Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-03-29

duty, the rate Of which is high to diminish the
amount of revenue derived from the importations OF
The article upon which it imposed and the rate Of
which requires TO be reduced to increase the revenue
AND when gwen amount OF revenue IS desired 10 DO
raised upon any given article Of Importation the CON-
mlltee regard the lowest ra,e Of duty which will ef-
feet the result as the true and legitimate revenue
duty.
This will show what description Of law the com.
mittee would denomInate revenue, and what pro-
tactye tariff and to what extent they would give the
one character the other 10 any gwen law The pro-
lection afforded under revenue Tariff, thus Defined
they would denominate incidental and il the revenue
be required, they cannot that The consequent pro-
lection can be subject of grievance or complaint on
the part of any interest The protection afforded by
protective Tariff according TO the same definition is
direct and positive operates diminish destroy the
revenue; and constitutes, the committee believe an
exercise of the power to lay and coec, duties entirely
lndefensbe in principle and policy, and often furnish
ing broad ground for Just complaint The terms 'sper
feet protection, the committee understand be syno.
nymous with perfect prohibition and therefore entire
ly destructive of all revenue, because prohibitory of
all imporatIons.
The terms "ree trade in their broad sense the
committee understand to be equally inconsistent with
the idea OF revenue from imports, because they sup
pose that trade which perfectly free, be bur
dened with any duties not imposed 10 furnish facilities
TO itself In this sense they assured the phrase is
understood in some portions Of the country, when used
in connection with legislation Of this description; and
the advocates OF system OF free trade are supposed
to be also advocates of change of system OF re-
venue from duties on imports, To internal taxalion d.
rect and indirect. The committee believe that if any
hold these views much the nrges, class of those who
call themselves friends of free trade do not attach
to the terms any such extent and only intend TO be un-
derstood by the free trade they advocate much free
dom of trade as may be enjoyed under system of dutea
arranged with sole reference 10 supply Of the public
treasury and the rates established low the econo
mcal wants of that treasury will allow
In the Same manner, the committee have reason to
suppose the terms 'proecon, "iriends of protection,
and of the protective system, have attached TO them
very different sGnihcatIon, used by different per-
sons and especially in different sections of the coun-
try. One calls himself friend Of protection and un-
derstands and intends only that incidental protection
afforded by revenue Tariff, as the committee have
defined such Tariff Another uses the language,
and intends by 1t an arrangement Of duties with prI-
mary reference to protection, leaving revenue as the
ncident-carryng The rates Of duty TO partial per-
feet prohibition, the interest 10 be protected shall
seem TO require; in short, intends protective Tariff,
the committee have defined such Tariff. These
widely different meanings gwen to The same language
and the same phrases, in the sections of country,
by persons entertaining these derent opinions and not
nappropriately expressing themselves the same gene
raj language give rise TO greatly mistaken pressons
other sections where the terms ''proecton and 'pro
hlbtion held 10 be nearly synonymous, and
the friends Of only that degree of protection
srs;ent with and fair arrangement of revenue
Tariff 10 be widely misunderstood az are those who
call themselves friends OF free trade, and yet only
IL IN that modified sense which the committee have ex-
planned, and which is also consistent with fair reve
nue. Tariff
Ii the committee right in these remarks, it can
not fail to be SEEM that the line which separates the
means upon this yexed question 1.-THE friends of Incl
dental protection under tariff, and Of free
trade subject II revenue tariff is so broad 10
differences which should be i!reconclabe orlto
excite feelings which should disturb the harmony of
the Union. Both hold to the exeron of the taxing
power only to obtain revenue "to pay the debts, and
provide for the common defence and general welfare
OF the country. Both consider duties imposed upon
imports az taxes imposed upon the people for the bene
fit Of their treasury-not bonus conferred upon
class or interest IN the community, ut the expense OF
all the others And beth must concede that these bur-
dens should be imposed in TO be as little
felt, and 10 do little injury possible to all the c.
and all the interests Of the country Their only
differences therefore, must arise to the articles TO be
charged with duty, and TO the distributions of the
rates of duty upon the articles 10 be made duabe; the
necessities Of the public treasury being always, with
both the measure of taxation.
The extremes in this conlroversy--the friends of
perfectly free trade and of perfect although
at an Unreasonable and irreconcilabe distance from
each other 30 lar as trade is concerned, are nearer
than the means, as respects the revenue, either
system alike perfect destruction 10 that Certainly,
IT no duties for revenue imposed, 10 leave trade
free, revenue be realized and it is equally
certain, if such rates of duty be established, to
perfect protection, to prohibit importations, the
same result, AZ TO revenue must be experienced. A
trade perfectly icked up by prohbltory duties
more yield revenue than trade perfectly free from,
duties and either OF these systems carried perfectly
out, must equally produce the necessity for internal
aSaon To supply the public Treasury its loss OF the
revenue from the customs. The committee have in
tended to propose notifications the existing Tariff
law, which, II adopted, would constitute il Revenue
larf within the rules they have before laid down.
STILL finding great proportion OF the most important
duties much above what they believe TO be the
nue. limit, and anxious TO fall into the opposte
reme bot to consult all the interests 10 be affected by
reduction OF the duties, far that be done
consistently with bringing back the rates within the
revenue principle, they haze preferred rather to stop
short OF, than 10 fall below, the rates fixed by that
principle Not pretending To be able To determine the
exact point 10 which the rates Of duty upon any OF
these articles may be carried before revenue will be
diminished has been their intention TO approach That
line cautiously, and 10 be sure not 10 cross II. The
strong reductions 10 be made IN many cases, has
seemed to them to render pedleh and proper that
as TO those interests the highest rates consistent with
the revenue, should he suffered 10 remain, until expe-
renee, under the law so amended shall determine
whether the necessities of the Treasury are likely To
require the continuance OF such duties III, with these
notifications, surplus of revenue shall not be ex
perienced rs one of the practical effects Of the law,
then will be far better iiat these high rates have
been suffered 10 remain, than II have reduced them
below the tqn-emen,s Of the Treasury, again to be
raised at the hazard Of renewal OF prohbory duties,
and repetition Of changes. II, on the other hand, the
proposed to be retained shall prove TO be above
what necessary for revenue, the cscertainment of
that fact must furnish information upon which a fur
;her reduction, to the proper revenue point, can be
much smelly and certainly made than at present
The committee desire, however, that their views OF
principle and policy upon this point may not be misun-
ders,ood. Yielding they have done, by their &C
ton, all the incidental protection, which high
revenue Tariff afford, they must be distinctly
understood to assent the continuance of that
degree Of protection, only upon the condition that
the demands npon the Treasury shall require the
high duties, and only long ~ that necessity
shall col tiEue to require them. Whenever re-
ducton of the public expenditures, or the poyment
of such portions Of the public debt as can be paid
off, or both, shall present surplus Of reyenne,-the',
without delay, and before the evils attencrn. upon
uperabundant shall be again visited upon ths
country in excessive expenditures, dangerous and ms
chevous depos,cs or distributions 10 the States,
further reduction Of the duties should be made 10 What
shall appear be the standard In this way
the proper point for stable and permanent system
OF DUTIES may be reached, without further fluctuations
from extreme 10 extreme, and without any future yo-
ett charge very materially affecting the course Of
trade. the incidentally protected interests. That
the committee may have mistaken the true revenue