The North-Carolina standard., 1844-01-17
THE TARIFF-DUTY ON SALT.

growth or production, are exempt from duty Up
on these articles the Secretary of the Treasury in
his late Report recommends the laying of duty,
so as to produce frem them revenue to the Gov
ernment 10 the amount of four millions of dollars
This, we humbly conceive, is beginning at the
wrong place. Coffee has become, to great ex-
tent of the neceSsaries Of life. 1t is used in
almost every family in the country-and why tax
II for revenue, while there are other articles, used
almost exclusively by the wealthy, which are en-
tered with low dutieS2> Why tax it, and at the
same time let the manufacturers receive call dye
stuffs, as the Act says, free of duty2 Are the
poor alone to be made to bear in what they eat,
the burdens of an extravagant and splendid gov
ernment2 We are not ashamed to talk for the
poor man. All our feelings are with him, and
we desire to see him first though Of and first pro-
teetsd, on'all occasions. 1t was saying of DR..
Franklin that if you would take care of the cents
the dollars would take care Of themselves. 1t is
so in this case-take care of tie poor, and tile
rich s0iU take care Of themselves.
The duty on Salt originated during the war of
1912, and is emphaticaTly auar-tar. And it is
little remarkable that, of the whole budget report
ed in the House at that period, by the Committee
of Ways and Means but one was rejected-and
that was the duty on salt. And it is stated as
fact, thatthe Committee, in order to carry their
point, pledged themselves that it wartax
only, and not intended to remain in existence in
times Of peace. II has remained in existence,
however, and the people are now required TO sub
nit to the enormous tax of one hundred per cent.
upon this prime necessity. This is one of the re-
suits of the Federal Legislation of the late Harri
son Congress and out of the mouth of their own
deceased President will we condemn themI In
1928 the duty on salt was discussed at length, and
with great ability, in Congress, and we subjoin,
from page 591 of Gales & Seatons Register Of
Debates, the following extract from the speech of
General HARRISON on this subject Here it is:
''But, Mr. President, (said Mr. HARRISoN.) this du-
ty upon salt snpposed to another important principle.
1t is tax, and heavy tax, agriculture. Upon that
interest which is important than any other, and
which, indeed, all the others depend Salt is largely
used every farm, but TO the grazer essentially
cessary No prosecute this branch of agricutu
raj Industry the estern country at least, with tole
Table success unless he procure the article at such
reasonable price to enable him to freely. And
the condition of his stock will always be in proportion to
the quantity used Its beneficial effects ielt
than one way. 1t saves food for, the animal which is
we'll supplied with this article will atten upon food of
coarser quality, and which, without it, would scarcely
sustain him 1t serves instead Of shelter In the cold
rains of Winter, the Western grazier gives double por
ton of salt to his unhoused stock (and few supplied
with covers j its cordial and gorang effects upon
the stomach of the animal, enabling it to resist the in
clemency OF the weather. 1t saves labor. With good
supply OF SALT one or two men can keep together herd
OF cattle or mock of sheep, grazing in the wilderness,
with more than ten without it. So strong is the
force of habit in the brute creation, we'll in their
ordy MASTER that will bring together the widely scat
where they had been to receive their rato
of this necessary condment. Let the price of this art
Gle, Mr. President. said Mr. H., be raised 10 make
it difficult to be obtained by the poor and the Inhabitants
of many Western cottage will go supperess bed. III
to pass through that country sir you would
at the hour OF sunset, the little tenants of many hut
looking anxously for the return Of their solitary
which, having wandered far into the wilderness would
not return TO supply Them with their nightly wholesome
beverage but in the expectation of receiving reurA
from their hands, luxury to her as acceptable
sary."
Nor is this all. We have the authority of MIR. |
Macon in our Gvor-MAcoN whose word was
as good as his bond-whose authority was and is
good every where-MACoN, the embodiment of
North Carolina virtue and North Carolina demo-
eracy, and in the language of JOHN RANDOLPH,
the Fabricius of the country" Are there any
so hardy as to join issue with him ?: He paftici-
pated in the same debate, and delivered, in his
place ia the Senate, the following sensible and ex-
cellent speech:
"Mr. MACON said, that the Government was not the
same now as when he and the gentleman from Mary
aed IMr SMITH first came into Congress. He thanked
the gentleman from Ohio for bringing this bill forward
and would appeal to the canor of the gentleman from
New York, whether the State he mr. Macon represent
ed was in condition to bear the buFthen of this tax
The people did not complain and probably sent fewer
petitions to Congress than other State thew felt
It severely There certain things which ought not
10 be taxed in any couhty-hings that entered into the
plain food Of the poor and labOrng classes and which
we're necessary to sustain le He had generally found
hat when the Senate did not want to pass bill it was
lrgued that it would not be taken the other House.
The Senate not to decide loG the other House
When the bill came hey should decide for
themselves: This duty seemed to him in the light of
stock which Congress had got out the People, and
bill to pass nthe Senate and be rejected in the
ether House, it would make difference in bis opinion
do not believe that the arguments of ME
book, quoted last year by the gentleman from New
Hampshire, be conroverted. Neither do consider
that perfect exposition Of the odousness Of this
be made than last year made by that gentle.
man [Mr Woodbury. This article goes into every meal
we eat Not mouhtul goes down the poor mans throat
which is not seasoned with it. And why should not the
duty be reduced? Because those who are engaged IN the
would get less price But, Is even our
food 10 be taxed because a few individuals own salt
springs? He deprecated the principle which was fast
gaining groundsof legisatng partially in favor of
class of the community, which would have the effect if
not opposed, of establishing oligarchy among u.s.
What. said Mr.. M. unite A felloyv