Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-02-13

n, which we have seen the enactments OF Con
Orsss so entirely changed, that duty has sweiled
IN 70 one hundred per cent. which was only
q usr cent. when originally imposed.
II remains for the Committee to state the rea-
cons which have induced them to provide that
~ anne rate of duty shall be levied On all I'M
narted merchandise, with certain specified ex.
ffso,;ons. As equality is universally recognized
IS The fundamental principle Of jasttaxation, UNI
Go,,o;,v in the duties imposed is the most obvious
rnIe by which that principle can be preserved
from violation. The Constitution provides that
:. al impost and excise duties shall be UNIFORM
,b,o,yhont the United States" for the obvious
uurnose of preventing an unequal taxation. The
rrr,r;t of this clause would undoubtedly require
that the same rate of duty should be land upon the
same description of productions, however made
or acquired, provided they be consumed IN the
United States. Ii aproduct OF domestic indus
try. converted into foreign manufacture, Is sub
iec;ed to certain duty. no good reason can be
3,s,,ned Why similar domestic manufacture
should not be subjected to the same rate OF duty.
These respectl,e manufactures, though acquired
bv different processes. are equally the produc-
ian. Of domestic industry. and to impose tax
mon ons. because il is obtained 6y the interven-
ron of \ E,reign exchange, and exempt the other,
her,use il i manufactured in the United States,
!. in ma respect less unequal and unjust than 1t
vm,,I be to levy an excise duty upon domestic
manufacture when made by imported machinery
and exempt the very same sort OF manufacture
when made by domestic machinery. The differ
enc would be merely formal; and the principle
Of sou,lity would be as cffectually violated, and
the rule of uniformity as efectualiy evaded, IN
The one case as in the other.
In fact. the most moderate revenue duty im-
nosed upon imported manufactures, while slml-
lar articles Of domestic manufactures are entire
Iv EXEMPTED, is a discriminating tax upon the
productions Of the exporting States, while the
very same productions OF the manufacturing
States, made BY labor Of different kind, pays
no tax at ALL II these views be not utterly erro-
neous, a proper regard for the principle OF equal
taxation wnud require that imported manuiac-
lures. which come ia competition with simllar
domestic manufactures, should be admitted free
Of duty, or be subject to no higher duty than
similar domestic manufactures. Imported ma
nufac,ures are the productions OF northern labor
and capital; and nothing short OF an equal ex-
emption of beth from taxation, Or the imposition
of equal duties upon both. can secure to these
two great rival branches OF domestic industry, 4
fair and equal competition in market The very
lowest rate Of duty imposed upon one OF them.
while the other is wholly exempt. Is an act OF
par;uali,y and injustice on the part Of the govern
ment. which destroys the equality OF the Conf
petition.
Entertaining these opinions, the committee feel
that they owe it tn the House To explain the rea
sons winch have induced them to lay as hieh
rate of duty on those imports which come IN
competition with uutaxed domestic manufactures,
a. upon anv other description Of imports. -
While the manufacturing interest demands that
protecting duties should he imposed three or iou'
times as high as NAV be necessary for the consti-
tutionai purposes Of revenue. and when justice
obviously demands that no duty at all should he
imposed upon one rival interest that Is not equal
" imposed upon the other, the utter impossibllty
Of adjusting tariff of dutis upon principles of
strict and equal Justice viii be at once perceiv-
cd. when it is considered that large majority of
both Houses Of Congress are in favor OF that lnte
rest which puts forward the most extravasant de-
mands. Ii is a contest between power ON the
one side. and right on the other; and although
the very extreme demand Of the minority is for
nothing more than justice, yet it is obvious that
no compromise can be made unless the minority
will acqaiesce in an arrangement which gives the
majority more than Justice. " hat the minority
comedies. is purton of its undoubted rights;
what the majority concedes, il CONCESSION 1t eau
be called, is portion Of its unlawful gains
Though such are the terms upon which the
committee have adjusted the duties-terms If the
utmost liberality to the protected branches of in
dus'ry-it is to be apprehended that the manu-
facturers will be more opposed. than any other
class, to the bill reported. That they will have
M just ground to complain Of it, is most certain.
E,rn under the pro,is ons Of this bill, they would
b. t,e decided iavories of the government. as
the committee will proceed to show as briefly as
possible. 1t may be assumed that at least one
halt at the revenue accruing from mposts. will
b. derived from iron. salt. sugar. spirits land ma
nufactures ot cotton, wool, iron, hemp. and fax.
and from other imports which come in COMPETE
ton with domestic productions, As 10 this half
of the federal taxes, nothing is more clear, than
that the manufacturing or protected interests
bear nopor,ion Of the burthen they impose on The
community. The duty imposed upon iron. SUI
gar, or cotton manufactures. for example. is no
bupthen, at all. but bounty to the manufac tur-
er ol these respectoe articles. while IT is an I'M
doubted burthen TO the other classes Of the COM