Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1842-03-15
FOR the STATE Sentinel.
TARIFF TAXATION.

debate. famous CDnnrOillire
carried through Congress. the friends OF free trade
saw in that measure some dawning of light. some
hope OF the final triumph Of those great principles
that they deemed 90 necessary 10 the proper admin
istrat.on Of government that had ~ the best
interests o the greatest number. But TINS prospect
il now somewhat darkened. In all the northern and
eastern states we hear the note OF preparation
man calling mon man; loud orat ons; secret and
open societies; huge meetings; the cry from manu-
ciurcrs OF distress forthcoming poverty and want,
staring them IN the flce-till the turmoil has reached
the Congress; and the strong basis which the
compromise was founded. seems rocking IN the blast
Nor Is this noise the only means now at work TOR
the destruction ofthat measure. Other causes have
operated. and still continue operate with renewed
f0rcc:-causes which have their origin in the acts Of
tie gnty relief party;-oi that party that rode into
power on the al-enduring stced Of Retreuchment
and Rei0rm;-uf that party whose first great act
was 70 call an extra scssioa 10 pass series OF mea-
sures practically wise. that under their wonder
wording influence. the AaLean stable OF democratic
corruption VAS To be cleaned IN day.
Fret among these great measures stands the Dis
tributi0n Act--an act which was 10 GIVE them
sistless Influence over the American peopls-f3r by
It's provisions, no less sum tnan three millions OF
dollars Is app3rt oned among the several States
bonus Tor good behaviour. These were the thirty
pieces Of silver that were to purchase for them the
free ION Of thought exercised by great body OF
ms WAS the sop that Was to quiet the cerberus 81
rlOted
But luckily. tins measure has had another effect,
winch When iuliy known, Will We trust make Il re-
col upon is authors with unlocked for force ,r
It is the want OF this very money that viii lead that
party 10 listen 10 the CRY Tor the alteration of the
Tariff They have thrust their hands into Uncle
Sans pockets, aud like kn ghts OF old, have thrown
ont largesse to the people to gam their voices
They have insultcd the en ghtened OF the free
democracy by undertaking to bride them to silence
/ by miserable pttance, and arc now preparing to
replace the money they have squandered. by iud-
rect taxation, that is, by raisug the tariff How
else the great deficiency occasioned by this mea-
sure, and other needless Expenditures, be met! D-
rect taxation would be too bold an undertaking for
these weather trimmers. The question. why Is this
direct levy made would be Immediately as ked.
But this can be indirectly and silly drawn from
US by tax upon the consumers IN the old shape O.
a tariff.
!, is the nsidiousness Of the measure. and the
difficulty Of seeing lis operation, that recommends
these tariffs as forms of taxation.
If a man is openly stopped in the highway and
his money demanded. he knows II, is prepared for IL,
and defends II the last; but II his pocket IS slly
picked, though he may the end discover his loss.
vet If he Is not aware that pckpockets are about he
may never lag il to its trne cause.
WAC among tins great body OF consumers can tell
how tins increased tariff vii operate on hlm Yet
that 1t will operate, and that most onerousy sus-
ceptibie of the clearest proof. 1t needs very
clear penetrating vision discover that If at one
rate Of duty wool.en goods can be bought at three
dollars yard and that by increased duty the
price alters five, that the difference tax upon
the consumer yet if a captation tax of two dollars
were placed upon every mln IA TINS State for the
purposes Of general government, cutlery would be
raised loud enough to frighten the tax layers at
" ashngton.
Take again the common articles Of boots and
shoes, the price for common boots averaging 81 a
pair; vet superior boot M ht be furnished fthcre
protection.
There is no man. however. who at the present
time VIII not defend tax upon imports FOR the ne
ccssary purposes of revenue to support the govern
incn; yet what light can be sufficiently strong or
glaring set lis true cai1r- the conduct of
that party that, after having wastel the peoples
money in attempt at bribery. would now fch 1t
from their pockets 10y indirect taxation;-of that
party that, overlooking the immense interests of the
CONSUMING classes, would legisate solely for the
manuficturins;-that, looking out the broad field
OF the United states, not It's vast agr'cu turll
population actively engaged IN the production of the
pccessaries OF life. noi-elessly To be sure, but
and hears only the small class Of uvergrown manu-
fac,urers busily engaged indeed but loudly c!tnor-
ing orProfecon, It their very existence depended
upon it, til their complaints i'll the and dire
the measures OF government.
his cry for protection IS always raised whom
seflnterest prompts to IT.. No set of men salts
fed with the profit made in any particular Inc o.
L.l,aess, when that profit can b.. increased Their
y feeling Is well described by the answer of tie
wealthy Jew, who still continuing IN business after
{ the acquisition of immense property, being
asked what amount he thought would satisfy min'-
graspng avarlce. promptly replied. "a little more
IL Is this little more feeling that makes the manu-
ftcturer, who ~ the New England States, can aut
DIS pay his agent higher salary thin the public
officers of those States receive. and then divide.
swelling NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. loudly against the re-
ductiun oi the tariff, and demand q! the government
$ further protection.
II is this aristocratic manufacturing interest that
. having got the OF the Dominant party
prompts 10 that species ct legislation which tends L
make the rich richer, and the poor p0orer-thai
says to the agriculturist, YOU must pay these adj
vanced pTces;-ior whose profit Clearly not fol
= your own; for whose then the answer is plain
partly for the government, chiefly for the manuflc
turer. We say chiefly for The Manufactured, for It
can be shown that by low duty the Consumption
Is so much increased from the reduction OF the price
bringing 1t within the means OF greater number o
people,l a 10 pay greater revenue to government,
IN the end, than could BE- Obtained by high duty
Further, the whig party having 81 embarrassed
the country by improyidcnt legislation, more
fivoraOly disposed than ever To listen - tue aivo
Gates OF protection because THIS OF money is
now strongly felt. And those measures loud '
called Tor by their friends of the 'home leagues, are
( exactly those Which their owa acts have made ne
. cessarv Tor the support of government.
! high tariff vii b, tae c0aseqIenre-f1r though
a low tariff might, on average. ior series u
wears bring revenue yet. their i flr
the well Beng o. the PEG lie, the end of leg
lation. but slnpiy t. money for immediate ne
ccssity;-tuture governments u look out TOR them
selves. Daa ririmus. uirrm1s." = the m1iio;-
sud an increased duty and indirect ,tson Will b..
the fruits OF Tie great reform revolution.
shame on any party which welid thus iondie and
bribe with one hand. whle II Indirectly Furnishes
! with the other.