Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-05-10

Tho established sentiment OF the country reoog'
nz.s taxation upon imports as the best mode OF RAYS
iug revenue and there has never oeen waning Pu
r,o,sm enough 10 submit, with cheeriuness, to such
,ta ne taxation az will insure revenue adequate TO
all The wants of The Government, economically adE'h-
,e,ed Such taxation carries with il, necessary
incident, very considerable protection 10 home pro-
1nctions-a protection, which, III connection with that
arising from tie inevitable charges OF importation, IS
,hn,dan,Iy sufficient for all such articles rs the sua-
linn of the country adapts II to produce iosuch TAX
alton laid primarily for revenue, and carrying with
,r,ect;on as an incident there IS no objection IN any
annrler 1t will be readily submitted TO, to every ne
cassarv and proper extent And II - all that any JUST
n,,aca,ion of The interests of the country dictates
There NAV be, and probably are, few cases OF ex
er,ion in which duties, imposed primarily for potec-
lion would be constitutional and expedient. Under
other The mower to regulate commerce, or the power
70 make war. Congress may rightluly encourage the
protection of such articles are indispensable IN time
| or var This doctrine has been maintained by very
many of those who have opposed the general system
of protective duties, and seems reasonable IN se-
Rui with this pton, which stands upon special rea
sons the arbitrary enactment of duties to divert indus
,y from natural into artificial channels, is without
warrant in any power of the government fairly con-
srued s contrary TO the most approved mlxns OF Po-
llical science, and has heen demonstrated by expert
,nce 10 be unwse, injurious, and hazardous.
The natural pursuits Of n country determined by
tie climate the capacities Of its soil, its geographical
poson and The proportion which exists between the
three great clements Of production, land, labor and
capital Great Britain, with It's enormous accumula.
lion of capital, lis dense populations, and contracted
territory is naturally manufacturing country. The
| United States occupy position precisely reversed
With an abundance of land, but with little CAPT
tai and comparatively scattered population, agricul
turc is lis chief pursuit As It's land becomes better
,ccupird its people more numerous, and its capital
more extensive, manufactures Will grow up of them
selves and will stand upon solid basis. This is
contamination inevitable in the course of things but
!, s not one, which il is desirable 10 anticipate pre-
maur-ly by the hotbcd forcing OF legislation. Domes
nc iudustryis Just truly such when expended upon
the soil as upon tile spinning jenny II more profitable
and more productive, in the actual condition OF things
And there consideration connected with the nteil-
ueDce the happiness and the virtue OF our people, winch
requires the abandonment of the farm for the workshop;
but on the contrary, every such consideration admonsh
rs us not TO hasten the time, when manufacturing Will
become our leading pursuit. All the best virtues ofour
race are cherished the cultivation of the soil Personal
independence, solid happiness, temperance aud health,
are most enjoyed by those who follow this primitive
occupa,ion of man. Contrast the yeomanry of Amc-
RIGA with the starved, debased and wretched laburers
in the factories of England Inquire if their misery be
compp nsated by the wealth which they produce but
do not enjoy Ascertain upon what scale OF compua-
ton the .lgnifcence of the British aristocracy be
esteemed fair equivalent for the untold suffering the
British people. And then If you demonstrate, that
by changing the industry OF America from agriculture
To wealth would be qnadrupled and its
| ariSt0Cracy
Of calculation upon which you esteem it wise 10 sacr
flee the happiness of the for the aggrandzement
OF the few.
II is to be considered, Furthermore, connected
with the question of high duties, that there is peculiar
dan ger that they would foster, among u.s. the demo
ralizing practice of smuggling The grent extent OF
our frontier, by and land one obvious cause oil
particular danger upon this head, but is moi the
~, or the most powerful one. The habits and genius
Of our people do not admit of that severity Of punish
l., 10, Ia ogt,nr
countries And especially would they admit OF
severity of punishment for the violation of laws in re-
straint of trade, and which large numbers would
stanlly denonnce as unjust and unconstitutional
Severe penalties might, indeed, be enacted upon paper
hut they could never be enforced. The stern and
bloody codes, which uphold prohibtvc systems in
other countries could never be carried out in Atne
rica and the enterprise of our people, forced into the
channel of smuggling by the temptation of high pro-
fits and unchecked, except by the hazard OF occa-
sional capture, would render the scheme Of hugh du.
ties imperative for any other purposes than deraudng
the revenue, breaking down honest trade, and en-
couragng general laxity Of morals.
The peculiar condition Of the country, in the re-
spect that large part OF 1t IS purely agricultural and
esteems the protecting system unmitigaed burden
without single benefit, will dssuade all moderate
men from running into extremes upon this exciting
subject. The entire South, devoted 1t is TO the
production Of staple exports, regards the high tariff
system as an enormous drain upon its industry, for
weakness, it will feel and resent, with double quick
ness, scheme of legislation to be forced upon the
country, by the preponderaling vote OF the States
which expect partial benefit from it. The scenes of
S2S-2 will be enacted again. Parties will be
come sectional, and all those fraerna feelings which
f constitute the cement Of the Union, will be lost in the
strife Instead Of being united md happy people, we
should present the spectacle operpetua dlscord, and in
all probability, of dIscod fierce enough and exaspe
rated enough to dissolve that common government
wh aIonp and character aiDoIu
the nations Of the earth.
In stctness every merely legislative act is open to
change and alteration But, in the history Of nations
there often periods when, after long continued
and violent shocks of opinion, laws enacted upon
principles of compromise containing equivalents 10 diff
eren parties, to be realized during large periods o
tme and designed and intended to SETTLE permanent
ly, dangerous and harrassing questions. Such laws
enacted from their very nature, from general consent
have sanciity peculiar to themselves, and their main
tenance is dictated by both sound policy and good
faith. The existence of Governments is not 10 be
hazarded for the sake Of obstinate adherence 10
treme opinions The errors, even, of large bodies oil
men, must be treated with respect, and compromise
be accorded by those who do not doubt the justice oil
their own views. or snch compromises, that which
followed the heats Of the controversy relative TO the
admission of Missouri into the Union is an opposite
f example. 1t put an end 10 n contest exciting on
both sides, the warmest feelings 1t put al end 10
{ it in way, in which many would perhaps, see a
sacrifice of right, and others sacrifice of policy
But what is of most consequence, ended The eonrouer
so, and no prudent and discreet man would, for light
cause, revive it. OF such compromises, the Compro
mise Act Of 1898 is another example 1t passed
under the most solemn circumstances with imposing
unannity in Congress- and with the universal assent
$ OF the country. gallant State gcaded by injuries
in lis own estimation insnpportabe, the verge
oil revolution. The whole nation was exhausted BY a
pro.racted struggle Of opinion. The danger Of civil
, war was imminent and urgent. Tic Compromise Act
came with healing lis wings, Gained the angry pas
SONS OF men, and snoohcd, as b. word the rufled
Coniding in the evcntfu reduction which it pro-
missed, the enemies of The then existing duties ceased
the upon them. The friends Of those duties
coupled with their final reduction, important equiva
Tents III the form of home valuations and cash pay
! ments, and were generally satisfied. Probably they
would have continued so, had it mol been the interest
ut politicians again to excite their cnpdi!y, and again
to marshal them as voting force, TO carry schemes