Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-12-10


p~ro1&b;nt il. thar n<ith<r op;a.saanprossh
es the truth. and thst both arc Induced b,
thar influence Of ieftrt4 Is 2l<f pre- iuaicts !,
which ! have refcrrx5. The decrease q
prices extends thsurGAcbt fhe ccmuercia
woSd, embracing ma en'x the raw ma,esia
sndihS manufactured a%fliele. but provision,
and hnds. The cause mast, Therefore, Dc
deeper and more petssding than she tariff
ofthe United States. Il may. IN . measure,
be attributable - The increased value of The
precious metals, rrodutcd by = diminatiop
ofthc supply, < IN increase In the demsndI
while cmnlercc has rapidly extended il.
self, and population has augmented The
supply Of gold and silver. the general medi.
UNI Of exchange. has been greatly interrupt.
cd BY civil commissions ia the countries from
which they ARE principally drawn. A part
OF the effect. too. is doubtless ewing 10 an
increase ~ofoperatives and improvements in
machinery But, on the Whole. Il u ques-
tienable whether the reduction In the price
Of lands, produce, and manufactures has
been greater than the appreciation Of tbe
standard of vsIue.
While the chief object of duties should be
revenue, they may be so adjusted as 70 en-
courage manufacturers. In this adjustment.
however. il Is the duty Of the Government
to be guided by the general good. Objects
.of national importance, alone, ought to be
prctecteds Of these the productions Of our
soil, U mines, and our workshops, essen
tial 10 national defence. occupy the first
rank. Whatever ether species Of domestic
industry, having the Importance to which l
have referred, may be expected. after tenn
porary protection, to compete with foreign
labor on equal terms, merit the same attcn.
tien in a subordinate degree.
The present tariff taxes some Of the com
forts Of life unnecessarily high; il undertakes
to protect interests too local and minute, 10
justify . general exaetioD; and it also at
tcmpss TO force some kinds Of manufactures,
for which the country il not ripe. Much re-
iiegwilIb be derived, ii some ofthcse respects,
from the measure ofyour last session.
The best, as we'll rs the fairest mode Of deter
mining whether, from any just considerations, .
particular interest ought to receive protection,
wouid be 70 submit the question singly Tor deli
~beratiou, 81, alter due examination OF its merits,
unconnccted with extraneeu onsidcrafions--such
as a desire to sustain a general system, or 10 pur-
chase support for . different interest-it should
enlist in its favor . majority Of the Representatives
Of the people, there can ~ little danger of WRONG
or injury 10 adjusting the tariff. with reference 90
its protective eject. Hthis obviously Just p~rinei-
pie were honestly adhered to, the branches Of in-
dusty which deserve protection, would be saved
from the prejudice excited against them, when
that protection forms part Of q system by which
portions Of The country feel, o. conceive them
selves 10 he, oppressed. What is inealeuIzbly
more important, the vital principle Of our 81 stem
that principle which requires acquiesccnce IA
the will Of the majority-wonId be secure from
the discredit ard danger to which il is exposed b,
the acts OF majorities, founded, not on identity 81
conviction, but on combinations Of small minori-
tics, entered into for the purpose oil mutual as
~sistance IN measures which, resting solely OF
their own merits, could never be carried.
1 am well aware, that this is y subject Of n
much delieysy on account Of the extended intcr
ests II Involves, ~ IN require that II should n
t0nchc1 with the utmost caution; and that, whils
an Abandonment Of the policy III which il origins
tcd--a policy coesal with our Government, and
pursued through successive administrations, il
neither 10 be expected or desired, the people
have . righffo demand, and have demanded, thai
il be % modified as TO correct abuses aud obyiatc
injustice.
That our deliberations on this Interesting sub
ject should be uniniluenccd BY those paytizan con-
ficts that are incident to free Institutions, is the
fcrvent wish Of my heart To make tbs great
question, which unhsppily 50 much divides and
cxcites the public mind, subsersient TO the short
sighted views of faction must destroy all hoie OF
settling IL satisfactorily TO the great body OF the
people, and Tor the general interest. cannot,
therefore, on taking leave Of the subject, too car
Mostly Tor my own feelings or the common good,
warn you against the biighting consequences OF
such q course.
According % dc e@timasrs al the Treasury De-
partmcnt, the receipts In the treasury during the
present ear will amount TO twcnfy flour millions
one hundred and sixty-one thousand and eighteen
dollars, which will exceed BY about three hundred
Thousand dollars the estimate pfess s.ted III the last
annual report OF tie Secretary Of the Treasury.
The total expenditure during the year, exclusive
OF public debt, is estimated at thirteen millions
seven hundred andforfy-t Two Thousand three hum
bred ind eleven d~oIIars; and the payment on ae-
count a. public debt for tie same Ieriod viii have
been eleven millions three hundred and fifty flour
Thousand six hundred and thirty doliafs; leaving
q balance in the 1feasury, on the first Of JANUARY,
1881, Of four Millions eight hundred and nineteen
theusand seseh hundred aud eighty-eBe dollars
HI eonntxiou with the eoudilion OF our finances,
il Affords me pleasure to remark that l~udieious \
efficient arrangements have been made BY the
Treasury Department for securing the peeun'afJ
responsibility OF the public officers, and the more
puuetaai ras ment OF she public daes. The reye-
que cutter sSrsiee bias been organized, and placed
on 4 good Footing; and, aided BY 80 increase OF IN
spee1brs a exposed points, and tie regulations II
dopted under the act Of May, 1880, for the in
sptetion and appn1isemeut Of merchandise, have
produced much improvement IN The execution Of
the laws, and more " eusity against the commits
sion OF frauds upon the resenue. Abuses an the
allowances for fishing bougtirs have also been