Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-12-05

SOsUTsE a..--Has. Ss.


within The revcnne standard. When they 20 he
yond that point, and as they increase The duties,
the revenue is diminished or destroyed. Inc act
ceases 10 have tor is object he raising ii nc
ney 10 support Government, but is iof protection
merely
|, does not follow that Congress should levy
the highest duty on all articles Of import which
they will bear within the revenue standard icr
such rates would probably produce a much larger
amount than the economical administration q!
the Government would require. Nor does il
follow that the duties on all articles should te
Al The same, or a horizontal rale Some AMI
clts will bear a much higher revenue duly Than
others Below the maximum OF lie revenue
standard Congress may and oush, 10 discIimi-
nate in The rates imposed, taking care 81 10 al
just them on different articles 10 produce in
the aggregate The amount which, when added
10 The proceeds OF sales OF pubic LANDS, NAV be
needed 10 pay The economical expenses oi the
Government.
In levyns a tariff of dnles, Congress exercise
i the taxing power, and Tor purposes ot revenue
may sclcc. the Objects o. taxation. They msy
exempt certain articles altogether, and permit
their importation free OF duty. On others lbey
may impose low duties. In these classes SHOULD
be embraced such articles oi necessity as are III
general USE and especially such as are consumed
i by the laborer and the poor, as Well as " he
The great interests OF the country, inclGdinS No
EuiaclureS, agriculture, commerce, navigation.
and the mechanic arts, should, as Tar as may be
practicable, derive equal advantages from the IL
cidebial protection which a Just system OF reye-
nue. duties may afford. Taxation, direct or iEdi
rect, is burden, and i, ould be 50 imposed as
10 operate as equally as NAV be, on all classes in
the proportion oi their ability TO bear H. To
make The taxing power au actual benefit 10 one
class, necessarily Increases the burden o! The
Others beyond their proportion, ami would DC ma
Aies!ly unJuS:. The terms, protection 10 do
meslc industry arc Of popular impori; tEtthey
should apply under 4 Just system 10 n! the var-
Gus branches oil in uslry in our country. The
farmer planter who tolls yearly in his hclcs, -
/ engaged in domestic induary,' and is as much
entitled 10 have his labor protected as the ma
nutaciurer, The man Of commerce. the navigator.
or The mechanic, Who are engaged also IN do
nestle industry" in their different pursuits. Tie
loin! !ahorS OF ali these classes constitute he as-
eregale OF The domestic Industry" OF the nation.
and they are equally entitled 10 The nations pre-
tccton." No one 81 them can Justly claim 10 be
the exclusive recipients of protection" which can
only he afforded BY increasing burdens on The do
meslc industry" OF The others
IL these views be correct il remains 10 inquire
how lar The Tariff Get Of 1912 is consistent with
them. That many of,he provisions o la act
are in violation Of the Cardinal principles here
laiI down, all mus! concede. The rates Of duty
imposed By il on some articles are prohiti,ory,
and on others 50 high IS greatly 10 diminish i'm.
porlalions, ana 10 produce a less amount CT
revenue than would be derived from lower rates.
\ They operate as "proeciion merely 10 one branch
of domestic industry" hy taxing other branches,
4 b. the introduction Of minimums, or assumed
and false values, and by the imposition Of specihc
duties, The injustice and inequality OF the acl o!
1912, in lis practical operation on different class
e and pursuits. are ,een and icir. Many Of The
oppressive duties imposed hv j. under Tie opera
ton oi these principles, range from one per cent
10 more than Two hundred per cent They are
! prohibiuIy on some articles, and partially 20 on
others and bear most heavily on articles Q!
common necessity, and but lightly on ar,i-
| cIes oi luxury. II is so framed that much The
creates! burden which il imposes IS thrown on
labor and he noorer classes who are least able 10
bear II, while protects capital, and esenPs the
rich from paving their lu,t proportion Of The
taxation required Tor HE support oil Government.
While il protects The capital OF he wealthy ma
nufacturer and increases his profits, il does no,
benefit the operatives or laborers in his employ
ment, whose wages have not been ircres sed BY IL.
Articles OF prime necessity, or OF coarse quality
and low price used by the masses Of the people,
arc in many instances subjected By it 10 heavy
taxes, while articles Of finer quality and higher
price, or Of luxury which can le used onlv BY
The opulent are lightly taxed. II imposes heavy
and unjust burdens on the farmer, The planter, The
commercial man, and those OF all other pursuits,
except the capitalist, who has made his invest
ments in manufactures. All the great interests OF
| the country are not, as nearly as may be practi-
cable equally protected by it.
The Government in theory knows no distinction
ofperSons or classes, and should not lesGw upon
some lavors and privileges which all others NAV
moi enjoy. 1t was The purpose OF rs ll.ustrions
| 10. f.irh thou
ed upon the great and unchanging principles OF
Justice and equity, conscious that il administered
| in the spirit in which they were conceived, they
would be elt only BY the benefits which they dit
fused and would secure Tor themselves defence
in the hearts OF The people, more powerful man
Standing Armies, ard all the means and appan-
ces invented to sustain Governments founded IN
injustice and oppression
The wcll-known fact, that the Tariff act al
1912 was passed by majority OF one vote IN me
Senate, and Two 10 The House Of Representatives,
and that some of those who felt themselves con-
strained, under the peculiar Giro um>tances exist
ing al the lime 10 vote in ia favor, proclaimed
It's defects. and expressed Their determination 20
All, in lis modification on the first opportunity al
Gprls strong and conclusive evidence That Il vas
not intended TO be permanent and OF The expedi-
cncy and necessity Of It's thorough revision.
In recommending 10 Congress reduction Of
The present rates of duty, and revision and mo-
difcation of the act Of lS42, am far from enter
tanning opinions unlrendly 10 the manriaciu-
rers On The contrary desire 10 scc them pros
rerons. as far as they can be 50, without impcs-
ing unequal burdens on other interests The ad-
vantage under any system Of Indirect taXa!IoE
even within the revenue standard must se IN Ia
vor Of The manufacturing interest; and o! this no
other interest will complain.
recommend 10 Congress the abolition OF The
| ;nin priu ar
false values and OF specific duties, and the :ub>.-
tuition in their place OF al raiorem duties as the
fairest and most equitable indirect tax which can
he imposed. BY the nd raIorcni principle, all am
cles are taxed according 10 their cost OF "a!uc, and
those which arc OF inferior quaiiiy, or CT small
cr.t bear only the inst proportion OF The tax with
those which are ofsuperior qualify or greater G =.
The articles consumed by all are taxed a,the same
rate A system Of nd rclOrenn revenue cuties,
with proper determinations and proper guards
AGAINST frauds in collecting them, il is not doubted
will afford ample, incidental advantages TO the
manufacturers, and enable them 10 derive as great
nrofts as can be derived from any other regular
business I, is believed that such system, srIctiy
within The revenue standard will place The manu-
featuring interests on stable footing, and !nure 10
their permanen, advantage; while IL will, as rear
} " as NAV lie practicable, extend 10 all the great
interests Of Inc country The incidental protection
which can be liorded by our revenue laws
Such system, when orce firmly established
would be permanent, and not be subject 10 The
constant complaints. agitaons and changes which
must ever occur, when duties are not laid for ro-
venue, but Tor he projection merely" OF favor
ed interest.
In the deliberations O. Congress on this subject
/, is hoped that a spirit Of mutual concession an
co,npromise between conflicting interests may
. prevail, and that The result Of their labors may
be crowned with the happiest consequences.
By The Constitution OF the United States, Il !:
: provided that "no money shall be drawn from iht
! Treasury bu, in consequence Of appropriations
" made by law" A public treasury was nntoub'
: edly contemplated and intended 10 be created, II
), which The public money should be kept from In
: reriod OF collection until Eeeded for public uses
;. In the collection and disbursement of The publ
= money, no agencies have ever been employed b
;, law, excep, such as were appointed by The Gc