The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-10-16

II consists in sdIScTif1tilUttOt lOI tfs pun POsS
of rercnue orly;' with protection incident tc
such discrimination and again, that "the
true limit of the right and claim to protec'
ton. is that rate of duty upon any giren ar
ticIe which will yield the largest amount o
rerenue." Beyond this, it Is asserted, Inc
Constitution gives no power to impose du'
ties.
The hinge on which the whole protective
system turns, is, the purpose for which dis,
ordinations are made in the adjustment oil
a scale of duties. If revenue only" is the
purpose, every one familiar with the subject
can see that il may not afford adequate pro-
lection to any interest, since it is obvious
that duty on a given article, falling far
short of Just protection 10 its rival of Ameri-
can production, may be the duty which will
Weld the greatest amount Of revenue from
that article, by reason of its greater impor-
tation under the lower duty. To subject the
protected interests 10 the operation oil such a
rule, is to commit them 10 mere chance. II
this is the "tTue limit of the right and claim
to protection" il is limit within which every
protected interest IN the country may be
crushed. The true doctrine is, not discrlml-
nation for rerenue, with incidental protection,
but a tariff for revenue with discrimination
for protection. The revenue purpose Is to
govern, when we are considering the amount
OF revenue TO be raised upon the whole Of
the importations. No more revenue, in the
aggregate, may be raised, than shall be nee
essary to supply the wants oil the govern
Matchmaking tariff, in this sense a reve-
nue. tariff But while this great revenue
purpose is TO be kept in, view, and its limit
neoer exceeded, another purpose is, also,
to be kept i'll view, namely-that of so dis
eliminating between different classes of ar
ticles, and between one article and another,
of the same class, that while, in the sggre-
gate, we raise only the required amount, we
may, by the discrimination, impose high du-
ties on articles needing strong protection
moderate duties on those needing less protec-
ton, and no duties on such as need no protec-
ton. This is discrimination for protection
the genuine doctrine, of which discrimination
for revenue, with incidental protection, is the
1t was this false doctrine which formed
the leading feature in the report of the COM
mittee of Ways and Means, at the late session
Of congress : and the bill reported by that
Committee, and which stands upon the cal |
endar of the House for its action at the next |
session, was the legitimate result ofthat doc |
Irine.
As perpetual vigilance is the prince oflib-
erty, SO is it emphatically the price of protec-
ion 10 our industry. We can well resist
he attacks of the open enemies Of the pro-
ecrive policy, but may find ourselves baffed |
md foiIed by the deceptive warfare ofits pre-
ended friends. The investigations of this
year, aided by the obvious benefits of the
existing tariff, will, it may be hoped, result in
irmly establishing correct principles on this
subject, and giving permanency to the tariff,
If which they form the basis.
There is another subject of great impor-
ance which demands our attention and the
more so because it is question in which our
lights as State, are directly involved.
'efer to the debated policy Of distributing 10
he States the proceeds of the sales of the |
public lands.
The leading objection 10 distribution-a- !
tide from its alleged corrupting influence up |
m the States, which is not worth considering |
is, that, by taking the amount of the land |
ales from the treasury, we increase the tax
or the support of government, and thereby,
n effect, tax the people for the purpose of
istribution,-in other words, that we corrupt
he people with their own money. The ar
,ument rests upon erroneous views of the
fleet of tariff II is well known that an
Increase of duty does not necessarily, pro-
luce an increase of price. If the proceeds
# the lands are taken from the treasury for
distribution, necessity will of course be
hereby created for raising an additional sum,
quail TO that amount by duties on imports.
But, it is well known, in the first place, that
N augmented duty, lift has the effect of in
reasing the domestic supply ofrival articles,
), in effect, divided between the foreign pro-
ucer and the consumer and. in the next
lace, that SO far as the consumers pay the
dditional duty, their ability generally, to do
o, is increased by the tariff ITSELF in its in
uence on the industry ofthe country. This
shown, among other ways, by augmented
eveAue, under decidedly protective tariff.
S illustrated in the operation of the tariff of
S42. An increased consumption, generally,
lough not always, proves an increased abil-
Y to purchase dutiable commodities; and
lie corresponds with the great tariff theory,
lat protection gives the impulse of increas-
! reward, and steadiness of employment,
} all branches Of domestic industry.
All that part f'the public domain which
IS within the original limits of the United |
tates, is holden by them strictly in trust Tor ,
e benefit of the several states. Distribu- I
On, so far as regards this portion of the pub
; lands, would be but simple execution of Y
e trust created in the deeds Ofcession 10 the +
nited States-a trust which, if the parties
ere subject TO chancery jurisdiction, might
enforced, upon the common principles ap- o
icable to trust estates And although the 4
aim for distribution Ofthe proceeds of the =
nds since acquired, rests upon grounds of
lpedicncy only, and not of strict right, vet v
at expediency is not less clear than is the b
ght under the trust referred to.
Distribution is expedient, in the first place, .,
cause Of its effect upon protection-pre- y
nting as it will, the income from the pub t
lands, from pernicious interference with d
e protective policy, by leaving the whole of n
e needed revenue, TO be drawn exclusively
om impost duties. And this constitutes
other striking ground of difference between Fl
e genuine and spurious friends of protec- /,
m.
Distribution is expedient, also, because the :
seeds OF the national domain are thereby Is
ought nearer to the people, who can, thro' o
cir Immediate representatives in the State h
yislatures, more wisely and benefcialIy :.
proprlate them 10 purposes of needed i'm ="
ovement. Since the arresting of the poll al
Of internal improvement, by the national al
aNfr l.. II n