, 1841-04-10
FAXES ON

TIE wing orators wish to move the subject
rf a high protective tariff very gently to be-
ein with. They talk very s~peciouSIy and
smoothly about a tax upon Injuries, such as
wines. silks. Vr. unl"r the prefence that
such articles are used by the rich. and that
the burdens would fall upon shoulders able
to bear the load. This is most abominable
hypocrisy, and they who urge the plea, know
it to be so. 1t isa shameless attempt to
dupe the unsuspecring a little longer into
the support of federal measures and federal
men. We give below some interesting re-
Elections upon this subject.
TAXES on LUxUarEs.-It seems 10 have
been conceded on both sides. in the great
debate that has occupied the United States
Senate, for a month past, that Il distribution
Of the proceeds OF the public lands, would
render n read uStinent of the tariff necessa-
rv. To ease the annunciation Of such n
Il measure. the whIg senators declare tfat If
my new taxes are to he imposed. they will
he made To fall chiefly upon wines, silks and
such other Injuries rs are not generally con-
N'ilNh'iC' Nv "IItl mt lfllIltu TIT tblDItI
classes. They argue that the duties laid up
on luxurles would he paid exclusively by the
a~f1uent members of society.
This IS not SD clear; it is not evident that
n tax upon wines, for instance would be left
only BY the rich. Tariff laws nave an in
direct operation, which is quite rs important
as their direct influence. The first effect Of
4 duty. is TO diminish the importations Of the
article upon which it is placed and enhance
lis price 10 the consumers; hut the second eE
feet Is 10 diminish the expectation Of those
articles ot domestic production by which
foreign imports are purchased or paid for
Commerce, being Il reciprocal interchange OF
commodities among nations. whatever de-
~creaSes the amount of their imports. neces-
sarily dIminishes the amount of their ex-
ports. The poorer classes. therefore. are AZ
iectcd by 4 tax on wines. in their character
OF producers. If not rs consumers.
Admitting, however, for the present, that
the consumer OF an imported ariiclepIys the
duty upon IT. we have not vet exhausted the
argument. There are higher than the mere
pecunIary consequences involved 1 IN the mat
ter. We mean. the moral and social effects
OF Il new tax. A duty levied upon wines
may not reach the pockets of the poor. hut
it may touch their persons. 1t may have i'm
Portant bearings upon their physical well he
ing; upon the tastes they indulge and the
habits they form.
No nation has suffered more from the use
of inioxicating drinks than the United States.
Is II because the people Of this country are
prone more than others 10 in'emrerancc. or
because circumstances have compelled them
to adopt the strongest liquor rs their ord.na-
~ social beverage! Travellers tell Us thar
IN those nations. where the lighter kinds oi
wine can he produced by The great body OF
the community. gross instances of int"xica-
ton are rare. IL is certain that very few al
the people from those nations who emigrate
la tins country. h"c"rnr abandoned sotS. rs
is often III" case With other foreigners. The
reasons Is t" hr found in the fact that having
Turned better tastes in their youths. they
have fewer temptations 10 the more PERM
cinuS kinds Of indulgence. We believe.
therefore. If the lighter wines were made
rhraprer among us, there would he less in
t"v'cati"n and consequent immortality
". Y. EpeniAg Past.