Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-07

laws Duties imposed not TO raise but 10 destroy
our revenue. Agriculture, commerce, ana 'he puoc
treasury were all be taxed and restricted, 10 pfoct
manufacturers who already Irctrlernbly ruined;
INIT who were still sustained by hope, and las we see
many others now doing) confidently, bnt vanly rely
ing on Government for relief. As their case was oss
oerate their demands were extravaganza frohioiuon
and restriction tumphed for time; tni doctrines SO
repugnant TO reason, justice, and liberty. soon gave
way, and liberal principles were rapidly gaming
ground.
Unfortunately, in 1895 the cause of commercial free
DOM md of equal and moderate taxation encountered
reverse extraordinary as It was unexpected. J. he
memorable coalition betn Mr. Adams aid Mr. Clay,
lost il the support of many Of IFS friends in New En-
GLAND no. on the 4h of March, 1895, suddenly "open-
I'd new set Of books, unceremoniousy surrendered
their principles and abandoned the cause oil Tree trade
This union of the Fisheries and the Mississippi was
as unfortunate for the country TO the parties con-
cerned for il laid The foundation of all the subsequent
enbarrassments in our finances.
| Every expedient adopted TO enlarge our exper
durcs and empty the Treasury, in order TO increase
duties for the protection of manufactures. Prohibition
and restriction appeared in forms, till spirit of
discomfort was excited, followed by change of public
sentiment as manifested in our elections, which threat
ened the overthrow of the whole system. The friends
e tie American system became alarmed; and, appre
bending the measures OF the then approaching Con
gress, promptly passed The COMPROMISE Act IN March,
1888.
The passage Of that act, the first triumph of free
trade principles for had It's prospective provisions
been carried good faith till 1912, II would have
eiFcctuay changed our Tariffs into Revenue acts, ex
clusiyey The "horzontal Tariff, as il has been call
ed by one of It's most distinguished opponents would
ave ultimately removed all restrictions, and erased
from our statutes of absurd and unjust dscr
limitations, fayorng some and discouraging or destroy
ing other branches OF industry-contrved, from time
TO Time by interested men, and adopted by their Con.
rressona patrons It would have substituted for these
one horizon,al and equal rule for all the States, for
every branch of industry and for oil our tax payers
iroue hout the Union. Duties would have been laid
for alone and only for go much as might be
required under an Economical administration Of the
Government. Eventually, the Compromise Act would
have ended in Tariff Of one section, evyng one rate
of duties on all commodhes-the only just and perma
nent law for any Government, but especially Con
ederacy
MANY of the friends of restriction voted for the
Compromise Act, notwithstanding this horizontal rule
of tax alton. They adopted it expPdient TO
gain time, and under apprehension that a measure
more prompt in lis execution would be adopted by The
next Congress. They never expected nor intended,
that the duties imports should 20 in process OF
reduction for nine years, till, in lo42, the maximum
rate should not exceed twenty per cent ad valofem-
They anticipated that these ultimate provisions would
never be natu.ed-and they were rghi-for the dstri
button of the surplus revenue etfectuay repealed The
Compromise Act. That measure was followed BY
extraordinary political cven-the success of party
avowinr no particular T.nciples-whose triumph has
been succeeded BY very dignIfed war; TO determine
what those various p:inc pies OF government were,
which they had pledged themselves in different parts
Of the inion 10 carry out Amidst the confusion al.
tending this Executive and legislative war, yerging
anarchy the country accidentally sadGled with the
mos. destructive Tariff ever devised by manufacturing
ingenuity legislative foIly-combinlng all the com
plcated restrictions of its predecessors with
conrvEnces 10 destroy cxs.ng branches oil industry,
and plumber the Treasury.
The history Of this question, since our war with Great
Britain and the existence of the a5oInlnable
inflicted upon By the present Congress, should rouse
the consumers of our country generally composed Of
Inc agricultural mechanical, and !aborng classes, and
urge them to turn attention The practical
operation of Government il is true, that the
happy fate Of Mr. Cay-one of our most eloquent, and,
personally, Of the most popular of our public men
NAV prove n warning to ambition, and convince
aspirants that however active and perseverng our po
tca manufacturers and miners may be, they form but
small minority Of the nation. Still, that minority is
associated; and, however unsuccessful IN eectng It's
Presidents has succeeded in extraordinary manner,
By lis pecuniary contributions towards elections and
publications. and its perseverng personal attendance at
The seat Of Government, III controlling the Legislation
O! Congress If our country IS to be ruled as 1t has
been, by this minority it will be dscrediiable to our
intelligence, and prove Us unworthy OF self.govern-
ncn H. under the pretext of protecting home indus
try or retaa,ing The vices and ol!ies of despotic Co.
vernments Congress should continue 10 represent ex
clusively limited number Of our capitalists, by passing
or, session session and crude laws TO increase
the profits of their the sober
tural, and permanent growth of industry; taxing
the for the benefit of the few: restricting ami
hlang ancient branches Of trade; plunderng the pub
lie treasury Of exciting of revenue, and render
Ing permanent and universal increase Of taxation
avoidabe- such is to be the practical and permanent
operation Of our laws then indeed will noble
pertinent Of free government prove disgraceful and
disastrous failure Had any such result been
from our commercial unon-had been supposed pos.
sblc 10 convert the authority 10 collect revenue, into
oyer 10 diminish or destroy it, under the pretext of
aiding Government of increasing the wealth OF the
couniry-not State in the Union would have ratified
the Constitution,
The present is q Fl. occasion for US to decide whe.
Their we will rule according TO the written provisions OF
our Constitution, allow ourselves to be ruled as IN
Great Britain, by unwrten charter-by minority,
claiming the right to govern by prescribed authority
Whether here as there, the laws shall be allowed TO
create an associated body of internal tax gaherers
e " in numbers but powerful in resources-to go on
from generation TO generation, drawing upon the con-
suminp and lnborlDg classes, until here, as IN Great
Britain the latter snail be reduced to condition so
hopeless and wreched to threaten the country with
an appea 10 the frigu but only alternative of sarv
inn naton-when the terrible law of nature rides over
parliamentary authority, and compes the many 10 plum
der the few or perish May such never be our condi
ton; for however military power may postpone IT. there
is eventually no remedy bat revolution.
most ferveu,y pray, gentlemen that the trends OF
equal laws, moderate taxes, and economical Govern
ment will unite throughout the Union, and never
their excrtions until every vestge OF this American
or more properly speaking Brtsh) system oil Govern
men shall be eradicateJ from our laws.
| am, very respectfully,
Your obi ssrv't,
G. e. CAMBRELENG
.lessrs. Thomas W. Witty, George Weir, and Ste.
phcn II. Feeks, Committee Of the Free Trade Asso-