The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1845-10-21

free trade principles have become more
active and systematic. OF the existence
of such activity and system, we have but
too conclusive evidence, in all the indica-
tons, official and semi-official, of the new
administration. 1t is given out in ways not
to be misunderstood, that the head of the
financial department is industrlously ell
gagged in maturing plan for reducing the
tariff to the revenue standard" What
that standard is, in the opinion of the
school Of political economists to which
the Secretary belongs, may be gathered
from very elaborate report of the Com
mittee of Ways and Means, of the House
of Representatives, at the first session OF
the 2Sth Congress, in which it was de-
clared, that
every duty is to be considered and
is properly de nominated, a revenue duty,
the rate Of Which yields the largest amount
of revenue from the importation of the
article upon which it is imposed and
every duty is to be considered and is prop
erly denominated, protective duty, the
rate of which is so high as to diminish the
amount of revenue derived from the i'm
portatons of the article upon which it is
imposed, and the rates of which require to
be reduced, to increase the revenue. And
when given amount of revenue is desired
to be raised upon any given article of i'm
PortatIon, the committee regard the Lor0est
rate Of duty which will effect the result,
as the true and legitimate revenue dutv.'
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forded by revenue tariff thus defined
that would denominate incidental. The
protection afforded by protective tariff,
according to the same definition, is direct
and posltive-operates to diminish or de-
stroy the revenue, and constitut es an ex-
ercise ofthe power to lay and collect du-
ties, entirely indefensible in principle and
policy"
1t thus appears that "direct and positive
Protection"-that is, protection which has
the effect to diminish revenue from any
given article, is entirely indefensible in
principle and Policy''-the only allowable
protection being that which is incidental
to revenue duiy-that is, incidental to
that duty which, without any reference to
protection, will yield 1.-The largest amount
OF revenue, from the importations Of the
article upon which it is imposed"
The mere statement of this doctrine is
sulhcIent to show that it strikes fatal
blow at the principle of protection, be-
cause that rate Of duty can, obviously fur
nish no stable protection, which is made
to depend, not on the degree of protection
1t will furnish, but on the amount of reve-
nue. 1t will yield-since it is well known
that rate of duty on giyen article
which will yield little or no protection
may be the very rate which will yield the
most revenue. There is not a protected
interest IN the country, that can stand
single year, under the application of such
a principle as this.
The true principle may be thus stated
"A tariff which, while it shall, in the
aggregate of its duties, yield the amount,
ana no more than the amount, needed
Tor the treasury, shall be so adjusted, in
ITS details, as to throw so much of that ag-
gregate upon articles needing protection,
as TO give the protection needed-the bal
ance being thrown upon articles needing
little or no protection.
1t is against the principle OF reuenue
duty with ineidrnfai protection, in the Pro-
team shapes it will be made to assume,
that we are doomed TO contend and it is
a contest with fearful odds, when we take
into account the power and influence OF
the new administration, aided by the de-
ceptlve application of the sliding rule of
protection incideHfatto a rerenue duty.
Nor is this the only aspect of the dam
ger. The Secretary ofthe Treasury, whose
purpose to destroy the protection afforded
by the tariff of 1912 is not attempted TO
be concealed, is engaged in the usprece-
denied work of collecting, without the au-
thority of Congress, and by replies 10 Ger
tain questions propounded to manufactu-
rers ond others to be answered without
oath or cross neutrality-suspicious. to
enable him TO carry his destructive pur-
pose into execution.
Vermont has too deep an interest in the
great question thus about to be forced to
fearful and perilous issue, to remain in
different or silent. 1t is due to the great
value ofour interests involved in the true
principle Of protection, that we thorough
ly scruiinize the false principle on which,
by combination of its pretended friends
with lis open enemies, protection is to be
made to rest. The imminency ofthe i'm.
pending danger would seem 70 call for
decided expression of the General Assem-
bly, on this subject
have received from the Corresponding
Secretary of the American Peace Socie-
~ a communication on the subject of
Peace, with request that would Law it
before the General Assembly. In COM
pllance, L send herewith copies of the COM
munication for your consideration. This
request appears to be part of general
movement of that society to impress upon
the rulers of States and Nations the duty
oil reconsidering the question of war, as il
stands connected with the temporal and
spiritual interests of men, and to inculcate
the Importance and practicabiity of SUI
perseding its supposed necessity, by the
principle of Arbitration, applied to nations
as IT now is to individuals.
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