Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-19

| hc lands, aud l was cautioned against rash IN.
norR'lons in IT. Subsequent experience fully
satisfied me OF the wisdom of their counscls, and
that al vital changes in it ought to be resist
ed.
| Although it may he impracricabl, to say what
the exact amount of the pubic Revenue should
b., for the future, and what would he the rre-
clsc produce eli any given system of imrosts we
may safely assume, that the revenue may now
be reduced, and considerably reduced. This re-
duc,ion may be effected in various WAYS, and on
different principles. Only three modes shall
now be noticed
ist TO reduce duties on all articles. in The
same ratio, without regard to the principle of
protection.
Cd. TO reduce them on unprotected arti-
Giles, and augment them on the protected arti
clcs.
And 3d. To ab'rsA and reduce the duties or
unprotected articles, retaining and enforcing the
faithful collection of those on the protected ar
tclcs
| TO the first mode there arc insupcrablc OBJ.
lc.tlnnS. 1t would lead inevitably 10 the de-
! struI ion OF our nome manufactures. 1t would
establish sort of bed OF Procrus;e. hv which
the duties or all articles should be Llindlv mea-
surcd, without respect 20 their nature ar the ex-
tent Of their consumption And it would be DC
rogatory from every principle OF theory or prac-
tce on which the Government has hitherto pro.
cecdcd.
The second would be still more objectionable
to the foes of the tariff than either Of the others.
| But 1t cannot be controvertcd that, by augment
! ing considerably the duties on the protected
class, TO carry them 10 the point, or near
| TO the conlincs OF absolute prohibition, the OBJ
! irct in view, of eltccing the necessary rcduct on
of the public revenue, may be accomplished
without touch the duties on the unprotected
class. The consequence Of such an augucnta-
ticn would be great diminutiun in the import :
nj nl thp lnp I,ic al,
duties upon il. Bat against cn'irc prohibition
except perhaps in q few instances, have been
always, and sill am, opposed BY leaving the
door open 10 the foreign rival article, the beno
fit is secured of u sauiaiy competition. Fit be
hermeticaly closed, the danger is incurred of
monopoly.
The third mode is the most equitable and
reasonable, and it presents an undebateab!,
ground, on which | had hoped we could all
safely tread, without difficulty. 1t eXacs no
sacrifice OF principle from the opponent of The
American System; it comprehcnds none on the
part of It's friends. The measure before you
embraces this mode 1t is simple and free from
all complexlty. It. divides the whole subiec. of
mposts according 10 its nature 1t settles at
once what ought not to be disputed, and leaves
to be settled hereafter, if necessary, what may
be cOntrovcrted.
A certain part of the South has hitherto COM
pialned that it pays d!sproportionatc amorlt
ed, by the adoption of this measure, it will
be relieved at once, will be hereafter shcwn
from at least fourth Of its bur,hens. The
measure is in conformity with the uniform
practice Of the Government, from its cora.
mcncCmcnt, and with the professions of all the
eminent politicians Of the South, until of late.
1t assumes the right of the Government in the
assessment of duties, to dlscrlmi late between
those articles which sound policy requires it to
foster, and those whiclit need not encourage.
This has been the invariable principle on W hich
the Government has proceeded, from The set of
Congress of the 4;h Of July, 1889, down to the
present time. And has it not been admitted
by almost every prominent Southern politician,
Has 1t not been even acknowledged by the
fathers of the Free Trade Church, in their
; late address, promulgated from Phila delphia, to
; the people Of the United States? If we neveI
had system OF foreign imposts. and we were
, now called upon, for the first lime TO original e
, one, should we not discriminate between the
, objects o.! our own industry, and those produced
by foreigners! And is there any difference in
It's application, between the modification OF an
existing system and the oIiEanalIcn of Il he W
one: 1t the gentlemen Of The South, opDc-
aed to the Tariff, to obtoin complete nos.
session OF the powers OF Government, would
they hazard their exercise upon any other
principle? IL it be ssid that some of the arll.
{ cles which would, by this measure, be liberated
from duties, are luXures, the remark is equally
: true If some OF the articles remaining subject to
duties. In The present advanced stare o.
9 comfort and civilization, 1t is not easy to draw
the Inc between iuXur!cs and necessaries. Ii
: VIII be difficult 10 make the people believe that
bohea tea Is luxury, ard the article of fin,
broad clo his is n,cessaTy of life.
, In stating that the dulIes on the protected
class ought to be retained, 1t has been far from
my wish to preclude inquiry into their ado uiia
Cy or Propriety. Ii it can be shown that, in
any instance, they excessive or disprnpor.
tIonately buFtheDSomc on any section of the
-, union, Tor one ready to vote for their re
, ductlon or modification. The system conlcm
, plates an adequate projections; beyond lha. it i,
not necessary TO 20. Short of that, it's opera
ton viii be injurious TO ali parties.
The people of this country, or a large major
ity of them, expect that the system will be
preserved. And It's abandonment would produc,
general surprise, spread desolatlon over the land
and occasion great shock as declaration o
war forthwith against the most powerful natior
of Europe.
But it the system be preserved, it ought to
be honestly. fairly, and faithfully cEfOrceG. Thai
there do exist the most sclnd,lons violations O
II, and the grossest frauds upon the public rev
enuc, in regard 10 some Of the most important
articles, cannot be doubted. As to iron, object,
really belonging to one denomination, to which
higher duty Is attached, are imported under a
mother, to which lower duly is assigned, anC
the law thus eyaded. False invoices are made
as TO woolIcns, ana the classification INTO m,pi-
- NUNS Is constantly eludCd. Inc success O
the American manufacture o: cotton baor II,
has been such, as that, by furnishing better an,
cheaper eItlclc, the baGgIng OF Inverness ali,
Dundee has been almost excluded from tho cnr,