Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-12-04

tolls yearly in his field is engaged in "domes-
tic industry and is as much entitled to have
his labor 'protscted,' a. the manufacturer,
the nan OF comm ,rce, the navigator, or the
mechanic, who are engaged sls) In domestic
industry ia their different pursuits. The
joint lsbors 0i all these classes constitute the
aggregate OF the domestic industry Of the
nation. and they are equally entitled to the
nations protection" No one of them eau
Justly claim to he exclusive recipients of PRO.
lection" which can only be afforded BY in.
| creasing burdens ON the domestic industry
Of others.
II these views BE- correct, il remains 10 in
ouirc how far the tariff act Of 1912 is consist.
ent with them. That many Of the provisions
OF that act are i'll violation of the cardinal
principles here laid down. all must concede
The rates Of duty imposed by it OH some arti-
clcs are prohibitory, aud on Others 40 high as
TO greatly diminish importations. and to pro-
duce less amount of revenue than would be
derived from lower rat $. They operate as
protection merely" to one branch Of '.dSm-
este industry, by taxing others.
BY the introduction OF minimums. or assn.
med and false values, and by the imposition
OF specific duties. tn: injustice aud inequali-
ties Of the act OF 1912, in its practical opera
| tons on different classes and pursuits, are
seen and felt Many of the oppressive duties
imposed by il under the operation Of these
principles, range from one per cent to more
than two hundred per cent. They are pro-
hibitory on some articles, and partially 30 ON
others, and bear most heavily on articles Of
common necessity, and but lightly on articles
Of luxury. 1t is 80 framed that much the grca.
test burthen which il imposes is thrown on
labor and the poorer classes who are least able
to bear it, while il protects capital and ex-
emps the rich from paying their just proper
ton OF the taxation required Tor the support
of government. While it protects the ca pital
vi the wealthy manufacturer, and increases
his profits, il does not benefit the operatives
or laborers in his employment, whose wages
have not been increased BY it. Articles OF
prime necessity or of coarse quality and low
price used by the masses OF tn: people, are,
in many instances, subjected Ia il by heavy
taxes, while articles OF liner quality anl high
er price, or oil luxury, which can De used only
| by the opulent, are lightly taxed. II imposes
heavy ami unjust burdens OH the farmer, the
planter, the commercial man, aud those of all
| Other pursuits, except the capitalist who has
| m ide his investment III manufactures. All
the great Interests of the country are not. as
nearly as may b. practically, equally protec-
ted by it,
Tn, government in theory knows no distinc-
| ton OF persons or classes; aud should not bcs-
tow upon some. favors aud privil"g 3 which
all others may not enjoy. II was the purpose
Of its illustrious founders TO base the insti,u-
tons which they reared upon the great and
unchanging principle of justice AMI equity,
conscious that il administered i'll the spirit III
which they were conceived, they would b, felt
only BY the benefits which they di.fuscd, AMI
would secure for them selves Il defence III tn.
hearts of the people, more powerful than stan
ding armies, and all the means and appliances
invented To sustain governments iount.d In
injustice aud oppr ession.
The well known fact that the lariG act of
, 1912 was passed By "A majority of on. vote Ill
the Senate, and two in the House oil Repr'-
scntatives, and that som. OF those who fclt
Themselves constrained, under the peculiar
C um,tances existing at the time, TO vote in
in !avor, rocl in d its defects. md express
. their dctefm ton {, aid in lis mp'liiea-
ton OH the ST opportunity, aff,rd s,rons&
conclusive evidence that ii was not inten ed
to be permanent. and of thu eIpediency and
necessity OF III ,rough revision.
/ In recommending To Congr IS reduction ~
! the present rates Of duty, and a revision and
modification of the act of 1912, am Tar from
entertaining opinions uniriendly To .the man
ufacturcrs. On the contrary, desire to see
them prosperous, as far as they can be- 50, with
out IMPOSING TN ,quai burdens on other inter
tSlS. iHc any otSN~hi Va ''
direct taxation; even Within the revenue stan
dard must BE- in favor OF the manufacturing
interest; and of this no other interest will com
plain.
recommend TO Congress the abolition OF
the minimnm priaciplc. or assun't aroitra
~ and false values, and OF spe ilic duties, and
the substitution Ill their place OF the talrsst q
most equtabls Indirect tax which can b. i'm
posed. b. tn, al valoreln prin ,iple all drti-
ties are taxed according TO IN IT value, and
those which are of inferior value or OF small
cost bear only just proportion OF the tax
with thos, which are OF sap .rior quality or OF
greater cost. The articles consumed by all
are taxed at the same rate. A system ot al
valorcm revende duties, with proper discriini-
nations and proper guards against frauds in
collecting them, it is not doubted will Afford
ample incidental advantages TO the inanudc-
tnrers, aud culble them to derive as great
profts as can be derived from any other Tegu-
lar business Ii il believed that such sys-
tenn, strictly within the revenue standard
will place the manufacturing interests ON Il
stable footing, aul inure TO their permanent
advantage, while it will, as nearly as may be
practicable, extend to all tn, great interests OF
the country, the incidental protection which
Can TIC afforded BY our revenuc laws. Such u
system, WHEN once firmly established, would
b, p rinlncnt, aud not D. subject To constant
j omplains, agiiations anil changes which
mast ever occur Wien duties ar mt ldi ioi
I revenue, bat Tor the protection m;rtiJ oi d
favored interest,
In tn. deliberations of Congress on this sub
. ject it is hoped that spisit oil mutual con
f; ces 10 aud com promise between ON lictin:
! interests my prevail aud that the result o
: their labors my b. crowned with the happi
est cons quehHs.
$ B; the Constitution of the United State
= il is prJvi lei thdt ~ money Shall o. draw
9 from the Treasury bai i'll rluencc OF az
e propriiiions ,de BY law. Apdblic TrrasI
o II was unlou5. clly contem plated ant intend
e ed TO be created, in which the m 'nsy Shout
o b, kept from the period OF collection unit
!, needed for public uses. In the collection all
C Disbursement Of the pubic money no agencie
Al L.,.. aunr h,r,, ,lnr.h hv lnNr eHcnnI suf