The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-03-18

Inc duties on imports. 10 not intend 10 discus
that point. We Of the staple and exporting State
have long settled the queslion!o ourselves almp,
unanimously, from sad experience.
We know how runossy high duties fell or US
how they desolnled our cities, and exhausted on
section. We also know how rapidly we have bee,
recovering as they have been going off, in spite o
all the difficulties of The times, and the distracted
and disordcd state ofthe currency. 1t is now
fixed maxim with US, that there is not whit Of dif
ference, as far as We are concerned, between al
export and.import duty-between paying toll 90
! Ing out, or returning in--Or going down TO make
or returning back. II this be true, Of. which wt
have no doubt it is point Of no lille Importance
to US, of the staple States, to know what portion
of the duties will fall 10 our lo TO pay. We lurnsl
about three i0urlhs of the exports, with about two
! iillhI of the whole population. Four-iillhs Of five
millions, which would be the measure Of our con,
trhuton; and lwo-Gilhs of five millions is two NIL
! lions, which wOuldi be our share of the dstribu-
ton; that is to say for every two dollars we would
receive, under this notable scheme, we would pay
four dollars 10 the fund liom which it would be de-
rived
now ask, what does it amount 10, but making
the income of the States to the amount Of five mil
lions annually, common propery,to be distributed
among them according 10 numbers, or some such
ratio without the least reference to their reepec-
live contribution And what is that but rank agra
riansni-- asrarNnism among the States 10 di-
vide the annual income is us much ugraranism us
to divide property itself, and would as much so
divided among twenty six States a. among twenty
six individuals. Let me admOnsh the members
opposite, if they really apprchend the spirit Of
agrurianism as much as nigh; be inferred fem
their frequent declarations, hot to set The fatal ey-
ample here, in their legislative capacity. Remem-
Der there is but one step between dividing the IN
come of the States, aud that Of individuals, and
between partial and general distribution.
Proceeding step farther, in tracing consequent
ccs, another question presents ltsell--on what ar
lices shall the duty be laid On the free or the
ducd articles Shall they be laid loI revenue or
for protection, Is il not obvionS that so large nm
amour, as five millions, equal 10 one-thlId Of the
present income from that source, and probably not
much less than one-half what it will be at the end
of two years, cannot be raised without rousing
from lis sIunbcr the tariff question, with all liz
distraction and dnnger' Should that, however,
not be the case, there is another question connec-
led with this, that cannot fail to rouse IT, as shall
now proceed to explain
The ACT Of distributing the sales Of the public
lands among the States, of ITSELF as well rs the IL
mount ~ VIC WIN w I'oHNNI-
tate their credit. 1t Is the desired result, aud the
leading motive for the act Five millions annually
1.-THE amount assumed,) on pledge Of the public
domain, would, Of itself, be sufficient basis for
loan of ninety or an hundred millions Of dolIuis. if
ludciousy managed But suppose that only one
half should be applied, us the mems Of negotiating
loans abroad, IN order TO complete the old, or to
commence new works Of Improvement, or other OBJ
iects. ask, what would be the effect on our inl-
ports of negotiating loan in England, or else
where in Europe, Of to!ty or fifty millions, in the
course Of the next year or two Can any one
Doubt from past experience; We all know the
process. Very little geld or silver is ever seen in
hese negotiations. A credit is obtained and that
placed in bank there, or with wealthy bankers -
Bills are drawn in this country, and then sod 10
These are transmitted TO Europe, and |
he proceeds returned in goods, swelling the tide |
imports in proportion 10 the amount. The crash |
If our manufacturers follow and that, in turn, by |
against overlmpnHing and over ,
trading in which those who have been most active /
in causing II are sure to lon but will take special
care to make not the least allusiun 10 the real
source whence it flows. Is not that the case mt this
And can it be doubted, that with the !
increase Of the cause The clamor for protection will
until with united voices, the friends Of
he system would demand It's renewal If to this .
Ye add, that, under the compromise act the tariil
must be revived and renodellcd, who can look at
such Il concurrence of powerful causes without see
ng that it would be almost impossible 10 prevent
he revival Of The protective system, should the
scheme Of distribution be adopted hazard nolh-
ng in asserting that the renewal would certainly
0IIow; and, as this would be one Of tire most
prominent and durable consequences oilhat scheme
propose to consider i, fully, in lis most important
bearings.
One of the most striking features of the system
; it, tendency TO increase. Let it be once recOg-
used, and let the most moderate duties be laid for
and put the system in motion, and its
curse would be onward onward, BY an rrcs!i5e
impulse, as shall presently show, from past eX-
and hence the necessity of vigilance and
determined resistance 10 every course of policy
hat may by possibility lead to its renewal. This
tndencv to increase results from causes inhcrenl
nd insepnrabe from the system,and has c,nced il
elf by the fact, that every tariff for protection has
invariably disappointed its friends in the protection
nticipnted, and has been followed periodically,
lter short intervals, by demand for another tar
r with increased duties 10 Afford the protection
ninly anticipated from IFS predecessor. Such has
cen the result Throughout, from 1916 10 1928,
when the first and last protective tariffs were laid,
which propose now to show by very brief his
Drical sketch of the rise and progress Of that sys-
EN-.
The late war. with the embargo, and other res
ricive measures that preceded it, almost eypcll
d our commerce from the ocean, and diverted {
asst amount Of capital, that had been employed in
b, 10 the system. After he termination of the war
here was, on the part of Congress and the country
he kndcst feeling towards the manufacturing in 9
nr>l, accompanied by strong desire so 10 adjust {
he duties indispensable 10 meet the expenses Of :
government, and to pay the public debt) as 10 az {
nd them ample protection. The manufacturers
ere consulted, and the act Of 'l6 was modelled
, their wishes. They regarded tins a1ordihg sui
cicnt and permanent protection and |. in my then 5
snnt of experience as 10 the nature oGihis system.
id not dream that we would hear any more Of
lrilI. sill it would become necessary 10 re-adjust
he duties after the discharge Of The public debit
ain expectation Two years had not passed away I
cfore the manufactures were rs clamoruos as ever
,r additional protection and to meet their wishes, |
ew duties were laid, from time to time. with the \
lme result but the clamor still returned Till 1924
hen the tariff Of that year passed, which was be-
eyed on NIL Sides 10 he ample, and was consider
d. like that Of 10 10 be final adjustment Of the
uestnn N was undpr this innresSinu that the {