The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1844-04-04

Lhe provisions Of the compromise act Of 1893. &
The unbiased sentiment of the country, in res
pect to what is under such circumstances the {
proper rule for Legislative action upon this sub
ect, has, think, by the course of events and the
process of opinion been brought 10 the conclu-
sion, briefly expressed in one of the resolutions
of your convention, viz: "a discriminating tar
ifr for revenue purposes only, and which will in
PROTECT AMERICAN INDUSTRY"
sBut as experience has shown that the terms
employedby your convention are not always used
in the same sense, it is due as well 10 the sub
ject and the occasion as to myself, that should
give you without reserve, my own undersa nding
of them.
"Adequate revenue, for the support of all
Governments, must be derived from some source.
1t has no where been found an easy task to pre-
serve equality in raising it, and at the same time
10 overcome the general repugnance to the pay
ment of taxes in any shape-a Tepugnance arr
sing more from an apprehension that their avails
will not be wisely applied, than from an unwil-
lingness on the part Of the people to sustain their
government, by those who pay them. Those adj
vantages may in general terms be justly descr-
bed as resulting from as ample security in the en-
lioyment of our personal rights and rights Of pro-
Iperiy, with adequate safeguards against internal
commoton and foreign aggression. In respect
to the immunities of the person, and civil and
religious freedom, the interests as well as the
immediate advantages of all are equal. Not so
with the other privileges secured TO us&by our
free government. The unavoidable disparity in
the pecuniary condition of our citizens, makes
the degree of benefit they respectively derive
from tile maintenance of an efficient government
over property and the right of property, essenti-
ally different. The modes of raising revenue
allowed to and adopted by the State govern
ments, are generally graduated by this disparity
If the results are not always equitable, the fault
it is believed, will inmost cases be found nt their
action upon the principle, rather than in the prin-
ciple itself The right to raise revenue for its
support, by the imposition of duties in lieu of d.
rect taxation, is by the constitution, subjected to
the exclusive control of the Federel Government
This right, subject to the limitations imposed by
the grant, was given TO it for that purpose, and
has been freely exerted by it since its establish
ment. 1t would afford me much pleasure TO ably
to say that the exercise of this power has borne as
equally upon all classes of the people, however
unequally their pecuniary conditions, as the tax
es imposed by state governments. But this
cannot with truth be said. Nor is the inequal-
: ity unavoidingly resulting from the Federal
, mode of collecting taxes new discovery 1t
was foreseen and objected TO when the power
. was conferred, as an evil inherent i'll the system,
which could not fail TO show itself in its opera
: ton, and the injustice ofwhich no form oflegis-
lation, however it might be made TO mitigate,
! could ever be able to remove. The advocates
:, of the system were Notwithstanding reconcled to
it by belief, no doubt sincerely entertained, that
= the inequalities which it was feared would result
from the collection of duties upon imported artl-
cles, would be prevented the fact that the con-
sumption would be in proportion to the means OF
the consumer. 1t was upon this ground that the
principle was defended That this expectation
! has notbeen realized, is undeniably true. There
are but few if any who cannot, in their immedi-
, ate vicinity, point out numerous instances in
which poor men with large families, are actually
: obliged to pay more for the support fthe Fed
eral government, than others who are in afiuen
: circumstances, but are either without, or have
!, smaller families; and few if any countervalnG
examples are to be found At the same time
the great body Of wealth invested in Incorporated
: or associated companies, and in bonds and notes
entirely escape Federal taxation. The mass OF
the people seem nevertheless TO prefer this mode
of collecting the revenues Paying their taxes
. in the form of an increased price upon the COM
10 modities they buy, their contribution loses, il
J.; their estsmation, much Of the odium that would
n be attached to it, it severed from the price Of the
article, and converted into tax by name as it
in fact. 1t also wears the appearance of vol
untary contribution, although IFS payments is TO
j. the most part as unavoidable as a compulsory i'm
n position would be. 1t is supported, too, by the
,f odium which was attached to the imposition o.
- direct taxes many years since, for purposes whicl
! were not approved by the people, and by th'
y fact that in most of the States the taxes are di
n rect; rendering it for that reason desirable tt
/ substitute some other mode of raising revenue
&c for the Federal Government. These and otho
=. considerations have to the impost preference il
II the public mind which would render the imposi
4 ton of direct taxes in time of peace exceedmg
d odious, and have produced as great degree o
n unanimity in favor Of tariff for revenue as Cal
6 ever be expected upon public question. Y
% the great mass of opponents to protective tar1
there is not, so far as | know, single State @
d district that has taken ground againgt revenu
" tariff
~ 'Let us now for moment look at the advar
: tages which the manufacturing interest, abov
10 any other, derives from tariff imposed for reV
C enue only The first tariff bill, passed in l7Ss
er and all those that followed it between that per
: cd and the war, were in fact, Notwithstanding th
recitals in some of them, revenue bills
"The average amount of the imports und'
+ them, commencing at l2a per cent. was gradua
ay ly increased from that to 10 and up to ~ pt
&c cent At the latter average it stood from lSO
at to lS0S and until the commencement OF prepa
ations for war. Twenty per centum, upon a
!, average, appears, in the judgment of those be
D acquainted with the subject here and elsewher
to be the rate best adapted for revenue. 1t