Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-12-20

classes constitute the aggregate Of the
domestic industry" Of the nation, and
they are equally entitled to nations
protection"
No one of them can justly claim to
be the exclusive recipients of "pro-
tection," which can only be allowed by
increasing burdens on the domestic
industry" Of the others.
If these views be correct, it remains
to enquire how long the tariff act OF
1912 is consistent with them. That
many of the provisions Of that act are
in violation of the cardinal principles
here laid down, all must concede. The
rates of duty imposed by it on some
articles are prohibitory, and on others
80 high as greatly to diminish importa-
tons, and to produce less amount of
revenue than would be derived from
lower rates. They operate as "pro-
lection merely" to one branch Of
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 of
1912, in its practical operations on diff
ferent classes and pursuits, are seen
and felt. Many of the oppressive du-
ties imposed by it under the operation
of these principles, range from one per
cent. to more than two hundred per
cent. They are prohibitory on some
articles, and partially so on others, and
bear most heavily on articles of COM
mon necessity. and but lightly on arti-
Giles of luxury. 1t is SO framed that
much the greatest burden which it i'm
poses is thrown on labor and the Door
er classes who are least able to bear it,
while it protects capital and exempts
the rich from paying their just proper
ton of taxation required for the sup
port Of the government. While it
protects the capital of the wealthy
manufacturer, and increases his profits,
it does not benefit the operatives or
laborers in their employment, whose
wages have not been increased by it.
Articles Of prime necessity or Of coarse
quality and low price, used by the
masses of the people. are, in many in
stances, subjected BY il to heavy taxes,
while articles of finer quality and high
err price, or of luxury, which can be
used only by the opulent, are lightly
taxed. 1t 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 investments in manufactures.
All the great interests Of the country
are not, as nearly as may be practical
BILE, equally protected by it.
The government in theory knows
no distinction Of persons or classes, and
should not bestow upon some favors
and privileges which all others may not
enjoy. 1t was the purpose of its illus
trious founders to base the Institutions
which they reared upon the great and
unchanging principles Of justice and
equity, conscious that if administered
in the spirit in which they were con-
ceived, they would be felt only by the
benefits which they diffused, and would
secure for themselves defence in the
hearts Of the people, more powerful
than standing armies, and all the
means and appliances invented TO sus-
tain government founded in injustice
and oppression.
j The well known fact that the tariff
act of 1912, was passed by majority
of one vote in the Senate, and two in
the House Of Representatives, and that
some of those who felt themselves con-
strained, under the peculiar circum-
stances existing at the time, to vote in
its favor, proclaimed its defects, and
expressed their determination to aid in
its modification on the first opportuni-
ty, afford strong and conclusive evil
dence that it was not intended to be
permanent, and of the expediency and
necessity of its thorough revision.
In recommending to Congress a re-
duction of the present rates Of duty,
and revision and modification of the
act of ls42, am far from entertaining
} opinions unfriendly to the manufac-
turers. On the contrary, desire to see
|, them prosperous, as far as they can be
so, without imposing unequal burdens
on other interests. The advantage
under any system of indirect taxation,
even within the revenue standard. must
be in favor of the manufacturing in
, terest, and of this no other interest will