The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-03-27

that ali the citizens ofether Of these sections of the
country entertain opinions, or take positions, as
extreme as those here stated. On the contrary, It
is believed that if any, in fact do, very small mi
norty in either section, whether as a matter OF
principle or of expedlency, would wish to see the
legislation Of Congress take either Of these extreme
ferns; and this reference is made to the manner
Of advocating these supposed claims and rights
sometimes resorted to, for the purpose OF drawing
the papablc Inference, that any degree OF earnest
ness In pushing such extremes, even In depa,e can
not be likely to hasten an approach 20 that niean
upon which alone wise and Just LEGISLATION can pe
based, when interests really conflicting are 10 DC
affected.
II Is not to be doubted that the opinions enter
tanned in every section of the country as TO the
form and policy of proper b 'als ths tr u1e
honestly believed to be s"se M thew prevail
nsturalIv dictate nor that those interests are in
tended to be faithfully maintained and de,endedb by
every representative OF them. When, however,
interests so extended various, diversified and
90 conflicting as the interests of agriculture, COM
merce, and manufactures, throughout this wide
spread country, cannot fail to be, in reference to
the distribution of taxation between them,-when
such interests must all be seriously affected by
single law, no advocate Of either Of these great
interests, or of any branch Of either, can reasonably
expect or should expect, that the peculiar interest
which he represents shall be alone consulted; or
Its relief from burden, or its direct advancement,
alone considered and provided for Nor can it be
matter Of Just disappointment surprise, If law
partial shall have passed. or shall hereafter pass
that it Is made the subject of constant agitation and
change. Any legislation (and especially any such
legislation our tariff laws) to be permanent must
be just; and to be jus 1T must have the nearest at
tainable approach to equality of action upon all the
great leading interests Of all sections of the coun
try, so tar as those interests are affected by the
These are principles which none will dispute
Iii their application to the details OF tariff bill
which will furnish the ground for disputation, as 1t
has the ground of difficulty IN the action Of the
committee, and must in the action OF the House,
STILL when advocates equally confident, and equal
ly earnest and sincere are ready 10 Demand on be-
half of every interest," that II shall be peculiarly Ia
vOred in the formation OF any bill and when each
is seen to contend, not merely that his opponents
do not understand and correctly comprehend the
full and true bearings OF a proposed law upon the
particular interest he espouses, but that they
equally mistaken as TO the proper manner of pa
tronising the interests they themselves favor, it
would seem to be at least possible that all who
take these extremes may be partially in error; and
II must show that much Is TO be yielded, on all
sides, IN spirit OF generous concession and har-
mony, or that no legislation can be reached, which
can give quiet and peace and satisfaction to the
country, or permanently TO the Legislation itself.
Under the full force of these Impressions, the
mittee have entered upon the difficult and response
commencing ex enslve notifications of IT, 1t has
been their most earnest intention to avoid the ex
tremes above aluded to, and at least to proceed
safely, II they should be found not to have advan-
ced as far into the correction OF existing errors
the House may suppose justice and sound policy
require.
cussion of the great questions connected with potl
cal economy, the laws of trade, and the like, which
surrounds this subject. These questions have been
so frequently and so fully discussed in Congress,
and are now undergoing that discussion, so much
more ably than this committee could hope to give
it, and so much more fully than the reasonable
limits OF report would permit, that they feel ex-
cused from entering upon it.
The committee have endeavorcd, however, not
to forget that the duty they called upon to dis
charge, is to measure, from the best information
fhnuc ga m nht md IN m thn hnaf ,,,dn
ments they can form, the extent of taxation which
1t IS necessary to continue upon the people OF the
country, IN order to secure certain supply Of money
to the public treasury, to the further accum
lation OF public debt, and to provide the m ans
for an early payment OF the debt already contract
ed
They have already stated the grounds upon which
they determine that additional revenue is necessary
to secure these objects; and their examinations of
the present tariff law, and of the import tables have
demonstrated to them proposition which they be-
heve Is not controverted IN any quarter-that to OBJ
tam increased revenue from the imports charged
with duties under the existing law, the rates of duty
established by that law must, in the general, be
duced. The same examinations have fully satisfied
them-as they believe the fac they present with
this report will satisfy the Housethat equal Justice
to the whole country, to the whole people, and toal
the great interests OF both, lmperousy requires
ducton and equalization OF these rates of duty.
Still, the committee have proceeded upon the as
sumption that i is the settled and unquestioned de-
termination OF the country as they believe it to be
its wisest and soundest policy that so much reve-
nue. as cannot be derived from other present exist
ing sources, and as shall from time to time be found
necessary to defay the expenses Of the government
and pay of every public debt constutonally con-
racted, shall be raised by duties upon foreign i'm
ports This has been the policy and the practice of
the government in time of peace, and when our for
eign trade is exempt from the hazard and embar-
easements OF state OF war, from its institution to
the present time and so successfully has this course
sustained US against the crushing influence of en-
during debt and oppressive and odious internal tax
alton, that change of the policy is not, in the udg
ment OF the committee, to be contemplated They
have seen evidence to satisfy them that any con-
siderable portion Of the people, would even submit
to change from this mode of levyng the necessa-
ry federal revenues, to that of internal taxa
ton, Of any description, or in any form
much less that they have formed strong an at.
tachment Tor perfect protection upon the one side
or perfectly tree trade upon the other, as to desire
to adopt either, at the expense of this rich and
otherwise. exhaustless source of revenue, and tie
transfer OF millions OF dollars of annual taxes to their
manufactures, their workshops, or their farms.
To obtain revenue g to pay the debts, and pro-
vide for the common defence and general welfare
of the United States, was the object for which the
constitution conferred upon Congress the power " TO
lay and collect taxes, duties, imposs, and excuses "
and while neglect to lay the taxes necessary to
accomplish these objects would be the omission of
a duty, on the one hand, the imposition of such
rates of duty as should! prove to defeat revenue
would be an equally clear abuse of the power upon
the other. The committee has endeavored to gov
ern its action by constant reference to the object
of this grant OF power, and so TO measure its recon-
mendaons as not intentionally to fall into either of
these errors. STILL its members well aware of
the defects in their information, and in their pract
cal acquaintance with the great interests involved
in their action, and they do not pretend to believe
or even hope, that they have avoided all errors
On the contrary, they consider il more than proba-
BILE that experience may show that such tariff bill
they recommend will, In practice, in some part-
culars, violate the rules by which they have intend
ed to be governed; that some duties, reduced as
they propose, may still be too high for revenue du-
ties, ana mat DINERS would bear with adVaut-
age to the revenue. 1t is difficult TO tell what
will be the effect OF any tariff law upon the trade
of the country, until experience has developed its
practical effect, that the committee have not ex-
pected to accomplish more than an approach to a
standard, which, improved and perfected by the les
sons OF experience, may finally be seen to be Just