The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-12-16

a'ion, the condition or our impost revenue
deserves special mention, inasmuch as u
promises the means of exiingushng the
public debt sooner than was anticipated, and
furnishes strong Illustration of the practical
effects Of the present tariff upon our CONNER.
cial interests.
The object of the tariff is objected 10 by /
some as unconstitutional: and u is considered l
by almost all as defective la many OF its parts. 4
The power 10 impose duties on imports or. I
iginally belonged 10 the several States. The |
right 10 adiustthosc duties with view 10 the
encouragement, Of domestic branches of in
dastry. IS so completely incidental 20 that
power. that II Is difficult 20 suppose the evis-
,cnee OF the one without the other. The
States have delegated their whole authority
over imports 10 the General Government,
without limitation or restriction, saving the
very uncomfortable reservation relating 10
their inspection laws. This authority hav.
,ng thus entirely passed from the States, the
r,ghi Ia exercise Il for tho purpose of Pro,ce
ion does not exisi ln them; and consequent
IN, ifh be nol possessed BY the General Gov
arnment, il must be extinct Oar political
svS,em would thus prpsen, he an0maly Of
eaplc stripped of the righ, TO ilster their
wn industry, and 10 coun,eraoi tho most eel
'ish and Destructive policy which nilght be
@np'ea by forcirn nations. This surely can
aol DC ,he case; ;th,sindlsPenssb nnwer, lhu>
ur-eudcred hy thes States. mNst bc within
he srone NJ the snihoriy On the sphjeercS
prcs>ly delegated to Congress.
Ia this conclusion am confirmed 80 wei.
~ the OPINIONS Of Presidents Washington,
jefferson. Madison, and Monroe, who have
sch repeatedly recommended the exercise
rtiis righi under The Constitution, as BY
80 uniform practice ef Congress, The c0uiin
cd acqaicsccpce ofIhr States. and the gen
,ral understanding OF the people.
The dj.icnities of Smtte expcdient adjust
aent Of the present lsrG although gseoi,
&C far from beng inSnrmonnmbc Some
re unWiihug 20 improve shy gifts parts. be
.anse they would destroy the whole; others
ear TO touch the objectionable parts. lest
hose they approve should oe jropardled. |
IN urrsuajcd that ihc advocates of these
.onhaclinC views DO iriusi,re 10 the Amerl.
,an people. and 10 their Representatives
The general Interest is TIE interest of ench:'
and nv confidence y entire, that, 10 ensure
he adoption ur such notifications ofthe' tar
# . the general interest requires. Il IS dhly
lscaSsnry that that interest should be under
,looi.
its m iuhrmity of orr nature to mingle
.nr ,.derass and prcjnd!ces with the opera
ion of our reasoning powers!and aur'onie I"
the objects Of our dkes and dislIkes qualities
,hcy do not possess aud effects they cannot
produce. The effects OF the present tnrliFarc
doubtless overrofcA, both IN It's evils and in
ts Advantages Dy one class of reasoners.
he reduced price of cotton and other agrlcul :
rural PRO ucls is ascribed wholly To its inlu
ence. and By another, the reduced price of
manufactured articles The probability is,
that neither oninon approaches the ir'Hh, and
TINT both are induced by that Influence Of in
crest and preiudices to which have refer
red. The decrease ofpriccs extends through
out the commercial world embracing not
only The raw material and the manufactured
article, but provisions and lands. The cause
must therefore, be deeper and more peIva.
ding than the thrift ofthe United States. II
may, in "A measure, be attributable 10 The in
creased value of the precious metals prodnc-
ed by dminuion os the supply, and an in
crease in the demand, while commerce has
rapidly extended itself. and population has
augmented. The supply Of gold and silver.
the general medium of exchange, has been
greatly interrupted By civil commissions in the
countries from which they arc principally
drawn. a part ofihe effect, too, is doubtless
owing To an increase of operatives and i'm
provelncn's in machinery. But. on the whole,
il is questionable whether The reduction in The
price oflands, produce and manufactures, has
been greater than the appreciation of the
standard Of value.
While the chief object Of duics should be
reven0e, they may be so adjusted as 10 en-
courage manufactures. In this adjustment
however, il is the duty OF the government To
be guided by the general good.--Ohec,s Of
national Importance alone ough, to be protect.
ed--oflhese the productions of our SOIL our
mines, and our workshops. essential to ma
tional defence, occupy the first rank. What.
ever other species of domestic industry, hav
ing the Importance to which havo referred.
may be expected, afior temporary protection,
to compete with foreig labor on equal terms,
merit the same attention in a subordinate do.
gree.
The present tariff taxes some Of the com.
forts Of life unnecessarily high; il nnderi
to protect interests too local and minute 10
justify general exaction and it also attempts
to force some kind Of manufactures for which
the country is not ripe. Much relief will be
derived, in somo Of these respects, from the
measures of your last session.
The hest, us well rs fairest mode Of deter. /
mining whether, from any Just considerations,
particular interest ought to receive protect.
ion, would be to submi, the question singly
Tor ueUOcrat'on. ~, nt'cv due examination OF
its merits, unconnectcd with extrapeous con.
sidcrations such as a desire to sustain gen.
eral system, or to purchase support for diff.
ferent interest ii should enlist in Is favor a
majority Of the Representatives ofithe people
there can be little danger Of wrong or injury
in adjusting the tariff with reference to iis
protective effect II this obviously inst prin.
ciple were honestly adhered to. the branches
OF Industry which descrye protect;on ,ro,lJ