Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-12-06

"U75uFeu mo dOaTe recelp{s
INTO the Treasury during the SAME year were twenty
millions seven hundred and thousand one bundled
and thy7thee dollars and y six cents q which hec were
ueseo from customs twenty sesen millions five hundred and
twenty eight thousand one hundred twelve dollars and
seventy cents from sales Of the public lands two ;ons
seventy thousand and twenty-tvo dollar. sJ 49,,
cents and nom incidental and miscellaneous sources one
hundred and sixythee thousand hundred and ninety
eight dollars and fifty six cents The expenditures for The
same period twenty Lime millions hundred and SIX
yeeh thousand two hundred and six dollars and ninety
eight esnts Of which eight millions i've hundred and eohiv
eight thousand hundred and fifty dollars and sxty
two cents applied 10 the payment Of the public debt
lhe balance In the Treasury the first OF July last seven
millions SIX hundred and fifty eight thousand three hundred
ana slx dollars and twenty-five cents.
ne amount Of the public debt femainng unpaid the LIST
oe'ober last seventeen millions sevenyve thousand
~, ,poI hundred and foyfve dollars and ytwo cents. Fur
Of the public debt would have been made in
o. the period Of lis reimbursement under the au
conferred upon the Secretary Of the Treasury by the
81 az e Sis is4l and q April 5h ls42, and March
o1o, naa no the unsettled Of our relations with
Mexico menaced hostile collision with ,iat Power In v;s
sucn contingency deemed prudent 10 retain in the
treasury an amount unusually large for ordinary purposes
hs Rsv, ~. a ~, whole national debt growing out Of
me ana the war Of 8l2 with Great Britain was
exnghished and We presented he work. me rare and no
DE spectacle Of great and growing people who bad fully d
charged every obligation Since that Tune he 49,.
has been contracted and email as il Is il cor;o ;,h
the similar burdens Of most other nations should ~ er,n
gushed at the earliest practicable period Should hs STATE f
the country permit and especially our foreign relations in
in the Treasury they accrue beyond what 10 required a.
the appropriations by Congress, its liquidation chesis
the hope Of soon being able to congratulate the country
recovering the lofty position which il SO recny
occupied Our country, which exhibits the world The ben
Gifts Of segovcnmen in developing all the sources of ma
ona prosperity to mankind the permanent example
nation free from the bjghtng influence Of public debt
The attention Of Congress invited 10 the importance of
making suitable notifications and reductions of the
duty imposed by present tariff laws The object Of inn
posing duties imports should be TO raise pay the
81
edy in the exercise of sound discretion discriminate
ranging the rates Of duty different articles but the dis
ordinations should be within the standard, and be-
made with the view 10 raise money for the support of Gov
eminent
It becomes important understand distinctly what is
by revenue standard the maximum Of which should not be
exceeded in the rates of duty imposed is conceded and
experience proves that duties be laid high to d
h prohibit altogether the importation Of any given article
and thereby lessen destroy the which, at lower
rates, would be derived from its Importation Such duties
exceed the rates. and not imposed TO raise
for the support Of Government If Congress levy duty for
revenue OF per cent. given article it will produce
given amount Of money the Treasury, and will incidentally
and necessarily afford protection advantage TO the amount
of cent to the home manufacturer of similar or like
article the importer II the duty be raised to ten
cent it win produce greater amount of money and afford
greater protection 1t be still raised twenty twenty ve
thirty cent? and is raised, the derived
from found be increased the protection advantage
will also be increased hut if il be raised to thirty per
cent and found that the produced at that rate is
q
The precise point the ascending scale of duties at which it
asceraned from experience that the is greatest
the maximum rate Of duty which be laid for the bona de
purpose of collecting money for the support Of Government
To raise the duties higher than that point and thereby dimn-
sh the collected, levy them for protection
y, and for As long, them Congress may
gradually increase the rate Of duty given article, and the
increased by such increase OF duty they are with
in the revenue standard When they 60 beyond that point
and they the duties, the diminished
destroyed the have for its object the raising Of
money support Government but is for protection merely
II does not follow that Congress should levy the highest
duty all articles Of import which they will bear within the
standard for such rates would probably produce
much larger amount than the economical administration Of the
Government would require Nor does it follow that the duties
all articles should be a, the horizontal rate Some
articles will bear much higher duty than others
Below the maximum Of the standard Congress may
and ought discriminate in the rates imposed taking care SO
10 adjust them on different articles produce the aggre
gate the which, when added to the proceeds OF sales
Of public ands may be needed pay the economical
penses Of the Government.
In Ievying tariff of duties, Congress exercise the taxing
power and for purposes of select the objects OF
They may exempt certain articles altogether and
permit their importation free of duty On others they may
impose duties In these classes should he embraced such
articles necessity general use and especially such
as are consumed by the abore and the poor well by the
wealthy citizen. Care should be taken that all the great in
Of the country, including manufactures agriculture,
commerce. nayigao and the mechanic arts Should far
may be practicable derive equal advantages from the Incl
dental protection which just system Of revenue duties may
Afford Taxation, direct should
be 50 imposed operate equally may be, all
classes the proportion OF their ability to bear it. To make
taxing power actual benefit class necessarily in
the burden Of the others beyond their proportion and
would be manifesty unjust The terms protecon to do
nestle industry Of popular import but they should APP
ply under just system, all the various branches of industry
in country. The farmer planter who tolls yearly IN
his fields isengaged in domestic industry and is much
entitled have his labor "poteced, the manufacturer.
the Of commerce. the navigator, the mechanic who
engaged also in domestic industry in their different
pursuits The joint abors Of all these classes constitute the
aggregate Of the domestic industry Of tho naon and they
equally entitled to the nations protection" No one Of
them Justly claim TO be the exclusive recipients Of pro-
ection which only be afforded by increasing burdens
on the " domestic industry )" Of the others.
If these be correct il remains 10 inquire how Tar the
tariff act Of s42 consistent with Them That many OF the
provisions Of that violation Of the cardinal pnci
Piles here laid down, all concede The rates OF duty
imposed by articles prohibitory, and on others
high greatly diminish mporntons and to produce
revenue than would be derived from lower
They operate protection merely to one branch
Of I" domestic industry" by taxing other branches
BY the introduction of mnmums, assumed and false va
ue and by the imposition Of specific duties the injustice and
inequality Of the act Of ls42 in its practical operations on dit
fcrent classes and pursuits and felt Many OF the
oppressive duties imposed by under the operation of these
principles from one per cont to more than two hum
dcd per cent They prohbiory some ARTICLES and
partially Others and bear most heavily articles OF
common necessity, and but lightly articles Of luxury IL
framed that much the greatest burden which II imposes
thrown labor and the classes who are least able 70
bear H. while protects capital and cxempts the nch rom
paying their just proportion of the taxation required for the
"a the nj