Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-01-18
POLITICAL.
From the Philadelphia Weekly Standard.
THE TARIFF

! There are many who believe that with the cleo
ton OF Cen Harrison to the Presidency, the tr-
unph OF virtue aud patriotism over party spirit and
corruption is complete, and that the democrats
throughout the Union, have now no other duty TO
perform than to SIT down aud TO quietly enjoy the
fruits OF peace. THIS is II sad mistake The great
battle has but ust began all we have gained
thus far, is change Of position. The enemy IS
driven from his skulking places, we have taken
possession OF the HILL and are now better prepareo
either for the attack or defence. But further thar
that we have as yet accomplished nothing. The
Sub Treasury is still sarlDg us in the face like
some ghnstly spectre, a,ni though, not capable OF
becoming n reality, 10 still preventing a more
wholesome system from taking rooi, which, alone
could save our torn and distracted country. The
tariff too, the a-engrossing, all-absorng national
topic, remains to he settled, and this is point on
which we shall require the greatest unannity Of
action, if we would not again relapse from state
OF convalescense into disease, which for frequent
recurrence, and The length OF its duration may al
last become incurabe.
A defeated enemy is not yet annihilaed; he NAV
rally his forces study our position, watch our mis-.
takes and be perhaps, laundering at our gates
when we are least prepared TO meet him.
The question which will have to be decided IN.
der Gen. Harrison's administration is, whether the
public revenue shall be raised by direct taxation
or by means OF protective tariff, which shall Sc
cure 10 the laboring man fair compensation for
his tolls, and distribute the public burhens in such
manner that they are least felt, and borne prin.
cipally by those who are best able to contribute
to the support of the state There is evidently this
difference between direct taxation and one levi
ed by duty on impOralons, that in the first case
every one without distinction is expected to nav,
whereas in the latter none but those who consume
the taxed article are actually made to contribute
and this merely in proportion to the amount con
sumed-to the support of the government. And
| il is much easier TO distribute taxes equally by
| imposIs on foreign goods because the cOnsump-
ton may, in degree, serve as measure of prom
erty, so thar we have right 10 presume that he
who consumes most is most able to pay, and by
that means 10 prevent the poor from being taxed.
But aside from the necessity of creating rev e.
enue, moderate tariff, whatever abstract arpu.
ment may at times have been brought against il,
is one of the most effectual means of protecting
domestic industry, and this especially in a Young
country whose manufactures are yet in a state OF
infancy ;--incapable Of competing with the adj
vantages OF skill, capital and low wages in other
countries. This is proved by the history of all
ages and in all chimes. The manufactures of Por-
iuga were IN most prosperous state until the
Nathmen treaty opened the gates to British man
ufhctures, which soon drove the home manufac-
tnrer out OF the market and reduced that once
tlour'shlng country to mere dependency on Eng
land. The same we have witnessed in Belgium.
| Holland and England herself Was it not first by
direct prohibition, and subsequently by an ad
vdlorem duty OF rs per cent. raised on all broad
cloths that the British woollen manufactures were
first called into existence, and subsequently car
ried TO such great perfection Would not the
silk weavers in Sptal6elds starve by thousands
which by the by they do by hundreds from the
quantity of French silks Struggled into England)
il the silk manufactures of France were not en-.
lirely prohibited in England? And is not France,
from the same reason obliged TO prohibit the in
troduction OF British cotton goods? Have not all
attempts of the British and French ministers to
establish the trade Of the two countries on the
principle ofperiect reciprocity completely laed ;
and have not the advocates of free trade in both