Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1842-10-08
Political.
THE TWO TRANspARENCIEs.
ssTAR1rr''-.sHENRY CLAY

THE TWO TRANSPARENCIES.
ssTARIrr"-.sHENRY Clay
It would be taking very limited view
Of tariff levied for protection, 10 consi
der it merely in its pecuniary operations
1t is not only question OF money, but o
liberty. In a monarchy,it nigh: be right
(if such form o! government can itself
be right that taxes should DO laid to ad.
minister to the personal luxury or state
Of an individual; or in an aris,ocracy, that
they should be laid for the support and
elevation Of a few. As the aristocracy Of
England. for instance, IS a part of the
system Of that Government-the corn
laws, however wasting and deadly 10 the
many, are congeninl with the princip eNf
the Government. But that principle is
not liberty. II is'not justice and equality ;
but, starting with the position tina, the
people are to be ruled, it ends in the prac-
tice that the PEOPLE are TO be plundered.
To administer Republic on such princi-
pies, must destroy it. No matter what
the form, the practical administration Of
a Government determines It's real charac-
ter, and must MOULD its destiny. II Re.
publics were always administered on their
real neutrality-suspicious. only for all,
and for all equal -,hey would be inn
mortal. But they have not proved to be
immortal on :hecaptrary, they have ever
been the most transitory Of all Govern
ments. Why 2 Because that deadly ten
dency, which makes monarchy or fos-
lers an aristocracyof the lew, perverting
the Government for their emolu,nenhnnd
elevation, has gradually put aside the gen.
eral welfare OF all in its administration.
Struggles to keep the substance, as we'll
as the form, Of a free, equal Government,
are made !. But when the people see chat,
through the superior article and combina-
ton Of the few, they struggle in vain.
they turn for relief to adespotism. 1t is
usual to trace the fate Of all republics ID
the corruption OF the people. Il would
be more rational to trace it to the corrup-
tors--not the corrupted; to the base and
unprincip!ed few, who, faithless to the
trust reposed in them by the people, use
their high station and superior endow-
ments TO deceive, betray, and, finally,
mock the people. They originate all the
schemes OF partial legislation, tolift them
selves above the multitude. They per-
vert government from its appropriate de-
sign, and convert it into I'M instrument Of
extortion. They, whilst decluining a
gsinst crowned heads, and the ribbons
and baubles Of NOTWITHSTANDING and
maintained entirely by the substance Of
tho o.,r,.v nt,t tho same
policy for themselves, by welding all the
tax operations Of the Government, to
wiring out OF the people contributions for
their emolument gand elevation. The
masses are, generally, in matters Of gov.
eminent, honest and simple-hearted. They
can gain nothing on the contrary, they
lose exactly in proportion as The few are
elevated by the instrumenlaity o! gov
eminent; for it is at their expense. When
government becomes partial in its admin
istration, they may be assured it is moi.
for their profit When practically ad-
ministered on the principles Of a despot-
ism, they may be satisfied that they will
not WELD the sceptre. lfan aristocracy
is to arise in the land, lattened on the spols
Of protective tariffs and banks, they will
hardly be the ordlings. They are the
victims Of all misrule, and can never Oh
tain anything by privileges and favorit-
ism in Government. These are for the few
only. All they scan possibly reach by
Government. is equality-an exemption
from legislation lors the few, at their ex.
pense. The great use Of Government to
themis negative preventive only. When.
ever government is aggressive whether
touching persons or propcrty-,he few
are in no dangsr;,he many suffer. Hence,
the less government, the lower the taxes,
the fewer their agents, the better for the
people. The principle OF a protective
tarif-that the people arc to be taxed
with single eye to the benefit Of the
manufacturcr--is fatal to our whole sys
tenn Of government, aud, ii persisted in
must accomplish its overlhrow.--Globe