Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-05-14

was never, 10 our knowledge, denied, un-
til necessity existed TO make line oi
! policy palatable to our people, which had
been forced upon them against their earn
est remonstrances. That being conceded,
/ it follows, as necessary consequence,
that the labor invested in any unprotected
employment must pay whatever dulles
may be levied. and collected OH the arli.
cles which il consumes, whilst The dones,
tic producer OF those articles not only
avoids The payment Of the itnposl, buI is
enabled by those duties, to sell portion
of his products at higher rates than if no
revenue wasneeded by the Government.
The exigencies Of the nation are thus made
source # profit 10 the manufacturer; for
protection. not only shifts The burthen OF
Government from his shoulders, but makes
his trade more profitable than it would be,
IT there was no burlhen 70 be sustained by
the people. This we hold 10 be so unjust
and oppressive-so contrary 10 the eSl,I-
mate functions of good government
that nothing bu, an express recognition IN
the fundamental law could give such
power,o Congress. Tins recognition can
uo he found in the Constitution.
We admit the power ITO lay and col
lect taxes, duties, imports and excises, 10
pay lhe debts and provide for the com:
mon defence and general welfare Of The
NUniled States y but den. II fo! any other
purpose whatever. To provide fund TO
be thus expended being the only oIjec!!
recognized by the Constitution, or consis
tent with justice, we hold il 10 be evident
that tariff should mol be levied for any but
revenue purposes which should be made
to apply in levying every iIem OF duty
Allhoush revenue and protection are incl
dental to each other, within certain lin
its. vet they are hostile iu their natures.
Revenue depends upon Inc amount of i'm.
porlalions which comes into the country !;
while protection can only be afforded by
excluding a part or The whole produc OF
foreign industry. If a desire TO dscrimi-
nate, with design to afford protection, be
allowed 10 fix and determine any item of
duly, i gives, 10 that extent, protective
character 10 any scale Of duties which con-
tans such discrimination. If the de-
gree of the protection Ilus afforded should
not amount to prohibition, the mere fact.
that revenue is incidentally produced.
does moi prevent lis being fraud on the
Constitution, as well as an act OF oppres-
sion 10 rhe people. Al principle is thereby
smuggled into the Government, and allow
ed 10 control the course Of legislation,
though hostile in lis nature TO the power
from which it is applied, aud destructive
in its operation, 10 The pretext by which it
is admitled. Should this point be yielded
The whole question is surrendered. Under
the power 10 discriminate for purposes of
protection, The revenue may be destroyed
by probibitory duties. Andt the interests
of The country require that The power
should be exercised in one instance, and to
a certain degree, we can see no reason
that it should not be exercised in every in
stance, audlo any degree, which would
not force the government TO resort to di
rect taxation, as the only means of de-
lrayug its expenses.
Experience proves, that low duties, by
increasing imporIations, affect the greatest
amount of revenue, and, although pro-
lection To most articles of domestic manu-
laciure be The necessary and unavoidable
incident to any system Of duties. yet we
deny that this consequence is one of the
Constitutional purposes for The accomplish
mcnl of which Tariff shoule be framed.
|, therefore becomes the duty of Congress
| 10 fulfil the expectation Of the people, by
cnactins a revenue hill, aud, in framing
the tariff nt duties, to make lis purpose
unequivocal by adopting the limit of the
Compromise as The maximum duty. The
Democratic party having heen once be-
lrayed should not consent to further con.
cession or longer delay, hut task all its en-
crsics to carry out the dnctriue Of free
trade, sanctioned as il isby justice, and de-
u,audeL b. the people in the election of
ous Cuicf Magistrate. The Convention
which made him the candidate OF The party
in the late contest, by the same authority
pronounced for the party against pro-
Icclive system. Having recently pointed
the nation to his past history 10 make
clear his present postum. and enable us TO
forsce his future course, We feel assured
that the President will obtain 10 The end
thai Jealous support we have heretofore
given him by sustaining those views which
made him the candidate of bis parry. and
the Chief Magistrate of the Union.
With this vital question before the coun-
rrv-wlh The Joint Resolution for the an
nexaton of Texas. not finally determined
we call upon our friends every where 10
exert themselves in favor OF the Democrat
ic priuciples-priucipIes which have been
sanctinned not only by The State, but by
The Union. Every where to the North,
we see the Whig and Abolition parties
conlending that il is lawful aud desirable
YET to defeal the annexation of Texas to
The u. Sand Ibis unheard of doctrine is
sanctioned by many members of The Wing
party of the South. Under these circum.
| stances, we earnestly recommend 10 our
friends throughout The country, to dis.
charge their whole duty to themselves aud
to their cause. The nexl Congress of the
United States may he fraughl with the
most momenlous consequences. The nexl
eoiela tura ,nc Viroinia is warn i'm, oortont