Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-03-23

The following sound and able remarks we extiact from
the Albany Evening Journal as the matter Of a tarif,
both TO obtain q government revenue and to protect hons
manufactures must soon be efectuully acted upon, we in
v,e attention to This subject, and shall involve our paper,
more or less, in its discussion.
TARIFF.
Leaving on, Of view the question whether Congress
has power to establish a tariff for protection, 1t is enough
To know that a tariff for reUenue is PROFESSIONALLY con-
sttutional. Isaac Hill, one of the high chiefs and
champions of locofocoism, asserted in a speech at Prov
idence, X. l., that il was the object of his party TO abol-
ish a tariff, and thereby do away with the necessity of
custom houses and custom house officers, and resort 10
direct taxation for the support Of government. SINH
lar views have been advanced by Mr.. Rhett of South
Carolina.
Indeed, a permanent revenue can be obtained in one
OF two ways only and these men, when they denounce
a tariff, are driven TO the support OF a system of direc,
taxation. The people must elect between the two
methods. Can they hesitate in their choice Are
they more willing TO lay a tax upon their farms, their
workshops and their furniture than they are TO levy an
impost upon foreign importations : Is any man ready
TO pay a tax OF one per cent. on his property, in order
that he may buy a penknife for his boy, or a silk dress
for his daughter at three fourths of their present value !
A system OF direct taxation is always unequal, OPP
pressive and expensive. The rich never bear their
proper share of the burden. Do the assessors, APP
praiserS, select men, OF whoever have that duty to per-
form, ever put a proportional valuation upon the prop
erty OF the rich and the poor mani Never. A palace
on Sta'e-street is taxed much less propor,onally than
an humble dwelling in the outskirts of the city. The
poor man. single acre is always more heavily burden
ed than the rich mans thousands. If a tax is laid up
on personal property, the rich always contrive to keep
out of sight at least half the amount Of their stocks,
notes and mortgages. Their sofas, ottomans, marble
side boards, china and plate are never assessed SO near
their real value as the with-bottomed chairs, deal ia
bic and earthern ware of the poor. lfvehicles are tax
ed, the Dutch wagon pays more than the splendid
coach. If the tax is laid upon the poll, the day labor
er pays as much as the millionaire. Indeed it is i'm
possible TO devise a system which shall not be unequal
4 and unjust.
But a revenue derived from a tariff, is a burden that
falls where it ought to fall, and every man pays &C.
cording to the amount ofhis purchases. The rich who
indulge most freely in foreign luxuries are made TO de-
fray the charges Of government.
A tariff too is much the cheapest mode of raising a
revenue. Our custom house officers are, indeed, nu-
merous and under the malign sway of locofocoism,
their number has been unnecessarily increased, but
they still bear no proportion to the host of publicans
and tax CATERERS that would swarm over the land I'M
der any scheme of direct taxation. If the people are
sometimes cheated by collectors OF the customs, who
can calculate the extortions and defacations of tax
CATERERS! The very name of tax-gatherer has been
I always hateful, Who wants to see a horde of such Of
fcers in the country, who, being the mere creatures OF
executive will, will ever be the minlons of executive
powert
For some years the duties on imporla,ions have been
n gradually lessening. They have already diminished
to such a degree that the annual revenue drawn from
the customs is much less than the yearly expenditures.
Perhaps this may be partly chargeable to the extrava-
gance Of Van BuIen's administration. At any rate he
r will 60 out Of office and leave his successor a debt OF
a some thirty millions of dollars to provide for.
VIII the people tax themselves to pay this debt or
t. will they discharge it by imposing additional duties on
q foreign commodities already taxed and laying duties on
articles now admitted free
If an increase Of the tariff is determined on, the next
question is to settle it satisfactorily to all sections Of
the country. This should be done in a spirit of com
promise. Perhaps there is no question so difhcult OF
j. adjustment. Revenue being the principal object, all
will apfDa that IL Ghp1lIh n fo,a 80 ,nn The nr
: rent expenses Of government. Protection is a second
l. airy object, but here begin all the difficulties and per
e plexities OF this veXed question. Here begins the con,
" hict Of clashing interests. Selfinterest begeis selfst
IS views, and the policy that favors one class of commu
l. nifty is denounced as destructive TO another. Tn,
IF. planter would be glad to have a duty laid upon cotton
l. sugar and tobacco, amounting TO a prohibition of TN
At foreign article. But lac reslsts a duty upon the coars,
IS cotton fabrics with which he clothes his slaves, upor
IN the broad cloths and silks in which he arrays his fami
a ly, and upon all the articles of which he Is a consum
The wool growers Of the North wish the foreign ar
te tcle to be excluded.
,e The interests Of the manufacturers are directly tn
ne reverse Of this. They want prohibitory duties laid up
er on all cotton and woollen fabrics, and the raw ma,eria
admitted free.
as And il is almost universally true that the interests G
81 the producer come IN direct collision with those of III
ly consumer. Now unless there Is a generous, cOmpron
a lsng spirit which shall overcome these selfish view
le and conslderduOns, II IS evident that the settlement {
ed this complicated matter may give rise to pickering
and Jealousies which will end in angry disputes danger
IN Gus 10 the peace and welfare OF the nation. The states
IL man who, dlvesting himself Of personal and sections
~ feelings, shall take the high stand OF a legislator for III
ed whole people and frame and carry through a system
en- protective policy which shall be beneficial TO all an
ca DO injustice 10 none. will deserve the everlasting gra
en-. Ilude OF his county.
mt i, should be the policy ofevery nation TO secure witt
he in itself all the elements Of national greatness. II
e, people who are dependent upon others for any thin
es essential 10 the comforts Of life or necessary for n
ey national defence, are 30 FAR in a state OF colonial va,
salage. While We were dependencies Of the Births
n Crown the mother country threw every obstacle in II
Sc way Of Our becoming a manufacturing and commerce
Jl- people. The effects Of her policy were severely fe
nd during the Revolution. From the want Of arsenal
powder manufactures, cotton and woOllen aciorie
A. our brave army was often destitute Of arms, smmun
d. non and clothing. We were dependent upon Ffenc
ltlI and Dutch jealousy Of English power for the ard an
ID counteuance that assisted VS. 70 materially during th
IA. pfo,iacied struggle. There are certain kinds Of II
be d-suy that reqpite Tine AMI experience 70 bring tibet