Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-14

old tallacy iS atnrmed, tnat duties CdH v Z ldiui VI AefS
nue. and protection at the same time.
We do not deny the right or the policy of the Co
vernment discriminating on the duties laid on imports,
when their object is revenue. Undoubtedly, one COM
modify can often bear higher taxation, and thereby pro-
duce more revenue than another; but this can general
ly only be affirmed of commodities not produced IN
this country. fla article is manufactured here, 4
duty honestly laid for revenue on a similar article pro-
duced abroad, for revenue, must be laid SO low as TO
continue and encourage the Importation OF tue ioreigh
article; for so soon as the importation OF lhe iofeieh
article ceases 10 any extent, to that extent the duty
ceases, and revenue is, Of course, impaired. Hence,
protection to our manufactures, to any degree, oy I'M
port duties, must necessarily be at The expense oil re-
venue. and at the same time the expense OF the con-
sumers. The object of duties laid for protection, IS to
exclude the foreirn commodity on which the duty is
laid and revenue is dependent. The object OF duties
for revenue. must be rsrcnuc; and revenue can only re-
suit from importations of the foreign commodity, which
it is the object of protective duties 10 exclude. 10 pro
mote commerce., and obtain revenue tor The Govern,
mcnt, is the effect Of the one-to destroy commerce and
revenue is the effect Of the other. The two things are
incompatible. A tariff for protection and a tariff tor
revenue are utterly inconsistent, and directly opposed
to each other; and to affirm that they can be made con-
sistent in principle or practice, is sheer nonsense, whe-
Their it comes from Virginia or Observation-Disclosures
White House, or a manufacturer shop.
1t is from such views as those, that we deem the
Compromise Act, STIMULATING for an equal ad valorem
duty, a concession TO the manufacturers. a tarin iaio
strictly Tor revenue, ougnt 10 cohlain, VII many W
determinations against the manufacturers; that 's, the
duty, instead of being raised for their benefit, ought 10
be laid so low as to secure importations, on which reve'
nue. may be collected. Taxing the commodities they
manufacture as high in all instances as other commo-
dities, will undoubtedly injure The revenue on large
classes of production, and give them the entire monopo'
ly of the home market. But whatever are the advan'
tages this act secures 10 them, we, in common we be
lieve with the country, are prepared and wiling they
should receive. But beyond this the people will not go
What is the effect on the people who pay the tax sc
soon as the point of protection is reached, and revenue
ceases' The commodity must still sell as high TO the
consumer as the foreign article and the tax on 1t wouid
require, for otherwise the article will be imported
1t is not cheapened then to the consumer, and he
still pays the tax. But there is this difference IN the
operation: formerly, when the tax produced revenue
it went TO support his Government, and he in common
with all others, had the benefit Off it; but now, when i
produces protection, as it is called, it is either e1tin-
guished altogether, or it goes into the pockets oil the ca
pitalist manufacturer, whose production he consumes
Was this Government made TO levy taxes on the Peo'
pie to be paid to lordly capitalists and mighty jolnt-stocs
companies
we, too, are for discrimination in the duties 10 be lie
We'd through the customs, but il is discrimination IN
favor Of the peOPle-the laboring poor man. Relieve