The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-21
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. GOV
PORTER.

1t has been stated very frequently, that no
Stale in the Union has deeper interest in the
tariff and keeping up high rate of duties, par
iicularly on iron than Pennsylvania.
BY accident we cast our eye on letter writ
ten by Governor Porter, the early part Of this
tariff, which, in our opinion, shows much good
sense and takes proper view Of the question.
He says;
"Tho adjustment Of the tariff must ever be a very
delicate question. Public opinion seems to be
settled that no more money ought to DO raised by i'm
post duties than Is necessary TO defray the expenses
ofgovernment economically administered. We must
include in those expenses for several Yeas to come
large appropriations TO our harbors and forthcatons
many Of which now in state Of diapidation and
decay. II seems TO be equally well settled that in
the imposition Of those duties should be taken
TO discriminate as to give protection to the pro-
ducts end manufactures Of our country. In other
words to make II the means, in the language of the
act Of 1883 for "the encouragement and protec-
tom Of domestic industry in all its branches 1t
scarcely hereafter that the expenses Of the
general government will be less than twenty FIVE mil
lions of dollars per annum. That sum raised with
proper determinations in addition TO the amount ne.
cessary to pay oil the existing public debt would sf'
ford in the opinion OF many, sufficient protection
our home industry. Our farmers and manufacturers
need regular and permanent system; one that shall
not by being upduy oppressive upon portion OF
our citizens be continually inviting and exciting oppo-
sition and hostility or by beng too low PROSTATE
domestic industry at the foot OF foreign capital and
labor. My system would be to impose such duties on
all articles the like II Which zoe can produce
Jaofure al home, as would our own people from
the gluts which foreign capitalists might create in
our markets with the view Of destroying our own
product manufacture In is infancy, In times OF
depression and TO enable our people at all times Ia
compete having decided advantage on their side
with the foreign producer manufacturer
In carrying out this system however, should ever
keep in view the principles which governed the sage,
OF 1877 In adopting our Constitution"
Again, the Governor remark
We should ever keep in view, in administering
the Government, the principles on which, and the
spirit in which formed, and think this and
will be done by giving hIed and certain encourage
men, and protection to all the chief product. Of
domestic industry, 10 a revenue tariff properly dis
eliminating in its details. | would do this not tina
have any doubt Of the power Of Congress TO gram
protection, for the sake Of protection; but from
motives OF policy TO make the system certain snt
permanent, and TO prevent those runous fluctuations
10 business growing out Of the doubts and fears
gendered by the constant agitation of the question "
the political discussions and cone Is Of country
Governor Porter is largely concerned in III,
iron business in Pennsylvania. A revenue Ia
riff with proper discrimination, will afford, 10
his opinion, sufficient protection to our manu-.
fsc,urers. II the manufacturing monopolists il
New England would unite in procuring such
tariff, we do not doubt that il would lead 10 III,
system becoming certain and permanent.