Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1842-05-28
THE TARIFF.

Within II few months The question Of a new
tariffon foreign productions and manufactures
has been literally mooted from one extreme
OF the Union TO the other. Though long since
convinced of the absolute necessity of the
adoption Of this measure by government, for
certain reasons We have been slow 10 lend it
our feeble support. But every day brings
fresh events, which urge tue body polite to
action and every event furnishes fresh sti.
null for the action Of every member of that
BODY. We skall, therefore, do our duty, and,
as far Ms our little influence extends, it shall
be made subservient to the distribution of such
facts as may go TO prove that a Protective
Tariff is as much needed by The nation to re-
lieve il from its embarrassmenis, MS il 10 by
the government TO liquidate It's debts ; that it
ia needed, not by one class of operatives
merely. but by all not by the manufacturer
of cotton goods alone, but by The groner Of ths
rnp materia1-rHE CorroN PLANTER. Yes,
it is true ; we need a tariff to protect the cot
Ipl HlHfiNNfs anu uHlCb VIC opfalh ~ ntJis NV
interest will be overwhelmed in hopeless
ruin.
This may be considered by some a start
ling proposition it is certainly somewhat no.
vel in this region. But we consider it 30
tenable, that a casual inspection of the natu-
raj and inevitable results Of a tariff on all
branches of husbandry and a*, it is believed,
will convincs the most dubious. This inspec-
ton we commence to-day, by grouping togs-
Their a series Of facts represented before tho
National Convention, that met in New York
on the 9Th ult. We alluded to the Conven-
ton and the able reports read before it, in our
last. From these reports we compile a Sc
ries of the most prominent facts they contain,
which, it would appear, might of themselves
be sufficient to convince all reasoning men of
the great expediency of the proposed tariff.
The first report before the convention, was
"oaa preamble 10 a tariff" 1t commences
by showing that previous to the adoption OF
the Constitution, the jealousy of the states,
arising from a desire in each to monopolize
foreign trade, prevented the establishment Of
a general tariff. On the first day Of the first
meeting of congress under the Constitution,
however, Immediately after the oath to sup,
port that instrument had been administered
to members of Congress, the House formed
itself into a Committee Of the Whole on the
state of the Union. What was done Lei
an extract from the aforementioned report
tells
"Mr. Madison then introduced his propo,
sitions to levy certain duties on imported
goods as the first and most important business
for their consideration. Out of these propo
sitious, after a discussion which lasted nearly
three months, was framed the first revenue
act of the United States. The preamble tx
this Act is in the following words Where
an, it is necessary for the support OF Govern
ment, for the discharge of the debts Of The
United States, and the encouragement ant
protection of manufactures, that duties be lalt
on goods, wares and merchandizes imported
This sthe second act passed by Congress
and it Immediately follows the act prescribing
the oath of Office to be administered to those
appointed to the execution of the new Go
yernment. 1t would be difficult to conceive
Of any cotemperaneoas construction OF tht
constitution entitled to more weight than on,
given under such circumstances, when TIN
motives that led to the adoption Of that instru
ment were still operating upon the communl
ty, and the men who had borne SO active
part in forming the government, were tn
very persons selected to administer it. Thl
law was approved by George Washington, Of
the 18th of July, 1859, the anniversary of gu
nation, which was again signalized by a pub
lie act, destined to render us still more indie
pendant Of Europe, and to confer on the o
try substantial blessings, scarcely inferior t
fthose obtained by the Revolution. After e
striking a contemporaueous construction {
the ~aational charter, and after the experienc
of hall century Of the uncxampled benefit
realized by the country from the encourage
snent afforded by this policy to domestic In
austry, it was scarcely to have been expec'
cd, that any doubts could be entertained as
tho power of Congress to promote America
manufactures by discriminating duties, or
pass laws of a retaliatory character with Il
view Of curtailing the market of those nation
who shut their ports against tbs most impo
tant predictions Of the United States-o
ATE! ihia; csa sas eqss.tationa1t7 Of