Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-08-15

able in its eicraal principles as the mind IL
self which perceives lhem., Thanks TO
the beneiircn Author of our being SO
bright has he shed abroad the divine rays
of truth and justice in the human heart
that no devices of men or Government can
dim or quench them. BefIre their dis
crimina,ing light wrong will still be per-
ceived to be WRONG althoug b covered mp
with a thousand sophistrcs or veiled by
the loftest professions Of patriotism; and
never was there a cause which has more
clearly demonstrated The ast powers of
the human mini in uphOldnS error and
oppression, and It's still mi ighlier powers in
refuring aud overllnowing them than the
Tariff policy of the General Government.
II was exposed and driven back by the
crisis of '33, but sill lives in your legisla-
ton, aad
-"in dim eclinse, disastrous twilight sheds
D'er half the nations"
Nor can the issue It must create he long
postponed. The Tariff Of '33 terminates
in '42, and beyond that peri"d it lays no
duties but leaves them 'Ho he provided
for by law" TO wal, until the session in
~ will manirestiy be too late, for justice
and policy require that due notice Of The
duties TO be exacIrd by the Government
should be given as we have always hlther-
TO done, in order that the manufacturing
and mercantile interests should nol be in.
juriousIy affected in their pursuits. The
session of Al will I've short session. when
no question of such magnitude can be pro-
perly considered or determined. In The
session of 10 then, next winter, The Tarill
should be revised. if revised at all, and
once more ibis great subject comes mp for
legislation. On what principles shall it be
settled?
| know it is The general impression that
the Tariff of '33, co'nmo 'ly called the
conprnuise act mad disposed OF the con
troversy on this subject forever. But this
is a CAPITAL error. That act lays no dn.
Ties at all after AZ. while it operates IN
and repeals all other tariffs. 1t does not
purporr then, so far as its positive, practi-
cal legislation is concerned, 10 settle any
hing beyond ~, and all its prospective
legislation beyond that period is unconsti-
rutional. Su far as its positive legislation
is concerned. by which the duties are sra-
duaIIy reduced until '42, we have faithful,
" adhered o the terms ol'this act, although
producing that monster in legislation,
twenty eight millions Of money beyond
The most exrravasant wants Of the Gov
enmcnt, drawn from The people, TO be
paid back 70 them again, alter faIlenins
hosts of public officers. IL the compro'
misses of this act are considered then as
limited TO lis positive legislation, it settles
nothing beyond '42. il brings the duties
,luwn To 20 per cent. and there leaves them
for future legislation to determine whether
this or a less amount amount OF duty shall
lie laid after that period. But If the COM
PROMISES Of this ACT are considered as cX-
tending 10 its prospective legislation, il
equally determines nothing; for every
one OF the Slipuiations it contains in favor
of the manufacturing interest, 10 take ef-
feet after 'l2, arc rs | have said, uncon-
s,i,u.ionaI. These strula,ions are three
Cold-nrsr, tha, the duties SHALL be collect
ed in ready money; second, that they shall
be assessed upon the value Of the goods
sat the port where entered; that a GER
tain list of articles shall be made free Of
duty. If by collecting the revenue sin
ready money" is meant gold and silver,
which only is recognized as money by the
constitution. we will freely assent TO the
proposition but if the noIes of indipidu.
ais or of banks, purporins MOTTO be mo-
ney, but promising to pay money, is in-
tended by this act, we deny the authority
of the Government to receive them in pay
meut of the public dues. We affirm also
that il surpasses the wit Of man to assess
duties upon articles imported into this coun-
try. "at their value at the porI where en-
tered" and reconcile the assessment with
thar clause Of the constitution, which de-
clares that duties shall be uniform in all
the ports of the United States. How is il
possible to import goods from foreign ma
lions into New York aud New Orleans, for
instance, at the same pricc1 The ele-
meut ef distance alcne must render the
price of commodities in a country so wide
ly extended, various IN the different ports
of the confedcracy; and of course the du-
ties will vary with the price Of The conf
modify, having this remarkable charac-
teristic, however, that they will he highest
where the goods are highest, thus iucreas-
Ing, contrary to The principle Of every wise
and beneEcent Government, the inequai
ties aud disadvantages Of nature. And
what shall we say to the list Of free arli
cles this acl proposes, consisting Of such
commodities as are convenient or useful
to The manufacturers in their operations.
or of such as cannot compete with them in
onrmarke,s is This stipulation consli!u-
lional! Was not this Inc very feature in
the Tariff policy of the General Govern.
ment which constituted the chief ground
of our opposiliou in '33! We coutenied