Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-23

licles, which, by the aforesaid acts OF ltuh july, i"-'
are subject to a less duty than twenty per cent.
. IL will be seen, however, that this provision con-
ta;ns a second restriction, by limiting any revision MADE
before ls42. for an increase of the tariff, TO only such
articles as pay less duty than twenty per cent.
z. The next and third restriction on a revision is, that
,bo,oh one NAV be made before 1Si2, for purposes Of
revpnue. if. when increasing the duties, it be confined
10 articles paying less than twenty per cent, yet 1t
shouId not raise the tariff on those above that rate, even
for revenue, much less probably Tor any other purpose.
The close of the 9th section seems 10 be express, that
The duty on articles paying n less rate than twenty per
cent. il changed before 1Si2, shall he altered I'm such
manner as not to exceed that rate.
What would be deemed thc proper disposition Of this
Limitation, if a duty Of twenty per cent. on all imports
would not Weld sufficient for the Legitimate purposes
Of revenue, must be settled when the case shall arise.
But it is believed that, with proper economy, there Is
no likelihood Of such a case ever occurring IN a perioo
of peace.
4. Another restriction supposed TO have been intend
ed is, that if a revision be made to operate al'er 'une
Both. 1912, instead of before, still, as a general rule,
none of the duties shall be then raised above 81 per
cent. Thus, the close Of the oh section provides thai
sall imports on which the list section oil TINS act may
opera,c, and all articles now admitted to entry free
| from DUTY, or paying a less rate of duty than 20 per
CON, mi roJorem. before the said Both oil June, 1916.
From and after that day, may he admitted to entry sub.
iect 10 such duty not etcfedtng ~ per cent. al ratorcm
as shall be provided by law A change could then
be made at pleasure from 20 per cent. downwards to en-.
Tire freedom ITOu any iHI"Ss IVA ho ihIiSaoS huS ~
be permitted to 20 above that rate.
Indeed. the inference would seem to be that the conf
promise was intended to prevent any duties from being
assessed, even after 1912, exclusively for the purpose
| Of distribution, or protection, whether below or above
twenty per cent. in amount. Because a clause in the
Sd section provides, that after 1912 "duties shall be
laid for the purpose of raising such rcrtRuc rs may be
necessary TO nm economical administration OF the 10
vernn.ent, y but is silent as 10 recognising or SANCTION
ing an authority to do II for any other purpose. Inc
-. z-I nun .,oa thn .rrnn nhlppf n Hrgnlnp
any power in The Constitution 10 lay taxes and lmposis
And it would be difficult 10 find, in a limited grant OF
powers, like what is contained in that instrument Tor
LAYING imposts, Il warrant 10 impose them for other and
distinct objects, and espccially, II the operation OF such
a measure, apparently under an assumed authority,
and ON n subject so delicate and momentous to man.
kind as taxation, should tend to enrich particular class
IS or sections, at tie expense OF others. III run,
the Tariff is as much a system OF taxation as d iaho
tax, 4 stamp tax, or n direct tax oil any kinu anu Us
chiefly distinguishable from them BY being more sub
lie and less obnoxious III its form. The conilning OF
all duties, hereafter, to a low rate, was, therefore, de-
sirable to the great mass Of the people, because u was
combining taxes to n low rate. 1t was further supposed,
without doubt, that though comparatively low, tilcy
would Weld. with the other ordinary receipts, IN am
ME supply of revenue for such an economical! admins
ration as is contemplated by this section OF the act
1t is also probable, that many sound principles OF
political economy and n mutual desire 10 arrange per
manently the Tariff controversy, united 10 persuacc
CONGRESS-. u ONLY % IcuuCt tI ouiiaS ibh14S 49,
to provide that they should always be kept lower
II must have been foIeseen, that this would avoid
the useless yacllation, if not folly, of first diminishing
all The duties 10 twenty per cent. by lsi2, with q view
afterwards of again Immediately raising them above II.
| 1t was obvious, too, that by keeping the imposts more
reduced, the tariff would operate more advantageously
10 free trade, and the procurement of reciprocal lasors
abroad. By contining, in substance, any future change
to purposes of revenue alone, and within twenty per
cent. instead of a wide range of thirty, fifty, eighty,
and even more, at times, previously IN practice, and
frequently for protection, 1t would likewise impart
greater permanently and prosperity even to manufactu-
ring, and, with thai, to all other descriptions oil indus
try. 1t is we'll known, from recent experience, that
such stability in our system OF duties woui1 be better
Tor the manufacturer, US we'll as the merchant, and the
community at large, than even n higher rate exposed to
constant changes, because in the for.aer case intelli-
gence and foresight could make moro accurate calcula-
tons for the future. A more uniform thrift, 4 more re-
gular reward 10 industry, and 4 higher tone Of moral
feeling, would every where take the place OF constant
fluctuations, mere gambling speculatIons, and a dan
gerous overaction from renewed hopes Of high profits
often so very fallacious. Business and the currency
would then be steady, and be regulated, rs they should
be, rather b. the great laws of trade, than by banks or
politicians. Nor is this Permanency injurious TO the
Iaborer and artisan any more than TO others as all
trades and regions of this country are open TO enter
prise, and 4 larger share here, than abroad, Of the IN
como in any one branch of business must, and should
uniformly 90 TO wages rather than capital, or the work
! man Will, under our Tree lnslttnlionS, q0it Tor more III
cratiye employment. On the contrary, IT an unusually
large share go 10 him, for a time, in any particular pur.
suit or place, others will soon rush in, participate, and
reduce it by competition even below the average. Uni
formity and steadiness are, therefore, not injurious to
any, though engaged in labor or manufactures, but use
tul 10 all, except the mere specializing classes.
Two other restrictions exist in the Sd section Of the
compromise act, which seems to have been intended
more especially for the benefit Of the manufacturers ant
of the revenue.
). One is, that after June, 1912, all duties on i'm
ports shall be collected in ready money, end al credits
now allowed by law in the payment Of duties, shall b.
and are hereby abolished" This was regarded at tina
time, as a change likely TO be very favorable 10 The ina
nufacturing class, by making the twenty per cent. II
cash operate, virtually, as a higher protection than .
per cert. on a credit as now, Of three and six months
without interest. In point of fact it was, also, a provi
sion, prophetic as TO evils to come, under an excessiv
credit system, and will be possessed Of much import
ance in curing them, and in securing the Government
and through 1t, the community at large, against losse
by credit TO merchants fer duties, and by default of Col
l%ectors, District Attorneys, and Marsbals, caused b
indulgence from them in collecting bonds tor dutles.-
After June, 1912, the importers Of goods will, in this re
spect, stand on the same foundation with the purchaser
of public lands. While no complaint can then be mad
by either, of favor or discrimination, TIE revenue wi
thus be rendered much safer, and public and privat
morality improved by the removal OF one great sourc
Of speculation and bankruptcy.
6. The other restraint requires the duty, after Isl:
" imPoocu III lC Sdluc VI tUc mtICiuHoise at ~
port arhere the same shall be entered" This will rendc
the twenty per cent. still more important to both til
D manufacturers and the revenue, by being more secur
I against frauds and eyasions, and being another virtua
increase of duty on the same articles; as the latter ar
usually worth much more here than abroad. Whethe
J the value Of them here being not uniform at diferer
e ports, would, if taken rs the guide in assessing the du
! ty, be justly open 10 any constitutional objection, it
t not deemed appropriate on this occasion TO discus,
$ From these various considerations the following deduc
tons are made:
a Tha, the present tariff laws should be as little disturb
, ed by any revision as possible, consistent with the pub
lie wants, and an adherence to sound principles; tina
changes should be made chiefly, if not solely, for pur
poses of revenue; that these changes, when raising th
duty, whether operating before or after July !, Isl.
, should, as a general rule, be confined TO articles nc
! paying a duty as high as twenty per cent; that excep
in extreme cases, it should never raise them above tina
rate; and, lastly, that the existing provisions for the pay
ment of duties in cash, and the assessment of them oil
The value of the merchandise at the port of entry afe
1912, are too important TO be disregarded.
A princip pie deemed useful in carrying out these views