The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-12-22
Van Ruren on the Tariff.

I suEpNsG W
ONE WHO HEARD.
Van RHrem Oh the Tariff.
The National lnlellIaeucer thus uses up
Van Buren's trimming, ride bo:h.sides.of.
! Ihe.sapling policy aud at the same time ex-
poses The inconsistency and absurdity Of
Calboupis anti Discriminating doctrine. -
The occasion is furnished by Vans Rich
mond Enquirer le,tet, as follows:
"ALpAsY, FrB. &c, 1913.
by Dear Sir: thank ron very kindly for
your friendly letter. baye at no time nor any
where hesated 10 express my decided dsappro.
baton Of the Tariff act Of the last session. as well
=, in respect 10 THE PRINCIPLES upon which IL is
founded as TO lis details. In good time you Will
have my views in respect 10 that and other sub.
lects before the public. In tie mean time, be-
lieYe me 10 be,
"Nery sincerely, your friend and obt servant,
m. VAN buren,"
Vow, Says the Inielligencer,) out of the
uncertainties (perhaps inevitably Of this
short episile, lei us endeavor 10 pluck whu,
must be its meaning.
The principles upon which the late act
was founded are very clearly
First, and chiefly, TO raise only enough
revenue TO meet the expenses of the
Government, economically conducted;
Secoadly. SO 10 discriminate, in the de
tails, as 10 give incidental protection
10 cur own productions.
Now, TO the first principle, neither Sir.
Van Buren, nor any body else can object.
As to the second, se happen TO have his
own perfectly decisive words, in q public
letter, written about the same date, 10 the
Indiana Convention. II says:
"Ofthn constitutional powo, 10 make discrim
nations have no doubt. Equally clear ii is
that the practice of making them las existed
from the commencement Of the Government,
and constitutes feature in every principal tariff
bill which is 10 be found upon our statute book.
They are indeed indispensable TO the successful
operation of every revenue bill" =
1t Discrimination Is therefore p0,rsr The
slant and faithful exercise Of rAich is, in ny
Judgment, demaadedby Reconsideration Of justice,
humanity, and soUad policy"
The plurality Of "pginciples," then, TO
which Mr.. Van Buren, objects, must be in
the "details " OF the bill, not lis principles
a. all. lie must hold tina. these details
have been so managed as 10 make II, in
many particulars, prehibuory one. And
that is the ground taken by the Free Trade
portion OF this Tariff and nt.TarifT, Reve !
nue. only and Incidental Protection, party.
Mr.. Jefferson lays down the right Of pro
hbiion as positive, and lis eypediency as
imperative. The pretended Z" Democratic
party now denounces as Federalists all who .
dare 10 hold that opinion unless, happily, (
they should be themselves OF the Demo !
cratic party"
But, historically, what is the fact?
lst. Senator Wright, the immediate par.
~ and personal representative Of Mr.. Van
Buren,, voted for the bill now denounced
and the Tariff part of this Free Trade par.
ty have loudly claimed for him the merit Of
having Sdred the bill.
Cd. MIR. Van Buren, himself voted for the
most prohibi,ory Tariff ever passed in this
country, and has usually been accused, by
his present Pree Trade allies, of having
had leading agency in connecting the
Is denominations Of that bill.
Now, the only allegation in his excuse
is, that he voted under Instructions. -
VIVA, Of hiatt He obeyed the inslruc.
lions; and the fact of his having done so
is decisive that he held a prohibiiory Ia.
riff 10 be constitutional; for the strai,es,
stickler for instructions never held tina!
hese could set aside the Constitution, /;
As to discrimination, even Mr.. Calhoun
5 completely cstopped, by his own great
md recent acts. He himself introduced
nto the Compromise act gres, number
If articles TO he admitted free of duty and s
his certainly, too, strengthened all the pro. :
ectiye features, and weakened all the reve. ,
ne features Of that measure. ,
Again: If revenue is the only legitimate
'bicct OF bill of supplies, why have MIR.
calhoun and his party assented TO the re,
mission Of all duties on tea and coffee Is t
hat discrimination or revenue? Nay, is il c
lot protection, iuasmuch as the foregoing
hese sources Of supply created necessity
or additional duties on every thing else c
From the Iyactbwg Tirginlaa. b
A National Bank. s
As justification OF the issue of treasury c