Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-03-26


to that men upon which alone wise and JUS, legislation
can be based, when interests really conflicting are to
be affected
1t is not to be doubted that the opinions entertained
~ every section Of the country, The form and po
icy OF proper Tariff law honeally believed to be
such as the true interests OF the section where they
prevail naturally dictate that those interests are
intended TO be faithfully maintansd and defended by
every representative ri them. When, however nte-
rests so extended various, diversified and so con
tetiDg as the interests OF agriculture commerce. and
manu- actures, throughout this wide spread country,
cannot fail TO be, in reference 10 the distribution of
taxation between them-wien such interests must all
be seriously affected by single law, no advocate Of
either OF these great interests OF any branch of Ell
ther, can reasonably expect should expect, that the
peculiar interest which he represents shall be alore
consulted; or its relief from burden, or lis direct ad-
vancement, alone considered and provided tor Nor
can 1t be matter OF just disappointment surprise
law partial shall have passed or shall here after
pass, that IS made the subec of agtatIon
and change. Any legislation, (and especially any
such legislation Tariff laws) TO be pc ornament
must be just; and TO be just, 1t must have the nearest
atalnabe approach equality of action upon all the
great leading interests Of all sections OF the country
so far as those interests affected by the law
| These are principles which will dispute 1t
is their application 10 the details Of tariff bill which
VIII furnish The ground Tor d'spulaon, as it has the
ground of difficulty in the action of the committee
aud must IN The acton Of the House. Sui, when ad
vocales equally confident, and equally and sim
cefe are ready to demand on behalf Of every interest,
tina! II shall be peculiarly favored the formation OF
any bill; aud when each contend, not merely
That his opponents Go not understand and correctly
comprehend The full and true bearings oil proposed law
upon the particular interest he espousss but that they
are equally mistaken In the proper OF laroniz
ing the interests they Themselves avor would seem TO
BE- al least possible that oil who take these extremes nav
be partially ~ error; and IT must chow that much 10
b. yielded, oil SIDES, spirit OF generou sconces
son and harmony, that leg station b. ached
which can give quiet and peace and satisfaction
the country, or permanency 10 the legislation Itself.
uad-r the full iorce Of these Impressions the COM
mntee have entered upon the difficult and responsible
duty OF revising the present Tariff law, and recon-
mend ng extensive notifications OF IL. Ii has been
their most earnest intention to AVOID the extremes
above alluded To- and at least proceed y # thy
sn ud be found not To have advanced lar into the
correction of eAsng errors the House may suppose
justice and sound policy require.
IL Is not the object oi tins report 10 attempt Discus
SION al the great qnestons connected with political
economy, the laws Of trade, and the like, which
round Tins subject These questions have been fire.
qnenly and so fully discussed IN Congress, and
undergoing that discussion so much more ably
than this COMMITTEE could hope To give II, and muc:
more fully than the reasonable limits Of report would
permit, that they ee excused from entering upon II.
The committee have endeavored, however, not to
forget that the duty they called upon discharge,
10 measure, from The best information they oh
;ain and according 10 the best Judgments they
FORM the extent oil taxation which 1t necessary TO
continue upon the people oil the country, order 10
secure certain supply OF money To the public Tfeesu
ry, 10 arrest the further accumulation OF public debt,
and to provide the for early payment OF the
debt already contracted.
They have already stated the grounds upon which
they determine that additional revenue ~ necessary
these objects; and their examinations ot the pre-
Tariff law, and of the import tables have demon
strated to them proposition which they believe IS no.
conlroverted in any quattsr-that to obtain increased
revenue from the imports charged win duties under
the existing law The rates Of duty established by rha,
law must, in the general, be redu ed The exam
nations have fully satisfied them as they believe the
facts they present with his report will satisfy the
Houseihat equal justice TO the whole country the
whole people, and to all the great interests OF both,
perIonsly requires reduction aud equalization OF these
rates OF duty.
Still, the committee have proceeded upon the
SUMPTION, tha, 1t is the settled and unqueslloned deter
minaton of the country, they believe IL TO be its
wlsest and soundest policy, that much
as cannot be derived from other present exsung
sources, and shall, from time time, be iouGt
necessary TO deiray the expenses Of the Government,
and pay oil every public debt constitutioBally
taced shall be raised by duties upon foreign imports
This has been the pol cy and the practice of Go
ve.nment IN time OF peace and when foreign trade
exempt from The hazard aud embarrassment, ot
of war; institution To the present lime: and
successfully has this sustained against the
crushing Influence OF enduring debt and oppressive
and odous internal taxation, That change Of the poll
cy is not IN the judgment OF the committee 10 be
Iemplaed. They have evidence 1, satisfy
them that any considerable portion OF the people would
even submit 10 change from this mode OF lew ing The
necessary Federal revenues that Of internal TAXATION
of any description, or 10 any FORM much less that they
formed strong attachment Tor perfect pro
lection upon the one side, or perfectly free ttaGe upon
the other, TO desire 10 adopt either al the expens
OF this rich and otherwise exhausess source OF reye-
nue, and the transfer Of millions Of dollars of annual
taxes to their manufactures, their workshops, their
farms.
To obtain revenue "lo pay the debts, and provide Tor
the defence aud general welfare Of the United
States, The object for winch tho Constitution con-
terEed upon Congress the power lay and collect tax
es, duties, lmpcsis, and excuses; and while neglect
to lay the taxes necessary to accomplish these objects
would be the omission OF duty, the hand the
imposition Of such rates OF doty should prove de-
feat revenue, would be an equally clear abuse Of the
power upon the other The committee has endeavo,-
ed 10 govern It's action by constant reference 10 the
object OF tins grant Of power, and TO lis
commentators not Intentionally fall either of
these Still, its members well OF the
defects IN their information, and their practical
quaintance with the great Interests involved their
;on and they do not pretend to believe, even hope,
that they have avoided all errors Ga The contrary,
they consider IT more than probable that experience
may show that such Tariff bill they recommend
WILL practice, IN some particulars, violate the rules
by which they have intended u be governed; that
duties, reduced as they propose may sr' be too high
with advantage to The revenue. 1t difficult 10 tell
what will be the effect OF any Tariff law upon
The trade of the country, uEtl experience has de-
v-oped It's practical effect, that the have
not expected accompl si than al approach 10
standard, which, improved and perfected by the is
of experience may finally be seen to be Just and
equitable all interests, and may, therefore, the
appreciate Of intelligent and ra,rlouc people, and
thns become somewhat permanent.
No complaint has been universal, or, az the
committee b. lieve, better founded in fact, than that
which comes from the manufacturers, the merchants,
all other classes OF business interested IN the
tier and lates u the frequent and extreme chad
ges and fluctuations constantly experienced IN tie
legislation OF Congress upon the same OF the Iant
The causes Of these changes aud Il Their extr' me
character appear 10 the COMMITTEE 10 be most appa-
reEt rs dnes also that those who mos, comp OF
the changes, and the most deeply affected BY them,
are Inc mselves very great extent, The authors OF
their own msfortunes from this source. Those nte
rested in having high rates Of duty imposed npou THAT
are known he protected articles, take the
position upon side Of The question; and whenever
they find Congress, the majority of which IS willing
10 favor their peculiar interests, whenever comb'-
of circumstances present he opportunity urge