The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1844-04-12
WEEKLY ALMANAC.
The Tariff.
Eauac, from the Speech of
MR.. MeDUFfIE, or 5. CARoLrs.,

Delivered 10 the $. Senate, Jan -, l-ii in
reply to Messrs. Huntington and Evans.
afier some general remarks, Mr. MeDuf
e. caue to speak OF the black Whis Ia.
riff u 1912, aud SAID
/. is entitled an oct to proride revenue
hy imposing duties on imports; falsehood
.aud deception stamped on the very from, Of
il. A ball 10 propide rerCaue, which LAYS
sn average duty Of 100 per cent. on several
descriptions uf imports that would come in
10 the unaed States, 10 the amount OF $40,
900 coo annually, under revenue duty Of
20 PEI cent, bat Which are nov totally ex
clBdsd by these enormous duties. | will
10. go INTO tails hui state generally, that
the duties 90 wlndow glass range from %
to 10 pee coat, m1kWg an average Of
mote ihaa 100 per Gent. 90 all descriptions !;
thai lna dulles ~ many sIueues OF m1nu
featured iron, embracing most Of the tools
and implements necessarily used on every
farm sud plantation 10 the country, ate
from IS TO 100 per cent, and more al va,o.
rem; thi, the d0.y 90 raw lroa. an article
in uusctsa, use, IS ll2! per ccui the
dIsyoa Ill those cotton manufactures which
come under the miRimUn principle 81 ,aiua
ton land ws,ch would be apor:ed annual
h to the amount OF ten Or & teen millions Of
dollars uaJcr a revnuuo du,y OF 20 per
cent? range from GU 10 100 per cent. on
their true value that the duty on sait--an
article Of universal use, consumed 10 alnos,
equal quantities by the rich and poor, and
extensively consumed by every farmer, not
oaly Tor family purposes, bg, ,cn times
more extensively lor bis live stock-ls :
cents per bushcl, CHE article cosria- only
or 9 cents "a Liverpool equal 10 1884
per cent 90 the original cost.
Nos, sir, having adsonyd 10 the promi.
neat features Of tue EXISTING tariG, pro
pose 10 submit to tho consideration OF the
Senate some general views with regard 10
tho true character aud extent Of Tie fe,c.
nae powers Of this government, and It is
mol ouly practical question OF esped,en.
cy, but practical question Of c1usulu
iional power, addressing ilsuIf to the con
science ami judgment Of every member of
this body. " What, then, is the extent and
the Limitation OF the power conferred by
that clause which authorizes Congress 10
raise revenue by the imposition OF duties
4 bill IS reported from the Committee on
Finance, and The tllo IS "a bill 10 provide
revenue for the support OF the government. "
To ascertain whether The bill Itself con.
forms to tho title, | ask what s the linc
uhteh A,attnnMtGEaa ~
tive dutiesl IL i,praclicable TO draw such
line Of discrimination with sufficient dis
lInc,ness, to render 1t Of any substantial utll.
iiy think /, -, sir aod shlll now On.
deavor TO present 10 the senate rule on
this subj ct, which | think every member
will sdn, to be lrue ~ the abstract, what.
ever may be the difficulty in us practical
application.
hold, then, Mr.. President. that under
The power Of imposing duties 10 raise reve
nuo, there is this limitation imposed, not
only by tho contribution, but by every con.
sideraiIoo Of sound policy and II itapplies
10 ono article imported, It equally applies
10 evefy other. The rule is this: reye
hue duly must bc tho lowest possible daiy
That Will yield the largest, % The required
amount Of revenue, repeat the PROPOSE
llon, s'r, land ask the attention Of thu
Senate to IT, that revenue duty should be
'he lowest possible rate Of imposition tba
would yield revenue required to support tht
government wall illustrate this view
Every senator knows that any duty. how
ever small, rs, TO n certain extent, pfohb
rory duty. If you lay duty of 10 pc
eehi'' Il excludes very considerable
amount of imports. IL you lay duty 0
~ per cent, 1t excludes s,,ll more and 81
on progressively, all you roach tho poin
Of total prohibition. Now, sir, ! will sup
pose (as | believe the truth 10 be) that |
udy oil 20 per cent, on cotton goods vii
y,eld as much revenue us any higher duty
10 be more specific, will assume that
under revenue duty Of 90 per cent. OF
iorelen manufactured cottons, tho amour
~ ~ millions would be imported into th'
United States, on which duty Of 30 pc
cent would yield revenue to the govern
ment OF four millions OF dollars and tina
every senator shall be satisfied that dot,