Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-03-09
WING ADDRESS.
fCorTfSUHn.)

possible the policy Of the Wing Party In relation tn
TRs T~if.
In reference th question. the Wings Of Virginia have
hesitaon In stating their true position There are ou'
modes of raising for the support OF the re-
dera ovcrnmenone by duties articles imported from
abrosdthe other by direct tar upon the property OF our
own c,ti,.us To the latter mode irreconcilaby OPP
psed both because Il departure from the almost UNIFORM
practice OF the from oranzauon until thepre
moment and becau.ei in practice would be productive,
NJ. escorted has been, OF the
upon the people. The States II Is true, send forth
their among their citizens, who dwell
ling and levy contributions upon almost every species OF
property but Is because they no ether means OF
raising the amount Of revenue necessary TO the payment
their annual expenses. They surrendered TO the General
the right collect duties on imports as one
OF the essential and necessary of regulating COM
insrce with forega nations and they consequently COM
PEELED TO rely upon the only remaining mode OF supplying
OF their respective treasures But VINO uoe o
perceive the difficulty which even they experience wlnou'
anv rival tax in the 6ed in meeting by this ys
TEN .vcp their ordinary expenditures And when an eS
aordinary demand however trivial in amount tails upon
State Treasury how reluctant is its Legislature to aug,
mont the rates taxation existing subeets-ow d
fcult 10 find subjects which to impose inc au-
dionsl burthen. We have seen the Legislature OF 'lr-
ginia past borrowing annually sma sums 10
exc out deficient revenue order avoid the RESPONSE
biy OF increasing Of the peope-unti at ength
aroused by the large and growing amount Of the s'e a
btcs they have uembngy approached the question: as
one only terrific than the violation OF the pghted al'h
of the Commonwcalth-the imminent danger oil which has
been alone powerful enough stimulate them To the DIS
charge this painful but paramount duty Yet aIuongn
the OF the increased tar proposed oy tne OH
now the Legislature, comparatively insignificant
are expressed and without reason, that
It's oppressive effects will excite the murmurs OF an lmpo'
crushed people. But let suppose, for moment matt
Federal Government enamoed of the theory OF free trade
should spirit of than Christian meekness meet
the restrictive policy OF foreign countries by general m
vitaton to them all ports exempt from duty
alike upon ship and cago-and, with less than Christian
fidelity 10 the most imperative of its obligations, the pro-
lection the Of great national family should
the labor, the capital and the industry OF Its own
people, in order supply it, Treasury with annual re-
venue,-wha would be the condition OF the great mass OF
the peope-arcady stripped, many OF them ct the
scany surplus saved from their annual incomes, by deny
ing themselves the neccssaries OF life, TO be prepared
for the taxgaherers annual visit IL Is necessary
IN order give faint idea OF the extent OF the OPP
preston which would fall particularly upon the poorer
as-es of the community the probable quota which
Virginia would be required To contribute, by direct TAX 10
the Federal Treasury That would OF course depend upon
the annual expenditures OF the General Government II
those expenditures should amount TO S2sOOOOOO per an
num- the quota which Virginia would be called upon 10 pay
would be million hundred thousand dol
L1rs IT, however its expenditures should, by
nomca administration OF its affairs than the history OF the
last fourteen years has taught us to hope Tor be SO
low ms sol 900 OOO then the annual demand upon the
neoplc OF Virginia 10 be collected by Federal Marshas
would amount 10 one million three hundred thousand dol
Lars-the smaller being nearly double the amount o
the State Are the people OF Virginia able to bear
this additional burhcn Would they be willing TO do SO
Would they not be under this double machinery OF
and Federal tnxgaherers, following IN each others
f,oseps-he last cleaning what the frs had Left That
sagacuus Statesman, John Randolph OF Roanoke, drew
picture less graphic and true, than appalling OF the
effects Of direct taxation which, IN addition
TO its intrinsic odousness and OPPRESSION would scatter
government pendares the whole face OF the coun
ry and invest Federal Executive by this and pow
erfu addition his already patronage with an
almost irresistible influence over public opinion
But il may said that the Federal Government is now
supported by well the State Governments and
that the only difference its is drawn from the
people by indirect upon consumption, instead OF
direct tax upon production Even this proposition were
strictly true this difference would be vital In the first
pace the payment of an indirect voluntary, the
part Of contrbutor-and it generally falls upon those
who able well willing TO bear it-io So long as
the absolute Of life are exempt from duues,
is not in the compass OF possibility, model lai Law as
we may that any of fellow citizens can be compel
led to pay any portion Of the against ms own IN
clnaton. Many Of them do not pay farthing
and there are thousands, whom Fortune has do.ed
out its gifts with a nggnrd hand whose contr6l-
tons are small that they are unconscious oil Their
abstraction from their means Gesuch persons
could escape their equal proportion OF direct tax
The great bulk Of that small portion OF the tax when Is pald
under tariff law by citizens, Is drawn from the
pockets of the weather. classes, who can best afford TO
bear the burthen who whatsoever extent they do So
assume il of their own free will and pay H. not only without
hsul Ignorance pay all.
But, in the second place, confidently the oPn-
ion that large portion Of the derived by the ede
raj government from duties paid the foreign
producer duty upon wooens and cutlery and silks being
felt sensbly Leeds, Sheffield, and Manchester,
point however great the consumption Vt either all
OF those articles, this side Of the Atlantic Tnis
might sustained and illustrated by number Of facts
and arguments-but il is absolutely demonstrated by our
observation OF the effect OF all the tamil laws that nave oeen
enacted from 1916 lS42-showing conclusvey that the
prices Of dutiable commodities have only been
HANGED Of the duty imposed,
but truth have been augmented at all IN many Ia
stances and have been actually reduced in many others
TINS fact confirmed by the tables OF prices within any
OF wears ayUuched by the records OF the TTea
sury Department well by the experience and observa
lion OF all men. The existing tarfT. which, though mpos.
ing duties many Of the principal articles
imported than the tariff OF 1924, aud far mode
than that OF 1928 furnishes Gay evidence OF this truth
evidence which palpabe the mind OF who
purchases dollars value OF the productions thus subject 10
a 4
and other property positive satisfaction from every IN
diyduas actual Tesourcesan indirect tax, levied upon
foreign capital and labor is great extent paid not by
the but by the producer OF the articles upon which
the duties imposed
Il conceded that the principle OF indirect taxation, if
carried far may have contrary tendency and hence,
the Wing party do sustain the policy of pTOhbitOrs d.
ties, Of duties for protection primary object The
position they Is that the tariff system should be adj
Justod with eye primarily discriminating
the articles chieh the duties imposed,
afford incidental protection to domestic industry IT, in.
deed influenced by retaatOry spirit towards for
sign nations. which burhen American productions with
exorban taxes might, in the spirit Of Mr. Jeierson's
injunction, be disposed to meet high duties with high du
fes, and prohibition with prohibition" But willing
disoncuinber commerce, far may be consistent with
sound aud udcous policy in reference all the great
fercst Of the Union, ct those shackles with which the
sulatiOns Of European governments have ietierod it, To
this gO-nO farther. There be IN the Wing
ranks there among their opponents individuals who
would push the principle Of Protection dangerous
but the great body Of the party and he In whom they
nize their distinguished leader have long ago defined their
position upon this question, in language precise and de-
finite, that intelligent mind can misunderstood IT,
IL may be added that, while Of the prominent
members OF the Democratic party have openly ayOWed their
hostility the entire Custom House SYSTEM and have IN.
scrbcd the ominOus words, "DHecf Tar" upon their ban.
ncr, have the strongest and most conclusive evidence
that there many among them, perhaps far the greater
number, who substantially concur with the Wings In the
just principle have here assumed wit: "a Tariff for
RsreHHs nth Incidental Protection" Why, them may
be asked did they oppose tine Tariff Law enacted the last
session OF Congress- And why they cnmorOus
for its repeali We reluctant 10 attribute improper
ycs opponents; but cannot but question their sin
cety in view Of the fact that the Tano lsi2 leyes light
duos of the principal articles than that Of 1874
or that oi 1923 that Of 1882, for Of rich
many Of temssiUss ehesrfuHy uOsd-and particularly In
view Of the additional and striking fact thb ahOIgh they
place their hostility the Law Of 1912 the ground chat
% has zoo little reference revenue and that recognizes
Zoo broadly the principle Of protection, they voted against
guy on Tea and C9Gcs which H0R-r0fsefiue articles
duty which would have yielded Of about four
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