Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-12-11
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exnguished and presented the world the
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the earliest period should the state o. 'e country per
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late the country on tie recovering once more the o position which
the benefits of self developing all the source.
IiOn frse from he bIghdng influence Of public debt
The attention of Congress is invited to the impor-
of making suitable notifications and reductions
Of the rates of duty imposed BY our present tariff
laws. The objects Of imposing duties on imports
should be to raise TO pay the necessary ex-
penses of government. Congress may, undoubtedly,
in the exercise ofa sound discretion discriminate in
arranging the rates of duty different articles; but
the determinations should be within the revenue
standard, and be made with the view TO raise money
for the support Of government.
Ii becomes important TO understand distinctly what
is meant by q revenue standard, the maximum of
which should not be exceeded in the rates Of duty i'm
posed. 1t is conceded and experience proves, that
duties may be laid high as TO dimnisl prohibit
altogether, the importation Of any given article, and
thereby lessen destroy the which, at lower
rates, would be derived from lis Importation. Such
duties exceed the revenue rates, and not imposed
to raise money for the support of government. If
Congress levy duty, for revenue, of one per cent.
given article, it VIII produce given amount Of
money TO the treasury, and viii incidentally
sariy afford protection or advantage, TO the amount
of one per cent. to the home manufacturer of similar
like article tie 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
Il
it, as il is raised the revenue derived from is found
be increased the protection advantage Will also
be increased but if it be raised to thiry-one per
cent, and it is found that the revenue produced at
that rate is less than at thirty per cent? it ceases TO
be revenue duty The precise point in the ascend
ing scale of duties at which 1t Is 0scerained from
pcrence that the revenue is greatest is the maximum
rate of duty which be laid for the bona tide pur
pose of collecting money for the support of govern
ment. To raise the duties higher than that point,
and thereby diminish the amount collected, is TO levy
them for protection merely, and not for As
long, then. Congress may gradually increase the
rate of duty given article, and the is in
creased by such increase of Duty they within the
revenue standard. When they 90 beyond that point,
and, they increase the duties the revenue dmn-
isbed destroyed the act ceases TO have for It's OBJ
Ject the raising Of money 10 support the government
but is for protection merely.
1t does not follow that Congress should levy the
highest duty all articles of import which they will
bear within the revenue Standard for such rates would
probably produce much larger amount than the eco
nomical administration of the government would re-
quire Nor does it follow that the duties articles
should be at the same horizontal rate. Some ar
tices will bear a much higher revenue duty than
others Below the maximum of the revenue standard
Congress may and ought to discriminate in the rates
imposed, taking 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 90 pay the economical expenses
of the government.
In levying tariff ofdues Congress exercises The tax
power, and for purposes of may select
objects of taxation. They may exempt certain articles
altogether and permit their importaons free of duty
On others they may impose low duties In these classes
should be embraced such articles of as are in
general use, and especially such consumed by the
wealthy citizen Care should be taken tha, all the great in
of the country including the manufactures ayrcu
far may be practicable derive equal advantages from
the incidental protection which just system of
duties may afford. Taxation diTecI Indirect bur-
don and 1t s. ould be imposed operate as equally
may be all classes the proportion Of their ability
TO bear It, To make the taxing power an actual benefit
TO class necessarily increases the burden of others be-
yond their proportions and would be manifesy unjust
The terms protection domestic industry are of nom
uar import but they should apply under Just system 10
the various branches of industry in country The
farmer planter who tolls yearly fields engaged
in domestic industry, and is as much entitled 10 be
protected, the manufacturer, the man of commerce
the navigator the mechanic, who engaged also
domestic industry in their different pursuits. The
Joint abOrs OF all classes constitute the aggregate of the
domestic industry of the nation they are equally
entitled to the nations protection No one of them
can justly claim TO be the exclusive recipients of pro-
teetion which only be afforded by increasing bur
dens the 90 domestic industry " of the others
If these views be correct remains TO inquire how Far
the tariff act of 1912 is consistent with them. That
many of the provisions of that act aren violation of The
hare
rates OF duty imposed by it articles are prohibit
DRY, and on others high greatly diminish import
atlons and 10 produce less amount of revenue than
would be derived from lower rates They operate as
protecton merely branch of ''domeslic indus:
try, by taxing other branches.
BY the introduction Of minmums or assumed and false
values, and by the imposition of specific Duties the
justice and inequality of the act OF 1912, in its practical
operations different classes and pursuits seen and
felt Many Of the oppressive duties imposed by under
the operation of these principles, range from per cent
TO more than two hundred per They prohibit
tory articles and partially Others and bear
most heavily articles of common necessty and but
lightly on articles of luxury. 1t framed that much
the greatest burden which imposes is thrown on labor
and the classes who least able bear it, while
it protects capital and exempts the rich from paying their
Just proportion of the taxation required for the support
government While It protects the capital of the veal
thy manufacturer, and increases his profits does moi
benefit the operatives aborers in his employment
whose wages have not been increased by H. Articles
prime necessity of quality, and low price,
uIdss VI PeOPe; III lHetdiCeS, SUI
Jected by it to heavy taxes, while articles Of finer quality
and higher price, of luxury which can be used only b,
the opulen lightly taxed. 1t imposes heavy and un
just burdens the farmer, the planter the commercial
man, and those of aother pursuits except the capitals
who has made his investments in manufactures. All The
great interests OF the country not nearly may b.
practicable, equally protected by it,
The government IN theory knows no distinction of per
sons classes and should not bestow upon some favor
and privileges which all others may eny. 1t thu
purpose Of lis ustrlOus founders TO base the institutions
which they reared upon the great and unchanging pnci