The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-08-26


for such course now just as imperative
as it would he then!
3. A third objection remains 10 be urg-
ed, which would be sufficient, in itself, TO
induce me to return the bill to the House
with my objections. BY uniting two sub
lects so incongruous os Tariff and Disiri-
button, it inevitably makes the fate Of one
dependant upon the other in future con-
tests Of party. Can any thing be more
fatal TO the merchant or manufacturer than
such an alliance What they most of all
require is system ofmoderate duties, so
arranged as TO Withdraw the Tariff ques-
ton, as FAR as possible, completely from
the arena Of political contention. Their
chief want is permanency and stability.
Such an increase of the Tariff, believe
to be necessary, in order 10 meet the econ
omical expenditures Of government
Such an increase, made in the spirit Of
moderation and iudicious discrimination,
would, have no boubt, be entirely salts
factory to the great majority of the Amer
lean People. In the way Of accomplish
ing measure so salutary and so impcra-
lively demanded by every public interest,
the Legislative Department will meet with
a cordial cooperation on The part Of the
Executive. This is all that the manuiac-
turer can desire, and il would be burden
readily borne by the people. But | can
not too earnestly repeat, that in order to
be beneficial it mus! be permanent,
and in order to be permanent it must
command general acquescence. But can
such Permanency be justly hoped for il
the Tariff question be coupled with that
OF Distribution, as TO which a serious con-
ilict Of opinion exists among the States
and the People, which enlists in its support
a bare majority, if indeed there be ma
lorlly, Of the two Houses of Congress
Whist permanency or stability can attach
10 measure which, warning upon itself,
gives away fruitful source Of revenue at
the moment it proposes a large increase
Of taxes upon the people Is the manu-
facturor prepared to stake himself and his
interests upon such an issue
know that it is urged, but most erro-
neously in my opinion, that instability is
just as apt to be produced by retaining
the public lands as u source of revenue as
from any other cause, and this is ascribed
to constant hneiuaIioH, as il is said, in
tie amount Of sales. If there were any
thing in this objection it equally applies to
every imposition of duties. The amount
of revenue annually derived from duties is
constantly liable to change. The reguIa-
tons of foreign governments, the varying
productivencss OF other countries, periods
of excitement in trade, and great variety
Of other circumstances are constantly aris-
ing 10 effect the state Of commerce, foreign
and domestic, ard of consequence the
revenue levied upon It, The sales Of the
public doninionin ordinary times are reg
ulated by fixed laws, which have their ba-
sis ina demand increasing only in the ratio
Of the increase of population. In recur-
ring TO the statistics connected with this
subject, it will be preceived that for Pc
riod Of ten years proceeding 1884, the
average amount Of land sales did not ox-
coed 82,OO0,000.
For the increase which tool, place in
1875 and 6, we are to look to that Pc
culiar condition of the country which grew
out Of one of the most extraordinary eX-
elements in business and speculation that
have ever occurred in the history Of com
mefcc and currency. 1t was the fruit Of
wild spirit of adventure engendereA by
a vicious system Of credits, under the evils
of which the country is still laborlng, and
which it is fondy hoped will not soon re-
cur. Considering the vast amount ofinyesi-
menIs made by private individuals in the
public lands, during those three years,
and which equallcd $40, 100000, equal to
more than twenty years purchase, taking
tho average of sales Of ten preceding years
| it may he safely asserted that the result o.
the public land sales can hold out nothing
to alarm the manufacturer with the ide,
Of instability in the revenues, and conse
quently in the course of tho Government
Under what appear to me, therefore
the soundest considerations of public poll
cy, and in view of the interests OF every
| branch Of domestic industry, return vot