Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1845-12-12

moneys In the treasury they accrue beyond what Is
required for the appropriations by Congress- to its qu
datiOn. cherish the hope Of being able to con-
grstulate the country on its recovering the
lofty position which II recently occupied Our coun.
ry which exhibits to the world the benefits of self gov
ernment, In developing all the of national pros
perity, owes to mankind the pcrmanen, example Of
nation free from the blighng influence of public debt
The attention ofConaress invited to the Importance
Of making suitable notifications and reductions of The
rates OF duty imposed by present tariff laws. The
object Of imposing duties imports shoulc be 10 raise
Congress s" nav undoubedy I" the sxep
else Of sound discretion, discriminate in arranging
the rates OF duty different artices but the dscml
nations should be within the revenue standard, and be
made with view to raise money for the support oil gov
eminent.
II becomes important to understand distinctly what
IL meant by revenue standard the maximum of which
should not be exceeded In the rates of duty imposed.
1t is conceded and experience proves that duties may
be aid so high as 10 diminish, or prohibit altogether.
the Importation of given article, and therein lessen
or destroy the revenue which, ut lower rates. would be
derived from Its Importation Such duties exceed the
revenue rates and are not imp ,sed to raise money for
the support of government II Congress levy duty for
revenue. Of one per cent on given article 1t will pro
duce given amount of money to the treasury, and will
Incidentally and necessarily afford protection, or advan
age, TO the amount Of per TO the home manu-
facurer Of similar or like article the importer. If
the duty be raised to ten per cent 1t will produce
greater amount Of money, and afford greater
lfit still be raised to twenty twenty five thirty per
cent, and IT, it is raised the derived from 1t
IL found 10 be increased the protection advaniagew
cent and Is found that the revenue produced at that
rate is less than thirty per cent and II ceases TO be
.sss dd The pont IN hs o
ence tina, the revenue is greatest is the maximum
Of duty which can 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 d.
ninish the collected is TO levy them for protec
ton merely, and not for revenue As long, then, as
Congress may gradually increase the rate of duty a
given article, and the revenue is increased, they
are within the revenue standard. When they go be.
revenue is diminished or Destroyed the ceases TO
have for Its object the raising money to support gov
eminent, but Is for protection merely
II does II follow that Congress should levy the high
duty on all articles of import which they will bear
within the revenue standard for such rates would
probably produce much larger amount than an econ
Nor does II follow that the duties all articles should
be nj the same or horizontal rate some articles will
bear higher revenue duty than others. Below the
maximum Of the revenue Standard Congress may and
ought To discriminate in the rates imposed taking
o. to adjust them on different articles as to produce in
the aggregate, the amount which, when added to the
nrceeds Of the sales Of the public lands may be needed
'pay the economical expenses Of government.
In levying tariff of duties, Congress exercises the
lect the objects of taxation They may exempt certain
articles altogether and permit their importation free of
duty. On Others, they may impose low duties In
these classes be embraced such articles of Iecess
" as are In qencpa and especially such
sumed by the poor laborer well by the wealthy
citizen Care should be taken that all the great inter-
Of the country including manufactures iiculture
commerce. navigation and the mechc mic arts, should
as far practicable derive equal advantages from the
incidental protection which Just systsm Of revenue
NAV afford Taxation, direct or indirect, is BURDEN
and 1t should be SO imposed TO operate equally
may be- on all classes In proportion TO their ability
bear it, To make the taxing power actual benefit to
class necessarily increases the burdens OF the 9th.
ers beyond their proportion, and would be man1estly
unjust.
ulir import bnt they should apply under just sys-
te to all the various branches of industry in
try. The farmer p inter who tolls yearly in his fields
is engaged in domestic industry, and is much en-.
titled TO have his labor protected, as the manufacture
e', the man Of commerce, the navigator the mechan
ic who engaged also in domestic indus,ryin their
different pursuits The joint abors of all these CLASSES
c institute the aggregate of the "domesc industry" of
the naiion and they equally entitled 10 The nations
"proecion, which can only be afforded by increasing
burdens the domestic industry of the Others
Ii these views be correct, remains TO enquire how
far the tariff act OF 1872 Is consistent with them That
thq AT az 81 Sls1p q the
prohbi,ory, and on Others So high greatly dmin.
ish imporations and TO produce less of reve.
nue. than would be derived from lower rates. They or
tc s merely S % H
~ tns Introduction Of minimums. or assumed and
fase values and by the i'm POSITION of specific duties the
ejustice and inequality Of the act OF ~ in its practical
operations on different classes aud pursuits seen
aud felt. Many Of Tie oppre ssive duties imposed bv il
under the operation OF these principles range from one
per cent 10 than two hundred per cent. They are
prohibory some articles, and partially OTHERS
and but lightly articles Of luxuryt is framed that
much the greatest burden which it imposes is thrown
labor and the poorer clssses who eas, able bear
Il, while protects capital and exemp,s the rich from
paying their proportion of the taxation REQUIRED for
Tor the support OF government.
Whileit protects the capital of the wealthy
and increases his profits, it does
not benefit the operative or laborer in his en-
ployment, whose wages have not been increas-
ed yit. Articles OF prime necessity or of
coarse quality and low prices, used by the
masses OF the people, are, in many instances,
subjected by it to heavy taxes, while articles of
finer quality and higher prices or of luxury,
which can be used only by the opulent, are
lightly taxed. 1t imposes heavy and unjust
burdens on the farmer, the planter, the COM
merca man, and those Of all o.her pursuits
except the capitalist who has made his in
vestments in manufactures. All the great in
terests of the country are not, as nearly as NAV
be practicable, equally protected by ii.
The government in theory knows no dis
tinction Of persons and classes, and should not
bestow upon some favors and privileges which
all others may not enjoy. 1t was the purpose
of lis illustrious founders 10 base the institution
which they reared upon the great and unchan-
gng principles of justice and equality, con-
scious that If administered in the spirit in
which they were conceived, they difused. and
would secure for themselves a defence in the
hearts Of the peopl', more powerful than
standing armies, and all the means and appi.
ances invented to sustain governments found
ed in injustice aud oppression.
The well-known fact that the tariff act of
40 was passed by majority of one vote in
the Senate, and two in the house of Represen-
tatives, and that some Of those who felt con.
strained, under the peculiar circumstances ex-
listing at the time; to vote in its favor, pro-
claimed its defects, and expressed their deter
mination to aid in its modification on the first
opportunity, affords strong and conclusive evil
dence that it was not intended to be perma-
nent, and Of the expediency and necessity of
speedy revision.
In recommending TO Congress reduction of the
present rates OF duty. and revision and motifca.
ton OF the act OF AZ am far from entertaining o.
pinons unfrenly to the manufacturers. On tho
contrary,l desire to see them prosperous, as far
as they can be so, without imposing unequal bur-.