The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-05-04
ACTS
From q Circular Letter. addressed BY he
Hon. Ed. STASLY, 10 his Constituents.
TILE TARIFF.


necessary to refer TO the state of things ex.
listing Tor some years prior TO ls42.
10 1888, after South Carolina had threat.
ened to null,!y the laws for collecting du.
ties, because she complained Of the high
tariff, and after Gen. jackson had threat.
ened TO hang certain persons 10 that State,
Il they dared to interfere with officers Of
the government in collecting dunes, Mr..
Clay, animated as he has always been, by
the puresi patriotism, wishing TO save South
Carolina from bloodshed, introduced bill
providing for the gradual reduction OF the
Tariff. The bull passed and Quoted the
country, and was called - the Compromise
Bill because the difficulty with South
Carolina was compromised by IT.
with a view of reducing all duties 10
o maximum of 20 per cent. I'D valorem, this
act provided, that on the st day of Jan
ulry 1894, one tenth OF the duties over
20 per cent. on all articles imported should
be taken off, and on the Is, day Of January
1886, another tenth, and on the ST day oil
January 1888, another tenth, aud on the
lst day of January 1910, another tenth,
and on the lst day Of January lSI2, three
ienths more, and the l st day Of July lS42,
the remaining three tenihs should be de-
Quoted so thar, after that day, no article
imported should bar higher duty than
30 per cent ad. valorem."
Thus il will be perceived, tia, by the
operation of this act the revenue was con
tnuaIly decreasing. 10 1888, more than
two millions were deducted. 10 1899,
more than three millions were deducted.
la December, $40, Mr.. w oodbury, then
Secretary Of the Treasury, MIR. Van Blu.
rem, President, with a majority Of their
friends 10 both branches of Congress,) SAID,
IN his annual report TO Congress as follows:
-" Thus the progressive reduction Of the
present tariff, which has been going on
since 1893, will. after December, ls4l,
take effect to much larger extent than
heretofore. Nearly two millions and
haIf will then be deducted at once.
"Ou the first july afterwards, at least
two millions and half more Of duties will
be .sn.aved; making an aggregate in SIX
months, Of quite five millions. Ii the i'm
ports then should not d fer much from those
in 1888, this would leave an income from
them not probably exceeding ten or eleven
million Of dollars yearly. /, viii therefore
be necessary 10 make corresponding reduc
lions 10 the expenditures Of 1872, or sea.
sohobly provide Otherwise, 10 some per.
maneni manner, TO supply all wants likely
TO happen from this cause" In passing
let me remark, thus was the language and
warning of Mr.. Woodbury., Mr.. Van Bu.
ren's Secretary of the Treasury and in
this condition the Wings took charge of
affairs 10 lS4l }
This had been the condition Of the 90.
vernment for nearly ten years, when, II
ls42, the Wings were called upon to ad
just the Tariff, the most complicated ant
troublesome subject Congress ever had L
arrange. Some of the politicians anc
newspapers Of the country seemed to think
tina, all this could be done 10 month, and
great outcry was made because Congress
were 10 session little over month longer
than usual, IN bringing up aliearages and
arranging difficulties of ten years growth
la the meantime the country had growr
extensively, new interests had sprung up
and the Tariff must be arranged TO sui
After months and months Of toll and la
bour, day and night, the Tariff bill va
passed; aud not siths and,ng the deplora
BILE situation oil the people and Of the Gov
eminent, our acting President, in the war
ton, shameless, ridiculous execrise Of pow
er, vetoed the bill. Congress had eilhe
to adjourn, lrave the Government wIihou
money dtshonored IN the eyes Of the worlC
no funds TO pay pensions even to revolution
ary soldiers--of to endeayor to pass. Li'
iening to the dictates Of patriotism an
prudence, another bill, QeavIng out III
land clause VAS passed.
have gwen this detail, that some ide
may DC formed Of The perpexities Congret
met and overcome, opposed at every ste
by the combined Efforts Of the Lncofoco
and their debauched and abandoned vlcti
1.-The acting President.
| proceed nox to other consideration
connected with the Tariff.
IL so happened that il became my du,
az ! thought, TO vote tof the Tariff bill, a
ever since that vote vas given am sat
fed it was right
Government cannot be supported witho
money, and If we do not raise money By
Tariff, we must have direct TAXATION,
When merchants import goods and pay d
ties on them, il IS said those who buy p
the duties, because the merchant ml
charge higher on account Of the duties.
Very well, be II so. Bu no mao pays y
does no, buy foreign goods. The farm
whose wife spins and ~eaves, pays no
to government for cloths from England
Iaces from France. Whatever q paid
der Tariff, IS paid voluntarily. But
der a system Of direct taxation, every n
is forced to pay. Setting aside the
pense and the enormous increase Of ofict
il would be latolersbe. that q poor e
should pay as much fJr tax on his DO
his COW, or any other property as the ri
II we have no Tariff, se shall be entir
dependant on Great Britain and other
iions, for all our manufactured articles.
In the last war, for want Of manulactn