ree.
The bill of Mr. Morrill, on the other hand, fixes three _ad valorem_
tables; one at ten per cent., one at twenty, and the other at
thirty. There is a number of specific duties, and then there is
a free list. It conforms to our decimal currency, and the duties
under it are easily calculated. There can be but little dispute
about home and foreign valuation under it. It will yield a revenue
sufficient to pay the expenses of the government. It is more simple
and more certain. It substitutes specific for _ad valorem_ duties
whenever practicable. For these reasons, it is obvious Mr. Morrill's
bill ought to receive the sanction of Congress."

The bill not only provided for a sufficient revenue, but was
distinctively a bill for incidental protection to all American
industries, impartially and fairly applied. I said I desired to
have this bill passed,

"Because it is framed upon the idea that it is the duty of the
government, in imposing taxes, to do as little injury to the industry
of the country as possible; that they are to be levied so as to
extend a reasonable protection to all branches of American industry.
I think that is right. Every President of the United States, from
Washington to this time, has recognized that principle, including
Mr. Buchanan.

"We may make a tariff to raise the sum of $40,000,000, and injure
every industrial interest of the country. The committee of ways
and means report a tariff bill which will produce $65,000,000, and
will do no injury to any industrial interest. I believe that it
will give a reasonable fair protection for the great industries of
agriculture, manufacture, and commerce, which lie at the basis of
the prosperity of this country."

Mr. Morrill participated in this debate by brief but clear statements
in respect to the details of the bill. On the 8th of May, 1860,
he said, in the course of some remarks upon the bill:

"I think if the gentleman will examine this bill, he will find that
the average rates of duties upon manufactured articles are not
higher, but rather lower, than they are now; but being to a large
extent specific, they will prove of great value to the country, in
giving steadiness to our markets, as well as to the revenue; and
because frauds will be to a very great extent obviated, which are
now practiced under our _ad valorem_ system, and which have made
our government almost equal in infamy to that of Mexico and other
countries, where their rev