Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-07-29
coNGHESs--ed Session,

Ny lovc ;'r thee aud iil'pe lcr me-
TWENTY-SEvENTN CoNGnESS--2d Session.
SPEECH OF MR. BURKE, 81 Nrw llAnrsmIEf,
OE THE TARIFF BILL,
Delicered IN tie III II Representatives,, Jay ;, lol2,
In Committee of the Whole the stat ofthe Union,
(Alr McKennan, Of Pennsylvania, being IN the
Chair,)
Mr. BURKE rose ard said:
Mr. Chairman: | propose 10 submit few remarks
upon the bill now pending before the Committee, with
the view of explaining 10 my constituents some OF the
reasons which will govern my vote upon lis several
provisions, and on lis final passage.
represent, in part State winch has very respect
able pita invested in OF the branches of ma
nufac,Gre which this bill proposes to protect There
are, in New Hampshte, fity.e'gat cotton mills run
nng l93l.3 spnd!es winch IS Invested n capital Of
S5523, BOO winch produced, III ~:i and $50, Sii3,
0 IN value Of manufactured roud< and in which bust
ness & 9o hands were employed There alSo in that
State sixty SIX woollen manufactures, in"olvlng ca
pal OF S7i0&il, and producing $193,1>', IN value
OF manufactured goods in which business e!'3 hands
are employed. There other manufactures carried
on in the State of New Hampshire, which will be al
fected by the bill pending before the committee.
Blu, the two principal manufactures OF cotton and
wooen are sufficient 10 sho~ that that State has
important interests be affected By the operation OF
the bill now before From these facts it might be
inferred that the people OF New Hampshire would
be IN favor OF the doctrine Of pr0'ceticg. But New
Hampshire has another interest affected more or less
2ai tae5oSt-a mach more important interest than all
the other interests ccmhurd annual production Of
which So, 1030Go, involving cartal much larger
amount, and emi loving niae ientAs Of Acr ropua-
ton. This may be regard as antagonist interest,
IN some .espec,s tie manufacturing interests; mas
much ;axcd eay.ly fer the support OF the latter,
and receives but nte AID from protective legislation
In respects, II is The AID ard auxiliary OF the ma
nuacurng interest," mutually giving and receiving be-
nefits from them.
do douh. tina, the manufacturers would receive
some benefit from the bin upon your table And am
quite positive that the agricultural! interest would sui
fer still more IN the increased burdens and exacons
which the bin imposes upon it, But Z large majority of
the people of ~ Hampshire Democratic in their feel
ings ana principles They the friends OF equal
rights. They contend itT simple and plain Justice IN e
glslaton. Thry DO not ask .! you 10 enrich them at
the expense OF others do they wish 10 have you
enrich others at their expense Hence, they opposed
the doctrine Of protection: lch they understand
he, taxing the industry end capital OF portion Of
the community doing prc:a5i, business, for the be-
neit OF the industry and capital II another portion OF
the community dong losing business But while
they opposed 20 this doctrine, they willing to
submit 10 all necessary taxation for the support of Co
vernment. The people of New Hampshire, if un.
ders.and their feelings opposed 10 taxation for pro-
ffcti0R, but not 10 taxation for TtrcRue
With these preliminary remarks, designed 10 ode
fine the position Of large majority OF my consttu-
ents, proceed to The discussion of the question
before the committee. Under the disguise Of bil!
protesting 10 impose asgs,cia cf taxation for revenue
II is in truth, designed or the protection Of certain
branches of "homc Industry use the adcoptandam
phrase OF It's advocates, who, IN their zeal for the IN
terests o. the millionaire proprietors of the loom and
spinning jenny, forget that vastly greater interest par
ceed out in small domains among the farmers of this
country, involving in the aggregate capital Of ST.,
500,000Go0, and producing annually the immense
amount Of 81 ,200000,G00.
Under this BILL therefore, it viii be in order to dis
this subject Of taxation in any and all lis forms
shall avail nysei of his privilege
All admit that organized Government is necessary
for the protection of society. The society community
nation benefited by the Government, must there
fore support IT. and It must do II by taxation, IN some
form other The great problem TO be sovedin con
nexion with taNatoa what form Of taxation is best,
cheapest, Us ai.d equal in It's operation:
whether indirect or direct taxation; Most Govern
mcnts are, IN whole part, Eauiained by indirect
taxation, or that SYSTEM which raises lis proceeds b;
duties upon imports. II is resos;cd to by fuancie,s,
because 1t is pujd by The people in the form Of price
upon the article which II IS imposed Under this
form of taxation the great % the people canno,
easily distinguish between The tar, and The actGa ccSi
OF the article they purchase and 90 not know how
much tax they pay. To illustrate: pound OF brown
sugar costs n, The place where il is purchased four
cents when II arrives IN tins country, Il is taxed two
and half cents per pound, in the form OF duty, 10
which is to be added ana half cents per pound for
profit TO the merchant AID retailer, the original ccst,
and one cen, profit the duty. ard thus, when 1t
reaches the consumer ii bm at least nine cents
pound. ThIs he pays under the form O! price not
thinking that lie Is paving two and hal. cent tar 20
the Government. and cent prottto the merchant
and retailer on that very duiy-making, III the whole,
three and half THIS is adirtct taxation, and
is deemed The best and leas; Objectionable SYSTEM by
all statesmen who have neither the candor, honesty.
nor courage 90 the people and tell them how much
they mus, pay for the support Of the Government
This class OF inancers prefer 10 cheat the people on. OF
The necessary Tor the support Of Government,
under the form of prize upon the articles they
instead OF gong 10 hem ard telling them precisely
how much money is wanted, and how much they must
pay.
Indirect taxation, taxation by mposs, operates
upon copSunpti0a-upon articles eaten, drunk, and
worn BY the people. II IS, therefore, PER coptta tax
as far as il can be; and under such system every
person. rich and poor, pays nearly the same amount.
Direct taxation is the very of indirect tax.
alton. II is taxation upon property, not consumption.
Under such system of taXaiion every man pays, as
nearly may be- (or system opportunities 10 exact
ustice upon the amount of property he owns and not
upon the quantity and value of the articles he eats
drinks and wears 1t is, therefore, Just and homes,
system Of taxation, under which every man knows
how much he pays and for what he pays. 1t is always
called by its right name viz n TAN, and not PRICE
Il deceiycs nobody.
There is neither equality justice in the indirect
system of taxation. Under II, the farmer with pro.
pertv of 81 900, and family of len persons, pays as
much to the Government The capitalist with pro-
pery worth 5000, 000 and the same number OF persons