The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-02-07
THE TARlFE--MR. WISE.

From the lnOlCatlOuS III Tue 0IooS onu 10y
Richmond Edquirer, the belief is becoming
quite prevalent that the existing tariff will be
dernoiis shed this session. If such IS 70 be It's
fate, we deem it to be incumbent on Congress TO
adopt substitute which will stand the test Of
time-,he mutations Of parties. And TO do this
we think there IL no better mode left than the
adoption Of the moderate views Of President ~ :
Ter on the 3hbject, His views, as repeatedly
expressed ia his annual messages to Congress,
were the result Of thorough investigations ana
pa.rio.ic medilatons. In arriving at his con-
clusions, he banished all party considerations
from his mind, Keeping steadily IN view MS Oh
legations asChief Magistrate ofthe whole Union,
to protect the interests and maintain me
rights of all lis members. He dwelt upon the
importance Of infasing the elements Of stability
into the system, knowing, from ample experience
that unstable tariff laws, whether high or low
duties were, imposed, were not only prejudicial
to the commercial and manufacturing interests
Of The country, but by deranging the regularity
and amount Of receipts into the Treasury,
necessarily embarrassed and ihwarted the legl'l-
mate operations Of Government.
Well did the President foresee, and truty did
he foretell, the consequences of making reve-
.aue law a parry measure He knew, and we
trust the country knows, that when a sys-
TEN Of duties shall become b0ndybdN. 10 be
knocked hi,her and ,sli,her by the clubs of par
ties, neiiher the cpnsriercial manufacturing,
nor a2sicullnia!ialeres' Of the country can ever
md fItpr
Of he G3yensne n, and the turrefcy . VI ever
be subject 10 disastrous mutatons. Ii aIary
he in power a,ne day which advocates rolli MO.
~ duties and oppressive taxation, the next ano-
ther is ia the ascendency,\ which advo-
Gates measures in the opposite extreme
They obtain power alternately BY warning
srainst each other. And unless the moderate
connssels Of wisdom and patriotism-and where
shalh we look, for them, if not to ga Pres dent
without party 2"-be adopted, there can be no
ssa} pity, M prosperity. o
JM the present juncure, however averse the
~ 1dceed men Of party may be to calm.appreci-
SsioA sf t,e views n the Chief Magistraie-who,
ifnos s.sl.c last Of ~ Republicans, certainly inn
h6aies nors Of the characteristics of the Repubi-
can Fathers Of the Revolution, than any of the
aspirants TO biz place-yet the CONSTITUTION
renders IL obligatory on them 10 respect his OPT
mons And he is not the individual TO shrink
from a constitutional duty. if party Tick
should be calculated to peril the welfare Of his
country In short, whether the politicians may
eondescend to fesard the principles and opinions
OF the President or not, it is very certain that
whateye r they may be pleased TO do, until il OBJ
taim3 bis sanction, will remain undone.
lie principles laid down in the Presidents
Messages, on which the Tariff shoold be ad-
ius,ed, were correctly exempli6ed, according
to our comprehension, in the able address Of
Mr.. WISE, to his constituents and correspon-
dents, in September, 1912. We intend lin
compliance with the request ofseveral Northern
members Of Congress) to make several ex-
tracts, from day to day, from that address, that
such of its Illustrations and deductions as shall
be deemed Of value, (and the production has
won the appreciation Of all moderate menu may
be again presented for the consideration of the
public. II will be seen, in the first paragraph OF
our extracts, that although the opinions of Nj
Wise are mainly in accordance with those OF
the President, yet they were the result of his
own convictions, as are all his opinions.
Erfract from The address of Mr.. Wise.
Ielsdy avail myself Of this opportunity of giving
you my opinions without reference TO those Of any
one else, the general subject Of the tariff refer
to the Presidents message for his opinions and
speaking for myself slons', have opeWy declared in
nv place the House Of Representa- vcS, June % l.
lS42, that merrr amd not what l under.
stand to be ''nw ultra free trade Politician" then
and there cndeavorcd 10 define, in short explana-
ton with my friend Mr. Gushing, Of Massachusetts,
what understood rational free trade 10 be- in contra
distinction the the res which have been pushed to
wild and mpracticabIe extremes on the subject. A
reference to that debate (sse National Int gencer,
June 23d, for an imperfect sketch by the Repor,er)
will show that utterly rejected the idea OF cosw opo-
lite free trade as visionary and impractcable. en-
trta,ned not the ultimate end, which soae look
10 in the future history Of nations, of freedom from
indirect taxation by means of tariff OF duties. re-
gard indirect taxation the best kind Of taxation
a. the easiest imposed, and the most easily borne
tending mcst TO popular content and to national
wealth az most conducive to individual enterprise
AID to the faithful discharge Of tho high duties and
trusts of government and as fact necessary to the
very existence Of civilized and powerful government
in the world 80,
Taxes must be raised for the support Of government,
in some form other 1t is in vain to preach the doc
trne of direct taxation in ordinary times for national
objects and purposes. 1t will do, as our experience
proves for corporation and State purposes which
comparatively mercy municipal, aud nations must
reso to it Ia time OF but IA ordinary times of
peace turden becomes too odi,us AID tyrsnnical
to he endured to the amouet r,q iirelur lie Fed raj
Government. At all events, tne suhIe Is too far
be(ora this time To be discussed Il tbs day. J hrs
idea of abolishing tariffs Of du imports al,ose-
Their is the very ultrsism Of E 20 tade lam no
ultrast in that sense. We must have tariff Tor re-
venue. .
But short Of this Utopian idea Of free trade, just
discussed, is another, to which do not subscribe
Some contend for perfect equality among nations in
respect to trade and claim best 70 put oil other
people upon the same footing with our own people
and every nation on the same platform with ourselves