Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-12-04

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eminent.
In levying a tariff Of duties, Congress exercise
the taxing power, and for purposes Of revenue may
select the object of taxation. They may exempt
certain articles altogether and permit their impor-
tation free Of duty. On others they might impose
low duties. In these classes should be embraced
such articles Of necessity are in general USE aud
especially such as are consumed by the laborer and
the poor, as we'll as by the wealthy citizen. Care
should be taken that all the great interests Of the
country, including manufactures, agriculture COM
merce, navigation, and the mechanic arts, should,
as far may be practicable derive equal advanta-
ges from the incidental protection which Just sys-
TEN of revenue duties may afford. Taxation d-
rect or indirect, is burden, and il should be so
imposed as to operate as equally as may be, on all
classes, in the proportion of their ability to bear it,
10 make the taxing power actual benefit TO one
class, necessarily increases the burden Of the others
beyond their proportion, and would be maniiesily
unjust. The terms protection TO domestic indus
try are Of popular import but they should apply
under just system TO all the various branches Of
industry in our country. The farmer planter
who tolls yearly in his fields is engaged 10 'domes
tic industry, aud is much entitled to have his la
Dor protected as the manufacturer, the man Of
commerce, the navigator, or the mechanic, who are
engaged also in domestic industry in their differ
ent pursuits. The joint labor of all these classes
constitute the aggregate of the domestic industry
of the nation, and they are equally entitled to the
nations protection No of them can Justly
claim to be the exclusive recipient of protection,
which can only be afforded by increasing burdens
on the domestic industry Of others.
If these views be correct, il remains 10 inquire
how far the tariff Of 1912 IS consistent with them
That many Of the provisions Of that act are in viola
ton OF the cardinal principles here laid down, all
must concede. The rates Of duty imposed by it on
articles are prohibitory, and on others so high
to- II,
less amount of revenue than would be derived
from lower rates They operate as protection
merely to one branch of domestic industry by
taxing other branches.
BY the introduction Of mnmums, or assumed
and false values, and by the imposition Of specific
duties the injustice and inequality Of the Of 49,
in its practical operations on dferen, classes aud
pursuits, are seen aud felt Many ofthe oppressive
duties imposed by il 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 others, and bear
most heavily on articles Of common necessity, and
but lightly on articles Of luxury IL is so framed
that much the greater burden which IT imposes is
thrown labor and the poorer classes who are the
least able 20 bear il, while it protects capital and
exemps the rich from paying their Just proportion Of
the taxation required for the support Of government
While il protects the capital Of the wealthy manu-
iacturer aud increases his profits, il does not bene-
fit the operatives or aborers in his employment whose
wages have not been increased by il. 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 it heavy taxes while articles
of finer quality and higher price, or ofluxury which
can be used only by the opuent, are lightly taxed
1t imposes heavy and unjust burdens 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 in
terests OF the country are not, nearly may be
practicable, equally protected by it.
The government in theory knows distinction
of persons or classes, and should not bestow upon
some fayors and privileges which all others may not
enjoy. 1t was the purpose ofs ilustrious founders
to base the institutions which they reared upon the
great and unchanging principles OF justice and equl
ty, conscious that if administered in the spirit in
which they were conceived, they would be felt only
by the benefits which they diffused, and would Sc
cure for themselves defence in the hearts Of the
people, more powerful than would standing armies,
and all the means and appliances invented to
tain governments founded in injustice and oppres-
sion.
! The we-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 constrained I'M
der the peculiar circumstances existing at the time
to vote in its favor proclaimed its defects and
pressed their determination to aid in its modi6ca-
ton the first opportunity, affords strong and con-
elusive evidence that it not intended to be per-
manent and of the expedency and necessity of its
thorough revision.
In recommending to Congress reduction of
the present rates Of duty, and revision and modi-
fcation Of the act of ls42, am far from entertain
ing opinions unfIiendly TO the manufacturers
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