Jenks' Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1803-1805, 1804-09-03
POLITICS..
- =
hUME..-No. II.

feet the ntcrelt by increaGng the expence, re-
quite to gratify the proprnhty of part Of the
nation TO luxurious cxceis, they have eaGy been.
made by mfreprefen:ati n, fource of uneali-
neis and difcontent. The real utility OF tax
ing articles Of luxury, whether the produd of
the labor Of this country, or NOT, has elcapcd
the notice of many perions, who would fcorn
TO form their opinions according to the in,poiing
voice Of the leaders Of any parry. Hence have
arfen the complaints, which never would have
exined, had the tendency and effect of f,ch tax
cs been perceived Thefe complaints were con-
itantly ineamed by the moi: III naturcd COM
men,s, witch the Invention Of party, detern.in.
ed to acquire the direction Of The government,
could fuggea. The conlsanence was an infur-
redion, to iupprels which the nation was fub-
ieded to an expence, equal to two years revenue
OF thele taxes. But notwithlt anding this oppo-
htion, the federal administration carried the ivf-
ten, into operation, highly beneficial to the u.
States by increaling the re.cnue, as well as tend
ing to check the Progreis of luxury. the cor
rupter of manners, and destroyer Of nations.
The prelsnt administration have done MOTH
ing without inventing reaion, which may have
the Tendance of plauhb;ty. The reaion they
ufe in the pre.ent cafe is, their deGre to aiiit,
and encourage the manufactures of the country
becaule they Unfit that theIe :axes have proved
Injurious to them. This idea. we believe, will
prove incorrect. The repeal iDitead of pron,ot.
ing will not affect the manufactures, though it
will injure the nation by encouraging luxury,
or, at leatt, d;mnilhing the expence necehary
for the indulgence Of it.
The proerels OF nations from weakness to
md {,N,y al.npI nd Il
ltruetion, has ever been iimilar The clouds OF
barbarity are illumined by the dawn of civiliza-
ton j; civilization is fuccecded BY refinement |;
refinement is attended BY luxury; and luxury
terminates in national degradation and ruin.
This progrrl;ye movement, confsantiy attending
human nature in its focal connection, is un-
d ubtedly greatly accelera cd or retarded BY the
principles Of finance, which may be adopted by
government One fyfem is calculated to give
life aud vigour to the body polite, while .anoth-
er will produce premature decline Taxes
may be 10 laid. as long to preierye the health
and integrity Of the ftate by preventing the ufe
of articles, which are con6dered luxurious. If
thefc principles are jut, an examination of
the different kinds of taxes will determine
whether the conduit Of government in repeal
ing the internal taxes, and in oppofing the re-
peal of others of different Description was
wife or foolilh, patriotic or teiilh.
Taxes, according to celebrated writer, may
be divided into five c'ailes thofe, that increafe
the public revenue, without any other ef-
feet on commerce and manufactures, good or
bad thoie tina, inereaie the public revenue, and
are beneficial to commerce and manufactures |;
thofe that increaie the public revenue, but are
hurtful to commerce and manufactures thofe
that are hur,ful to them without incrcating it {;
and thofe thar lefien the public revenue, and
are ALTO hurtful to commerce and manufactures.
The duty on coaches is placed by the lame wrf-
ter in the hrft clais and TO thar j. mott unquef-
tionaby belongs. The fame reafons will place
in the fame clafs the duty on diltilerics, loaf
fugar, ftamps, and the ether taxes, which were
repealed. The taxes were laid on luoh articles
as could not diu,inih expectation, and conie
Guenty iniure the manufactures of the nation.
But granting, which is not true, that they injur-
ed manufactures, the fate of them and the fit
uaton of,he country are iuch. as would not jui-
tify their tyeitnt repeal. Who will pretend that
America can be manufacturing nation, while
!. fhe poi1efes fuch large and excellent tracts Of
unfettled land ? No fate can carry manufac-
lures TO any degree of perfection, until he con.
tain fuperlui,y of hands, which cannot be
employed in agriculture. While rich land can
be acquired on eafy conditions. no perion Of a
common ihare Of enterprise will labor at tuch
a price, as that the manufacturer can underiell
the fame productions Of other nations. Nor
is it poiible BY laying high duties on foreign, to
bring our own manufactures into immediate ute.
II the price Of tn fe Of this country be high in
contesuence of the high p:ice of labor, and du-
ties be impoied on thofe OF other nations to rem
der them higher than our own' what VIII be the
effect !-Grea: quantities of goods will be tmug-
slcd. The vigilance of the government may in
vain attempt to prevent IT; deteet'on' though
it often enfues. will not deter, hnce the rdk will
be fmall in proportion TO the profits. THIS IS
the cafe with par, OF the Spanih doninlons in
Sout:, America aving few manufactures a.