Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-08-10

cent struggle, and the meauro which has resulted
from 1t, form exception to this remark. Indeed
1t may DO affirmed with confidence that the system
49, ut TINS moment, stronger than it ever has been
at any former period.
In 1916, with vast public debt to discharge, il
was necessary To provide an annual revenue of
S-4,uuo,UU0. Ii is not now necessasy to provide
more than half that sum. If, therefore, in 1916
the protecting duties did not average moro than 25
per cent when i, was necessary To provide twenty-
Tour millions of revenue, il clearly follows that
upon the principle of the act of 1916, without
reference 10 its prospective reductions, the pro-
tecting duties should be reduced TO ~ . per
cent when it is not necessary to provide Il revenue
OF more than Sl2 100000.
Yet, what the provisions of the act recently
passodl The burlhens of the protecting duties arc
decidedly Increased, estimating the cash duties and
diminished credits, and they actually stand AT
an average gilmore than fifty per cent and the duties
on the unprotected articles, which upon every prin
c,plo of equality and Justice, should sustain the
principal part OF the burthcns of taxation are with
few inconsdcrubic exceptions, entirely rcpealed
Upon those manufactures which received i'm ex
change for the staple productions of the Southern
states, tho aggregate increase of the burthens of
taxation beyond what they were under the tariff
OF 1923, is believed TO be upwards of one million
of dollars; while the reduction repeal of tho du.
ties on those imports which received in cx
change for the productions of the tariff State and
are principally consumed in those States, to
about four millions of dollars While therefore, the
aggregate burthcns of taxation are diminished four
millions of dollars by this BILL the positive burthcns
of the Southern States are not diminished at all
and their relative burthen very greatly in
creased The relief which those States will de-
rive, as consumers, from the reduction and repeal
of the duties on the exchanges of the North, will
not be more than equivalent TO the increased bur
thcns imposed on the exchanges of Tho Sonth. On
the other hand, those increased burthens the
exchanges of the South operate as boun,ics to the
manufacturing States to the amount of moro than
million of dollars, and the reduction and repeal
of duties on their exchanges and consumption OPP
crate relief to them of at least three millions
more. Ii results from all this that the manufac.
turing States relieved and benefited, by the
provisions of the tariff, to the amount of four
millions Of dollars annually, while the unequal and
oppressive burthcns of the planting States not
only und,minished, but greatly aggravated by their
increased inequality. Their burthcns are precise
ly the same that the Government requires
only twelve millions of revenue, that they were
when it required double that amount. The extin-
guishment OF tho public debt, TO which they looked
forward with the most cheering authorizations
brings them relief On the contrary, ii gives
them the most uncquivoca assurance of their hope.
less condition and final destiny, far these can
be liked by Congress. 1t may be said, with perfect
TRUTH that even "hope which comes to all, )" comes
not to them. There never will occur again q pc
rioi so propitious as that which has just gone by
for urging upon Congress the claims of the plant
ing States TO be relieved from the burthens of I'M
constitutional and oppressive taxation. Yet those
and irresponsible maic :ity.
They have now made their ultimate concession
and even that was yielded with great reluctance
and accompanied by the declaration of their lead
ing advocates that the protec ing duties would be
hereafter increased particularly on woollen manu-
features, if fifty per centum should be found an in
sufficient protection, with cash duties that are eou
vaient to ten per centum more. What, then, is the
boosted compromise offered TO the Southern States
by this new Tariff? 1t is nothing more nor less
N nj ri lll t,>ft
on imports as throws the entire burthen of federal
taxation upon the productions of these States
whilc the Iarf States are not only exempted from
any portion OF that burthen but actually gain more
tan they lose by the entire operation of the system
Nothing is more obvious TO those who look through
the whole scheme, in all its bearings than that
the manufacturing States would not consent to an
entire repeal of the federal taxes, viewed in the
light of mere question of pecuniary gain, and
without reference 40 the fiscal wants of the Co
Vernnent. Their wi,vlo avincoS what is
undoubtedly the fact, that they have proprietaru
interest an the tareS, instead of feeling them rs
state of things, the productions and the property of
the planting States, absolutely subject TO Inc
control of an irresponsible and despotic majority
who have converted the whole fiscal operations
of the Government, into the mere means of lew |
ng contributions from the industry of those States
o nourish and sustain the rival industry of the
States. The substantial right of
property In the plantations ofthe South is in the
majority who exercise this irresponsible power of
and those who vainly imagine they are
the proprietors, are in truth mere stewards recei
wing just 'ch proportion of the annual inc ONE as
TINS proprietary government, the majority, NAV
choose to allow them. The natural effect of this
anomalous action of the Government, is that rcck
less extravaganza III the appropriation of the pub
lie money for every purpose, whether constitution
al or unconstitutional, by which the legislation of
Congress has been characterized for several wears
past, ana never to more alarming extent, than
during the present session. This has been stri.
klngly exemplifed by the establishment of grand
pension system, embracing all the volunteers and
militia who served six months during the Revolu |
Ionary War, without any regard to their pccunia |
y circumstances and involving the annual ex. |
'endiurc of several millions of dollars; by new
IND extravaganza appropriations for internal i'm |
'royemcnts of mere local nature, to an extent !
NhoGeiher without example; by attempt, sue |
:osstui in one branch of the legislature, and owl
ienty destined to succeed in both to distribute n
lualIy among the States three millions of the pub
&c revenue: and, finally, by an aggregate increase
'f the appropriations of the present session be-
'ond tho estimates of the Treasury, and be.
'ond the ordinary expenditures of the Go
'ernment, of not less than five millions of dollars |
o one can witnes the proceedings of Congress on
hese appropriations without pcrceiving indications
lot to be mistaken, that the Federal Government
las dcgencrated INTO mere political engine for
egulatlng the labor and distributing the wealth
IT the country, upon the most arbitrary principles
nd by evying the most oppressive cxacions on one
ortlon Of the Union, to be bestowed in prolific |
ounties on another. Already have the principles |
onsccrated by ancestors in the revolu- !
ionary struggle undergone radical change; and
large majority of the people of this Union
ctually regard taxation as u public -idsssinr--
has even become provorb among them |
hat it would he wise and beneficial to re- |
ain the duties though the money should DO |
brown into the ocean. All this il the natural |
nd inevitable result of system which practically
xcmptS those who impose the taxes from all re |
to those who pay them, and which