Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-11-01
FOR TIRE EhrQUYRE


POLITICAL DISQUISirIONS-NO. IL.
R0YmOnd'S Elements Of Political Economy
~, The tert Jook Of The near Political School
The practical government OF - this Cnion"-far
ahead OF the fundamental laws OF /" this u
1ion''
I'he Tarid-Its reduction-Pros 6 Cons, by
classes. The tariff ought TO be greatly reduced 1t
ought 10 he fixed according to the sric principle OF
revcnue--Not according TO the partial notion OF
projection 10 domestic manufactures The one is a
legitimate object OF the government of this u
on''--Thc other is not The consequential pro-
lection OF domestic manufactures, by a tariff, even
upon the stricicst principle oil revenue, would be
too great. This is one Of the evils of system OF
indirect instead of direc, taxes. 1t would be more
wise. more polite, and more just, and more econO-
inica To raise the greater part OF the of the
government of g this Union,' by direct than by IN
direct taxes; but the indirect system having been
adopted q change OF this policy cannot Immediately
be expected. The constitution was originally
founded upon the basis of direct TAXATION; and
hence, the appor;ionment OF representatives was
fixed, partly upon the slave population. The fa-
ciiy and cleapneSs of the collection OF impos,s,
afford sound consideration for preference of
that mode OF taxation. II the revenue chiefly
raised by direct taxes. the saving in the public eX-
! pendi,ures would amount to millions more than the
costs of the collection of both direct and indirect
taxes. 1t would tend to check the proiiigaie
rised powers by the practical government. These
greatly swell the public expenditures Besides, i'm
posts often laid upon articles of the first
slty and operate extremely uneQually upon different
sections Of the u. ;. well upon different intii
viduals. The watchful spiIit of avarce through
out every administration, has seized every occasion
to raise the tariff; and upon every such occasion,
has pledged its promises, that it should be reduced
! as soon the occasion which caused II, was over,
This was particularly the with what was call
ed the Mediterranean furd. But after repeatedly
violated promises, the writer thinks, that fund was
finally incorporated with the permanent tariff The
last tariff bill phenomenon, which, the writer
believes, never before in the political
worlh No additional revenue was either want ed
or called for; yet Congress increased the tariff,
a. 10 increase the whole revenue upon imposts, TO
about l-2 per e.. The writer believes this is
the first instance in the annals OF legislation, in
which the representatives of the people, OF their
own mere notion and liberality, increased their
taxes, without call, without estimate and with
out object, unless it were the protection of do
nestle manufactures. This an illegtimate OBJ
ject and although at frst avowed, finally dis
avowed. The condition of the couRiry, at this
moment, is peculiarly favorable for he reduction OF
the tariff provided the government would limit its
calls Tor expenditures to its legitimate objects This
act of delay ed justice ought 10 be done, if it
should even cause delay in the final extin-
punishment of the public debt. But it is believed it
may be done without producing that effect. What
hope can be induged in favor of this reduction, so
long the elementary doctrines OF the author, the
favorite apostle of the new school, shall be acted
upon by tie practical government? Hear him
EItrdct from page 247, FOL. 2.
"There is part OF the statute book that re-
qures such frequent revision me tariff law, al
though we sometimes hear IT said, that tariff
should be permanent, and seldom, if ever, changed
btfth he ie y doe pnfp mas In
which the tariff upon particular article may
may not be raised with advantage. The most gen
eral rule on this subject is, that tariff ought not
to be reduced, although it may frequently require
to be raised"
Again, page 24s
The reduction of tariff is one of the harshesr
and most violent measures that government car
possibly adopt"
What an unblushing spirit of avarice is here dis
playeds The manufacturers, whose Unsuitable GU
pidity seems satisfied with the extreme injustice
OF the present tariff are still be upon the watci
and every year some new addition is TO be made tC
it, Every imported article is to be strictly watch
ed; and if not already buIthened to It's highes
pitch, is to be strained up annually little higher
whilst '' the reduction of tariff is of the
harshest and most violent measures that govern
ment can possibly adopt" What elementary logic!
What political moralsi Every occasion is to be-
crediby seized upon to add to the plumber of tbC
proceeds of the labor Of one man, and give them "a
another. who did not labor for them; but TO release
from further plundering is Zone of the harshest
most violent measures that government pos
sibly adopt Is this also the doctrine of the new
political school? Is this doctrine TO be honoret
by the sanction of its future ensctments, On tn,
other hand, the writer contends; that the prac-
, teal government is now called upon, by every
motive that moral honesty, and by every principle
that the general welfare" can suggest, to suspend
this plumber, and TO leave to every individual labo
rer, the proceeds OF his own honest abors
Waving, then, for the present, the constitution.
al right OF the government of " this Union tc
pass the tariff BILL the writer will look, Tor sngl,
minute, 10 its policy in regard 10 g the general wei
fare" He will waive too, all reference to the vi
sionary phantoms, which may, may not happen
@ centuries ahead;' and make his calculations in
reference to the present practical condition of the
different ooSip ations in society. Suppose, then
the reduction of the tariff were proposed, and th,
question put to the different occupations in society
are you pros or are you con? Wheat Farmers
. What say your Gan there be any doubt of an af-
irmative reply from this class? The wheat farmer.
have suffered more under the operation of the tariff
! law, both before and since the passage of the last
bill, than any other class OF society. The low
prices for the chief article they raise, and the high
prices Of the imported articles they consume, pro-
duced by the enormous tariff, have been felt by then
with great severity But the unjust burthen ba,
been better borne by some than others of this class
Some of them have, in degree, protected them
, selves by their own abstinence and Parsmony.-
Some are content to live the osl Of the produce
Of their labor, and to give up the first fruits, to
tsfy the impositions Of the government Thes,
form an admirable corps of drsy horses for the SER
vice Of despots They not to care, and car
never tell, on which side their political slice tn,
butter is. But the heavier the burtben imposed
the stronger they pull; and the they stin