Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-05-09

NJ )
as 10 mvself that should give you "'laout reserve
my own understanding OF them
Adequate revenue, Tor tie support OF oil govern
ments must be derived t.om SEINE scarce. IL mas no
where been found easy task 10 preserve eqaa1! ~
raising and 4! the same tame 10 overcome '''1 60
raj repuruauce the payment OF taxes N a"y shap
repugnance arising io;e from an apPrt''ehsc' ta'
their avas will be wisely aPilie@, 'na rom an
unwillinguess the part o the people 10 sN',' Wy
government by the necessary co"t'ou'ohs "a" nus
arree that taxes should te imposed wh iar and iuii
reference TO the advantages derived IRON the existence
of good government by those VINO pay 'aeih' i ""se
advantages may general terms DE Justly uescsioeu Us
resultin from ample security IN the enjoyment OF our
nersoral r,phs and rIhtS oil property, with adequate
safeguards asalns; internal commoon and ioesn ag-
erosion In respect 10 the nHhanteS o' le person.
and civil and religious freedom the interest as vel as
the immediate advantages oil all are equal! NOT 50 WIN
The other privileges secured TO by oar free govern
ment fine unavoidable disparity IN the pecanatS
condition OF citizens, makes the degree OF oens''
they respectively derive ifoa the malntenahcs OF an
efficient government pro?ertJ anu the Ii9Ass q
property, essentially different The modes OF raisng
revenue allowed 10 and adopted by the State govern
ments are generally graduated by thS cispaihy =
If the not always equitable, the ian IT'S De-
leved VIII in be found IN their acton upon
upon the principle rather than the principle ltseii
The right to revenue for It's support by the impo
s,on of duties in lieu of direct taxation, IS, by the
Constitution, subjected n the exclusive coniro oi the
Federal Government. This right subject to the lint
purpose and has been freely exeTed by 1t since IT'S
adjustment, 1t would afford me much pleasure TO
be able say, that the exercise OF this power has
borne equally upon all classes oil the people, now
ever unequal their pscunaty conditions, as The taxes
imposed by the State Governments. Bat t!s canno;
with tru,a be said. Nor is the inequality unayoldaby
resulting from the Federal mode oi collecting taxes,
discovery. 1t was to5cseea aud objected 10 "hea
the power was conferred rvi inherent IN the sys-
tenn WHICH could fail 10 show Itself IN the opera
ton, and the injustice Of which no fern OF iegis-
la,ion however 1t might he made 10 mitigate, couid
ever he able 10 remove. The advocates OF the sys'
fem were notwithstanding recouciled 10 II oy 4 os-
lief no doubt sincerely entertained, that Tue ihe
Qualities which it feared would result from inc
collection OF duties nfon imported articles, wonia
be prevented hy the fact thai the consumption would
he IN proportion 10 the means O. the consumer
II was upon tins ground that the principle was de-
Tended That this expectation has not Been realized,
is undeniably There ere but lew, ii any WOO
cannot in their immediate vicinity, point out hule-
rous instances III which poo, men WITH large iaanies
are actually obliged pay more for the suPPo, of Inc
Federal Government, than others who are IN ahlseH'
circumstances, bat either without, or nave Shae'
families; and few, If any, connervaiing examples are
TO be found AT the same time, the great BODY OF
wealth invested in incorporated or associated conpa-
nies and IN bonds ard notes, entirely escapes fecera
taxation The mass Q; The people seem, neVef,heess
10 prefer this mode Of collecting the revenue fayins
their taxes in the form OF an increased Prce upon tAe
commodities they buy their contribution loses IN tir'f
estimation much of the cdium that would be attached
10 If severed from the price OF the artcie ana con
veried by name as VI IS N TACT, IL aiso wears
The appearance cf q voluntary contribution, aiihong
ITS pavnent rs for the mos, part as nneVooahie as
comonsory inooslon would he. 1t is supported too
nv the odiur which vas attached to the mposlilono oil
direct taxes many years since, for purposes "hicn
were not approved by the people, ana by the TACT, tha
in most of the States the taxes are direct rendering
j, for that reason desirable to substitute some other
mode Of raising revenue for The Federal Government
These and other considerations have gwen TO The I'M
post preference the public mind which would rem
der the imposition OF direct taxes IN Tune OF peace e5-
ceednrly odous aud have produced as great degree
of unanimitv in favor Of tariff for revenue as can
ever be expected upoa pubic question vi lhe
great mass of opponents TO protective tafi there is
not so far as know, single State, or even district
that has taken ground against revenue tariff.
Let us now, for moment, look nj The advantages
which the manufacturing Interest, above any Other,
derives from tariff imposed for revenue only. me
first Tariff bill passed IN 1883. and a these has 10!
lowed between that period and the war, we're III iacl
notwithstanding the recIals OF them, re venue
bills The average amount of The ioposts under them.
communicating AT twelve and half per cent, was CRU
duaIly increased from that 10 - and up 10 ~ per cent,
Al the latter average ii stood from $500 10 lSVc and
uni! the commencement of preparations Tor war
Twenty per cent, upon average, appears, IN The
iudnmen of those best acquainted with the SUBJECT
here and elsewhere to be the rate best adapted for re
venue 1t is the amount also 20 which II "as the de-
sirn Of the Compromise Act 10 reduce the tariff, and
when absolutely necessary for revenue, AND Ike from
the state the country. oisc, ihs object The rate
To which all parties appear wiling to 90, under The eX
is,ing condition OF the Treasury and TO Continue un
Ill that condition sufficiently improved TO justify
reduction, is, | believe, average OF - per cent 10
Ans duty TO be added the charges upon imported ar
tcles arising from the costs Of transportation from Eu
rope consisting q! freight, insurance, the expenses OF
agencies profits successive holders, and cash dn
ties which are estimated by those who understand the
matter better than do, al no. less than 10 per cent
making, If the average rate OF duties IS ~ per cent,
amount Of charges upon imported articles before
they placed IN oar market upon par with smiia.
ARTICLES manufactured here equal 10 30 per CENT 2nd
il the average duty 90 pr cent to 80 pc: cent II
the foreign article is notwithstanding brought in, and
competition entered into with the BONG manuiactu-
rers, these duties and charges operate, whilst The COM
petition lasts, protection - the domestic manuac
turer, equal 10 ;ie,. suE!givng him by so much the
advantage the sale OF his commodities, over the I'M
porter and Il the ec Of these charges IS TO prevent
tie Importation Of such articles altogether, they then
give hui al entire monopoly of the home market
These are the direc. advantages which result to The
manufacturing interest from the raising OF revenue by
the imposition Of duties upon IMPORTS instead OF direct
taxation
Ieus next consider whe Their the other great interests
of the country derive any, and If any, what direct az
yantaqes from this mode OF collecting the pubic reve
nue. | DO not profess TO ee well acquainted WIN
the progress and probable results OF our 'sea opera
TONS upon trade ard labor, those who by ths pu'-
suits ~ life, have enjoyed greater advantages 'of 'e
curing hiS kjnd OF information give yo"' ." '"
swer 10 vogr iuuuires the best views that am apie |"
take Of tie subject ir i fall into ony errors, they
will certainly be unneniora, and rs certainly be e"F-
zected by those WHO better informed And hFs' as
relates to the agricultural that greatest Of all interests
It is certainly true, that in the formation o our iar''
du,ies varvinr in amount arc also imposed upon The
same articles, which constitute the staple lions of
this country when imported Som abroad; but, is !; not
equally true, thai the eject OF that lmpos'ton IN re
hero
production oe them, IS, for the mos. part, nominal:
When We lock the comparatively small amount
of duties received at the Treasury, upon the lnpo'-
tat> of Tie important articles, beef, pork, flour,
various kinds Of gram, cotton, rice, tobacco, wool
&c, &c, conrosted with that collected upon the
importation of manufactured articles, we can not
but De sensible that ,his is The farmer and
planter i, true cnoy ard great degree without
competition with fase'gn producers, our own market
for the sale OF mos: oil the fruits OF their labor but II
Ln-...A 81. d.. ~ NJ nltnmai hnr from