Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-12-24

500. 96S, FOG SO, of which SS,5SS, 81 81
were applied TO the pawn of the pub
lie debv. The balance in the treasury on
the first of July last, was $7,65s,306 %.
r.
THE TARIFF.
The attention of Congress is invited TO
the Importance of making suitable modif-
cations and reductions of the rates of du-
ty imposed by cur present tariff laws.-
The object OF imposing duties on imports
should be to raise revenue TO pay the ne
cessary expenses of government. Con-
gress may, undoubtedly, in the exercise Of
a sound discretion, discriminate in arrang-
ing The rates of d1iy on different articles;
but the determinations should be within
the revenue standard, and be made with
The view TO raise money for the support of
government.
1t Is become important to understand dis.
distinctly what is meant by revenue
standard, the maximum of which should
not oe exceeded in the rates of duty i'm
posed. 1t is conceded, and experience
proves, that duties may be laid so high
as to diminish or prohibit altogether the
importation of any given article, and
| thereby lessen or destroy the revenue
which, at lower rates, would be derived
from its importation. Such duties exceed
the revenue rates, and are not imposed
10 raise money for the support of govern
ment II Congress levy a duty for reve-
nue. of one per cent on a given article,
1t will produce given amount of money
to afford protection or advantage to the
amount of one per cent. to the home ma
nufacturer of a similar article over the
importer. If the duty be raised to ten
per cent. il will produce greater amount
of money, and afford greater protection.
If 1t be still raised to twenty, twenty five,
or thirty per cent, and if, as it is raised,
the revenue derived from it is found 10 be
increased, the protection or advantage will
also be increased; buff It be raised 10
thlrty-one per cent, and it is found that
the revenue produced at that rate is less
than at thirty per cent, it ceases to be a
revenue duty. The precise point in the
ascending scale of duties at which-it Is as
certained from experience that the reye-
nue. is greatest, is the maximum rate of
"htNh SdI bC ldlI lOI ttlS UeftQ rae
purpose OF collecting money for he sup
port of government To raise the duties
higher than that point, and thereby dimi-
nlsh the amount collected, is TO levy them
. for protection merely, and not for revenue.
AS long, then, as Congress may gradual
ly increase the rate of duty on given
article, and the revenue is increased by
such increase Of duty, they are within the
+ revenue standard. When they 90 beyond
that point, and as they increase the du-
ties, the revenue is diminished or destroy.
led, the act ceases TO have for its object the
raising of money to support government,
but is for protection merely.
Il does not folloS that Congress should
levy the highest duty on all articles Of I'M
port which they will bear within the reve-
nue. standard; for such rates would proba.
bly, produce much larger amount than
the ecomical administration of the govern.
ment would require. Nor does it follow
that the duties on all articles should be al
The same, or a horizontal rate. Some ar.
tlcles will bear a much higher revenue du.
, lty than others. Below the maximum oil
the revenue standard, Congress may and
ought to discriminate in the rates imposed
taking care so to adjust them on different
/ articles as TO produce in the aggregate
; the emount which, when added TO the
! proceeds Of the sales of public lands, may
] be needed to pay the economical expenses
l of the government.
In legying tariff of duties, Congress
exercise the taxing power, and for purpo
ses of revenue may select the objects Of
t taxation. They may exempt certain ar.
: tcIes altogether, and permit their import
alton free of duty. On others they may
: impose low duties. In these classes shouIc
: be embraced such articles of necessity as
: are in general use, and especially such a:
$ are consumed by the laborer and the poor
7 as well as by the wealthy citizen. Care
] should be taken that all the great Interests
t Of the country, including manufactures
: agriculture, commerce, navigation, anC
: the mechanic arts, should, as far as MAY
r he practicable, derive equal advantage:
e from the incidental protection which
: Just system OF revenue duties may afford
: Taxation, direct or indirect, is burden
! and should be so imposed as to operate a
t, equally as may be, on all classes, in tn,
# proportion of their ability to bear it, Il
make the taxing power an actual benefit t
$ one class. necessarily increases the bur
o den of the others beyond their proportion
: and would he manifestly unjust. Tn
h terms protection 10 domestic industry,
u are of popular import; bat they should ap
e ply under just system TO all the variOu
: branches of industry in our country. Thu
d farmer or planter who tolls yearly in hi
/ fields, IS engaged in domestic industry,
y and is as much entitled to have his labo