The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1841-12-11


taken by capitalists at home, while the
same cause would have operated with
much greater force in the foreign market
For that reason the foreign market has
not been resorted to; and it is now sub
mitted, whether it would not be advisable
to amend the law by making what re-
mains undisposed OF; payable at a more
distsnt day.
Should it be necessary, in any view
that Congress may take of the subject, to
revise the existing tariff of duties, beg
leave to say, that. i'll the performance OF
that most delicate operations, moderate
counsels would seem to be the wisest.
The Government, under which it is our
happiness to live, owes its existence to
the spirit of compromise which prevailed
among its trainers arrug and discor-
dant opinions could only have been re-
consiled by that noble spirit of patriotism,
which prompted cancellation; and result
ed in harmony. In the same spirit the
compromise bill. as it is commonly called
was adopted at the session of 1S33.-
While the people Of no portion OF the
Unicn will ever hesitate to pay all ncces-
sary taxes for the supporter Government,
yet all innate repugnance exists, to the
imposition of burthens not really neces-
is.v 'oy that objects. In imposing duties
/ however, for the purpose of revenue, "a
r.gh. TO discriminate, as to the articles on
which the duty shall be laid, as well as
the amount, necessarily and most proper
ly exists. Otherwise the Government
would be placed i'll the condition of hay
ing to levy the same duties upon all arl-
Giles, the productive, Is well as the unpro-
ductlve. The slightest duty upon some,
might have the effect Of causing their i'm
porta.ion to cease; whereas others enter
ing extensively into the consumption of
the country, might bear the heaviest, with
out any sensible diminution in the amount
imported. So also the Government may
be justified in SO discriminating, by refer
ence to other considerations of domestic
policy connected with our manufacturers.
SO long as the duties shall be laid with
distinct reference to the wants of the
Treasury, no well founded objection
can exist against them. 1t might be es-
teemed desirable that no such augmenta-
tatlon of the taxes should take place as
would have the effect of annullng the
land proceeds distribution act of the last
session, which act is declared to be nope
ratve the moment the duties are incrcas-
cd beyond 20 per cent the maximum rate
established by the Compromise act. Some
olthe provisions of the Compromise act,
which will go into effect on the 30th day
of June next, may, however, be found ex-
cecdingly inconvenient i'll practice, under
any regulations that Congress may adopt
! refer more particularly to that relating
to the home valuation. A difference il.
value Of the same articles to some extent,
will necessarily, exist at different ports
but that is altogether insignificant, when
compared with the conflicts in valuation,
which are likely to arise, from the differ
enccs of opinion among,the numerous ap-
praisers of Merchandise. In many in
stances the estimates fvaue must be con
jectural, and thus as many different rates
of value may be established as there are
appraisers. These differences in valua
ton may also be increased by the incli-
nation, which, without the slightest impu-
tation on their honesty, may arise on the
part of the appraisers in favor of their |
respective ports of entry. recommend
this whole subject to the consideration
of Congress, with single additional re-
mark. Certainly and permanently in any
system of governmental policy are, in all
respects, emnently desirable; but more
particularly is this true in all that eff
iccts trade and commerce, the operations
of which depend much more on the Ger
tanty OF their returns, and calculations
which embrace distant periods of time,
than on high bounties, or duties, which
are liable TO constan! fluctuations.
Atyour late session, invited your at
tention TO the condition of the currency
and exchanges, and urged the necessity of
adopting such measures as were consis-
tent with the constitutional competency
OF the Government, i'll order to correct
the unsoundness OF the one, and as far as
practicable the inequalities of the other;-
No country Can be in the enjoyment of
its full measures prosperity, without the
presence of a medium of exchange, ap-
proximating to uniformity of value. What
is necessary as between the different ma
tons of the earth, is also important as be-
tween the inhabitents of different parts of
the same country; the first the precious
metals constitute the chief medium of cir
culation, and such also would be the case
as to the last, but for inventions compar-
ativcly modern, which have furnished, IN
place of gold and silver, paper circula-
ton. l DO not propose to enter into
comparative analysis of the merits of the
two systems Such belonged more pro-
perly to the period ofthe introductions of
the paper system. The speculative phil
osopher might find inducements to prose-