Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-09-30
LETTER FROM non. HENRY a. WISE.
r., mn ConsftfUe?fs.

As fine progresses, you may expect me to continue
tn. Sc letters occasion may require hAoN'
LITTER IRON Hon. HENRY A. WISE.
IL ma Constituents.
EJo,, Citizens: Several gentlemen Of tie Norm tmy
r,,erds, have written 10 requesting that "ona
enable Them 10 dsabuse The public mind of the North
md East in relation to my opinions upon the
tho Tariff They say thamy peculiar position IN Con
press induces the people OF The unon' Us WEI, Us =,
@ AVN district, Ia examine my actions on all great
,;o,l oDcsony that the Tariff question s one second
80 e IN inyortance before the whole country, ana 10
!, ,bev call my attention; thai impressions nnavoiaoie
h,h - the President and myself have been circulated
raol NJ the North and East this subject that am
onssen,el as being an ultra freq trade politician, I'M
pg 10 afford Incidental protection to the labor OF the
conni1y and in fact unwilling to adopt that mode "i
Isg,sl,:iou which will tend to permanent rercnnc
,c1al ITO tie ,rants Of the G9reramtnt economically al
mnis.cred -, ;,ho,,
,o,nog TO estimate the value of my poor opinions on
,h;s mr. any subject il being sufficient that some im
nort,nce IS attached them by others as well as by
yourselves vas about complying with this taltering
,oonos, he responding to the inquiry when reflected
thai had failed 10 obtain the floor the Iarih bills
lately pepatved and passed. that my vote against them
mint seem 10 give counenance to the misrepresenta'
lions alluded TO, that my opinions on pubic questions
belong first you, and that might make them known
YOU. therefore address to you the response which
a, first intended to address TO my correspondents ana
beg that they will receive this as my answer TO then'
| gladly avail myself of this opportunity of giving
YOU my opinions, without reference to those oi any
one else on the general subject of the Tarit re-
fer TO the Presidents message 70. his opinions, and
speaking for myself alone have openly declared IN
nv place in the House OF representatives, June ga,
sja that nerer ,ras and not knO,c what under
stand TO be oan ultra free trade Politician then
and there endeavored TO define, in short explanation
with nv friend Mr.. Cushing, OF Massachusetts. wha
understand rational free trade TO be, IN cohtradsl'nc
ton To The theories which have been pushed 10 w'io
and impracticable extremes on the subject A refer
ence to the debate see National lntelgencer, June
sd, for an imperfect sketch by the Reporter) will show
that | utterly rejected the idea OF e0SmopotHe tree
trade as visionary and mpracticablc. entertained
no, ven The ultimate end, which some look to IN the
future history Of nations, OF freedom ron indirect tax
alton, By means OF tariffs Of duties. regard indirect
taxation as The best kind of taxation, the easiest
imposed, and the most easily borne-as tending most
TO popular content and TO national wealth most
conducive individual cptcrprize and to the faithful
discharge of the high duties and trusts of Government
and as in fact necessary To the very existence oil CIVIL
ICED and powerful Governments in The world.
Taxes must be raised for The support of Government
in some form other Iii in vain 10 preach the doc
trine of direct taxation in ordinary times tor national
objects and purposes. 1t will do, as our experience
nroyes for corporation and State purposes, which are
com 2arave!y merely nunicpa, and nations must re-
sor, to it IN of war, but in ordinary times oil peace
the burden becomes odious and yrannica to be
dured TO the amount required for the Federal Govern
,nent At all events the subject is too far before this
time TO be discussed at this day. Ths idea of abolish
Jag tariffs Of duties imports altogether is the very
:aian Of free trade. am no u.tralst in that sense
We must have Tariff for revenue.
Eat short Of this ulopGn icea OF Tree trade, Just
discussed, is another 10 which do not subscribe
Some contend for perfect equality among naitonS in
respect 10 trade and claim best TO put all other
people upon The same footing with our own people,
and eyc.y nation the same platform with ourselves
This is inporsblc unless the people CT The whole
earth could be ANA ga:aed unde! one and The same
form Of Government. Our Constitution never con-
tcmpated such a chimera, but, the contrary, pro-
WOES that Congress shall have power TO CIRCULATE
commerce ~th foreign nations. This implies at
orca power of scii.proection. 1t is power of
tonal prcftcton in time Of peace in addition 10 the
power self defence q 81 arms in war; and against
the u.rusl al free trade, most heartily MAINTAIN this
uower and Ike right Of protection in THIS scise al oil
tunes ard against al uations. ii is apart from, and
may be exercised independent OF. ihe treaty-maklng
power vested in the Legislature Of the Union; and,
without saying u word for that most unwise and i'm
polite system called system ''of countcrraiDg and
retaiatory duties am decidedly, in general sense,
in favor of the exercise of this power in Congress 10
protect nation commercially, in time OF peace,
against foreign nations. therefore answered Mr..
| Gushing, that rot of those who would not
protect American interests against British French,
Russian or German, or any other foreign interests;
that as The nations of the earth constituted, there
was and is aud rius be inequality in trade between
them and an obligation of patriotism and the duty
of American Legislators preserve the balance OF trade
in our own favor, far as human wisdom do so,
| by prudent Laws. Thus far then, | am for Tariff
Of revenue and for The power to protect our own ma
tion to- G. between US and foreign nations.
All this promised, 10 the general question IN the
abstract and as foreign relations, lie, bring the
subject lone And my fellow citizens, il is here, here
q. home, where the subject throws away lis absrac.
tons, becomes practical and tangible, and may be treat
ed Of with the certainty Of definition. When It is
brought home Us aud 10 iDteres.s, ii is near
enough to be dyed closely and the moment that you
come treat it domestic and not J0rdga qnes-
tom the true doctrines of equality, the integbIe doc
Of free trade, present themselves, and am ar
| rayed their side The moment that we bring the
Tariff question home to ourselves TO our own citizens,
classes individuals, Masses sections and interests, un-
der The system of laws, yielding the support
and allegiance 10 Government III mutual right and de-
rendcnce, hoe arc 1cW find equality Of right TO pro
ttciio: TtqnS. AS between citizen and citizen, class
and class. interest and interest of our country,
there is universal and equal right Of protection TO all
This is the true doctrine OF free trade in land OF equal
rights. Fanatics, the subject, falsy lis doctrines,
and make them odious-but properly understood in
tins sense, none but ULTRAs IN opposition to them can
gansay their iGsce and their truth. Free trade,
;hus defined, asserts that, IN our own county, COM
merce, agriculture mining, and manufactures all
alike entitled 10 protection-ilat duties shall be so laid
TO nlnrc neither ior the bene c the others, and
shat all snail he equally iostered ana Cherished.
| The utfdiSiS of protection the other hand-for
there are ulrass both sdes-seem to Imagine that
there interests having equal claims to protection
with their interests, seishy insisting that all others
shall be taxed for their so!a p!o::. II they be of the
agricultural class, that commerce and manufactures
shall suffer most for their sake; if OF the commercial
caos that agriculture aaG manufactures shall be a:oge
,her taxed for their benefits if Of the manufacturing
class lat commerce and agriculture shall bear the
whole burden. The enlightened theory of free trade is
that they shall all bear their respective just proportions
OF the burdens laid for the support OF government.
These Mtrais,s IF protection go further. They not
onlY assert that all except their interests shall BE-
taxed for their benefit, but that the primary end of all
taxation shat be .er protection. Free trade denies
taxation shall be fors support Of Government and tic
dfenee Of ndi0na! tr;stencc. The theory arrays
section agans setton n,e,est aganst interest, class