The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-10-09
Letter from James G.. Birney.
70 !Mr. Errett, o(Pittsburgh.l
Lower Saginaw. Mich.
Aupust s. 1874.

DIAN 2rR:-Your friendly letter Of the
12:h July. reached me more than week
Ren. Agricultural calls, particularly i'm
pe-a,ive on us here at this season Of the
year. bave prevented my answering it till
to-day. Their continuing pressure Will
compel me. now, in replying to your letter,
10 confinc myself rather 10 a statement OF The
conclusions have been brought on to the
Tariff question, than to insisting on the reas-
onings bv which have been led to them.
Th,t our government will ever adopt
direct taration of any sort, as permanent
revenue system, seems 10 me altogether inn
probable at least, too improbable TO serve
as a basis TO reason from. A commercial
people. as we arc, will draw their revenue
from Customs. They will believc-and
rightly rs it strikes me-Jhat the proper OBJ
jec:s Of taxation may be as ehectualy and as
e9uitably reached BY this mode as any 9th
e|.
A tariff for revenue to meet the ordinary
expenditures Of the government will have 10
Ia The rule. This once settled, should oc-
Cartons arise demanding extraordinary ex-
peuiitures. the people will oheefully con-
sen, TO higher duties 20 meet the exigeney.
Brt higher duties than are necessary for
revenue will never apprehend, become the
permanent policy of the country. Ii would
rot be acquiesced ip by majority, so largely
prepanderant as to produce even silent sub
mission, much less cheerful assent TO il, on
the part Of the minority. The moral in0u-
euce Of aur political institutions forbids our
looking for such result. These institutions
hav impressed on us heyssentiment, that any
inequality Of right to enjoy all the benefits
flowing out of the action of the government
IL unjust. The existing generation has
grown up under this influence. IL has be-
got en- in them strong repugnance-nay,
even spirit of resistance to any and every
Thing that has even the semblance OF immu-
min or pririlegc conferred on particular
portion of the community. Right or wrong.
,hey believe il saVors Of the ariStocrdticdl in
fhe most odious sense of that word, as il is
rsceivcd-apd naturally enough-by peo-
pie whose Constitution aud form OF Govern
meni declares them all equally entitled to its
benefits. To insist on protective tariff,
then, further than revenue tariff can be
made protective. is, as it seems 10 Inc, TO OPP
pose the natural-the constant, and there
tore in The end, the irresistible influence OF
principles that lie at the foundation Of our po-
liticaI organization. There are other cir
cumstances too important TO be passed by I'M
noticed. The uninterrupted peace that we
have enjoyed with European nations, and
THAT they have generally enjoyed among
themselves for more than quarter of centu-
ry-the nearness into which this happy re-
lation, aided by the steam-engine, has bro't
IT'S and them-the coustancy of our mutual
Intercourse with thenl-the sympathy and
corporation that this intercourse has already
brought about among the good and the learn
II al
i, the pursuits of humanity. literature aud
&c ;euce-the ties that it has created by mar
TiaSes and in business of almost every name
and description-ties that under its influence
are multiplying and strengthening themselves
every day-all, all contribute TO arouse and
foster our discomfort at being compelled TO
psy, at New York or Philadelphia. double
price for articles made in Birmino ham or
Lyons, merely to encourage, comparatively
very few in our own county 10 engage in
the competition to produce them. 1t is true,
that these causes are almost imperceptible in
their processes-but they are. on hat ac-
count, the harder TO be resisted. They may
be slow auxilliaries. but unless ] am greatly
deceived as TO their power, they will be found
sure ones, in removing the obstacles vet re-
manning In the way Of Labor ever receiving
all that il can Justly lay claim to.
These sentiments have expressed above
would not, l know, meet with acceptance in
many parts of the country. Many. even the
most faithful Of the Liberty party would prob
ably dissent from them. ] have not been
forward to publish them, lest, by doing SO,
might in some degree. contribute to diyest
oar friends from our paramount object, the
overthrow Of the STARE powcr and because
felt well assured, as still do, that IL the Lib
erty party come into power, the whole coun-
try viii soon be brought inlo the most fayora-
bic circumstances for harmoaizing all its ap-
plrenily discordant interests and for settling
their proper basis all The important exis-
lin; questions OF national policy. Now, the /
iahor of the country is made up of hostile !
fnrts-slave and free. Irrccoucable in !
their nature. they can never he brought to OPP
crate tremendously together under one sys- |
tenn Of legislation. Let no one, then. look /
for lwr;nss and Discussions 10 pass away |