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Alabama Leads Opposition to Morrill Tariff

Congressional Globe, 36th Congress, 1st session, April 30, 1860.

Beginning of the Speech of Hon. S. Moore, of Alabama, In The House of Representatives.

Mr. Chairman: Regarding the tariff bill now under consideration as the most important measure, so far as the interests of my constituents are concerned, of any which has been introduced into Congress since I have had the honor of a seat on this floor. I cannot in silence permit it to become a law. A dozen or more speeches have already been made in its support, while no voice has, as yet, been raised against it. I regret that some one of the many older and abler champions of free trade who are around me had not taken up the glove so defiantly thrown at our feet by the advocates of protection. As none, however, have done so, I feel impelled by a sense of duty to enter my most emphatic and indignant protest against the passage of this bill, and my dissent from the principles which have been avowed by its friends. If I do no more, I shall at least, to that extent, have discharged the duty I owe to those whom I represent. From the examination I have been able to give this bill, I consider it highly objectionable; and if unfortunately, it should become law, my opinion is that it will prove scarcely less oppressive than did the memorable tariff act of 1828, known throughout the South as the bill of abominations….

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Tariff Legislation 1859-1862, Frank Williams Prescott

1860- Debates on the Morrill Bill in the House of Representatives.

The first speech in opposition was by Moore of Alabama, on April 30. He claimed that manufacturers of iron and wool were getting a bounty on their goods and the people were paying the tax. A large portion of his constituency shouldered burdens foisted upon them by the North -- there was no need of revision. Urging economy, he charged the Republicans with extravagance (a favorite congressional diversion.) However, he did not acquit the administration of improvident expenditures with their "marble front post offices, etc." He asserted that sectional interests were paramount, Pennsylvania iron masters and manufacturers were attempting to cram their bill down Southern throats. He had little to say of the existing tariff, but lauded the Act of 1846 as a "revenue measure." This bill would amount to prohibition, he thought, and although the South would refuse to be bled for the manufacturing North, she was willing to pay her just share for themaintenance of the government.

Houston of Alabama, declared that the increase of revenue was a pretext. He defended the Secretary of the Treasury's statistics and asked for a decrease of extravagance. The law of 1857 had net been permitted a fair trial on account of unusual business conditions; indications were prevalent that customs revenue was gradually increasing with the approach of better times. The new bill proposed a tax on the people. The prohibitive rates on the other hand, would lessen the government's revenue. Duties were largely on necessities. Manufacturers were prospering as well as any other class at the time -- the bill would let in articles now paying duty. He gave an extensive tabulation of imports for the previous year; the revenue and a comparison with provisions of the new bill based on the amount of imports for the same year. At the close of his argument he submitted a substitute for the bill.

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New York Times, April-May, 1860

Mr. HOUSTON, of Alabama, (Dem.,) argued that the existing law had not been fairly and properly tested, and, therefore, was unwilling to supersede it by another act of legislation. Its friends calculated it would yield fifty millions annually, but this year the receipts would reach six millions more, and next year, according to the estimates of the Secretary of the Treasury, sixty millions. Then why should they assess a higher tax simply to collect a higher amount of revenue? His view was that we should leave commerce unshackled and should collect money only to defray the expenses and pay the debts of the Government.

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David Upton

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Alabama Leads Opposition to Morrill Tariff
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