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

liz debt. The balance IN Tho ifeAsurg "a
the first Of July Iastr was s7,d5e,3O6 %.
THE TARfFP.
The attention Of Congress IL invited 10
the Importance Of making suitable modli-
cations md reductions of the rates Of du.
ty imposed by our present tariff laws. -
The object Of imposing duties on imports
should be to raise revenue TO pay the me-
cessary expenses Of government Con.
gross may, undoubtedly, il the exercise OF
| sound discretion, discriminate in ariang.
ing the rates Of d1ty on different articles
but the determinations should be within
the revenue standard, aud be made with
the view TO raise money for the support Of
government.
1t IL become important to understand dis.
distinctly what is meant by revenue
standard, the maximum Of which should
not 90 exceeded in the rates OF duty i'm.
posed. It is conceded, and experience
proves that duIcs may be laid go 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 ito importation. Such duties exceed
the revenue rates, and are not imposed
to reise money for The support Of govern
ment II Congress levy a duty for reye.
nue. of one per cent. on a given article,
it will produce n given amount of money
to afford protection or advantage 10 the
amount Of one per cent. To the home ma
nutacturer 81 similar article over the
importer II the duty be raised n ten
per cent, il will produce a greater amount
of money, and aiIlrd greater protection.
If It be still raised to wenly, twenty FIVE,
or thirty per cent, and if, as it is raised,
the revenue derived from il is found 10 he
increased, the protection or advantage will
also be increased; but if It be raised 10
thlrty.one per cent, and It is found that
the revenue produced al that 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 il is as.
certaned from experience that the reye-
nue. is greatest, is the MAXIMUM rate Of
duty which can he laid for the bona fde
purpose of collecting money for the sup
port OF government. To raise the duties
higher than that point, and thereby dimi.
nish the amount collected, is TO levy them
for protection merely, and not for revenue
AS long, then, ms Congress may gradual
ly increase the rate of duty on a given
article, aud the revenue is increased by
such increase OF duty, they are within the
revenue standard. When they g. beyond
that point, and as they increase the du-
ties, The revenue is diminished or destroy.
cd, the act ceases to have for its object the
raising of money TO support government,
but is Tor protection merely.
Ii does not follow 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.
bis produce much larger amount than
the eromica administration Of the govern.
ment would require. Nor does it follow
that The duties on all articles should be al
the same, or horizontal rate. Some ar
ucles will bear murh higher revenno du.
lty than others. Below the maximum OF
/ the revenue standard, Congress may and
ought TO discriminate IN the rates imposed,
taking care so To adjust them on different
articles us 10 produce in the aggregate
the emount which, when added TO The
proceeds Of the sales Of public lands NAV
be needed to pay the economical expense,
of the government
10 levying tariff of duties, Congress
exercise the taxing power, and for purpo
ses of revenue may selec. the objects d
taxation. They may exempt certain ar
iicIes altogether, and permit their import
alton free of duty, On Others they may
impose low duties, In these classes shou!t
be embraced such articles Of necessity a.
are 10 general use, aud especially such n
are consumed by the hborer and the poor
as well as BY the wealthy citizen. Car
should be taken that all the great interest
{ OF the country, including manufactures
: agriculture, commerce., navigation, an
(. tho mechanic arts, should, ms far as ma
r he practicable, derive equal advantage
E from the incidental protection which
l. lust system OF revenue duties may AFFORD
!. Taxation, direct or indirect, is a burden
y and should he so imposed as to operate a
t, equally Ms may he, on all classes, IN III
II proportion Of their ability to hear it. 1
make the taxing power an actual benefit
$ one class, necessarily increases the bu
0 den Of the others beyond their proportion
4, and would he manilestly unjust. III
h terms "proiection TO domestic industry
i are of popular import; but the, should a
Q ply under Just system to all the varlo'
!. branches OF industry in our country. III
d farmer or planter who tolls yearly in h
|. fields, Is engaged in "donestic inlustr,
y and Is as much entitled To have his lab
l. "protocted," as the manufacturer, the m.