Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1845-12-27

la"ssSu CvGIy OOitgatlOHs-a since ths
time the existing debt has been contracted
and small. az il Isl in comparison with III
similar burdens Of most other nations,
should be extinguished as the earlies
practicable period. Should the state a
the country permit, and especially, II on
foreign relations iiiterpose no obstacle.
is contemplated 10 apply all The money
in the treasury as they accrue beyon
what is required for the appropriations q
Congress, 10 its liquidation. cherisi
the hope of soon being able 10 congratula,
the country on lis recovering once NOR
the lofty position which il 50 recentl
occupied. Our country, which exhibit
to the world the benefits Of self.govern
mens. in developing al the sources a
national prosperity. owes to mankind III
permanent example of nation free from
the blishling influence Of : public debt.
The attention Of Congress is invited /,
making suitable notifications and reduc
tions OF the lates Of duty imposed by ou
present tariff laws. The object Of inipos
ing duties on imposts should Be to rails.
reventie TO pay the necessary expenses al
government. Congress MAY. ,indoubsed
ly. in the exercise Of a sound discretion
discriminate in arranging the rates Of duty
on different srticles;bu. The Discrimination
should be within the revenue standard,
and be made with the view to raise money
for the support Of government.
II becomes imporiant 10 understand
distinctly what is meant BY y revenue
standard, the maximum Of which should
not be exceeded in the rates Of duty
imposed. Il is conceded, and experience
proves, that duties may be laid so high as
to diminish, or prohibit altogether, the
importation Of any given article, aud
thereby lessen or destroy the revenue
which. at lower rates, would be derived
from its importation. Such duties exceed
the revenue rates, and are not imposed 10
raise money for the support Of govern.
ment. IL Congress levy duty. for
revenue. Of one per cent. on given ar,i.
Gle. j, will produce given amount Of
money to the treasury, and will inciden-
tally aud necessarily afford protection. or
advantage, 10 the amount Of one per cent.
to the home manufacturer Of . similar or
like article over the importer. 1.-THE duty
be raised 10 ten per cent, il will produce
greater amount Of money, and afford
greater protection. II il still be raised to
twenty, twenty five or thirty per cent.
and il, as il is raised, The revenue derived
from it is found to be increased, the
protection or advantage will also be in.
creased; but if it be raised 10 thirty. one
per cent, and il is found iha, The revenue
produced at that rate is less than a, thirty
per cent. it ceases to be revenue duty.
The precise point III the ascending scale
OF duties at which il is ascer,amed from
experience that the revenue is greatest, is
the maximum rate Of duty which can be
laid for the bona tfde purpose Of collecting
money for the support Of government
To raise the duties higher than that point,
and thereby diminish the amount collected,
is 10 levy them for protection merely, and
not for revenue. As long. then. as
Congress may gradually increase the rate
of duty on given article. and the revenue
is increased by such increase Of duty,
they are within the revenue standard.
When they 60 beyond that point. aud, as
they increase the duties. the revenue is
diminished or destroyed, the act ceases 10
have for its object the raising OF money to
suppor. government but is for protection
merely.
II does not follow that Congress should
levy the highest duty on all articles Of
import which they will bear within the
revenue standard; for such rates would
probably produce much larger amoun.
than the economical administration Of tho
government would require. Nor does j,
follow that the duties on all articles
should be al the same, or horizontal rate.
Some articles will bear . much higher
revenue duty than others. Below the
maximum Of the revenue standard Con.
gress may and ought 10 discriminate in
the rates imposed. taking care so TO adjust
them on, different articles as to produce in
The aggregate amount which, when added
to the proceeds Of sales Of public lands.
may be needed 10 pay the economical
expenses Of the government
+ In levying tariff Of duties, Congress
exercise the taxing power and for pur-
poses Of revenue may select the objects Of
taxation. They may exemp, certain
articles altogether. and permi. their i'm.
porta,ion free of duty. On others they
may impose low duties. In these classes
should be embraced such articles Of
necessity as are in general use, and espe-
cially such as are consumed by the labor.
er and the poor, as well as BY the wealthy
citizen. Care should be taken that ali
the great interests Of the country. including
manufactures. agriculture, commerce. ma.
viga,ion, and the mechanic arts, should,
as far as may be practicable, derive equal
advantages from the incidental protection
whicha just sys,em Of revenue duties
may afford. Taxation, direct or indirect.
- = burden. and il should be 50 imposed
az 10 operate ss equally as may be, on all
classes. in the proportion Of their ability
to bear it. To riaks The saxing power an
actual benefit 70 one class. necessarily
increases the burden Of the others beyond
their proportion, and would be manifessly
unjust. The terms, "proteciion 10 do
nessic induslry,'' are Of popular impof.;
but they should apply under ! just system
10 all the various branches Of industry in
our county. The farmer or planter who
tolls yearly in his fields, 10 engaged ia
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