The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-27
From the ". " Journals Of Commerce.
THE TARIFF IN CONGRESS.

The poston OF the Tariff in Congress Is con-
sidered by the friends of the protective system
as extremely dangerous. A Tariff of revenue
based upon the principles agreed upon ten wears
ago, might probably be passed Without aiiiiculr
". and with moderate discrimination IN favor OF
certain branches OF domestic manufactures
which are supposed 10 need IT, Such a Tariff
we are 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 intlu-
enced more by political than business consde-
rations, have brought about an issue in the case,
of very different sort. The Tariff bills which
have emanated from the Committee on Manu-,
features, the Secretary OF the Treasury, ana
the COMMITTEE of Ways and Means, are all OF
an ultra character. They are called revenue
bills and yet maay of their provisions put an
end 10 revenue, by prohibiting Importation.
The protective duties are fifty, seventy-hve, 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
Maleawan factory of fustians, "a stout COTTON
article worn by laborng men. Inc various
qualities of the article sell from hiteeh up 10
thirty or forty cents yard. BY the process OF
.deemed and taken" the foreign cost OF this ar
ticle will be assumed as being greatly above the
real cost, so 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
ulacturer, who, instead OF making his bu mess
profitable by industry and economy, calls on lhe
nation to sustain him. This is unfair, and can
not be carried except by hard fight. Such Tea
lures have made an issue which the manuiaclu-
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 bel put al hazard upon pol tlcal con-
uCversy As the matter now stands there IS
not sufficient favor towards any OF the Iarlli
bills which have been reported, to carry them
through. Log-rolllng therefore, has been re-
sorted to. The Western Wings demand the
distribution of the proceeds OF the public lands,
and will only vote for protective tariff upont
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 ulraism overthrow itself,
and produce the extreme OF that condition OF
things which il seeks most TO avoid
Mr. Simmons, OF Rhode Island, we are told,
has arranged Tariff upon the plan Of the Com
promise act, viz. for the purpose OF producing a
revenue sufficient for the support OF an econo-
mical administration but as a general duty OF
twenty per cent on the home valuation will not
produce such revenue, Mr.. Simmons proposes
that the rate should be twenty-tv per cent. AS
to the difficulties of home valuation, he has III
some way obviated them, perhaps, by adding a
certain per cenum 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 a majority OF the
manufacturers. But TO have the Tariff settled
would be death to many of the politicians
though it would be as life from the dead to the
general interests Of the country The county
calls loudly for the settlement forever of this
long agtaled question; while the politician:
are lnlent on heading off Capt Tyler and eac.
other. .~