Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-09-27

SPEECH OF THE Hos. LEVI WOODBURY., OF N. /
ON TIE TARIFF BiLI,-
Deii1cred in the Senate Of the United States, July 2o
; lSi2.-[ Coneiuded
On this subject legislation is often pushed to a n Ell
IRENE sometimes from self interest and the aoIlit
among manufacturers to combine more readily tina
farmers, and, by active mporiuny to influence NOR
the Legislation of Congress The grasshoppers unde
the trees (says Burke) keep up much more e1ctenef
and noise than the Sometimes, too, there is
doubtless, honest belief that Tariff instead of be
ing Qike all other taxes) burden, is blessing Tina
is one of the notable discoveries Of certain nodcr
sages among US. But Tariff cannot possibly BE-
general blessing when equally burGening all but yer
possibly blessing 10 the manufacturers alone, whe
unequal and they reap the benefit Of the tax, al the cos
of others. With them, il is regarded, therefore, as
sorsreign remedy for all political bruses-a pauacea 70
every socia! arrangement in the body polite.
Particular items, as strongly as the origin, resem
dances, and high average rate Of duiy indicate III
protective, rather than the financial character OF thi
bill. Here, Sir list Of lG prominent articles, who's
Duty when reduced to ad vaorem SCALE ranges frou
80 to $50 per cent and here is another lis, Of sever
articles, SIX Of which are above % per centup, ant
all above 90 SO ure numerous others in the bill
which have not taken the trouble TO compute and
hibt
| The value abroad, with The charges, are by law The
basis which duties assessed.
! By this mode, according 10 the custom house books
for $780, land prices, generally, are still lower now
the secretary nulseI SHOWS, III Iloust
of Representatives, at this session, that The proposed
duty kind Of cordage would yield over 100 pei
cent and on black pepper an equal rale and so down
ward after due allowance with various other articles
as set out in the table.
Can there be preence tha: any Of those, except q
few, considered by uxures, have been raised
so high for revenue? when, with those exceptions, all
made high articles of which theIe are rival manu-
lectures in this country and where many other I'M
porant articles, Of which rival manufactures exist
here, not raised high'
Ii the high duties imposed on the first to obtain
more revenue them, why is it not placed on the
others for the purpose Tie only honest an
must he that the right to discriminate IN this re-
is believed to exist and that it is proper TO exer
else it in such unequal hummer for The protection
Of the manufactures concerned.
If the bill Of 1898 did that, for such purpose, as
has been repeatedly admitted, this twin sister does II
in various respects If that had its mnimuns solely
for protection has this This, too, beside being, as
before shown, equally high in its average burdens is
equally high in many of its determinations; and
higher in some, such as cordage and cotton baggng,
when we advert TO the lower price Of the articles now
higher in carpetng and conl and kinds OF glass
in blankets wares, cutlery, and steel-hlgher IN hotl
sugars and silks when the diminished value IS regard
ed and without specifying several more, it is seven
and half per cent higher in the large class oil nom
enumerated articles
If il be lower, in few instances, it is general
rule either nonnally so, The specific duty being less on
the article because the latter s propoonably less
in value as in the of molasses-or, 1t really so,
in articles produced here, like tea or coife-and,
hence, no higher duty was desired by the mannaciu
rers for protection. Thus, whether it goes higher or
lower in reality it is still carefully SO, with view to
aid manufactures in all the material changes-making
immateria ones as to agriculture ana commerce,
to keep up Appearances without much beneficial add
ton thereby, either TO their protection or the real m
come Of the Treasury. concede that the naked poll
az thuc n discri m exist-but
not within the spirit Of the Constitution-not, as be-
fore shown advantageous for revenue TO exercise 1t IN
equally taxed without On G1 ttuibf f 5Aa aae
tnres-nu is it true 10 the letter or spirit OF Tue COM
,romse nor useful even sound manufactures them
selves much less 10 all the interests oil society com
biEed. say this from no hostility 10 laxalon lot Tue
economical support Of Government, but from host'ny
10 excessive taxation-unnecessary and unequal lax.
alton Nor am unriendly to due protection to manu-
features or any other useful pationbut unriendy
10 partul protectionto the protection which iavors
ONE ard neglecls or Expresses another-and as IN hs
cnse iayors manufactures, at the expense and INJURY
ne agriculture and commerce. 1t is exenuaon tor
This Injustice TO allege, often done, that the pros
nprily of one class in society rebounds TO the beneht
Of al-because that happens when one class IS
made pros erous by the undue taxation or plunder oil
other classes No taxation, unless unequal can ever
be advantageous to the pecunary interests OF any OF
the tax payers--snd, if 1t becomes so then, 1t is ad
only TO those directly burdened least, and
indirectly remunerated most. Who believe That,
il this Lac. was not the consequences 10 the nannac-
turers from Tariff like this, II would ne INVOKED,
even by them as q blessing, and not, rather, be de-
preca,cd by all as an evil, and prevented os lar as
is practicable consistent with The support oil pubic
credit and the ordinary operations OF government
But for this inequality, would not Others US mocn as
they desire il pass Are they not as patrolic 70
rruni suitable revenues, and as intelligent concerning
villa, promotes their interests as are the manu-
fnciurers: Nor can there be any thing IN the pre-
,ence that the farmer and merchant are, IN tis ON,
assisted by direct protection 10 haf the extent Oh ne
manu- taciurers. II, by some mysterious process, II
contprs eoua. ben. fits them by indirect protection,
why moi reverse The rule, and give TO them-thc most
largest direct protection, and 10 manu-
rnciurers the indirect, much eulogIZed But, SO
far from this every class sagucious enough TO know,
like the S:ochman TO his red herring, that u there IS
to be direct protection at all he mao oetef gel 10" ~
neiahbor IT. as some pretend, the former protective Ia
riff. as well as this besows direct protection on all,
like the promises of Tiltebat Ttmouse 10 do every
lining for every body would respectfully ask what be.
neft that kind os Tariff could have been to any OF
them, except 10 cause loss OF Inc whoie expense o.
administering it? IF A, the manufacturer, is project
cd bv tax of FIVE dollars B, the farmer, and nno
Their FIVE on c. the merchant and Is IS also protected
by tax If FIVE A, and another i've en- Y, ana ny
ia. of five on B, and another tive on q, VIII senue
me n inform, how much more prosperous ana weamny
either of them has become by the trapsacton Inc
farmer in particulars has not considered himself well
used in this system Of protection heretofore Allow
me 10 read on this few resolutions, said to have passed
at meeting cfhat class Of persons in Massachusetts
md though they are not disconnected, annoying
pe.i,lonng race, they sometimes resolve very firmly
and execute quite s,crnly at the ballot boxes:
"Whereas the general happiness and prosperity Of
the IT, s. must ever be intimately connected win Tue
condition Of our agriculture and whereas three ourthi
Of our whole rapidly increasing population must and
ever vii depend the products and profits Of The
farmer for the supply Of their physical wants. and The
means Of moral, religious, and intellectual improve
ment: ,ho
fisheries, to make them nursery. of seamen ana mas
given agriculture, which IS the pest hn's.
~ of frecmen; has appropriated millions anhua'y
protect commerce, and has given nothing to encourage
agriculture, the basis OF commerce; mas proceed
manufactures with heavy tariff, and eft
which consumes their fabrics, TO protect herself: =
"Rtsuleed, That 1t is the duty Of the General 20,
nj not to cxend protection aad encouragement
10 manufactures and commerce, unless she ad"p.s
ItnTn