The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1840-08-29
COM MUNECAFHON MS.
For The Columbia Democrat.
THE TARIFF.

uon OF Congress. And yet, it was, per.
haps Of all others, the least understood bv
the people. Under prelencc Of chershing
our infant Manufactures, the " American
System" men, with Henry Clay at their
head, urged the necessity of high rate Of
duties, as the only way to effect so desira-
bic result That incipiant zeal, for which
our countrymen are so greatly distinguished,
was instantly enlisted in favor Of Manufac-
lures, and they must be reared, even in a
" hot bed" But in the pleuitude of zeal
in favor of Manufactures, and high Tar
if, as the surest means Of promoting theft
growth, and ensuring their perinanency,
other interests Of at least equal importance
10 the stability of our institutions, and the
security of our union, were perhaps over
looked. Mr.. Clay and his partisans seem
to have adopted as principle, that ours is
essentially manufacturing country. Over
looking the more important interests Of Ag-
riculture, every act Of legislative bene6-
cence, was, for time, shaped to the pro-
motion OF the interests Of the Spindle and
the Loom, the Furnace and lbe Forge. The
result Of such exclusive Legislation has been
in the chiyalrous excitement Of the South,
came near being felt in the disruption of
the Union. The political hobby which
was so triumphanty to carry Mr.. Clay and
his partsans into power, proved stunb-
ling jade, which has thrown them among
the Cotton bags of the South, and we have
seen them hiding their discontinue, and
concealing their bruises, with the fragments
of a compromise law"
As this law is soon (ls42) 20 expire by
limitation, and riylsion Of the Tariff may
then be expected, we already witness the
efforts of the same men extending them
selves in favor Of the same increase of du-
ties, which on former occasions they have
so tenaciously urged. Ills true, A1r. Clav,
though not entirely "hors de combat" is
not the man at this time who is to take The
front rank in carrying out the principle of
protective and prehIbitory duties Gener.
al Harrison, in whom we are told are cen.
tered, not only the chivaric but the civic
virtues, though he now very condescending-
ly tells US, 4" it is none of our business"
what his sentiments nay be, is known TO
haze been when in the Senate of The United |
States, the friend and advocate of high du-
ties. He is the candidate of that party for
the Presidency, and should he be elected, |
he will doubtless associate with HIM in the
Administration, such men as Webster, Clay,
Southafd DC. whose views are believed to |
harmonise with his own, and endsavor, so
far, 10 carry out their feelings, as 10 make
a high Tariff of duties, a prominent feature
of his Administration. To us, it belongs,
Fellow Citizens to inquire, before we cast
our votes for Gen. Harrison, what effect
such measure would have upon orr indi-
vidual interests, upon the interests of the
great mass Of our counlrymen, and upon
the peace, harmony and permanency OF the
Union.
Whatever the rate of duties may be, it
is known fact that the consumer of the
article on which duty is payable eventual
y pays the duty. Hence, higher rate of
duties than are required to delray the ordn-
lry expenses Of an economical adminisra-
ion Of the Government, are an unnecessa-
y and arbitrary tax upon the consumer, at
,nce inconsistent with the genius Of our
Government Constitution. So, also, dn-
les so high on any one species of goods, as
q prohibit, or even greatly diminish the a
Mount of their importation, is a tax on one
ranch Of Industry, for the express purpose
+ ey. 7ndlng extraordinary benefits to anolh-
r,lhus creating a privileged class, or kind
Il Aristocracy. under the very auspices of
Goyergment prelendedly based upon
rinciples Of democratic equality.
TO illustrate the subject a little further,
70 viii instance the article of wooller
oods. II is, believe a conceded, at any
ate ii is a demonsirable fact, that yard of
lrOad Cloth which usually sells in this