Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-03-17
JOHN c. SPENCER AND THE
TARIFF

As Mr.. Spencer has been appointed Sec
rotary Of the Treasury, it becomes matter
Of interest to know what his views are on
the subject Of the Tariff. Whatever modf-
cations or changes are to DO made with !, du-
ring the present administration will doubt
less be in accordance with his views, IL
no continues to be the Secretary. We find
the following exposition of his views on thjel
subject, in his Rochester letter, of 10Th NJ
1912. Referring to the Presidents messa| .
at the opening of the preceding session of
Congress, he says: 80.
Upon that most difficult and rerplexing topic,
sArltf OF duties on imports, the language of the
sage defines with great accuracy, cearness and pre-
esion, the true principles of protection consistent with
revenue After speakingof the repugnnnce of the peo-
pie TO the imposition of burdens necessary TO the
support of Government; the President says " In i'm.
posing duties however. for the purposes of revenue
right to discriminate rs TO the articles on which the
duty shall be laid, as well the amount, necessarily
and most properly exists" After showing that the
imposition Of duties ndscrimnately on articles would
defeat the very purpose of obtaining revenue he re.
marks: "So also the Government may be justified in
30 discriminating, by reference TO other considerations
OF domestic policy connected with other manufactures
So long as the duties shall be laid with distinct refer
ence 10 the wants of the Treasury no well founded
obJec ion can exist against them," and he concludes
me remarks on that subject by urging the importance
Of certainty and perinanency in the system which
should be adopted. 1t is believed that no just man,
who regards the various interests of the whole coun
Try, who would not compel that portion of our fellow
c,t'zens who have no manufactures to pay taxes for
she support Of those who lave them, without any
equivalent, and who yet would protect American in
dustry from foreign cheap labor in those articles
which are essential us in peace and in war; and for
which we ought not TO be dependent on any other ma
ton, 1t is believed that no just man, who will take
such an enlarged and patriotic view of the subject
will hesitate 10 improve the principles promulgated in
the message. While they are adverse to prohbi,ory
eidenal protection the other They are those and
those only that will secure harmony well as Justice
in che adjustment Of matter involving so many and
90 various conflicting interests, and produce that per-
manence which, in this country, can be obtained only
by the general acquiescence of the people in the equity
and honesty OF any system. And if the lberalty so
unusual, thus evinced by statesman coming from
that portion OF our Union which has manufactures,
be recprocated and met in the same spirit by those
who arc most anxious TO promote those interests, a
unity OF feeling will exist throughout the confederacy
which will afford stable and therefore, more
real and substantial protection TO our own industry,
tnan any laws that may be passed under occasional
and spasmodic exctements which will be'sure to in
term with the cessation of the stmulants that pro-
duce them.
Should the Tarifflaw that has been passed and re.
eeved the signature ofthe President be found in prac.
tce to differ in important particulars from the lust and
liberal principles advanced by him, he will doubtless
be found ready to sanction such necessary amend
ments rs may be proposed by lha. body, in which the
Constitution has exclusively vested the authority TO
originate and pass revenue bills
On the subject Of protection we have found
no cause to complain Of President Tyer.-
He took in the outset, decided stand in for
the principle of discrimination and this is
fundamental 10 all the protection asked. In
the appointment Of Mr.. Forward, IAN able
and s,aunch friend Of home Industry he did
~ good justice; and now in the appoint
ment Of Mr.. Spencer, we have ample assu-
rance that there is to be no change of policy
10 this respect.
The tarffof 1912 remains unaltered, and
though doubtless in many points defective, is
yet slowly. but surely, doing its perfect work
The 'mportatlons of protected articles arc
comparatively triAing, and our return car.
goes are now. to a large extent, specie, the
real clink, instead of foreign gew-gaws.-
The result is, that money is accommodating in
quarters wherein the nature Of things, it can.
not long remain idle, and so soon as the mar.
ket is fairly cleared of the immense stock Of
foreign goods with which it was surfeited
that moment will there be demand for do
mestic goods, and this idle capital will flow
TO the interior. Give the american manu-
facturer possession of the home market, and
there will then be demand for American
raw material, and profitable employment for
labor-labor kept up to remunerating pr-
ees by this very protection against foreign
pauper prices. Convert one fourth of the
present producers into consumers, with means
to buy, and the farmer then has ready mar
ket for his surplus, at his own door, at better
prices. That we are again to realize this
state ofthings, we most sincerely hope and
pray. The elements are in motion to pro.
duce it; and if the country is but true to it.
self-wil but profit by the lessons of expe.
rienee-a "better day" mus, indeed dawr
upon Us.