Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-08-29


custom house to the consumer. If the
committee are censured for speaking
thus plainly of a system on which this
government has hitherto rested for its
support, the house must recollect that
at its organization, impost was only one,
not the exclusive source of revenue
As soon as the debts of the revolution
were assumed by the new congress, a
system Of excise and internal taxation
was resorted to, as permanent means
of paying the interest of the national
debt. During the administration of gen
eral Washington and his Immediate sue
cessor, an excise on spirits, snuff and
snuff mills, duties on refined sugar, Ii
censes to retailers, carriages, auctions,
and a stamp act and land tax, were inn
posed. Let it not be forgotten that in
the preamble to the act for laying an
impost, the encouragement Of domestic
manufactures was one Of the ayowed OBJ
iects of the law. This was the revenue
system of the founders of our govern
ment. We do not attack, but rest upon
it; it is the only one on which this ma
ton can rely for permanent protection
in time Of European peace; we must
recur to it, unless another great convul-
sion should again derange all the insti-
tutions of the civilized world The pol
icy of this government was changed, not
because it was found unwise, but be-
cause the continuance of the war in Eu-
rope rendered it unnecessary. Then
other nations wanted our provisions !;
their price was such that the labor OF
this country was diverted from its natu-
raj course. Instead of making, we i'm
ported the articles of common ccnsump-
ton. The impost was found sufficient
for all our wants. But, in the change
of events, Europe can now feed her
self, and can compete with us in other
markets for our provisions Those ma
tons from whom we import the most,
now refuse to receive our produce at
any price. Thus there has been radi-
cal change in those relations with other
nations, which gave the turn to our ma
tional industry. A wise legislature will
and must shape its internal policy to
meet the changes which make revision
necessary. The present is not a forced,
but the natural and settled state of this
country. The events Of the last thirty
years have been unparalleled in history
I'VE must not expect their recurrence
at least in our time. 1t requires no
reasoning TO prove that measures cal
culated on general war in Europe,
will not suit general state Of peace -
they must and will be controlled by cir
cumstances. We must look to facts,
and profit by experience. Effects will
flow from causes they cannot be avert
ed or avoided; we must meet them
sooner or later. 1t is best not TO attempt
to conceal from ourselves or the nation,
the necessity of coming bacl: to the ORR
ginal system on which this government
first commenced its operations. In pro-
posing the measures which the commit
tee have reported, we have though, 1t
best to arow the intention to be such a
change in our internal policy, as will
gradually lead the people of this country
to be independent of any other Tor the
essential articles of subsistence and the
means of defence. We well know it is
a thankless ungracious task. The man
ulactures complain that too little, the
merchants that every thing, and well
know that here it is thought that too
much, has been done. These measures
have caused much excitement. This is
not the time to expect that justice will
be done to our motives. But the COM
mitteo have this,--and it is no small
satisfaction, that though they have not
pleased others, they have pleased them
selves. Their system has been matur-
ed with much pains, and with the most
anxious desire to relieve alike all the
suffering interests of the country. How
far this bill is so calculated the house
will Judge, from an examination and
comparison with the existing tariff, which
l will now explain, begging that gentle
men will not forget one thing-that the
hresent tariff 7vas a aevenue bill, re-
horted by the committee Of zpGys and
means, more to aid the treasury than to
protect the industry of the country. The
report of Mr.. Dallas was strongly in IA
vor of domestic manufactures yet, in
that of the committee ofways and means,
it is remarkable that the word manufac-
lures is not mentioned. presume that
the gentleman from South Carolina, who
was then the chairman of that commit
tee, had then the same opinion on this
subject that he now entertains. When
gentlemen complain of the extravagant
protection that this bill affords to ma