Daniel Webster to James William Paige discussing politics and taxes - American History 1493-1945 - Adam Matthew Digital

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Field name	Value
Collection Reference Number	GLC01946.10
From Archive Folder	Collection of letters written by and to Daniel Webster
Title	Daniel Webster to James William Paige discussing politics and taxes
Date	11 May 1828
Author	Webster, Daniel (1782-1852)
Recipient	Paige, James William
Document Type	Correspondence
Content Description	Informs his brother-in-law of a debate in the Senate regarding the 1828 Tariff Bill that proposed to tax certain raw and manufactured materials including molasses and hemp. States that due to disagreements with Southern Senators, several North Eastern Senators who would normally be opposed to the bill might go "against their first opinions" and support the bill, seeing "who can bear a molasses tax longest." Worries that the Bill will get lost, as only thirteen days remain in the session. Advises Paige to "calculate ... the Bill will pass." Marked private.
Subjects	Politics Taxes or Taxation Industry Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Finance Economics Congress Law Global History and Civics Commerce Merchants and Trade Nullification
People	Webster, Daniel (1782-1852) Paige, James William (fl. 1824-1852)
Place written	Washington, D.C.
Theme	Law; Government & Politics; Banking & Economics; Industry; Agriculture; Foreign Affairs
Sub-collection	The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859
Additional Information	Serving as Senator (1827-1840), Webster supported the 13 May 1828 passage of the Tariff Bill. The Tariff of 1828 (dubbed the “Tariff of Abominations” by critics) was designed to protect domestic manufacturing by dramatically increasing the cost of imported goods. The high duties fell especially hard on the Southern economy, however, and led South Carolina senator John C. Calhoun to call for state nullification of the measure as unconstitutional. The controversy ultimately led to the 1832 nullification crisis. Webster voted for the Tariff Bill two days after writing this letter.
Copyright	The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module	Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
Transcript	Show/hide 11 May 1828, Washington Private Dear William I wrote you a very sleepy note last Eve' - What I hear today confirms the belief that the Tariff will pass the Senate. Several N. E. senators appear to have become so exasperated at the Conduct of the South, in forcing the molasses, hemp, &c upon us, that they incline to go for the bill, agt. their first opinions. They say they will see who can bear a molasses tax longest. It is, no doubt, a matter of some uncertainty whether the Bill may not be lost, in its passage between the two houses; considering that we have now but 13 days of the session left. Still, I advise you to calculate on the idea that the Bill will pass. - I shall write you a short private note early Eve', if I have strength left. Yours D. W.

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