Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-07-22

WOulu balance TIE Olner, ana tncTeioie, VIC iSaoi'
would demonstrate the folly Of that species OF legIsla'
ton; because, in that instance, Government would IN
cur all the expense of imposing burdens on Inc great
branches of industry and consumption, without con
ferring any adequate compensation on a, b, Y, and NJ,
for being mutually and equally taxed, to promote The
incomes OF euch one separately. But II yni adont The
unequal system proposed by this bill, you VIII have
laid the groundwork to guaranty a very d'iferent resell
We are now gravely asked to compensate the ninnriac-
tirer Tor introducing ms workshops into the country
We are required not only 70 pay the foreign market price
for his goods, but requested TO bribe hun 10 set u? his
factories in the u. States, by offering to give HIM ~
or 10 per cent. more in the u. States, than he can gel
elsewhere. But it is urged, by way of Involvement
TO grant this request, that If we will agrTe by law Il
4 pay the American manufacturers sopc.3o or 4U pei
cent. more for their goods than we would have TO give
foreigners, the agriculturists would gain greatly by the
operation for, say gentlemen, 1t will aiord you a
!; ! home market for your produce. But If The farmers PAY
the manufacturers to purchase their produce, how are
they benefited : Moreover, a Tariff advances the
value oil the American goods ABOVE the foreign mar
ket price while the price Of the farmers wheat is re
gulaied by the European markets, or is no way en-
HANGED by your Tariff on wheat, for the reason thai
there is seldom, if ever, any necessity for importing
bread stuifs, on account OF our producing them in
great abundance, and at cheap prices. But if the
manufacturer would pay the farmer the same ad.
d,iional rate per cent. for his wheat OVER the Euro.
pean market price, as your Tariff law vii! force
The farmer to puy the manufacturer for his goods,
| Tie LUFTe ElinUl UE eDUJcth'HR n tUuIl DCuE1ils
+ conferred-if, indeed, such transactions deserve the
name. But how n planter or farmer can gain, by brlb-
ing Il purchaser to buy his produce at the foreign ma:.
kct price, cannot perceive. The Tariff doctrine re
solves Itself INTO this: NJ says to A., b, {, "Gentle.
mcn, if ven will agree 10 give me 80 or 30 per cent.
mo.c for what | manufacture than anybody else will.
WHY, | will do you the great favor of purchasing in re
turn your productions. But ! am to get them as cheap
az | can; and nn never 10 90 beyond the foreign rates
tnr bread siuns; and will also DO you the favor 81 set.
ting up my workshops close by your granaries.' Are
the farmers To be gullrd by such bold Yankeyism:-
STILL less can you satisfy the consumers generally tina,
they rain by being forced by law 10 pay higher prices
! for American manufactures on account Of your pro;cc.
live Tariff, than otherwise they would have TO give for
European goods.
We are nravely asked by this bill to compensate the
mauulacturer for introducing his workshops into this
country. We are not only required to pay the foreign
MAJ ket price for his goods, hut requested 10 brihp him
to SCI up his factories in the United States, by offering
him some 80 or 40 per cent. more in the United States
for his manufactures than lie can get elsewhere The
more we examine this policy, the more will we be
amazed at the gross injustice and monsirnns oppres-
SION which the accomplishing, selfish. and unscrupuiocs
protective Tariff. party propose TO ;ntiic', 10 the shape oi
an i~nsidious, indirect tax, on the community, for their
individual benefit. The proposition is 10 tax upwards
| of seventeen millions of people, in order to swell the
prohis made by a f. " thousand manufacturers. We find,
on examination, that A, u, {, together with the balance
ofthe community, are to be taxed by this bill, to increase
the wages and profits of Nj; SO as to enable the latter,
respecting tie manufacturers, to get for their produc-
tions some 80 or 80 per cent. more than they could were
they 10 sell their goods At a fGir competition with TO-
reirn productions. or, in other words, we ere asked TO
force the American people to pay, TOR all the gonds they
consume, 50 or 40 per cent. more than The SAME de-
scrirtion Of goods would cost them without your tariff:
end this Won rrnpose To do, by so imposing your taxes
that only The portion of the extra price caused by your
tariff TO be added to the foreign goods gees into the
public Treasury; while the Whale of the extra portion
of price added by the same cause 10 the A American manu-
features, goes into the pockets Of the manufactured
Anv bill having these objects in ew-nay a bill
desipned. as this is, 10 fitch the hard earnings from the
citizens of one portion Of the country, to aggrandize
those of anothcr-insead of being q bill "to regulate
commerce." ia in fact a measure clearly intended to
exact tribute from the mass of the community, for
| the benefit Of The few; ard therefore can lind no JUS
ti6cation i'm that clause of The Constitution giving
Congress power "lo regulate commerce = but v'o-
laies the spirit OF that clause which declares that
mo preference shall! be given, by any regulation OF
commerce or revenue, TO the ports of one State over
those oranntler." Though we arc positively prohibit
ed from giving preference to the ports of one State
over those of another, by any regulations Of commerce
or revenue; yet gentlemen have the hardihood 10 pre-
tend that. ne verthelcss, they have the power, not only
to give the preference to the labor and capital of one
State over those of another, but also 10 tax the one for
the 2 neft Of the either. The authority "to regulate
commerce" can only be exercised in applying rules or
modes Of ~disposing of, or exchanging, articles Gtter
tscy arc oro,cn or manufactured; and does not confer
the general discretionary power upon Congress tn tax
The people, to induce the growth OF manufacture Of
these articles of commerce: for il is clearly one thing
10 regulate the kiad of productions, and qrlle a dit
ferent thing 10 regulate the mode of selling them
There are particular and distinct rules for each opera
linn; ard il M more follows as 4 consequence, because
the Federal Government has the power 10 regulate
commerce." that we can therefore regulate the indus
try, labor, and capital of the States, Than it follows,
because the Slales have control over their several de-
partmen!s of industry, and thus may offer premiums
or other inducements 20 foster manufactures or ayr.
culture, that therefore the States too can regulate CON-
merce.
But neither the authority nor the expedicncy ofrais'
ing n sufficient revenue for the economical admins
,ralion Of The Government is disputed; but The mode OF
imposing taxes for that purpose has justly been u con
troverted question. The latter branch of the proposition
has, since I5l6, commanded the attention OF the abiest
statesmen cfthis country. AS the policy OF a measure IS
ola paramount consideration at all times-especia.y rs
! rtimpercept,bIy inclines most persons 10 scan the tede-
raj Constitution with an eye predIsposed To detect what
ever may sustain their notions OF expectancy, and 10
overlook or pervert whatever, on the other HAND, snG
gesis difficulties in the attainment OF their encs-l
shall endeavor 10 show, in the course OF my reihafas'
that a protective Tariff is not conducive to the gene
raj welfare" | shall attempt TO show the inexpediency
. of taxing some portions Of the community, not only
in common with the entire population, to support 10.
yernmen. but Of taxing them, in addition, TO a grea'
and qrieycus extent, simply to sustain those manuiac.
I tuners ana cdpitJIiSls "HO W tNe Shi, "'a"s' Z,
and en;erp7ize, 10 compete with foreigners, EVEN IN our
own markets.
Every citizen must view the progressive improve
r,en,s IN tie various branches Of manufactures in the
United States with the most lively satisfaction. No
department Of industry has been so much cherished,
nor has any SO l,,le cause to apprei'end injury. Ny
constituents, generally, are farmers and planters; and,
,hous,, they entertain no u~nfriendly feelings towards
the manufacturers, yet ! feel sure that they would n"'
desire me TO give any vote granting freinsire tonnt'rs
to any one class of producers at the expense OF all
others. As their Representative, will, TO the best OF
MY ability, rehtc, their views, and promote Their IN
terpst and the prosperity of the country. Cnaer es
isttng circumstances, | am wiling, SO Tar as l can, 20
tons and classes of this Contederacy; but do moi
conceive tina, | am authorized, by my vote to grant
~Drofuse Lorn,ies 10 my one class Of men, a, the es-
pense Of The great mass of the American citizens. Bal
!; By no means follows from this declaration, that am