Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1845-10-15

aud I think will be the public.
If you concur in this opinion, hope
you will give il place in your paper.
CuERhY HILL, Sept. q, 1873.
Ma Dear Sr-You ask me whether,
in my opinion, ", be possible, that The
conieclures of the Washington Cores
pondent of The Charleston Mercury can
he true, in relation to the probable course
Z OF. the administration of Mr.. Polk in the
Adjustment Of the tariff" and whether
"surlba course would mol be a palpahle
violation of the pledge 10 reduce the da-
.iics 10 TIE Terenue standard"
In answer 10 these enquiries, siaiein
the fist place, Confident be
iaesa Ssbrjec III ssssifnof be
the second place, thai The course they as,
cribe 10 the, Administrator ,coutd he a
"palpable violation Of the pledge 10 re-
duce the dulles upon foreign imports TO
the revenue Standard" and OF all lhe
pledges of the parry by which Mr. Polk
was elected.
A brief exposition Of the true principles
of a revenue tariff aud reference 10 MIR.
Folks InauguraI'Addrcss, will be sufficient
1 think, to banisb your apprehensions. 1t
is obvious to remark that revenue larlti,
is the lo,ces. rate of duty upon ereTy for
eisn import that will raise The required
amount oe revenue. The smallest addl-
ton TO that rate upon any one article with
a view TO increase the price OF lis domeS
tic rival, is "plainly and intentionally" a
protective, as onlradslinsuished from d
revenue duty. Bur, if the additional duty
not only enhances she price of both the
foreign and domestic article, hut diminish
es the revenue. it would be The most bare
faced mockery-,he most impudent and
hypocritical disguise by which a mercena-
ry and mercilsss oppression ever attempt
ed 10 conceal its deformi'y, to call this IA
revenue duty. Now it is only necessary
10 apply these plain, if no, self"evident
propositions, 10 The articles which il is The
supposed intention Of the Administration
to favor and project, by exempliDg them
from the general rule Of reduction. Take
for example the two leading articles Of
sugar and iron. Next to salt, these are
articles of the most general consumption
by all classes OF people.
In grea, financial and economical re-
form, reducing the duties upon foreign i'm
ports 10 general average OF 90 per cent,
upon what principle of justice, equity or
sound policy. upon what shadow of con.
sti,ulional power, can rate of duty be
imposed upon these articles, higher than
the general rate necessary for revenue, a,
the same time adding TO The public bur
dens andsliminshins the public revenue !?
Is ii because sugar aud iron are produced
by few wealthy sugar planters and iron
masters, not equal in number to one in a
hundred thousand of those who consume
the articles and pay from The pockets OF
mediocrity and poverty, the contributions
extorted by free govcrnmenl-and lei
me not say-a Democratic AdminisIra-
tion--lo add to the fortunes of n monied
oligarchy? Can il be believed, that Mr..
Polk, bound BY the united Ties of inte!es.
and duty 10 sustain the great principles OF
free trade and unshackled industry, which
he has so ably supported through lonS
course OF pubic service; ilnow, when
elecled to the highest station to which
ambition or patriotism can aspire. belray
his political principles aud sacrifice those
popular masses, by whose voluntary ani
unsolicited sufrages he was raised To- pow
er? 81 trust not The tale." In his In
augural Address he very distinctly lays
down the doctrine that revenue is the OBJ
jec: Of all duties upon imports, and pro-
teclion The incident.
Nothing eau be more plain. If pro,
lection 10 particular classes,qt The expense
all Others results from a revenue duty-as
il does from all revenue duties-itis an
unavoidable incident not to be desired but
regretted. II is impossible to separate
1lie protection given 10 The sugar planter,
70. example, by even a rovenuc duty Of