accept rs wise, moderate and
proper legislation, and upon this statement, for
one am willing to go to the country and submit TO
its Judgment.
Referring to the criticisms of Mr.. Burrows,
of Michigan, upon the committee of ways and
MEANS and its manner Of framing the bill
under discussion, when he stated that in his
criticisms he was violating the secrets of the
committee room Mr.. Breckenridge said
With wit which was equolled by courtesy and
much greater than desire for the accuracy ex-
hibited, the gentleman from Michigan insinuated
what he would not be reckless enough to directly
assert, that not only was the bill not prepared by
the committee on ways and means which reported
it, but that there was no member of the majority SO
lost TO personal pride 10 admit its parenage. trust
that 1t Is within the most rigorous bounds of paTlia
mentaTy language to say that this Is absolutely
without foundation-in Its length, breadth, height
depth and thickness. II is the creation of the
gentleman,s fancy. except that he violated no
secrets of the committee room In making the state
ment. What he violated, leave to him to detir-
mine, Atnomeeting in thnt committee room or
elsewhere, at no time or place in no manner what
ever, has the majority of that committee ever given
any one any pretense to say that it denied its re-
sponsibility for this ill., that any but the
bers OF that majority was In any degree whatever
responsible for It, But it is proper that this house
and the country should know what doubt not is
known this bill the result of great orr of an
earnest desire to reach fair and conservative
item of il underwent the scrutiny Of
committee As a whole 1t is compromise of the
independent and earnest opinions OF earnest men
TO change tho system, to set aside the present sys
tenn and sub2tituIc in lieu of 1t another and differ
ent system. II leaves the average rates of duty
higher than they were under the Morrill, tariff, and
it is protective tariff bill The committee did not
believe that IT was its duty to do more than propose
moderate reduction of taxation by increasing the
free list, reducing certain rates. and reducing, rs
far MS practicable, as necessary restrictions and
make an effort to render the administrations more
efficient to protection, to honest importers and to
the detection and prevention of fraud.
Referring TO the internal revenue system, he
! said
| IL was determined in response to
what seemed to be the sentiment of large part of
the country, to propose the repeal of taxes nun
ufactured tobacco For practical craftsmanship is
| an art of wise compromise and in II free country
| the desire and Judgment of large portion of the
| people whom we represent must be accepted as n
| sufficient reason for legislation. Ourbeef was that
| 70 exempt fruit brandies and alcohol used in the
arts was Indirectly and hypocriticaly, but etleetu
| ally TO destroy the internal revenue SYSTEM and,
II thiS is TO he done, preferred to do ii have il
done openly. and thus N tho responsibility for It
| upon those who accomplished i, Those who vote
| 90 exempt alcohol thus used viii do 50 with the
| knowledge that II IS vote TO destroy the tax on
| distilled spirits. The bill is before con
| gross. tie responsibility of its pre-, aration
upon us; the responsibility Of legislation is upon
you No sneers MS 20 its authors no charges how
ever obcasive or discourteouS as TO the manner of
| its PREPARATION; no abuse of those who were con-
ccrnod 10 as preparation can remove from you the
responsible ty OF action nor chanEe the issue made
by the bill itself The surplus continues 10 grow;
| tine eTll effects Of ltaro daily exhibited; schemes
without number to SQuander public money, 20 dis
tribute among the states; TO cultivate the habit in
| the American people OF looking TO Washington ms
! the great 0lmsgiyer can he defeated only by your
action GS ia this bill, And IL IS 10 answer 10 say
that It was prepared in secrecy; that its authors are
! in the mode of its consideration. Mother
! Your own consdcnoes NOR the country
Will aclujt YOU II you shri responsibility and ovade
the isuc under such excuse, Nor win it beacceoted
/ MS any answer THAT there WAS any provision ofauy
SOFT IN the Confederate constitution. that gentle
meu engasei IN the preparation OF this bill were on
one side or the other side during that great strife or
that certain states have laesed behind in the prog
ress ~ national growth II might rs wen lie under
stoud that what we dc say here done and said in
/ the view OF the American people who are In dead
! earnest concerning that matter. Il has been re-
ported thu, in some savage age ont of bones OF the
/ dead implements OtVNrouS kinds were made bat
IN this debate IL mas occurred 90 gentlemen so emf
neut as 10 he dS;sns uishcd repre-, of the
people, 70 deliberately dig up the bones of the he
/ rocS Of the greet war AMI ont of them
make dice, and loaded dice ut that, 10 play in THIS
/ game of pollticS In such game. oven with such
| dice. gentlemen using them may rest assured they
| VIII loose The American people arc
| IN the humor, either ~ witness
| or approve such proceedings ! express my con
| iden' belief That that The time has gone by when
| either the passions OF war, the depunc,aiouS OF
the whisky ring, abuse of the SOUTH idcntilication
OF revenue ie,ouncrs with the confederate army or
any other OF the skllul arts which are Interested in
the maintenance OF this syStcm has heretofore been
! successfully used, can prevent some action which
VIII te u Q belnuing Of system which is ha cd on
thc great principle that all lgr0 legislation Slouli
be for the public good and not for Private interest
But venture to enim tlS the 'gaan, federal
! soldiers who, moved tNly by the sense of
duty in time of great peril rSRcd his lie, in rcev.
Ing the disaster impending at Shiloh will harilv be
ssltSiicl, when lac asked for CHEAPER cloihiug aud
che0pcr lumber % De told that he fought az Shiloh
q settle the question that the eastern manufacturer
had the rg 10 compel the western consumer 10 pey
sum uutcs as ms greed DEMANDED and that ANY 81
fort 20 cheaper TIE necessities OF life by remoVing
thorciiom the present CXuCtionS, would be held 90