Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1841-12-21
NEW sERIEs.-VoL. II. NO. 81.

The articles on which the duty shall be
laid, as we'll as the amount, necessarily
and most properly exists. Otherwise
the government would be placed in the
condition of having TO levy the same du-
ties upon all articles, the productive, a.
we'll as the unproductive. The slightest
duty upon some, might have the effect
of their importation to cease, whereas
others entering extensively into the con-
sumption ofthe country, might bear the
heaviest, without any sensible diminU-
tion in the amount imported. So also
the Government may be justified in 80
discriminating, by reference to other con-
siderations of domestic policy connected
with our manufactures. So long as the
duties shall be laid with distinct reference
10 the wants of the Treasury, no we'll
founded objection can exist against them.
Ii might be esteemed desirable that 40
such augmentation Of the taxes should
take place as would have the effect of
annullng the land proceeds distribution
act ofthe last session, which act is decla-
red to be imperative the moment the du-
ties are increased beyond 20 per cent,
the maximum rate established by the CON-
promise act. Some of the provisions Of
the compromise act, which will 60 into
effect on the Both day of June next, may,
however, be found exceedingly Inconveni-
ent in practice, under any regulations that
congress may adopt. refer more par
tichlarly 70 that relating to the home val
uation, A difference in value Of the
same articles to lone extent, will neces-
sarily, exist at different ports-but that is
altogether Insignificant, when compared
with the conflicts in valuation, which are
| likely to arise from the difference of opin-
! ion among the numerous appraisers of
merchandise. In many instances the eE-
timates of value must be conjectural, and
| thus as many different rates of value may
| be established as there are appFaisers.--
| These differences in valuation may also
be increased by the inclination, which,
without the slightest imPutation on their
honesty, may arise on the part of the ap-
praisers in favor of their respective ports
ofeutry. recommend this whole sub
iect to the consideration Of Congress, with
a single additional remark. Certainty
and permanency in any system of govern
mental policy are, in all respects, emin-
emily desirable, but more particularly is
this true in all that affects trade and con.
merce, the operations of which depend
much more on the certainty Of their re-
turns, and calculations which embrace
distant periods of time, than on high boun-
ties, or duties, which are liable to con-
slant fluctuations,
| At your laie session, invited your at.
| tantion to the condition of the currency
and exchanges, and urged the necessity
of adopting such measures as were con.
sistent with the constitutional competen-
ey of the Government, in order TO correct
the unsoundness of the one, and as far
as practicable the inequalities Of the 9TH
er. No country can be in the employ
ment of its full measure, Of prosperity,
without the presence ofa medium of ex-
change ,approximating to uniformity ofVal.
I ue. What is necessary as between the
different nations of the earth, is also i'm
portant as between the inhabitants of diff
.ferent parts of the ssme country; with
tho first the precious metals constitute
the chief medium Of circulation, and
such also would be the case as to the last
but for inventions comparatively moderny
which have furnished, in place of gold
and silver, paper circulation. do not
propose TO enter into comparative ana.
ivsis of the merits of the two aystems.--
Such belonged more properly 10 the pc.
riod of the Introduction of the paper sys.
tenn. The speculative philosopher might
find inducements to prosecute the inqui.
rv. but his researches could ohly lead him
to conclude, that the paper system had
probably better never have been introdu.
ced. and that society might have been
much happier without it. The practical
statesman has very different task to
perform. He has TO look at things as
thew are--to take them as he finds them
Ito supply deficiencies, and to prune ex.
cesses as far asin him lies. The task Of
furnishing a corrective for derangementS
of the paper medium with US, is almost
inexpressibly great. The power exerted
by the States to charter banking corpora.
tions, and which, having been carried to
great excess, has filled the country with
in most OF the States, an irredeemable
paper medium, is an evil which, in some
way or other, requires corrective. The
rates at which bills ofsxchange are nego.
tiated between different parts ofthe coun-
4 trv. furnish an index ofthe value OF the
local substitute for gold and silver, which
;s in many parts, so far dePFeciateds az
not n bo received, except at large dis.
count, in payment Of debt,, OF IN the e, P,lr- 2
chase of produce. 1t could earnestly be
Z S[as;rsd [ that every bank, not possessing
he msaps;of redsmptiOn,should follow the
sr.mpIe @ Of the late United States Bank oi
Psnnsvlvanian, and 60 into liquidation,
rather than by refusing to de 50 to CEN !