Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1845-11-08
THE PRESENT TARIFF.


Previous to it's elevation to power, the Dem
ocra,ic party presented its principles clearly 20
The public. and gave unreserved and unquaIl.
fed pledges of what it would accomplish "
favored with the suffrages Of a majority OF Inc
people. The issue between the Democratic
and the Wing party was tried one year ago
the people, sitting as jurors. decided for the
former. and committed 10 it the guardianship
of their honor. interests, and prosperity. II
therefore remains The duty Of the present ad'
ADMINISTRATION to carry out all the measures II
proposed-,o perform all the pledges it gave
in the same good faith and sincerity with
which the measures were advocated, and the
pledges given. 1t remains the duty OF the
administration, Immediately upon the assemo'
ling Of Congress, to materially Wou'1y '"o
presen, tariff, and reduce it TO the revenue
standard lin shor. 10 permanently establish
yerenue tariff. This change is due 10 the PEG.
ple who demanded i, 10 the election OF Mr..
Polk-consistency requires it of the Admins
tration-it is due to the whole country, and es-
pecially to the Great Agricultural West,whlch
has too long had its hard labor severely taxed
10 suppor. the pride and wealth Of eastern
monopolists and manufacturers. This change
Is required by people who have suffered
enough from the manufacturers tariff, and II
will be made in the spirit Of impartial JUSTICE
and not from mere love of alteration and nov
el,y. We all feel that, in the matter of duties
upon imports, permanency is all-imporant to
the commerce aud prosperity of the country.
but the first principles Of common sense are
sufficient TO convince Us that such stability is
to he obtained rather by revenue tariff, with
equal, Just, and sufficiently protective duties.
than by protective tariff, with duties exorbit'
ant, unjust, and taxing roundly the produce
and industry Of the country for the benei. of
manufacturers-in short. forcing Labor 10 pay
its heavy tribute to Wealth.
II is acknowledged by both the great po-
litcal parties Of the day, that the means for
supporting our government. must be derived
from duties upon importations from foreign
countries. I,is further agreed that, in adjust.
ing the details Of tariff, Determinations
should be made in favor Of articles Of domes-
tic manufac,ure-,hat 10. that imported arsi-
cles, coming in competition with articles
which are the growth or manufacture of this
country. should pay higher duty, be heavier
iaxed. than e""h not. Startinr from
these two points Of agreement, the Wing aud
Democratic parties radically dverge in princ-
pie and practice. Though the Democratic
party would consider direct tax as the most
equal, open-handed and honorable way Of sup.
porting government, inasmuch as il would tax
property and not persons. and force each man
to pay in proportion to his interest IN MAIN
tanning good governmen:-thoush il consid-
srs any tariff tax as making the poor man pay
as much as the rich, and as being tax upon
persons, and not upon Property-yet, in the
present situation of the world, i, admits the
necessity of tariff regulations, and advocates,
for our government, a tariff reduced TO the rev.
enue s.andard-a rerenue tariff with only ad
valorem duties, or duties in proportion to the
value of the article taxed. The points Of dis
,inction between suck tariff, with such du.
ties, and the one ne W in operation. are explicit
and easily comprehended. We have atarf
openly acknowledged to be protective. abound
ing ia a mixture Of al volorem, specific, and
minimum doties-which two last are the per.
lection Of legislative meapness and degrada-
tion-we ask for revenue tariff, with only ad
valorem duties. Wherein consists the change!
A revenue tariff is tax levied upon i'm
portations from foreign countries solely and
entirely for the purpose of raising the means
for an economical administration Of the gov
eminent Its first purpose, its principal OBJ
teci, is TO raise revenue by such an ad yalorem
duty-say one averaging from 90 to 80 per
cent.-as shall not unjus,ly tax the produce
and labor Of the country. by materially raising
the price Of the domestic article, ia conse.
quence Of taxing, and thus shutting out, the
foreign one. A tariff formed for raising the
necessary revenue can and will under such
moderate duties, discriminate in favor Of and
afford adequate protection and encouragement
to domestic manufactures. Hence, such tar.
ID has revenue for an economical admnis,ra-
lion for iis first and main object, and pro,ec.
ton as consequence. 1t is in accordance
with the spirit of the Constitution, which
gives to government the power Of levyine
tariff tax 10 provide means for it's support. bu.
no where allows it the privilege Of levying
such tax to protect any interest, or any set of
men. revenue tariff singles out no one in
'sTest as an object of protection and favoritism,
and one to be built up at the expense of all
others. Il ia liberal and exnansixa in il.