Newspapers / Highland messenger. / May 13, 1842, edition 1 / Page 2
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w m - i " i. '-f- 1 t.. '4 If. Hi 'A! f -3 J. 'S a- 4 I .4 ir say that acA a tax imposes jielual burdens upon the inhabitants ofbe South, 'where woollcnsj from tliiitUure .of the climate, cannot, to a grafcxteot, become a neces., sary of lifebur rather a luxury; while, from thjrrigid coldness of ours, all, from infancy to old age, have to be clothed with moat parts of the year. New I have no doubt that, of tho duties collected on ttti article, four dollar's per, man are, paid by -thoaeiuillLof thifl, to one dollar by those of the South, if it were leviedand collected like direct taxes according to the rule of the Constitutlonftind yet this tax upon wooi- Jens 1.1 ttie one relied upon by the Senator from South Carolina to make out his case of unequal burdens. This Very duty was the great cause of excitement at the bouth, and the very not bed that occasioned their most absurd doc trine of nullification. Sir, it would not have been much' more absurd' for them to have nullified a law which should impose a duly on warming vans, on articlo never seen at tho South, because, like woollens, there is no necessi ty for them i but which, from our cold, nnq rigorous climato, can be found in every cot tage and farm house in Now England. Sir, I have endeavored to show -why the ncople of the North do not complain that duties arc laid on articles which they do not raise -such as sugar and also that there is no good reason for complaint from the South for other duties, which they regard as unequal and oppressive. And I have done this for the purpose of removing impressions Bnd opinions of. Southern 'friends, which 1 bclicvo to be incorrect, and not to advocate exorbitant rates of duties upon any imports I am not in favor of such, and do not mean to contend for them. My purpose, in what I havo said on the subject of the rates of , duties, has been to answer tho inquiries so repeatedly pressed by the Senator from S Carolina, and to show that the South would havo no particular reason to complain, if tho rates of duties should not be reduced, as I expected they will bo. And I now desire to say a few words on tho subject embraced in the resolutions, concerning tho manner of raising the amount of revenue necessary to an econo. mical administretion of the Government. It appears plain to me, from all that has been said on the subject of reductions, that tho amount for all purposes must be twenty six millions, including what is proper to be paid toward tho existing debt, iho rcso. lutions propose that; in raising this sum, the provisions of the compromise act shall bo generally adhered to. To this general rule, as explained by the mover of the rcso lutions, there arc to be such exceptions ns may appear to be just i as, for instance, it' any particular branch of industry should De in manifest danger of very grcat.injury, or of. absolute destruction b the application of the general rule, then good policy and jus. tico might require that it should bb treated as an exception from it. " This was under. " Brdocr'W ntrtriho taw-was -passed? This law plainly declares that a suMcienl amount of revenue shall bo raised by duties on imports, for an economical odministra. tion of the Government. It neither refers to, nor relics upon, any other means than duties for that object. But I havo known no law to bo more misapprehended than tliis has been, nor ono on which public opin. ion appears to bo so much divided.' This has resulted, no doubt, from the va rious conflicting opinions expressed in re. gard to it at the tiino of its passage, and in some instances' since, from-a determination to misrepresent and condemn it. Put 1 am Joiind to believe that n portion of tho men of this last class, if correctly informed of its character and of its capacities to carry out tho objects intended, wouldccasc tocon deinn it. The objects of this huvcdn be best understood by looking at its provisions in connexion with tho state of tho Treasury tit the i'mic'cTTfs'pa'sshgo; Thl3 wilIsho-.r its true FpiritnndajHSjrt; At "that timo it imated that the wants of the Govern- was cstimat ""Srnc"hT "Wou1d"nnrcxcrrd fiftwn millions -of dollars anmialfy. The debt was paid, and the ordinary expenses had not exceeded thirteen millions a year tho previous eight years. Every plau presented at that ses. sion of Congress proposed to rcduco the rates of duties, eo that tho revenue should not exceed tho wants of the Government, and with tryarc or less professed regard to tho incidental encouragement of American labor. The free-trade, or what wns regard, rdas the Southern, doctrine was, that duties should bo levied on atl articles alike, wheth. or coming in competition. with prpducts of our own or not, nnd at-n - rate-.c higher than was sufficient to raise the requisite sum, which was then estimated at twelve to thirteen percent. - I . -Tliey contended for this, apd it wr.int "that timo justly called a" homwfal tariff" and I pcrcr.ivo by 6omc mcmoridls that the net which passed at thaL Ecssiorihasthc same term applied to it whether justly or not, a further examination will show. Tho law referred to, instead oTjproviding '""lhatlhc duties should he levied on all crlL ties alike, declared that many upon which duties had before' been laid, especially such articles at did not interfere with, but which were necessary to, our own productions, should afterw'anlsbcadiaitfcJw.andthat where any reduction of the rates should ho necessary, in order to diminish the amount - of revenue, such reduction should bo gra. dual, and rcacning through a period of nine or ten years ; should eventually come to a rate (20 per ccnt at which a sufficient amount of revenue Could be raised, on that class of articles, for on economical admin istration of tho Government. " -: It is therefore manifest that "the law con. templatoda discrimination between tho arti cle which como injeompeiition with ? those produced by American , labor and ' . those which did not, to the Jull extent of cdU lecting the ; entire revenue by duties levied on the first, and permitting the last to be ad. milled entirely free. .-ThU U IheVyery in lent and spirit of the lawr when .viewed ' vfth refcfence to tlus state . of the - public .Treasury at tho lime tle law was framed. It is true,' times bayc since changedun- expcctedly and unfavorably cuangcj, iu j reference to-the ability of the-country, to consume and pay for dutiable Jmporuf. as yvqll as to he increased expenditures and conseqticut necessities for increased reye. nucs.-. This change, which is often advert cd to by the advocates of free rade as if it were desired by the friends of American labor, .because it creates" a necessity for higher duties than was expected, ia "not, in fact, favorable to any kind of productive. la borri'thisjcountryj to my knowledge. It weighs down tho prosperity oTall7 it dd- stroys confidence, and, with it; tho valuo of all kinds of property, Neither docs it furnish an opportunity To carry? out peculiar doctrines of dijcrimina. tion i n levying duties, between -imports which do, and those which do not compete with our labor. So far as the principle of protection is supposed to consist in discrim. inating duties, the necessity for an increaso of dudes has operated against tho develop, mcntof that peculiar feuture'of the law. But, if the capacity of iho country to con. sumo-imports had continued as it was ex pcc(cd, and if the necessities of tho Govern, meat had not become greater than when the law was passed, w e should hove had a dis- crimination between these two classes of Imputations equalling tho entire duty, or twenty per cent. ; but as it now stands, no such distinction between' the two kinds of imports can be expected. Tho free articles, or most of them, are already raised to that rate ; and to enjoy tho discrimination of twenty per cent, contem plated in the bill, the duties on tho articles intended to bo protected could not be rcduc. cd much below what they aro seen to havo been during tho late administration, viz: n rato of duty of at least forty percent. ?. high a rate I have no wish to see continued, especially ns we have the most convincing proof that so high duties are evaded in nl. moet all cases ; and wo havo reason to be lieve that, from theirbeing so high, they occasion many of thoso numerous frauds which have driven almost ell honest Ameri can merchants from the business of import, ing, ns'wcll as defeated both revenue and protection. This leaves every American interest to become a victim cither to the cu pidity of tho foreigner who imports, or to the fiecesshies -of- the foreign producer abroad. At anv rate, sir, I prefer that cor- UiyiJvliicbw'secured by the provisions of inai law, oi collecting wnaicvcr raic oi umy may bo levied, by having the basis of it under lh control of our officers und our laws, through a home valuation.to any mere nominal rate of duties, however high. And there is abundant evidence Before the coun try that all rates aro hut nominal, so long as you permit tho foreigner to fix the basis by his invoices, although you should require them to bo shingled over with oaths. I have been induced to say this much of the provisions of the compromise act, be cousc it has often been asserted that it sur tendered. the principle of protection. But we have seen that, whon taken in conncx- lofl'With the wonts of-tho Treasury, as ps- Iimntcd at the timcot its passage, and with the prosperous condition of the conntry, afibciins its capacity to consume imports, it contained all the security for the encourage ment of American labor which tho condi. tion of the Treasury nnd other controlling circumstances would permit. It provided far such rates of duties na would produce a sufficient revenue, accord ing to the estimate then made, for an ceo- nomical administration ol the Government, nnd provided that thoso duties should bo levied upon such articles as interfered with imilnr productions of ours m our own mar- ket, leaving thoso articles which did not so ntcrferc either to payor, not to pay duties, according to our circumstances, and (o be resorted to from timo to time as more make- weigh Is in tho scales, upon any casual defi. cieney in tho revenue. It is also provided that these rates of du- Tics, orsuch as shrrold benecesary to r&i asufficicnt rcvemte-fer-tho economical ad. ni;.iistration ot tho uovernment, should do levied upon imports according tatlicir valuei in this country, under such regulations ns should thereafter bo prescribed by law, and that theso duties should bo paid in cash. I do not pretend to say that in this adjustment nothing was conceded on the part of the uniform nnd consistent friends of American fabor: Very much was conceded, with tho very best motives, in my opinion, arid with the best effect. This adjustment restored harmony to the people of this nation. There was no just cause, it is true, for tho es trangement which existed ; but it had taken place, and it wa3 wise to restore good feci, ings.- So thought at the time ; and, al though every dollar of property of mine in tho-world, depended on. tho capacity of this la.W.to give an adequate encouragement1 to our productions, I was in favcr of it when iljwdrttd 4ava defend ahd I am noic for carrying its provisions inlccflLcf., .according to its true intcrprcla Xbn, as given Ly the honorable mover of thce resolutions. When I say this, I do nonTeny'Shar very different "opinions arc and ha vc been r. ail along, entertained by many of my constituents, and by men of intelligence, whoso views aro entitled to respect. They have great apprehensions about its practical effects; and some among them, nnd many in other parts of New England, consider that by this law the prin ciple of protection to American , labor is surrendered. . ' , . ; They seem to think that th; principle of protection consists in the mode of laying uu ties; that a horizontal tariff, as they call it, is an abandonment of protection. All this must depend upon other circumstances than tho manner of levying the duties.--They will not pretend that an uniform rate of duty on all articles of fifty or a hundred per cent., will not give an adequate protcc lion to such as are produced in our country. Besides, as I hayo already shown, this law, when It was Tramed. and. passed, did not contemplate placing the same duties on all article? alike t but it was expected they would be placed, as it is now insisted they should be, upon such foreign articles as come id competition with our own. At that time; those who contended that U abandoned this p'rincipteof protection; said it was because it did. not provide for discri mination, among what is 'called protected articles asserting that a giveri rate of duty might protect ono interest, as sugar for la stance, while a higher one might be neces sary for Iron, &c. ' :; . . ; - '- j This sentiment lias since changed, and now a strong preference is manifested for specific duties. There may be a great deal said iri favor of nil these propositions; but, in my humble judgment, there is no printu prTn vohedf i or myirt them nhey all relate to a mero matter of expediency, an to the most judicious mode of levying duties ; and fthal eTrpediehcy-depends-upon-loo many considerations to require an examination of them all. Nobody disputes the right of this Government to lay duties lor revenue, and incidentally to rncoitarage our own in dustry.. I do not believe it good pojicy to discriminate among what are called pro tected articles, unless it shall be as an ex ception to a general rule, and one made in favor of some branch of industry which is fn its infancy, or else entitled to bo-ah' ex ception from some such cause ; and this is the intention of the law. ,j But it opposes discrimination in fa vol of any interest when at maturity. It has given nine Ions vcafs for nil to reach ihat 'matu rity, and then relies with confidence on the capacity of each to live in common with their fellows. This has tho effect to bring all classes of American producers iaioone common family, with agriculture ,t the head ; and agriculture will take thai rank, notwithstanding tho attempts of tho honora hie Senator from New Ilampshiro to seduce it from its American connexions. It will keep with them, and take its chance with the rest ; and all will, I trust, find adequate encouragement. According to my apprehension, there is ns littlo propriety for insisting that the prin. ciplo of protection is to bo found in specific duties, as there is in seeking to make dis. Unctions in tho various kinds of industry by discriminations in tho duties to bo laid. . It is-but another form of levying duties for revenue; and tho only advantage it has over a general ad valorem rate is, that it means anything it may bo exercised arbv trarily or capriciovsly for any, or for all purposes. In same cases, it is the most convenient form of levying duties, and could sometimes bo resorted to for its con venience ; it has no other merits over the other modes. v vrom every examination 1 have given this subject of tho compromise act, I can. not discover that it abandons any principle If provides a modo for laying duties on im. ports, one which, in tho circumstances un dor which it was passed, wns a highly cXpe dient ono. It gives all that incidental en courngemrnt to homo labor, which could well be given in exercising the revenue power. But the principle of protection does not depend upon any law of Congress ; it has its abiding place in tneConrtitutioii. and annnt he "t;ifpn "Ml hi't hy"rr"n'tTtcP?, IN ay, it lies even deeper, ana a,t -the very foundation upon which that society is built, which framed this Constitution. To afford protection to the labor of this conntry is not a matter of choice, even with tho masses; it is a matter of necessity. They must, and therefore will have it. It is not like nn ordinary regulation of property; it is a question that involves tho means of personal subsistence, one in which those havo tho greatest interest who have most children. Labor has generally been pro tccted by tho exercise of the revenue power in the form of-luties on imports. Should the snmo mode fail to protect it hereafter, is consequence of the legislation or the no cessitics of foreign countries, tin re is a more ample power given to the Govern ment in its con'rol over commerce. That can bo exercised for ihc snmo object, cither by countervailing or prohibitory legislation. In exercising -there vcnuc pavverjuidct iho provisions of existing laws, it U quite certain we shall be obliged to stop the re ductions bcforalhcyjcachtlic contemplated point of 20 per cent. Upon the prcsant da tiable articles not more than fourteen or fifteen millions would bo raised ; but with a home valuation, nnd from tw cnty.fi ve to. thirty percent., the amount would be raised in ordinary times, I hive no doubt. BJt for a year or two to come, I am con fident, thd estimate of 'the honorable Son ator from Kentucky is to ) high for the ex ports. It is founded on the value of the cj ports of last year, nnd five-eights of those exports Were cotton, which was last-year twenty percent, higher than it 'is now. This would make a difference of twelve or thirteen millions; and I confess. I see no thing to justify a hope that prices of any of our great staples are soon to improve. The honorable Senator -from N&w Hampshire ..JiiiyMtcjd about cotton! and spoke in derision of the quantity of East India cotton. But I look upon the recent accounts concrTiingrthis article as full of interest to us. - - - ---- Bales, The quantity on hand jn England j nt the close of the year was . about 530,000 Its anticipated receipts from all sources except tho U, States, the present year, aro G50,000 1,200,000 idling an r-.ggrrg-.to (without a bale from us) of more than a year's consumption. PA supply for such a period gives the holder such a command of the market as to leave no prospect to us of an early improvement in prices. We o re certainly unwise to overlook this position in our affairs, as affecting ourabil. ity to import, and, therefore, to raise a per manent revenue. It will not be overlooked by the statesmen of the country, who have attained to this position in reference to us. If they appear to rcjy tlpon our dependence on them for a market,'we certainly should not be unmindful of their exertions to be in dependent of us for their supplies.- If they hare determined on this so far as regards coUod, their whole history is a guaranty that they nill acCOmptisK It "and xro may soon expect to see a higher discriminating duty in favor pf Ipdia cotton than 'now ex istaa bout I of a, cent per lb. f Suppose it should be three centswill not our friends of the South stand by us, and aid ui to make some countervailing regulation ,' which may induce them to observe something like re ciprocity in their, trade with us 1 - , But the safest course is to m3ke such reg ulations for ourselves,' as will malie us more independent of all others.." If bur capabil ities had been encouraged by steady legisla tion in favor of our industry, I have little doubt we should now bo sending more pounds of manufactured cotton round the Cape of Good Hope, than.T'the entiro crop was when this legislation commenced. I think it likely we have in some years ex ported nearly as many already, Ani I sup. pose the consumption in this country now, is at least four times the quantity that was then raised. Does notour rapid advance in the culture of this crop, by tho extensive consum,tion of it in our manufactories, nnd by our ex port of it in a manufactured as well as a raw state, furnish to Senators more satisfactory proof of tho favorable influences of that national policy which protects our industry, than the theories of frcc-trade and hard. mo. ncy men? .Can they rely upon the results of thoir theories 83 satisfactory, should we adopt their" scheme? Docs the present con dition of the country, produced by a partial trial cf their doctrine, spctik-at-all iu favor of continuing to practise them ? The Se. natorfrom South Carolina often insists that il wo would como to this frcc-trade -and hard-money system, there would bo such a reduction of the wnges of labor that we could compete with any part of tho world with our exports' of manufactures! It has always appeared to me that theso modern theorists mistook the character of our people. They are different from the laborers of Europe ; for these aro pressed by a pinching ncces sity to the utmost exertion, while here labor can only ba stimulated by generous rewards to its highest capacity for production. And it is upon the development of the production of the country, that its capacity to consume depends. The Senator from New Hampshire says, and says truly, that high duties produced larger importations. Duties high enough to encourage labor oo'our own productions increaso them, nnd also tho means to con. sumo other articles ; and therefore, under a protective and prosperous system, lower rates of duty will more certainly produce a sufficient revenue, than higher duties can do while wo continue in our present crip pled condition. Reviso the law, therefore, give certainty to the collection of your du ties, by adopting a proper valuation of im- ports, predicated upon their fair vdluc in our own ports, for a year or two past, nnd, by a duty of 23 or 30 per cent ,'you will revive confidence and give new hopes to the coun try. This course would put a smile on the now gloomy fucc of things in the space of sixty days. 1 say y3 or tJ0"p tth a home valuation of imports, will do this, because tho certainty of collection will more than compensate for tho reduction of tho rates. I am at a loss to account for the reason why it is insisted that such a rule of valua tion is impracticable, or why it will not in sure the certainty of collection as well as to have specific duties. Sj far as it is impor tant that any duty should bear a due pro portion to the value of tho article taxed, it is far better than specific duties; nnd if there be a real desire to carry out the com. promise net on the part of the Senator from South Carolina, I cannot account for his opposing this provision of that bill. He knows that the bill itself could not havo pass, ed without it ; but, upon an incidental dc bate, upon the appointment of a clcrk-tlic other day, he insisted that this part of the law vas unconstitutional. It appears to mejo be a singular objection for him to make aga i nst ca r ry i ng-fiiT6i; ffec : f np i To visio n of tholict whichTifl vbledfoTlumsetfiiftt one , o, without which the compromise act it self wouliTnot have passed, - Hero Mr. CALnora interfered, and said the Senator from Rhode Inland was mistaken as to his voting for the amendment. " ,. Mr. Simmons resumed. I cannot be mis taken about the Senator's vote upon the amendment. Ho voted for it, and at the time undertook to stipulate as to the modo in which it should bo carried into effect; and Mr. Smith, of Maryland, told him it would be the law, and not the. Senator s speech, which would dctermin&lhat matter. . Mr. Calhoun interrupted ogam, and said he hoped the Senator did not intend to mis represent him as to his vote on the amend, ment. He recollected that he voted against the amendment, but voted for the bill, not- withstanding the amendment had prevailed ; and "thc-romarks referred to were made when 'Weave his vole on rttwtihT. He was certain that the Senator had made a mistake, and hoped he would not persist in it. Mr. biMMoNS resumed. And I am quite certain that the Senator from South Caroli. na is mistaken, and therefore repeat that he volcd for the nmendmcnt, and for the bill after the amendment was in. He voted for both, and said, when he voted for this home valuation, he did so because the bill would not pass without it. Mr. Calhoun rose again, and protested that ho did not vote for tho home valuation, for he considered it a violation of the Con. slitution at the time. If tho Senator from Rhode Island meant to persist in. his state ment, he must insist on his fight to correct it by appealing to the Journals, asking the Secretary to turn to the Journals and read the votes. Mr. bntMOXs resumed. " I have certainly no motive nor wish to statcrlftianhe vote of the Senator was different from what it was. I am .not apt to forget in such a matter ; and as I really believe he is mistaken, I shall go on upon, that supposition. - ' f 1 he becretary could not find the journal. Mr.C found one, came in, and began to read Hie ayes and noes i finding his own name among the ayes, and in favor of the home valuation, ha said he was mistakca Mr. S. resumed. 1 was not a little- sur. prised ttflen thd Senator declared 'that ifee section requiring that goods-should bo va. fund in this country , instead of Europe, was unconstitutional ; but more so to find that he was willing tq admit thnt ha voted for the law with such M provision in iL ' And when I looked at the proceedings, and found that he voted for the amendment requiring the valuation of goods to be made, iu this coun try, I concluded to be surprised at nothing after this. '' - . , Mr. Calhoun, having obtained the de- bates of -the session of 13 illagaj o lute rpo-1 scd and asked for an opportunity to read the speech lie made on the amendment -, Mr. S. declined yielding the floor, and said r Sir, I hope the honorable Senator will allow mo to go on. I a n willing to admit that his speech was a good oc that the reasons were conclusiveagainaY tho amend mentall I ask is, that the Stsnate may re member the fact that lie voted, for it, after all he had said against it, it is now known by whose votes this provision was inserted, I will endeavor to diow that the valuation it requires is practfciblo. It is no doubt a subject of great labor lp make a cor rect valuation of imports, apd declare it in the law ; but it is equally certain that it is the only mode by which j-U can prevent extensive frauds upon the revenue. . I hold in my hand a paper containing the variansn ovisronrfixing the duties on linens by the tantrof Lngland, 1 his is done by counting the threads in the warp. It may be scon to cover one side of this sheet of paper. It seems the English do not think if too much trouble to go into theso details. This is from the late revision of their tariff, and reducing the duties under thoir new doc trine of free trade, I suppose. It provides a variety of rates. I will read their extremes, and show what their proposed reductions amount to. On the cheapest goods it reduces tho rate per square yards from 5 to 4 cents, and oh ihe highest goods from 33 to 35 cents on a squaroyard. ... . Wc aro not , without some experience in providing a legal valuation for goods. One of our earliest laws for the encouragement of the cotton manufacturer had inserted in it tho value of plain cottons. The value was, at the time, the market value, twenty, five cents tho square yard. It was called a minimum valuation, nnd in tliese respects diflurcd from the valuation contemplated in the compromise, because it valued only such goods ns cost that price and under, and im posed a higher duty on all which cost more than the declared value. But there can be no objection to declaring what is tho actual valuo of nn article-, and specifying in a law, that it shall be so valued, and the general rates of duties levied upon it. No difficulty will bo found in providing how aryl at what periods, such value shall be revised nnd cor. reeled, if the market valuo shall have charged; until it is so altered, the duties will continue ns when tho valuo is ascer tained and inserted in the law. I believe that tlircc-fourthsof the imports in amount can be so valued. with fairness andconreniencr There can be-iwifiW culty in taking the average of cotton for tho last year; at New York, for instance, suppose it was 10 cents per pound, then say, in the bill, that cotton should be valued at ten cents per pound, and charged with duties upon that value.j The duties would then be uniform, for this would be tho value on which the duty woiW be assessed in all the ports of the country. Sj w ith foreign coal ; the value has been about eight for chaldron.' We can certain ly say; in the law, that foreign coal shall be valued at eight dollar the chaldron, (30 bushels,) nnd charged villi duties accord ingly. This, at 23 per tent., would give a duty of two dollars per chaldron, in ell ports in tho country So we could say . of pig iron, that ,it siiall bo valued nt.thirty dollars per ton, which, at the same rate of duty, would bo seven and a half dollars about ten cents per ton more than it has paidtonTieinsn wo years: WecanTahic sugar at what that has brought tho last year, say at 0 or-7 cents per pound ; and aT 25 "p'rr ccntrir wRild give a duly xif 11-2 to 1 3-4 cents per pound. It may bo said tint this is the same ns fixing specific duties; if so, it will not be objected to by thoso who like specific duties. As to thoso who prefer that duties should bo levied according to value, they must be satisfied if we can get a fair market value, and there can be no difficulty in this, in al most all cases, at least three. fourths. If any object to it, the presumption will be indeed very strong that those w ho do sa object must , wish to defraud the Govern- ment, nnd that they would ndlicrc to the foreign valuation, because such fraud would bo bcyound the reach 6! detection. If the rule of valuation be a uniform one, it can make no difference, because, by raising the. value, wc shall be able to reducnthe rate of duties" Thcreis an ad vantage in this mode over that of assessing specific duties, be. cause it will be belter understood by thoso who pay duties, and designing men cannot deceive the peoplo nnd produce discontent so easily as with specific duties, jne coun; try will be willing to jmy such a rate of duty os, when levied on the value of imports, will furnish adequate revenue. If you put a specific duty of five cents a gallon on molasses, a man in N. Hamp. shire, who designed to produce discontent with the duty, would take up a price cur- rent of molasses at Matanzas,nnd at a dull season it would be quoted nt 5 to 9 cents in that market, or certainly as low as 5 cents at some place in the interior.- They would toll the purchaser that ho paid one hundred per cent, duty ! and that, if it was valued at tho wholesale price here, (20 cts. per gallon,) and Iwenty.five'pcTcenttunr assesscd, the duty would be the same. This mode carries with u the evidence of its own correctness. What is intended to be done will be known, and it can easily be perceived whether itjs done precisely. I have heard no objection to the execution of this part of the law which has any soundness in it. If it be desired, it can bo fairly carried in practice. The law aban dons do principle of protection. It com mences with' giving sustenance, and protec- ifon to industry in its infancy," assorts for ft confidence and equality when at maturity, and giyes a steadjr encouragement end pre. ference, at ajl times, to the products of American labor, through the legitimate ex ercise of tho revenue power, relying for absolute security, in th last resort, upon the exercise of the higher constitutional powers of tho Government, in the control it pos sesses over the national commerce, should countervailing or prohibitory legislation be cqme necessary to protect the national in dust ryor Lonor Mr. Calhoun read his remarks. atjho. timo he voted for the- amendment to the compromise bill providing for the borne valuation, and said ho voted for the amend ment although he considered it impractica. ble and unconstitutional ; but that it became necessary, irt order to insure tho passago of tho bill, but never to be carried out. Mr. Simmons replied that, if- the Senator -, was willing to avow such motives for legis lation, he wns willing he should enjoy all the honor the avowal might give him. PROCEEDINGS OF THE WAYNESVIILE TEMPE RANGE SOCIETY. Wpynrttille, Haywood Co., JV. C, ) 'April 23, 1842. At a meeting of a number of citizens of Wnynesville and the surrounding neighbor, hood, for the purpose of organizing a Tern, pernicc Society, Rev. John Hoyncs, of tho B;ipti&i church, was called to the chair, ami Augustas Grahl appointed Secretary. The object of the meeting having bccti explained by the chairman, and some re marks made on the importance of tempo ranee, both in a spiritual, domestic, and political point of view, a draft of a Coosti. tution was presented, which was ordered to ba read by the Secretary; when it was con sidcrcd, article by article, amended, and then ndopted as a while, and ordered to bo signed by the Chairman and Secretary. Constitution of IVayncsvillc Teetotal Alsti nextce Society. Article 1st. This Socioty shall bo called the " Wnynesvillc Teetotal Abstincnco Society." Art. 2d. This Society shall be auxiliary to the Washington Teetotal Abstinence So , cicty of North Carolina. Art. 3d. The officers of this Society shall be a President, two. Vice Presidents and n Recording Secretary, who shall bo elected by the Society. Akt. 4th. The President, or in his absence either of the Yico Presidents present, shall preside over the deliberations of all meetings of the Society, and in case of the absence of both Vice Presidents, tho Society present shall-have power out of their own number to appoint a President pro. tern. - Aht. 5th. It shall be the duty, of the Record ing Secretary to keep a correct account of nil tho proceedings of this Society, in a book, to be rend or referred to, as oc casion may require. Art. Cth. This Society shall meet at least twice a year, but if thought advisablo rt fiumlier noUe8Shan thren mcmhjra shall have power to call a meCtingftt such timo nnd place a shall seem most convenient. No addition or amendment, however, of this Constitution, or the standing rules of the Society, shnll bo made at any such meeting, unless a mnjority of the whole number of the members of this Society shall be presci.!, nnd concur fn such addi tion or amendment. Abt. 7lh. Eight members pi cscnt shall con stitute a quorum to transact business of the Society nt any meeting, not in viola, tion of the latter clause of the preceding article. To which is added tho following plcdgo of abstinence: - - ' - Wc, .the., undersigned j do. pledge our. selves, that wo will neither nmkc, drink, sell, buy, or give intoxicating drinks to any person or persons (except in cases of dis ease, when prescribed by a temperate physi. cirm,) but discountenance the useof -tho--same by all suitable means. JOHN IIAYNES, Cltairwn. A www Gra HLr?ecr-Scc. Aftenhcrrcading and adoption of the amended Constitution on motion of Rev. D. Whitp, of the M. R. C, 1 llesolced, That the Cliaii man be request, cd to nominate some suitable person present to address this meeting on tho enuse of temperance, before tho pledge be offered for subscription ; whereupon RcvtJ. C. Carson, of tho Presbyterian church, was nominated and requested by tho Chair to address the meeting. - - - - . After consTusion of the &ddrc,ss7c-n mo tion of Rev. D. White - . ResoJved, That the pledge bo-Tiaw pre. scnted for subscription. Onmotion of WVW'elsh, Esq. Resolved, That tho ladies bo invited to take the lead in subscribing tho pledge. W hereupon j 23- - f b ma lea- and-2G maic? i total 61, persons presented their" names iu the Secretary for subscription. . . After the signingof the pledge had W completed, on motion the Society went into elect toirbf fficcrsi-which resulted ia tha following selection ; ' ' - Rev. John Haynes, President, - II Rev. J. R. Scnscbaugh, i prC8.ts L. 13. Heron, Augustus Grahl, Rcc. Sec. On motion of A. T. Davidson, Esq. " 'Resolved, That a number of three person each of the male and female members of this Society -be nominated' to constitute a Vigilance Qommittee, with instructions to use their utmost" influence to impress upon their friends and neighbors the necessity of becoming members of this Society. When A. T. Davidson, Thos. J. Dasoh arDuvid McCtackin, Esq., of tho males, and .Mrs Elizabeth Davidson, Mrs. Maria Lovo and Mrs. Margarette Carson, of the female were nominated and, appointed said Com mittee. ' On motion Resolved, That fbe Record ing Secretary be authorised to receive sub scriptbns to the pledge at any -time, an1 report the same to the next ensuing meeting - On motion Resolved, That the membcrj of the Vigilance Committee be furnished eaf a with a copy of the pledge, and be author- t ti ii D m r p. L I th ei pr 11 th Vii BC till ou CO op lu an It I ch tin irt Ft tei wl eo ti tio mi oL an mt GIi Br hi qa eei tli mi bit nit of Tl n wh COI OU! " un ed be Jts ca tal nr no of thi H iu CO as cai wl tht lh: th wi rei ; P tht tWi Fa Bo an th( coi of an tie ' tui foi 4 "foi no ' - - -.!r -.
May 13, 1842, edition 1
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