The North-Carolina standard., 1843-05-17

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ed too by the odiIm which was attached to the
imposition of direct taxes many years SINCE for
purposes which were not approved by the people,
and by the fact that in most of the States the tax
es direct rendering it, for that reason, deslra-
Bile to substitute other mode Of raising reven-
ue for the Federal Government These and 9TH
er considerations have given to the inpost pre-
ference on the public mind which would render
the imposition of direct taxes in time of peace ex-
ceedingIy odious, and have produced as great a
degree of unanimity in favotbf tariff for reven-
ue as ever can be expected upona public question.
OF the great mass of opponents to protective Ia
riff there Is not SO far as know, single State,
or even district, that has taken ground against a
revenue tariff
Let us now, for a moment, look at the adyanta,
ges which the manufacturing interest, above any
other. derives from a tariff imposed for revenue
only The first tariff bill, passed 1889, and all
those that followed it between that period and the
war were in fact notwithstanding the recitais ia
some of them, revenue bills The average a.
mount of the imposts under them, commencing al
12I per cent, was gradually increased from
that to Is, and up to 20 per cent. AT the latter
average it stood from 1900 to 1908, and until the
commences ement of preparations for war. Twen'
ty per centum, upon an average, appears, in the
iudg gment of those best acquainted with the sub,
iect here and elsewhere, to be the rate best adapt
ed for revenue 1t is the amount also to which it
was the design of the Compromise Act to reduce
the tariff and one which ought certainly not TO be
exceeded, except when absolutely necessary for
revenue, and likely from the state of the country,
10 effect this object The rate 10 which all par
ties appear willing to go, under the existing con-
dtion of the treasury, and to continue it until that
condition is sufficiently improved to justify re-
duction, is, believe, an average of rs per cent
To this duty is to be added the charges upon i'm
f-or IF
tation from Europe consisting of freight: lnsur-
ance the expenses of agencies, or profits to sue
cessve holders and cash duties, which esti-
mated by those who understand the matter better
than do. at not less than 10 per cent-lnakIng.
if the average rate of duties is % per cent, an a.
mount of charges upon imported articles, before
they are placed in our market upon par with
similar articles manufactured here, equal to So
per cent, and if the average duty is 20 per cent,
to 80 per cent If the foreign article is, notwlth-
standing. brought in and competition entered
into with the home manufacturers, these duties
and charges operate whilst the competition lasts,
as a protection to the domestic manufacturer equal
to their sum-giving him by so much the advan-
tage in the sale of his commodities over the inn
porter; and if the effect of these charges is to
prevent the importation of such articles altogether
they then give him an entire monopoly of the
home market These are the direct advantages
which result to the manufacturing interest from
the raising of revenue by the imposition Of duties
upon imports, instead of direct taxation.
Let us next consider whether the other great
interests of the country derive any, and if any,
what direct advantages from this mode of collect
ing the public revenue ] do not profess to be as
we'll acquainted with the progress and probable
results of fiscal operations, upon trade and la
Dor, as those who, by their pursuits III life have
enjoyed greater advantages for acquiring this kind
Of Information. give you, in answer to your
inquiries, the best views that able to take Of
the subject. If fall into any errors, they will
certainly be unintentional, and as certainly be
corrected by those who are better informed And
first relates to the AGRICULTURAL that greatest Of
all Interests it is certainly true, that in the forma
ton Of our tariff, duties varying in amount are
also imposed on the articles which constitute
the staple productions of this country, when inn
ported from abroad but is ii not equally true that
the efsct of that imposition respect to the pro-
lection thereby afforded to the domestic production
of them, Is, for the most part nominal? When
we look at the comparatively small amount of
duties received at the treasury upon the importa-
ton of the important articles, beef pork various
kinds of grain, cotton rice, tobacco WOOL &c, &C.,
contrased with that collected upon the ilnporta-
ton of manufactured articles, we cannot but be
sensible that this is so. The farmer and planter,
1t is true enjoy. and to a great degree, without
competition with foreign producers, our own mark
ct for the sale of most of the fruits of their labor;
but it is security derived chiefly, if not atogeth-
er, from natural causes, for which nobody pays,
and which derives but little aid from legislation
1t is on the contrary to the nature of our climate
the enterprise and industry of our citizens, the
character Of our SOIL and extent Of our territory,
with other facilities for the easier and cheaper
growth of agricultural products here, that the ag
risulturalist is chiefly indebted for his protection
against foreign competition. To foster the inter
ests of commerce and navigation, has been the OBJ
ject of the Federal Government; and much has
certainly been done to accomplish it. through the
nstrumentality of salutary laws and treatysstipu-
lations Respect has also been very generally
had to these interests and more particularly that
of navigation, even in our revenue bills, by low
duties; or exemption from duties, upon articles
necessary and useful to them; but it will not,
believe be contended in any quarter that the pros
Pcrty of either of these great interests is essen
tally advanced by protective or revenue tariff
That the great body of the mechanics and labor
ers, in every branch of business, whose welfare
should be an object of unceasing solictude on the
part Of every public man, have been the greatest
sufferers by our high protective tariffs, and would
continue so to be. if that policy is persisted in is
to my mind too clear to require further elucida-
ton
If these views are correct and in all essential