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

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 33 JANUARY, 1833.] Revenue Collection Bill-Nullification. [SENATE. whole revenue derived from duties on imports tion on the matters in controversy would not exclusively from the unprotected articles. The differ from the judgment of the representatives consequence of the adoption of this policy, assembled in Congress. He did not think it at would be most fatal and disastrous to the in- all probable that the convention would either dustry of the Northern States. It would put alter the constitution in respect to the powers the laboring classes of Pennsylvania on a foot- of the Government over the subject of revenue, ing with the paupers of the old world. It or that the protective laws would be prowould prostrate at once and forever the policy nounced by them unconstitutional, and null and which Pennsylvania had long cherished, which void. But it was not at all probable that twoSouth Carolina had united with her in estab- thirds of Congress and three-fourths of the lishing and maintaining, and under which she States would agree to the call of a general conwas prosperous and happy. The admirable vention. The people were averse to any change speech made by the Senator from South Caro- in the constitution, and were of opinion that it lina, in 1816, in favor of the protective policy, could not be amended for the better. For his was engraved on the hearts of the people of own part, it was his earnest hope, and confident Pennsylvania. In the dwellings of the farmer, belief, that no change would ever be made in mechanic, and the manufacturer, it hung upon the terms of our admirable compact. the wall, by the side of Washington's Farewell Here Mr. W. yielded to a motion for adAddress. He well remembered that speech, journment, and the Senate adjourned. for it had a powerful influence on his own mind in relation to the policy of the protective sys- TUESDAY January 31. tem. [Mr. CaLuosN here said, I thank the gentle- The Collection Bill. man for alluding to that speech. It has been The subject again coming upmuch and very often misrepresented, and I Mr. WILINs resum'ed his remarks on it. He shall take an early opportunity to explain it.]'commenced by stating that, on a proper occaMr. WILKINS-I shall be happy to witness sion, he should move one or two amendments the exhibition of the Senator's ingenuity in ex- to the bill, one of which would be to limit some plaining the speech in such a manner as to of its provisions to the end of the next session make it accord with his present views. I of Congress: the provisions which it contained should not have alluded to it, had not the Sen- for amending the judicial system, he presumed, ator remarked upon the bill from our commit- there would be no objection to leaving, as they tee as a bill " of abominations." are in the bill, unlimited. Mr. CALHOUN —It requires no apology. When the Senate adjourned yesterday, (Mr. Mr. WILKINS proceeded to state the consid- W. continued,) I was speaking of the tariff erations which rendered a compliance with the system-of this system for the protection of terms proposed by South Carolina improbable, American industry, which a vast portion of the if not impossible. For his own part, he was free American people believe to be intimately conto say that he could not bring his mind to as- nected with the prosperity of the country. As sent to so destructive a measure. He spoke a justification of the adherence, as far as practionly for himself. What were the views of cable, to this system, he had had reference to others of this body on this subject he did not the conduct of gentlemen from the South in know, for he was not in the habit of making regard to it. At one period, he now added, inquiries as to the opinions of others on such Maryland had been considered a Southern State, topics. Much as he loved the Union —much as as she was still a slaveholding State: from the he deprecated any collision between the State chief city of that State, directly after the meeting and Federal Governments-much as he was of Congress, under the constitution of 1787, a disposed to respect the opinions and wishes of memorial was transmitted to Congress, reciting a sister State-he would not himself assent to the weakness and inefficiency of the old cona total destruction even of incidental protection federacy, and its inadequacy to protect the to our domestic industry. He would, however, manufacturing interests, and rejoicing that we go far, very far, even to the sacrifice of much had now a Government possessing. all the of that protection which we claim as just and necessary power to protect domestic industry, necessary; but to the point proposed by South and praying the interposition of Congress for Carolina as her ultimatum, he could not go. that purpose. Another incident he mentioned, He did not believe that there was any prob- which, he said, many members would recollect, ability of the assent, on the part of Congress, of a member of Congress from South Carolina to the first proposition of South Carolina. There having, in the year 1809, offered a resolution was but one other proposition made by South proposing that all the members of Congress Carolina for the adjustment of this controversy, should appear, at the commencement of the next and that was even less hopeful than the former. ensuing session, clad entirely in clothing of It was by the call of a general convention of American manufacture. He had already adthe States, and the submission to them of an verted to the agency of the South in passing ultimate arbitrament on the disputed powers. the tariff law of 1816, and now, said he, let me ]Mr. W. was of the opinion that the division of make a personal reference, in connection with the State representation assembled in conven- it, to another gentleman from South Carolina, VoL. XII.-3

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 33
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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