The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-21

nres TO be adopted in consequence of the |
payment of the debt. The expenditures
now authorized will not require a revenue |
Of more than $l3,500,000. There are, how
ever, several important matters requiring |
the aid of the government, which have been |
neglected heretofore, for the purpose of re-
deeming the debt; among those enumerat-
ed are certain necessary internal and exter- |
nal improvements, an increase ofthe pay of
the Navy Officers, and particularly an in |
crease of the salaries of Foreign Ministers. |
A revenue of fifteen millions, or about one |
dollar for each individual of the population
weld he adequate TO the existing demands |
and all the expenditures proposed.
The revenue has been drawn from three
sources,-the imports, the Bank dividends,
and the public lands. BY the sule of the
Bank stock, as recommended, one Of these
sources would he stopped. 1t is recommend
ed. also, to sell the whole Of the lands to
the States in which they lie, at fair price,
a measure which, it is supposed, would be
| satisfactory to the States themselves, while
the amount received for them might be
eqmtahly apportoned agreeably tothe terms
OF the cession. Surprising the public lands
| to be dispensed with, the duties on imports
are the only remaining source of revenue,
and upon this point we quote the words of
the Report.
"The propriety of reasonably protecting
the Domestic Industry is fully conceded
hut it is believed it would neither require
nor justify the raising of larger amount of
revenue Than may be necessary to defray
The expenses of government.
If it could be shewn that the labor and
capital of the United States required great
er aid to shield them from the injurious reg
uations offoreign States, sound policy would
rather recommend a system of bounties, by
which the duties collected from imports
might be directly applied to the objects to
be cherished than the accumulation of mon
ey in the Treasury. No such necessity,
however, is supposed to exist.
To distribute the duties in such manner,
as far as that may be practicable, as 10 en-
courage and protect the labor ofthc people
Of the United States from the advantages
Of superior skill and capital and the rival
preferences of foreign countries, to cherish
and preserve those manufactures which have
grown up under our own legislation, which
contribute to the national wealth, and are
| essential to our independence and safety, to
the defence of the country, the supply of its
necessary wants. and to the general pros
perity: is considered TO be an indispensable
duy. The vast amount of property EN-
ployed in the northern, western, and middle
portion of the Union, upon the faith of our
own system of laws, and on which the in
terests of every branch of our industry are
involved could not he Immediately abandon
ed without the most ruinous consequences.
| The various opinions by which the people
of the United States are divided upon this
4 subject, concern the peace and harmony of
the country, and recommend an adjustment Mt
on practicable principles, rather than with
| reference to any abstract doctrines of polit-
| ical economy.
The proposed action of Congress will be
directed to introduce OF countenance for the
! first time the adaptation of duties for reve-
nue. 10 the protection of American labor and
capital. The origin of that lies at the foun-
dation of The government and, taking root
in the act of July, 1859, it has since increns-
ed and spread over our whole legislation,
has quick ened each branch of industry, and
affected most of the important relations of
the community. That it may have gone be-
iy0nd the proper standard, and that the pres
ent crisis requires that it should he confined
within reasonable limits will no, be denied.
1t ought to be remarked, however, that the
amount of the revenue has not at any time
exceeded the authorized objects of expendi-
ture; and, that in preserving such an equal
ity in future, Justice to every portion Of the
community requires that ii should he accom-
plished without uprooting those great inter-
ests which have been providently planted
aud carefully nourished.
l. If the amount of expenditure be regulat-
ed by an enlightened economy, and the ac-
gregate of duties levied on imports he Meth
er extravagant nor oppressive to the con-
sun'ers, it is deemed TO be comparatively
unimportant whether it he collected from
many or few articles of importation. 1t
could only become material by causing the
duties to bear unequally upon particular
classes. 1t might not he practicable, how
ever, in such community as ours and in dis
trihuting the duties with any reference
Whatever to the protec ion of labor, alto
gether to avoid that Inconvenience. So
much of the inconvenience as NAV he una
voidabe might he temporarily submitted to
for the sake of the national advantages it
would ultimately confer. II may be expec-
ted, also. that the poorer classes, so far as
such inequality would affect them. will be
generally indemnitied by the increased ac-
tivity given to profitable modes of employ
ment.
Happily for the United States, the sum to
which II is now proposed 10 limit the reyen-
ue, is not likely TO he oppressive on any class
even according to the present numbers of
the American population 1t is also to he
observed, that, relatively both to population
and the means Of the consumption, it would
annually diminish; while the cheapenino of
transportation by the means of the raDdlv
increasing facilities Of intercourse woulI
constantly tend TO equalze prices and die
fuse the profits and labor.
The objects mare particularly recurring
the AID OF the existing duties upon the min.
ciples of this report are believed to he wool
woollens, cotton, iron, hemp, and sugar, as
romprehendng those articles in which the
agricultural and manufacturing industry are
more particularly interested
Upon these articles, the average drtv
collected in the years 1929 and 1870 -
mounted TO 6,940,393, as is shewnh the nm.
nexed statement.
These duties could not be matcrinlIv
changed at present, without the effect nj.
ready deprecated. No objection is perceiv-
ed, however, to such gradual reduction of
them in future as may withdraw the aid thus
afforded, as the growth and stability of our
manufactures will enable them 10 dispense
with ito such degree at least as will.
with the aid ofan increase of population and
the means of consumption, still leave rev.
enus adequate to The expenditures or I'M
III what may he Withdrawn from them mnv
bc levied on other articles Which MAJ, L.