Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

134 ABRIDGMENT OF THE SENATE.] Reduction of the Tariff-Mllr. Verplanck's Bill. [JANUARY, 1833. us, on this floor, and all of us in some way or collisions with foreign powers, short of permaother, made known our views to our constitu- I nent warfare. We are not, therefore, justifiable, ents. The people have the whole of the gener- in raising more than 15,000,000 dollars as a al argument before them. It is now to a more permanent revenue. In other words, at least practical and urgent duty that I would invite 13,000,000 dollars of the revenue that would the attention of this body. It is one growing have been collected under the tariff system of out of the financial state of our Government, 1828, may now be dispensed with; and, in and its legislation. years of great importation, a much larger sum. The last war left the nation laboring under a The act of last summer removed a large portion weight of public debt. The payment of that of this excess; yet taking the importation of war debt was one of the great objects of the the last year, as.a standard, the revenues derived arrangement of our revenue system at the from that source, if calculated according to the peace, and it was never lost sight of in any act of 1832, would produce 19,500.000, and subsequent arrangement of our tariff system. with the other sources of revenue, an income of Since 1815 we have annually derived a revenue 22,000,000 dollars. This is, a least, seven milfrom several sources, but by far the largest part lions above the wants of the treasury. from duties on imports, of sometimes twenty, It was this excess of public burdens which sometimes twenty-five, and recently thirty-two the Committee of Ways and Means have felt and thirty-three millions of dollars a year. it to be their duty now to call upon Congress Of this sum 10,000,000 dollars always, but, to reduce. The task of regulating the rate and of late, a much larger proportion, has been de- manner of that reduction was neither easy nor voted to the payment of the interest and prin- enviable. We all must know that large sections cipal of the public debt. At last that debt has of the country throughout, as well as various been extinguished. The manner in which those classes of the community in every section of the burdens were distributed under former laws, country, have complained, or remonstrated have been, heretofore, a subject of complaint against the unequal operation of the public and remonstrance. I do not propose to inquire burdens.' It is certain, too, that, under any into the wisdom or justice of those laws. The plan of finance whatsoever, of long duration, debt has been extinguished by them; let us be various interests must grow up, which cannot grateful for the past. We are now to enter but be subject to great injury, from a change upon another, an honorable and gratifying duty, even for a better, and less onerous system. the reduction of the taxes of the people-the The committee have felt all these difficulties. alleviation of the public burdens. They have approached the subject not with Here Mr. V. gave a brief view of the financial rashness or presumption, but with humility. history of our Government since the peace of They have endeavored to profit by the lights of 1815, in which he stated that, during the last long experience, and of former legislation. six years, an annual average income of 27,000,- Whatever may be the defects of their bill, they 000 of dollars had been received; the far great- confidently claim for themselves the merit of er part from the customs. That this sunm had honest and sincere intention. They trust that been appropriated, the one-half towards the no local or personal interests, and certainly no necessary expenses of the Government, and the views or feelings of party politics, have been other half in the payment of the public debt. suffered to influence them. They have desired In reviewing the regular calls upon the treasury, and endeavored to conduct the deliberations of during the last seven years, for the civil, naval, their committee-room in the spirit of justice, and military departments of the Government, conciliation, and of- peace; and it is in this including all ordinary contingencies, about spirit that they now invite this body to the ex13,000,000 of dollars a year had been expended. arnination of the bill before them. This amount of 13,000,000 of dollars would seem, even now, sufficient to cover the standing necessary expenses of the Government. A long-delayed debt of publicjustice, for he would Reduction of the Tariff. not call it bounty, to the soldiers of the revolu- The House having again gone into Committion, had added for the present, since it could tee of the Whole and resumed the consideration be but for a few years only, an additional annual of the bill to reduce and otherwise alter.the million. Fourteen millions of dollars then duties on imports: covered the necessary expenditures of our Gov- Mr. HUNTINGTON, of Connecticut, said: The ernment. But, however rigid and economical Committee of Ways and Means had presented we ought to be in actual expenditures, in pro- this bill, as containing provisions to insure the viding the sources of the revenue, which might revenue from the customs, which, with that be called upon for unforeseen contingencies, it! from other sources, would be sufficient for the was wise to arrange it on a liberal scale. This wants of an economical, but efficient Governwould be done by allowing an additional mil- ment. The principle which formed the basis lion, which would cover, not only extra expenses of the bill was that the Government would in time of peace, but meet those of Indian require but fifteen millions of dollars for its warfare, if such should arise, as well as those of annual expenditure; of which twelve millions increased naval expenditure, from temporary and a half were to be raised from the customs,

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 134
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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