The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-06-28
From the ~. Y. Journal Of Commsree'
THE TARIFF IN CONGRESS.

The position OF the Tariff in Congress is con-
sidered by the friends of the protective system
as extremely dangerous. A TarlH OF revenue
based upon the principles agreed upon ten wears
ago. might probably be passed without Difficult
~ and " th moderate discrimination IN favor OF
certain branches of domestic manufactures
which are supposed 10 need II. Such Tarlf
we arr convinced from an extensive knowledge
of the wishes of the manufacturers, would be
generally acceptable TO them. But the Home
League and the Clay Clubs, generally inhu
enced more by political than business conslde
ralions have brought about an issue in the case,
of a very different sort. The Tariff bills which
have emanated from the Committee on Manu-
features, the Secretary of the Treasury, and
the Committee of Ways and Means, all Of
an ultra character. They are called revenue
bills and vet maRy of their provisions put
end 10 revenue, by prohibiting Importation
The protective duties are fifty, seventy five, and
an hundred per cent on the cost, and some OF
them more. They have been adjusted to suit
private interests at the public expense. in We
nv offensive manner. For instance, there is at
Mateawan a factory of fustans,-a stout cotton
article worn by laboring men. The various
qualities of the article sell from fifteen up TO
thirty or forty cents yard. BY the process OF
''deemed and taken" the foreign cost OF this ar
lice will be assumed as being greatly above the
real cost, that the duty will be made to be
from fifty 10 hundred per cent; the lowest
quality paying the highest duty In this way
the laboring classes over the whole country are
10 be taxed for the benefit of an influential man
uiacturer, who, instead of making his bu ,iness
profitable by industry and economy, calls on the
nation TO sustain him. This is unfair, and can
MOI be carried except by hard fight Such fea-
lures have made an issue which the manuiacu-
rers generally do not desire, and which they
should not have allowed. The manufacturers
generally do not wish for duties above twenty
five or thirty per cent. Why then should their
interests be put at hazard upon political con-
rCversy As the matter now stands, there is
not sufficient favor towards any OF the Tariff
bills which have been reported to carry them
through. Log-roling therefore, has been re-
sorted to. The Western Wings demand the
distribution Of the proceeds of the public lands,
and will only vote tor protective tariff upon the
condition that the Eastern Wings will put both
together. So both must be carried, or both lost;
and the latter seems now to be the probable re-
suit. Letters from Eastern Wing members OF
Congress speak with great anxiety about the
result. Thus does ultrasm overthrow itself;
and produce the extreme of that condition OF
things which it seeks most to avoid.
MIR. Simmons, of Rhode Island, we are told,
has arranged Tariff upon the plan of the Com
promise act, viz. for the purpose OF producing
revenue sufficient for the support of an econo-
mica administration but as general duty of
twenty per cent. on the home valuation will not
produce such a revenue, Mr.. Simmons proposes
that the rate should be twenty five per cent. AS
TO the difficulties of home valuation, he has in
some way obviated them, perhaps, by adding
certain per centum to the foreign cost. Such,
we are told, are the simple outlines OF the plan
which Mr. Simmons thinks would be right in
the case, and acceptable TO majority OF the
manufacturers. But to have the Tariff settled,
he fO Of he
though it would be as life from the dead to the
general interests of the country. The country
calls loudly for the settlement forever of this
long aguated question; while the politicians
are intent on heading off Capt. Tyler and each
other.