Is
LIBERTY....THE CONSTITUTION.. ..UNION.
vol.. XVI
NEW BERN FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 1833.
NO. 836.
" : - - rpr ! - -
j : , x
PUBLISHED
BY THOMAS WATSON.
TERMS,
Three dollars per annum-payaMe in advance.
No paper will be discontinued (but at the dis
cretion of the Editor) until all arrearages have been
naid up
SPEECH OF
WILLIAM B. SHEPARD,
OF NORTH CAROLINA.
ri;rrM in the House of Representatives. Jan.
09M 1833, on the motion of Mr. Huntington to
ethkr out the 3lst and 32d Sections of the T ARirr
811 r . '..j t 1 rfr.-
gjj L) imposing a uuiy un a eu unu, vjjct;.
concluded.
TWa the revenue should be reduced to the wants of
the government, is one 01 mose piain ana paipame
truths which 1 suppose would be assented to on all sides.
In fact this proposition has been admitted by several
Wentlemen who are opposed to all the provisions of this
bill. 1 would therefor , observe to the gentlemen, that
a thev have the majority on this floor, if this bill is in
judicious they ought to amend it in such a way as to
reduce the revenue six millions of dollars, the surplus
pjeationcd by the secretary of the Treasury, with as
i;tin iniu.-v as possible tonhems. Ives, b or it never can
Let us now examine that claim the article of sugar
has to a slow death. When Louisiana was purchased
from Frarce, the cultivation of sugar had commenced
in that country ; common justice requires that we should
not unnecessarily cause the planter to regret that ne naa
ever exchanged the yoke of the Spanish or French mo
narchies, for the free government n America.
At the close of the war m 1816, Congress added halt
the State government, was worth the taxes the people
paid for it," but this I will say, that on those terms, or if
this theory is true, the federal government never can
sustain itself. Could I believe, by the inevitable acta of
your legislation, I war made a hewer of wood and a
drawer of water for the rest of the Union, I should feel
myself degraded, were 1 to come hereto debate the mat
ter, I should feel my self impelled by every principle that
acent to the duty as a part of the general system, which ! ever nerved the arm or swelled the bosom of an Amen
duty has given a great stimulus to the cultivation of Su- j can freeman to resist such oppression ; I am not there
gar in Louisiana; which country now produces two-thirds j fore surprized that sections of our country are madden
eral Government levies a revenue. Now supposing the world. I said that I merely intended to express an pi
duty constitutes half of the price of an article, an ex-( nion, valueless as it may be, I would haveFbeen false to
travagant supposition, the burden which is now weigh- j to myself, false to every tie that binds me to the society
ihg South Carolina to the dust, 'and to throw off which, in which I live more than all I would have been false to
of the suffar consumed in the United States. I presume
it will not be doubted that the duty is essential to the
nrosDf ritv of the plantations, and without it the cultiva-
i r - j
ed almost to phrehzy under the operation of this doc
trine. To have believed it, and borne it so long, is a
proof of their great patriotism and most eminent discre
tion of sugar must cease. The present price ot sugar is tion. lrus tneory, nowever, connnes us operation to
about 5 1-2 cents per pound in New Orleans ; the whole j the growers of rice, cotton and tobacco, it is of course of
expense of producing sugar, I am informed, is about 3 1-2
cents per pound : leaving aoout z cenis prom w uj? piu
no importance to persons not connected with the pro
ductions of these articles, what the tariff may be, their
ter- which two cents are his means to purchase slaves i portion of the burden being thrown upon their more
and' increase his cultivation ; if, therefore, you diminish 1 substantial neighbours. I have shewn by an extract
his profits one half t ent, you diminish his capacity to from the memorial of the cotton planters, that they con-
n fmr-th The. consumption of sugar in the ' ceive themselves benefitted bv the system in some
uui wiiasv viiv y
United States amounts to about 1.; 0,000 hogsheads, the j measure; I shall therefore, trouble myself no more with
TO THE FREEMEN OF
south pay according to the ratio established I Jftg Counties of JoknStOll, WaiJUC,
itution, the proporUon of South Carolina v w ' J 1
and Carteret
COMPOSING THE
FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
crop of Louisiana to about 100,000. -an increase, there- j the subject, than to make a few remarks upon -a corrol
fore of one half the present number of slaves in that i lary that "has been drawn from it. We have been told
CC oeiore i-ie uuiiieaiiu consuuip- oy uie saiiir uocuiiieiu uiui tue lairesi uuiuuu ui una
nnnti v must ta&e pia
tion nf uwar can be supplied. And when we take into great confederacy, and of Heaven, the most favored re
consideration the astonishing increase, both in numbers gion of the earth, is literally undergoing a silent but ir
and the means of consumption of the northern, middle ! rcsistable process of decay, produced by the gross per
and western States, it is but fair to suppose that Louisi- j version of the very power, which is under the highest of
ana will for many years to come furnish a market for the i human obligations to prevent it." I admit that the
surplus slave labor of the South. The present number j south is not as flourishing as some portions of this con
of slav: s in the United States, is about 2,153,370, worth j fedcracy ; but I deny that its depression is to be attribu-
S 430 674 000 the destruction of the sugar cultivation I ted to the action oi the general gov6rnment, and 1 am
be expected that the people of this country will consent j wouj undoubtedly depress the price of slaves in piopor- ! much astonished that any person could overlook the
10 pJ- laoTK "WIItjr Ulan a uvv-vo.i j .ui un. j
wants of the government, .cither for the protection of
manufactures, internal improvements, or any other pur
poses. And yel, Sir,! I would not narrow down the govern.
TO'nt to a mean and niggardly economy.
That a duty on imports is necessarily a tax on any
part of the community, although the converst of the
proposition is paradoxical at first sight, I do not think
has bten satisfactorily maintained. Take, for example,
the articles of salt, coffee and molasses; and on these three
orucleu the Congress of the United btates have been re
ducing the dutK-s, with a view of reducing the price of
them to the country ; and yet such has not been th re
sult. vVe find that when we took the duty off salt in
thi country, the articles rose in the West Indies ; the
truth is, the possession of the American market is so
essential to th.; producers of these articles, that they
. i I ... U-i it i f nil h7j (! anA cnnapniK'ntl V
Are ODiigeu w 1,(1 , " . . j
tion as the impetus it has hitherto given has increased itj plain and palpable causes, there existing, sufficient,
which has bee estimated, and 1 think very moderately, ;
at 50 dollars a head. An enormous depression of the
value of property for no conceivable benefit; the bill on
the table does not propose to reduce the revenue by it,
for it proposes to take a half cent off sugar, and put a
cent a pound on coffee; now if the revenue is really want
ing why make this absurd exchange ; if not, it must share
the fate of ev ry thing. There is no state in this Union
whose prosperity is so closely interwoven with the wel
fare of the others, as Louisiana ; she is a great consumer
for the rest, her labor is drawn from the old Southern
States to cultivate her fields, her clothing from the north,
and her food from the west. It is worthy of attention,
to remark the gradual reduction in the price of sugar,
even under the duty of 3 cents per pound ; during the
last twelve years, sugar has been gradually declining in
price, until it has reached a depression somewhat below
in 1319 and lSU. nor is it altogether cer-
half its pricf
hencver Congress lays a ncavy amy, meir proms are tami tnat jf jt,e auty were entirely removea, ine consu-
duced down to the lowest ebb that will sustain the mer wouW derive any immediate bcnefii, although ulti-
Hiness th ir situation compels them to follow. I ,natelv. the article would be cheaper. The price of an
And yet these facts, curious as they appear, an: but article is regulated by the proportion of supply to demand;
llacious grounds for a government to lay heavy duties;
though the consumers of thrf country, as such, may be
ut little interested in the matter, the commerce of the
country is vitally interested. In proportion as we cul
tivate an intercourse with those nations who by position
or by natural advantages in the production of such arti
cles as are necessary f r our comfort or pleasure,- are
disposed to trade with us on fair term 3 of reciprocity,
-jve nroniot.; the general welfare of society and give a
stimulus to the commerce of the country, which, next
unquestionably, therefore, if the duty were suddenly re
moved, prudence would dictate to the Louisiana planter,
to contract immediately his operations, in order to avoid
ultimate ruin ; unless, therefore, the reduction of supply
at home were relieved by the increase from abroad, the
price would rise, which state of things would at all events
produce great fluctuations in the market. The produc
tion of sugar is not like that of cotton or woollen goods ;
this a:ti le is annually produced in a limited section of
country and cannot be increased or diminished at will:
to agriculture, should be the favourite of the nation. I the winds and the rains ot Heaven must be consulted.
Should it be true, therefore, that the consumer of coffee If there is any part of the tariff system more peculiarly
would be no wise interested whether there is a duty on unjust and indefensible, it is the duty on iron : this is an
it or not, still, the ship owner who transports the arti- article absolutely indispensable to every class in society,
els the corn planter and the lumber getter whose pro- and vet it is more highly taxed by this bill than any thing
Ise and without a corresponding benefit. Upon rolled
bar iron, the duty is 76 percent., on sheet and hoop iron
'J3 yer cent. VVere I disposed to appeal to the meanest
and 'raaest passion that actuates the human mind the
passion of avarice a passion that regards its personal
wants, its personal appetites as every thing the suffer
incra of others, the glory and independence of the coun-
. ' 11 1 A. A. 1
t:-v as nothing, it w.oum ne an easy mauer io proauce an
ductions are exchanged tor it, are interested tnat me
tr.id: should be on the most liberal footing. I will not,
therefor--, -as' a representative of. a portion of this inte
rest, assist inlaying a burden on it, not required by the
policy of tiie government or essential to its revenue.
I have no doubt, sir, this tariff matter can be adjusted,
iw will approach it. candidly and fairly, divesting it of
its uolitiual bearings, witUout producing injury 4r show
ing uuju3t partiality towards any portion of the count;y. j excitement against this unjust preference of one i terest
In Uymg a revenue duty so as to give incidental protec- 1 to another. There is no article in the whole catalogue
tion, let us select thos manufactures . wnose interests i 0f human wants, so essential xo man as iron, nor one
are deeply rooted and widely spread throughout the j tjiat go immediately contributes to his well-being : its
count.v vii: cottons; woollens and sugar. I use marks the first step from barbarity to civilization,
It 13 said and admitted here generally, that we man u- and VKt is more highly favored by this bill than anything
factur -coarse cottons in this country as cheaply as in eige Why is this? Has Pennsylvania deserved a bet
anv nart of the world, the price being less than the duty; ter fate than any other State in the Union ? Did she
the duty, therefore, cannot possibly be a burden on any brinff to the South in 1828, in her utmost need, one soli-
X I 1 f I A.' A 1 it
one. i no memorial oi me anii-iann conveuumi sap,
''the duty is nominal in reference to most ot the goods
under 15 cents, w'.nch not only are afforded as cheap by
the American manufacturer as the foreign article, but
compot with this in foreign markets." Why then dis
turb it? Is it not the part of wisdom to let well enough
alone?
The amount of cotton made in the United States, in
the year ending in October, 1831, was 375,925,303
pounds, in 191987,397,645 pounds, there is now ma- j tati0n which is still forty dollars a ton."
nufactured in this country more than one-htth ot the iv then, can be no propriety in taxing
tary yote? No! She went m a solid phalanx tor the
"bill of abominations;" and she is to be spared; the
lightning glancesover her, illuminates, but never touches
her : happy Pennsylvania! she has thirty electoral votes,
and no candidate for the Presidency.
It is said by Mr. Gallatin, that "the Iron works of
west Pennsylvania were, and still continue to be protec
ted against foreisn iron, and that made within one hun
dred miles of the sea shore, by the expense, of transpor-
There certain-
greatly the
whole sea board from Maine to Louisiana, to sustain a
manufacture which cannot flourish under these natural
advantages. The mountains ot .North Carolina are lull
of iron ore, and yet no reasonable man would think the
government justifiable in placing a duty upon iron, suffi
cient IO COITlDenSUVe lim OWIIia ui millro iv i ma
(without stimulating the natural prejudices of the peo
pie against the general government) to account for all
the horrors of even warmer imaginations.
The peculiar character of the emigration alone from
the Southern States, an emigration which carries off
both the labor and capital of the country, leaving no
thing to supply its place, is sufficient to account for ma
ny of our miseries. Does not that labor find the tariff
as grinding and oppressive in the south-west as in ei
ther of the Carolinas ? Why then should it abandon its
native soil to waste and desolation? Because fresher
and more fertile soil invites it ! There are two other
causes operating unfavourably on the southern sea
board, one a moral, the other a physical cause. I will
not however, Sir, dilate on this subject; to me it is an
unpleasant one. I love the South with all her misfor
tunes I love her "tis my own, my native land" "te
cum vivere lamen, tecum obeam libens," it is from the
affection I bear her, I am induced to speak thus plainly
to her.
There is another cause operating to the serious dis
advantage of the best portion of the South, and 1 admit,
"of Heaven the most favored region," if we regard soil,
climate and situation I mean the interior of the south
ern country, particularly of NortbCarolina and Virgi
nia. Why is it that this section is not as flourishing as
the interior of New York and Pennsylvania? The
climate is equally, if not more congenial to the constitu
tion of the white man, and the soil is more productive
in every thing that can contribute to the prosperity of
the people. Why is it, that a silence, as of death, per-
vades their thousand hills tncre we nnd no Dusy nura
of men, no throng of flocks or of herds ; 'tis because
the hostility of the South to the improvement ot the
country, leaves every thing to nature. We complain
that the revenue of the country is collected at the South
and expended to the North ; if this is true, it is our own
fault. Is there a proposition made to remove a sand
bar or deepen a river in any part of this country, that
does not encounter a solid phalanx of hostility, (with a
few exceptions) from the whele southern delegation on
this floor? During the last session an honourable
friend of mine Mr. Carson, when the annual appro
priation bill, for the improvement of the harbors of the
country was before the House, proclaimed it an impo
sition on the people.
Does any one propose to appropriate a few thousand
dollars from an abundant treasury, to open a'road thro'
our beautiful interior, that it may communicate with the
markets and civilization of the rest of the world, wc are
immediately told of violated constitutions, and all the
slang which has been current on this floor for the last
twenty years about State rights, is repeated " usque
ad nauseam." It seems as if some gentlemen supposed
every thin2 which is calculated to promote the prosperi
ty, to enlarge the sphere of action of the mass of the
neonle. was a violation of the Constitution;
At. the last session of Congress a bill came to "this
House from the Senate, proposing to settle the policy of
our nublick lands : a bill whose object was to prevent
them from being given ultimately to the west; a bill to
rpstnre to the old Atlantic States some portion of the
treasure they had so liberally spent in purchasing that
vast region, and to remunerate them irksome measure
I for the constant drain upon their resources, produced
i bv emigration. Was that bill lost by Southern votes?
Let your journals answer
she is convulsing this country, and placing in jeopardy
all our institutions, is $ 333,333.
- Should the amount necessary for the support of the
Government be levied by direct taxation, and the ne
groes of the
m the Constitution
would be about $ 900,000. I have selected the State of
South Caroliifa to illustrate this proposition in prefe
rence to N. Car. lina, because, from the nature of the
situation of N. Carolina, it is impossible to estimate the
amount of her exports. Our southern counties trade to
Charleston, &. our northerniones wagon sjch articles as
will afford the transportation over bad roads, to Peters
burg & Richmond, where they exchange their produce,
notfor State money, but forthe money of the Union, & a
peculiar manufacture, in which the latter town is said
to be very skilful, called "&tate Rights," an article so
cunningly contrived that it can be understood only by
we muscle, anu oi so nuieuse elsewhere, that it is sup
posed to be made, like Pindar's razors, exclusively to
trade with. Should North Carolina, however, become
imbued with the doctrines of this new philosophy, and
the taxes of the governmeut be directly levied, in stead
ol paying her portion of the reyenue, upon such articles
as are consumed within her borders and by the persons
who do consume them, to the amount of some three or
four hundred thousand dollars, she wold be taxed, ac
cording to population, at least a million. Sir, let this
government ever exchange the present simple, cheap
and least oppressive mode of collecting revenue for its
ordinary peace establishment, for the odious system of
direct taxation, and it will hear a murmur, to which the
present discontentis like "the sweet south wind,breath
inu o'er a bank of violets."
When I first entered these walls some three years ago
I did so, imbued with the doctrines of the free trade
school ; I admired them tor their liberality, thought them
sound in principle, and best adapted to a republic.
Disposed to act upon these views 1 had hardly taken my
seat before I discovered that a great political drama was
about to be acted? called "the Tariff," that the charac
ters were cast, the dresses provided, the speeches in
rehearsal and even the homemade thunder prepared ;
I found that the old armor of the party was to give place
to one more brilliant, more calculated for effect; seeing
this to be the state of thi'igs, I very coolly and delibe
rately took my seat in this very comfortable arm-chair,
determined to observe in silence the contest, to see if it
would paove a trajredy, or a farce. "Equidim non
invideo, miror magis," and here I should have sat con-
tencd, had I not discovered that there was no longer
safety in inaction ; 'there is no great divinity in Aye or
No!"
There is one point, sir, before I take my seat that I
am desirous of saying a few words upon, with no view
of arguing the subject, but simply to express an opinion:
I mean the constitutionality of our several revenue acts
of 1324 '2S '32. I am the more inclined to do so,
because the members of the legislature of N. Carolina,
latelv acted on the subject, and although they forbore to
express any opinions themselves, have asserted that a
large part of the people believe th.se laws unconstitu
tinnnl. I fuilv coincide with the general scope and
tenor of those resolutions, and rejoice that the legislature
of my native State has forborne to lend the sanction ot
its name to a temporary delusion. And I hope she will
continue to pursue that course w hich honor and which
duty points out, treating with contempt the silly and im
pudent jests and scofis ot idle babblers and 6tump orators,
those I represent, had 1 failed to do so.
hole production, about one-third of what Great Britain
manufar tujes at the present time. The manufacture of
cotton b:m increased 100 per cent, in the last four years,
an increase greater than ever took place in G reat Bri
tain m the sa.no space of time ; these facts manifest
1 H j L . I a L L 11 1 3 WU'lll c. f I Hill 111 Lumvniv, . . , w ..... . , 11"
hv titimtim ,.M onotain anph a manufacture. I roil mo A a a nH rsnalfl tn hrinrr their iron to market, t rhnsp a little nersonal DODularitV in the west, and all IS
j - - k .a (iiivt vapuuiij vvj ... v. . i- . 7 fviiiif - i ------ f , 11 1 II c U II
9 well an ,ny other country: and therefore it deserves j Sir, I believe if the duties on iron and hemp were remo- well but if it attempts to spend one dollar ot the public
the attention of the legislature. We now produce Ved, the much abused tariff of 1832 is preferable to the
150,000,000 pounds more of cotton than Great Britain h on your table.
,v- r ii Tl,,n thia lariTA aurntiis to 1 mnnirM it Vina been said bv an increnimin writer, a
fiA r., .-,...,.. ? -ro n.nf,.!. tn KiM un Vpmnu- I ,t Aoa nf rthilnsnnhv To observe tHat which is seen ennd with a "howlino wildernes, there 18 scarcely a
mm a puimasri z Kjjaa.. r jjivh i j- n.ai ua.. v. i - . .. ........ , , c . . . . r . l
factm eg of all countries to our own ? 1 think when it every day ; if this were not true, it would be impossible i monument on its wide border, of the liberality ot tnose
is so very convenient and advantageous to ourselves, to account forthe discrepancy of opinions upon the prac- who have governed it, to prove to the industrious anU-
!......: . : ;.: U.r;.T v Kunin at 1 .Uo nrthia nrnlprtivp HVstPm. Fvprv nnl sppu i nnn rian tVint it YtaA PVer been trod bv the foot Of CIVlllZed
mnc in iiu i cat Bill ill pel mi in ii y iijr w iv.g... ucal icaui v j - j - - - i uu.i u , , . . ,
liome. The cotton manufactured in this country, that the country is generally prosperous, for which dif- j man. There might be found some harren and blasted
-amounts to about 2 H,88i bales, capital employed ferent causes are assigned. I do not think the prospen- j fields, as if the Sirocco of the desert had passed over it,
814,914,984, annual value $32,056,760, aggregate of tv cf the people of this country dependent upon the ac- but there would be no Appian way resisting the eflorts
wag-s of hands employed 812 155,723; employing about j tion of the sovernment, nor is it desirable that it should i of the barbarian, or the decay ot time
be. I believe there is an elasticity and vigor in the Amer
This .rnvrrnment mav spend millions upon millions on
its armv or its navy ; it may pave the road of the Indian
beyond the Mississippi with ingots of gold , it may squan
der the enormous amount ot our puDiic lanus, iu pi
trensnrefnr the nublic welfare, we are told of violated
r ;,. cv,nld the South become, in the
VUliaiHULIUlIOi KJ. '
process of decay, what one portion of it has been threat
come they whence they may, or be they whom they may.
It is with great diffidence that at any time I would differ
from a large portion of the people upon a mere consti
tutional question, but the construction of the Constitu-
tion upon this subject has so long been settled by the
concurrent sanction of every President, by the vast ma-
ority of the people and of the ablest jurists of the coun
try, that to doubt now, that those laws are cons itu
tional, ia supposing the plainest and most obvious pro
positions in the Constitution, have for torty years been
misunderstood. There is scarcely a public man of any
character or standing, who for the last forty years has
been before the people, that has not acquiesced in tne
. 1 J 1. 1 1 , . .1 . . I. . . n n
exercise ot mis power, noi uo i uc-ueve uuuuu upuu
the subject were entertained until it was found convc-
nient to retreat behind that eternal source ot disputa
tion, the Constitution oi me country.
For myself I have always regarded the constitution
of our country, as a great charter of human liberty, a
charter not wrsted bv the sword, Irom some ammuous
Fellow Citizens,
On the fourth of March next, the political
connection which exists between us will cease
jby the termination of the period for which I
was chosen to represent you in ine congress
of the United States. At a moment like the
present, when the public mind is agitated from
one end of the continent to the other by an ex
citement unparalleled in our political history,
growing out of events -familiar to you all, 1
should be unworthy of the trust you have re
posed in me were I to withhold the expression
of my frank opinion upon all questions of pub
lic interest more especially those occurrences
of the first moment which have transpired inn .
neighboring State.
Notwithstanding these domestic inquietudes,
of which it will be my duty to speak hereafter.
we are enjoying, as a nation, a state of unexam
pled prosperity. Profound peace with all fo
reign nations, a wise administration of public
affairs at home, an overflowing treasury, a pub
lic debt dwindled to comparatively nothing,
and about to be entirely extinguished; thus
leaving to the representatives of the people a
task unexampled in the history of nations, that
of contriving means for reducing the revenue,
and keeping out the flood of wealth which is
pouring intothe public coffers; abundant har
vests rewarding the toils of the husbandman,
and rich gains crowning the labours of industry
and enterprise. These are blessings of deep
consolation to the heart of the patriot in the
midst of political dissentions; and for which
our renewed thankfulness is due to the great
and good Disposer of human events.
On the first day of January last the whole
funded debt of the United States was dischar
ged. There remains, however, of the unfunded
debt nearly 7,000,000, apart of which is strict
ly not redeemable until January 1834, and the
balance in January 1835. But, as the commis
sioners of the sinking fund are authorized by
law to buy up the debt at the market price, and.
the means in the treasury being amply suffici
ent, wc may hope that during the present year
the whole will be discharged. It now only re
mains for the Federal Government to circum
scribe its operations within the bounds prescri
bed by the constitution, so that, while nothing
is wanting for the protection of the citizen in
life, liberty and property, no more shall be taken
from the pockets of the people than these legiti
mate purposes require. This, and this only,
is the sum and substance of good government
that every man shall be secure in the enjoyment
of the fruits of his own labor, and the pursui
of his own desires, restrained only so far as it
necessary for national defence, and the admin
istration of justice. The final extinguishment
of the public debt leaves no further pretext for
violating the obvious principles of the constitu
tion bv the continuance, in favor of the man a-
fofnrfra. nf hiah t.ixes on tne necessaries oi
- . - . . . i , w. ;
tyrant, bin a iree oncriug ui me nuicntuu uun
the altar of liberty, an offering composed of their local "'V
nassions. their local premdices, and their local interests.
Belicvintr such to be its character, I have endeavoured
to approach its construction, not with the feeling of a
mere carping attorney, but-with that elevated philan
thropy that would endeavour to construe tne instrument
with a spirit that engendered it. Where it was neccs-
You arcno doubt well aware that the act ot
July last, to reduce the revenue, does not go
into operation before the fourth of March next.
The reduction which it will produce in the re-
venue is confidently estimated at $5,000,000;
sarv to Hive, tne sjeuerai euvciijuiciu.o . . , . . 1 r
it ojven follv and beneficially, when a jower is denied, customs, during the next year, will not be far
it is denied entirely.
Now sir, with these principles of construction, can
any rational man doubt the meaning of these expressions
of the constitution? "Congress shall have power to
lav and collect taxes, uunes, uuuumb, nnu tiv-io. d, v.v. i . . ... , . -i .
IS 1 i. rnrnmerce with foriisn nations and gress, which will come m under the new census
ii". . . i . . i i i r. . ( i
nd with the Indian tribes, and in wnicn we maw expeci a iuu cApicaamu
from 817.000.000 ; a sum at least seven milhoiu
beyond what is necessary to bederived from
customs for the support of GoVernment. It
will therefore become the duty of the next Con-
nmnna the several fetates a
It is s'aid the power to lay and collect duties and im
posts, is a part of the taxing power, and was intende'd
to supply the government with revenue alone ; this is
probably true, and very forcibly proves that the words
to reeulate commerce" were intended to have a more
a expect
of the popular will, so to modify and further
reduce the tariffsoas to bringdown the revenue
to the wants of the Government. My own
opinion has been frequently declared, thai
50,000 men and women. Does not this benefit the
grower of cottda ? 1 have heard it so vehemently de
nied, that I am disposed to hazard any opinion of my
own ; I will, therefore quott- one that will be respected
bv all Jparties. During the summer of 1331, a con
vention was held in Philadelphia of persons opposed to I duces one half of the evils or benefits charged to it, is a
when I first entered these walls,
I did suppose,
something might be
...iii ,i r, ifaolf o niT oiT.am tUn ,1 ika ofn nndnt nnd wasting ncrffies ot tne
lCan. CnaraCter, Ulal will auapv nvn wj oh-ui, i uuuc icinc Dvgu" - T3
wisdom or folly of this House may adopt: that the tariff j South ; but when I heard what on this floor .are pro-
Pftmnol, the consumers of many articles to pay more for claimed as Southern doctrines and feoutliern principles,
w. tkn V.oir rkthnrwise would is true, but that it nro- I felt that sickness of the soul
I I.IIUll LliV W u rmm w . . - I - -
The Constitution in saying " that i $7,000,000 from imposts, and 83,000,000 from
the public lands is all tne money wnicn uu8m
to go into the treasury. Ten millions are am
ply sufficient for all the legitimate demands oi
I T .m t h Al I
i Government. But, as Congress nave
stablished a splendid pension
nuai cai-
the tariff; that convention was composed principally of
Southern men : they appointed a committhe to draft a
.memorial to Congress, pointing out the burdens of the
tariff laws. That memorial was written by Mr. Galla
tin, and as mi?ht be expected, is incomparably the
Ablest exposition of the evils of the tariff, these very
prolific times have produced. In it are these words :
"Whatever impulse may have been given to the produc
tion of American cotton by' the domestic manufacturers
of that material is therefore a clear gain to the commu
nity. This, for the very reaaon that the amount cannot
be calculated with precision, has undoubtedly been
greatly exaggerated. But it cannot be doubted .that the
consumption of cotton goods in the United States has,
to a certain extent, been increased by the establishment
of domestic manufactures, and that the fluctuations of
price are lessened by having a greater number of mar
kets, in this case one nearer, and so considerable, even
though the aggregate of sales was not materially in
creased." The cause of the fall of the Driee of raw
cotton is thus acounted for : " the redaction of the price
ot the lawmatcna! was solely due to the increased sup
ply compared with the demand." These admissions of
the convention are very ungenerous, they are the un
kindest cuts of all. The greatest of known rebukes is,
out of thine own mouth will I condemn thee." If
therefore we are to believe the cotton planters' memo
Hal, and not their advocates on this floor, they are deci
edly benefited hthe tariff. It is not the least curious
Prt of this matter that whilst this house was listening
dy after day to the most pathetic descriptions of the
taiseries and sufferings of the cotton planters, from the
taw'.tT . .. . t
u, a memorial was lying on our tables, emanating al
most exclusively from this Interest, admitting themselves
position that has no existence except in the heated ima
gmationa ot the partizans
which awaits on hope
i . r 1 .1 -
deferred. Perhaps it was the result oi a reureu me u ai
i i i hnt r.rn r n 1 1 1 1 r l uuiv n uo oot-"-
member on this floor, than a mere vot
larfrp construction.
no tax or duty shall be laid an arucies exponea irorq
any State No preference shall be given by any regul
lations of commerce or revenue to the ports of one State
over those of another, nor shall vessels bound to, or from
Qfoto ho nUiorpd tn enter, clear, or Dav duties in
nut; umiv vw-- i - i i
chmra otx that aa regards commerce in all Wisdom es
.t w . j c
Sts various brancnes, w- are one emne nunoii, uuu ma
the whole subject is surrendered to the federal govern
ment That there is no clause in the constitution giv
ins Congress the power to protect manufactures eo
Hi" U h UsuDPort out oi me puouc
nomine, is certainly true; and it is likewise trae that v",u"u" to limit the expenditures
there i
i ; ;,i oil th; mv he true, hut bv some lefrerde- hills to nav the salaries of the government oincers, anu . .atu.
ik ia ouxu) - y j o i ----- f- j -
liPGh it is impossible to
to regulate commerce by discriminating duties, i of the Governme
main nrt vet exolaineo. although we have heard re-
peated attempts, the whole burden is tnrown upon tne
south, the tax paying south. It is extraordinary tnat
any section of the country should claim the peculiar
privilege of paying the taxes of the government, the idea
re8ultB from a species of egotism as aDsura as mat oi an
astrologer, mentioned I think, in the Spectator, who
had studied the aspect of the heavens with such intensi
ty o! zeal, that he at length believed himselt master ol
the winds ; and would verv graciously, and with ex
treme condescension, offer to a friend going a journey,
any wind he might have a fancy for. There is, however,
we are told, a theory, a self-evident proposition, that
explains the matter : it has been said, IReport of the
Committee of Ways and Means by Mr. McDuffie as
the restrictions imposed upon the productions of the
southern industry, are affected by the agency of indi
rect taxes, the burdens imposed upon the plantingStates
by the protective system, are not very inaccurately
measured by the amount of taxes levied upon articles
exchanged for thos.e productions," or in other words, a
duty on imports ia equivalent to a duty upon exports.
i regara wis as me most
c . ' . .1 . A . c J! 1 1 I
for the annual ! there is no clause in ine consuiuuon ioi Dicing ine legis-
nt officers, and
it may be folly to suppose that a Jeo,slator should be, or
could be, a benefactor of mankind. I am, however, now
ontJafi,! that new veneration of politicians must arise,
nt to the amount I have stated
assume as tne quantum oi
. .. .1. I t a. . t i v 11 1. .t-w
tonnage duties, or in any omer way wnicn io mem may . i snail, inerciu-. . tKe sum ot
seem meet and proper. ... revenue necessary w
,UW,uw, lj . .. ...
from tne puDiic ianas
reduction ot at least
. I i 7 Willi 1 aw . A l
'32, are unconstitutional. 1 hey tell us, when reasoning ! 111 ZXX rrux mav with perfect salety De enecteu
general government to appro- o,w" -
after the present one has fretted its little hour
koft, ti.o Snnthfirn Dart of tnis Union
r. ,. , -.u u. fi,c nf the liberal mslitu
rive us mil snare oi uie " - : nrk r,
tions of the country. . ; r: . r . . . r.r-... . nATt l.onffreSS.
It has often been asserted in the two houses ot Uon-j priate money i or President of the United States, in his
luiasuiicuuwu I would be a gainer by tion must be construed strictly, that all constructive, The rresiueni i ' 4
gress, that the fcoutl n Jrition, which has powers are dangerous to property, that it is inadmissi- age to congress, at the commencement ot
y-Srthe country, al-. ble to seek out of the constitution the meaning of the ! rsent session, recommended a further re
oeen too 'Currently ul , rreauent discussions ! constitution, that the general govcrnmentmay have the! a3 to bring the revenue down to the
. Ai!:- o satisfactory refuUtion of this i the amount of the bond out nothing more; all I : nnts nf the ffovernment. In reference to this
SrVtaiJe it for wanted, that the only correct thee- , that it ma, have nothing lc8S. ..How then dogeou-.... lhc C,
. u,r and consumes an arucie is discover tnese acts are un consuiuuon m i r- ( tl,n
ry s, that the man who buys ana coiiBui. ; ,. . , w;ii tKev apply totMiis reDOrtetl a Dill, tne
the one upon whom the tax, if any exists uiumaie.y , ne sunject s express.y gramcu ... - . - - j ' the X., '.on.nmpd ff1
falls. It is said that m Louisiana, F.a .w , vc pwuutgo u, to ascertain
the Committee of Ways am
ducing a crop of cotton wortn . aoo- r7.:T Z?Z uT regulate commerce ,
lars, consumes in me ' . r i i - 7 . Ii
pernicious dosma that ever
has been started in this country ; its direct and inevita
ble tendencv is a destruction nf tk. n.,;o . e&it ulr
Dosition be true, collect wh r,r r 1 ! u;0 tn 'South Carolina. South Carolina
may, whether twelve per cent or fifty per cent, the ports a bout $8,000,000 of produce,
.1 kdrpd dollars worth of articles
IV U IUUU3AUU CI "111 - .
not made on the plantation. Of this consumption one
fourth, about seven or eight hundred collars, is of taxed
articles. This is a favorable calculation for all the plan
ters north of Louisiana, particularly those who make
, L- a nmc have told us they do. Let us
- . . - i - j :
Certainly not; their principles loro.a- ionB of
It is melancholy to see in w.jT" reason from the
ex-
consideration ol
WniCIl Has CUUBUUicit u tr wm. uaii vi uib Dvsaiuii;
without the remotestfprobability of effecting a
desirable Tcsult. Althoughl believe, most con
scientiously, that the whole tariff system i
1 11 1 'nA mirn-nXri
. t isoosition w ; - - ; raoicany wrong aim ouuresic, uw
enulX eagerly see upory occasion to
and whenever a law bears.! unitnl5oIlllL. in removing it from the country, and
prejudices, a desire to P" io a publick bur. j relieving the industry ef the whole peop""-
markets.
Wno , , e slavc anJ , i mrt4 nnnnhiral. and DerniClUu -
All the produc den for a PW'CAT,V a freeman. If this power does t:ftnc vi t1prft arft demands of PeJt
ttlma, ; unworthy uie u- general governme
rd of not rest with the f
I will not aay, sir, as was said by a gentle- ! which ram, $ 2,666,666 is the amount of articles
a r i . . . I . , ii av wAnK ; ..Mn.vrthv ine u" - . . i i i v ww, , - . 4
VZ:lZ: r ,be Paid V llve labor. a"a a" 1? . "Z"ry. U"r: the general government, we eiD.D.u , ob ffaljong of public faitn, V";insen8ibIe
r . . -utvu lu .,t.,g ,c wur-r : ; , -oectacie ui wvv fl, nnAt nn. tn wnicn
,ea,"u": :j:;r,eticinthemsevles ; yet sell immolated at tfte ; " i 'J, CBPl
man from South-Carolina, Mr. Davis during the last S sumed, and not produced by the plantations, one-fourth ! and en
EC?rto:i, "fcc doubted whether any goverarewt except-) of which, vix: 596 arc artklesirpon vhichthcGeri-thnne or
nnn
energetic
levies ; yet sell immolated at tne ; v farg
id extortion ef4fce rest of fhoInteiest5 created, Ja
he ettlemcrit
isidip.
ta!3 invstirti.
t
i
1
4