Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-12-17


standard. When they go beyond that point, and
they the duties, the is diminished &C.
stoye the have for its object the raising of
money support but for protection mere
l, does follow that Congress should levy the high
duty n all articles of import which they will bear
within the standard; for such rates would prob
ably produce much larger amount than the economical
administration of the government would require Nor
does follow that the duties articles should be at the
horizontal rate Some articles will bear much
higher duty than others Belo" the muin
the standard Congress may and ought 10 dis
crimnate the imposed, taking to adjust
them on different articles produce in the aggregate
which, when added to the proceeds OF sales Of
public lands may be needed to pay the economical
penses of the government
In leyyng tariff Of duties, Congress exercises the
taxing and for the purposes OF revenue may select
cles altogether and permit their importation free OF duty
On others they impose low duties In these classes
should be embraced such articles of necessity in
gene and especially such consumed by the
wealthy citizen Care should be taken that all the great
interests of the country, including the manufacturers
agriculture, commerce, navigation, and the mechanic
arts should, far be practicable, derive equal
duties afford. Taxation, direct
Indirect burden, and 1t should be imposed to
operate equally be on all classes IN the pro-
portion of their ability to bear It, To make the taxing
power actual benefit class necessarily increases
the burden of others beyond their proportion, and would
be manifesy unjust. The terms ''proccton to domes
tic industry, of popular import but they should APP
ply under Just system TO all the various branches OF IN
yearly his fields is engaged in domestic industry
and much entitled to have his labor protcctc,
the manufacturer the man Of commerce. the navigator
the mechanic, who engaged also domestic
dustry in their different pursuits The Joint iabors OF
all t.sc classes constitute the aggregate the domestic
industry of the nation. and they equally entitled TO
the nations .protection.'' No one of them justly
claim to be the exclusive recipients of protection
which only be afforded by increasing burdens the
domestic industry of the others.
If these views be to inquire how far
tariff of Is II is consistent with them. That
of the provisions Of that act in violation OF the
cardinal principles here laid down, all must concede-
The of duty imposed by articles pro-
hibtorv, and others high greatly to diminish i'm
portatons and TO produce less amount OF revenue tan
would be derived from lower rates. They operate
..protection merely, branch of domestic indus
try by taxing other branches
BY the introduction of minimunls, or assumed and
false values and by the imposition OF SPECIFIC duties the
injustice and inequality of the act of 1872 its practI-
cal operations different classes and pursuits, seen
and felt Many of the oppressive duties imposed by it
under the operation of these principles range from
per cent to than two hundred per cent. They
probitory articles, and partially others
and bear heavily articles of common necessity,
and but lightly articles of luxury. 1t is framed
that much the greatest which imposes thrown
labor the classes who least able bear
it, while protects capital and cxempts the rich from
their inst of the taxation REQUIRED for
the support of government While protects the CAPT
tai of the wealthy and increases his profits
does not benefit the operative laborer in his
Articles of prime necessity of quality and low
price, used by the masses of the people, in many in
subjected by heavy taxes while articles of
finer quality and higher price, or OF luxury, winch can
be used only by the opulent are lightly taxed Ii impo
the rcal man. and those of all other pursuits eN
cept the capitalist who has made his investment IN man.
uacures. All the great interests of the country not
nearly may be practicable, equally protected by It,
The government in theory knows no distinction OF
classes and should not bestow upon some IA
and privileges which all others may not enjoy. 1t
the purpose of its llustrious founders to base the in
situations which they reared the great and unchan
gIng principles OF justice ana equatE conscious mat
administered III the spirit in which they conceived
they would be felt only by the benefits which they du
sed, and would for themselves defence in the
he peOple powerful
and all the and appliances invented to sustain gov
ernmcnts founded in injustice and oppression
The wellknown fact that the tariff act of 1912 was
passed by majority of in the Senate and two
of the House of Representatives and that of those
who felt themselves constrained under the peculiar cir
cumsances existing at the time to vote IN It's favor pro-
claimed its defects and expressed their dete rninaon to
strong and conclusive evidence that it not intended
TO be permanent and of the expectancy ana necessity OF
its thorough revision.
In recommending to Congress reduction of the pres
of DUTY and revision and modification of the
of ei far from Entertaining opinions unfriend-
" TO the manufacturers On the contrary, | desire
them prosperous far they be without
imposing unequal burdens other interests The adj
in the revenue standard, be in favor of the
featuring interests and of this no other interest will
complain.
recommed to Congress the abolition of the minimum
principle assumed arbitrary and false values, and of
specific duties and the substitution in their place of al
ralorm duties the fairest and equitable indirect
tax which can be imposed BY the al rdorem principle
all articles taxed according TO their cost vaue and
those which of inferior quality of small cos:, bear
only the of the with those which
superior quality Tho articles
med by all taxed at the same rate A system of ad
rdiorem duties, with examinations and
proper guards against frauds in collecting them it not
doubted will afford ample incidental advantages the
manufacturers and enable them to derive prof
fits be derived from any other regular business 1t
believed that such SYSTEM strictly within the
standard, will place the manufacturing interests
stable footing and nure to their permanent advantage
while 1t WILL nearly be practicable, extend to
all the great of the the incidental
lection which be afforded BY laws.
Such system, when once fairly established, would be
and be subject the constant complaints
agtations, and changes. which must when
duties laid but for the protection
merely n favored In the deliberations of
Congress this subject it is hoped that spirit of
tual concession and compromise between conflicting
prevail and that the result Of their abor
may be crowned with the happiest consequences