Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-27

Who would wish, even if he could acquire the title OF
second pacicator TO produce scenes like these again
Sir if this tariff controversy RACES again. seb'e-
men will not find one State alone in her resistance
hut they NAV find their "bioody bills vain as any
attempt promise will be in future Let US, ten'
repeat consider this act, as does the Secretary, al
honorary bond Of Union; as binding as tatth ana as
| precious as peace.
But, Sir, Whether an ordinary act of legislation or
not is and will continue 10 be statute, such as u
is until repealed, every section ofwhch vii! continue
unless repealed in hole or IN part. Same, SIR seem
to imagine that the act erpircs IN june lc42 so lar
from it, Sir then, and net und then, commenccS TIC
part oe bargGia stipulation intended for The S0uN
From 1888 until then the tariff interest will have had
the duties mostly above 20 per and not until then
will the maximum Of duty rot TO exceed 20 per cent
become fixed 1t will be hard, indeed, if il shall con-
tnue compromise until party gets all their share
fihe bargain, and immediately 10 be n eompo.
misc and become mere ordinary statute, subject ana
liable, like all other statutes, 10 be repealed as soon rs
the period arrives by its own limitations for the other
party to derive from benefit This truly will be yield
ing the proeetice gentlemen constructions both The Dig
and little end of the burgain. part OF the very bargain
was, that the excessive protection should be gradually
reduced only for agc years, and then not exceed g.
ven rate of 20 per cent. Will gentlemen say that
they will enjoy this OF protection above ~ per
cent for these nine years, gradually reduced only, and
them the reduction falls to ~ per cent that
they will repeal the act and pass new act 10 suit their
cupidy-to 20 back If they please TO the highest rates
of duty and that duty laid what articles they please
II this is what they by saying this is no comPTo-
mise agree with them, and admit that in TINS sense,
it will mean for them to take all and leave nothing
/ for US
The act of 1892 was an ordinary act Of legislation,
liable to repeal at any time, but containing limitation
of time for its operaon The act is the basis of this
act of March = 1885, commonly called the "compromise
act" Both acts continue on until repealed, in whole
or in part.
The Isl and ID sections Of the act of March . 1885,
i fix the duties OH certain articles named in the act Of
1899 20 per cent from and after the 30th day Of June,
| 1912.
Section Sd cnacts that all duties shall be cash duties
om and after the Goth day of June, lcl2; that "such
duties shall be laid for the purpose Of raising such
venue as may be necessary TO an economical admin
istration Of the Government, from and after that
day; and establishes the home valuation after that
day.
Section 9TH makes certain articles free "from and af
ter that day; preScrbes what articles duties 10
be laid after 0h June 1872 and provides that the du-
ties on no articles shall exceed 30 per cent 'rom and
after that day.
Section 9th shows that the act contempates its
strictions respects 10 operate after Goth June
4 1912.
Here, then, we that this act is but modification
and continuation Of the act Of 1922 No new legsa-
ton is necessary after June, 1872 in consequence Of
any pration suspension Of these laws If let alone
they will work out their provisions. They do not
necessarily require any renewal change additional
enactment whatever. And the duties laid by these
laws are sufficient in ordinary times, when unusual
causes do not obsruct trade, 10 supply for
economical administration Of the Government. There
is no necessity for your disturbing the act for Of
ANY defect in il, that it will not continue 10 operate
i The extent ard Limitations Of the act well defined
I 81 the Secretary o. the Treasurys report
Il "Whai Their, are those stpulations or resrc,ions'
4 81 The irsl 10 be, that reduction by install
nen,s, o Tie fnrmc. rate Of duties, when Succeeding
twenty ccr &c nt should forthwith. commence and
;nuc uninterrupted until July 1st, 1872 50 that when
at period arrives, M duties whatever should exceed
twenty per cent. The leading section Of The act lse
pl;cil upon this point Hence, 70 defer or repeal rs
some have proposed the two reductions noG remaining
aud which 10 take effect in lSi would keep many
duties higher than twenty per cert, and tias be III d.
rect violation Of this general provision But IT these
last reductions should create deficiency in the rcre-
nue. the 9th section Of the act would allow to be sup
piled in different way, because this section provides
that in such an event. nothing contained i'll the law
shall prevent altering the rates OF duty on articles
which, by the aforesaid act Of 18th july 1882 sub
ect to 4 less duty than twenty per cent
az. 1t will be seen, however, that tins provision con-
tains second restriction by limiting any revision made
before 1872 for an increase Of the Tariff to only such ar
ticles as pay less duty than twenty per cent.
1 go The next and third restriction revision is
that though one may be made before lSi2 for purposes
of revenue if when increasing the duties, It be con-
fined to articles paying less than twenty per cent? yet
it should not raise the tariff on those above that rate
even for rcvenue-muc less, probably, for any other
purpose. The close of the 9th section seems 10 be ex
press, that the duty articles paying less rate than
twenty per cent if changed before lei2, shall be alter
ed Sin such manner not 10 exceed that rate
"What would be deemed the proper disposition Of
this limitation, if duty of twenty per cent OH all i'm
ports would not yield sufficient for the legitimate pur
poses of revenue must be settled when the shall
ut ia hell ypd
there is likelihood Of such occurring in
period Of peace.
80. Another restriction Supposed to have been in
tended is, that if revision be made 10 operate alter
June 50, 1912 instead of before, STILL general
rule, none Of the duties shall he then raised above
twenty per cent Thus the close OF the 9TH section
provides that all imports, which the ls section o.
this act may operate, and all articles now admitted
than twenty per cent ad vnoren before the said 3Otf
of June, 1872 from and after that day may be ad
mtted 10 entry, subject to such duty not exceeding
twenty per cent nd catorem, as shall be provided by
law A change could then be made, at pleasure, from
twenty per cent downwards, to entire freedom from
any irnpos but no increase be permitted to &c
above that Indeed, the inference would seem to
be- that the compromise intended to prevent any
duties from being assessed after 1872, exclusively
for the purpose Of distribution, protection whether
below or above twenty per cent. in amount because
clause in the Sd section provides THAT after l5i2 'du
ties shall be laid for the purpose of raising such rere
nue. may be necessary 10 an economical admnstra
ton of the Government but silent to recognising
,anctionng authority to do it for any other Pur
pose. The raising such revenue was the great OBJ
ect of granting any power in the Constitution to lay
taxes and imposts And would be difficult to find, in
limited grant of powers, like what contained in thai
instrument for laying imposts, warrant to impose them
for other and distinct Objects and especially the opera
ton of such measure, apparently under assumed
authority, and on subject so delicate and momentoua
mankind taxation, should tend to enrich pnrtlcu
lar classes or sections at the expense of others In
truth, the tariff is much system OF taxation as
land tax stamp tax, direct tax of any kind; and
is chiefly dstinguishube from them BY being more
subtle and less obnoxious in its FORM The conhning
of all duties, hereafter, to low rate, was therefore
desirable to the great mass Of the people, because II
was combining taxes 10 n low rate. 1t was further sup
posed without doubt, that, though comparatively low
they would YIELD with the other ordinary receipts, an
ample supply of revenue for such an economical ad
mnstraton' is contemplated by this section of tue