Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-12-12

recently occupied. Our country, which exhibits
to the world the benefits of, self-government,
in developing all the sources of national prosper
ty, owes to mankind the permanent example of a
nation free from the blighting influence of pub
lie debt.
The attention Of Congress is invited to the inn
portance of making suitable notifications and re-
ductons of the rates of duty imposed by our pres
ent tariff laws. The object of imposing duties on
imports should be to raise revenue to pay the ne
cessary expenses of government. Congress may,
in theexercise of a sound discretion,
discriminate in arranging the rates of duty on Gl
ferent articles; but the determinations should be
within the revenue standard, and be made with
the view to raise money for the support OF gov
ernment. - - ff% -#
1t becomes important to understand distinctly
what is meant by a revenue standard, the maxi
mum of which should not be exceeded in the rates
of duty imposed. 1t is conceded, and experience
proves, that duties may be laid so high as to d.
minsh, or prohibit altogether, the importation of
any given article, and thereby lessen or destroy
the revenue which, at lower rates, would be deri-s
we'd from its importation. Such duties exceed the
revenue rates, and are not imposed to raise money
tor the support of government. If Congress levy
duty, for revenue of one per cent on given ar
ticle, it will produce given amount Of money to
the treasury, and will incidentally and necessarily
afford protection, or advantage, to the amount of
one pr cent. to the home manufacturer of SINH
lar or like article over the importer. If the duty
be raised to ten per CENT it will produce greater
amount of money, and afford greater protection.
If it be still raised to twenty. twenty-five, thirty
per cent and it, as it is raised the revenue deri-
we'd from it is found to be increased the protection
or advantage will also be increased but if it be
raised to thirty-one per cent? and t is found that
the revenue produced at tia: rate is less than at
thirty per cent, it ceases to be revenue duty
The precise point in the ascending scale of duties
at which it is ascerained from experience that the
revenue is greatest, IS the maximum rate of duty
which can be laid for the bona de purpose of col
Letting money for the support of government. 10
raise the duties higher than that point and there
bv diminish the amount collected, is to levy them
for protection merely, and not for revenue. AS
long, then, as Congress may gradually increase
the rate of duty on given article, aud the reve
nue. is increased by such increase of duty, they
are within the revenue standard. When they go
beyond that point, and, as they increase the du-
ties, the revenue is diminished or destroyed, the
act ceases to have for its ject the raising of mo
ney to support government, but is for protection
merely.
1t does not follow that Congress should levy the
highest duty all art cles of import which they
will bear within the revenue standard for such
rates would probably produce much larger amount
than the economical administration of the govern
ment would require. Nor does it follow that the
duties on all articles should he at the same, or
horizontal rate. Some articles will bear a much
higher revenue duty than others. Below the max
imum of 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 amount which, when
added to the proceeds of sales of public lands may
be needed to pay the economical expenses of the
Government.
| In levying tariff of duties, Congress exercise
the taxing power, and for purposes of revenue may
select the objects of taxation. They may exempt
certain articles altogether, and permit their impor-
tation free of duty. On others they may impose
low duties. In these classes should be embraced
such articles of necessity as in general use and
especially such as consumed by the laborer and
the poor. as we'll as by the wealthy citizen. Care
should be taken that all the great interests Of the
country, including manufactures, agriculture, COM
merce, navigation and the mechanic arts, should.
as far as may be practicable, derive equal advanta-
ses from the incidental protection which just
system of revenue duties may afford. Taxation,
direct or Indirect is burden, and it should be so
imposed as to operate equally may be, on all
classes in the proportion of their ability to bear it.
10 make TIE taxing power an actual benefit to
one class, necessarily increases the burden of the
others hey ond their proportion, and would be man
lfestly unjust The terms "protection to domes-
tic Industry are OF popular import; but they
should apply under just system to all the various
branches of industry in our country. The farmer
or planter who tolls yearly in his field, is engaged
in domestic industry" and is as much entitled to
| have his labor protected" as the manufacturer
! the man of commerce, the navigator, or the me-
chanic who are engaged also in domestic indus
try in their different pursuits. The joint labors
of all these classes constitute the aggregate of the
domestic industry" of the nation, and they are
equally entitled to the nations 'protection." Nc
one of them can justly claim to be the exclusive
recipients of protection" which can only be af
forded by increasing burdens the "doms site in
dustry" of the others.
If these views be correct, it remains to INQUIRE
how far the tariff act of 1912 is consistent with
J them. That many Of the provisions of that &C,
in violation of the cardinal principles here laid
down, all must concede. The rates of duty i'm.
posed by it on some articles, are prohibitory, and
on others So high greatly to diminish importa.
tons, and to produce less amount of revenue
; than would be derived from lower rates. They
; operate as protection merely" to one branch o.
, domestic industry" by taxing other branches.
BY the introduction of minimums or assumed
and false values and by the imposition of specific
duties, the injustice and inequality of the act o.
s42, in its practical operations different elias
ses and pursuits, seen and felt Many Of
the oppressive duties imposed by it under the op-
Grafton of these principles, range from one PEI
; cent to more than two hundred per cent. They
are prohibitory on some articles. and partially
on others, and bear most heavily on articles Of
common necessity, and but lightly on articles Of
l luxury. 1t is so framed that much the greatest
burden which it imposes is thrown on labor and
the poorer classes who are least able to bear it
while it protects capital and exempts the rich from
paying their just proportion of the taxation requir
ed for the support government. While it projects
the capital of the wealthy manufacturer, and in
creases his profits it does not benefit the opera