Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-12-11

81 faem can Justly Cam 70 De tne eAcsu-
sive recipients OF "prott ctien." which Can
only be affsrded by increasing burdens on
the "comestic Industry" q the others."
II these views be correct, Il remains 10
! INQUIRE how FAR the tariff act OF lSi2 IS
consistent with them. That many Of ths
provisions Of that ACT are IN violation Of
lie cardinal principles here lati down, all
must concedp. The rates Of duty iInpos-
| ed by il on some Articles are prohibilofy,
and on others 81 high as greatly 10 ditnin-
| sh impoustlons. and TO produce less
amour, OF revenue than would be derived
from lower rates. They operate as "pro-
lection merely" to one branch of do.
nestle industry" By taxing Other bran.
ches.
4 BY the introduction of minimums, or
assumed and false values, aud ny the i'm
position of specific duties, the injustice
aud inequality Of the act of 1912, ia its
/ praciIcal operations on different classes
and pursuits, are seen and felt. Many Of
the oppressive duties imposed by il under
the operation OF these principles, range
from one PER cent. 10 more than two bund
| red per cent. They are prohibitory on
sons articles, aud partially So on others.
and bear most heavily on articles OF com
mon necessity, and but lightly on articles
Of luxury. II rs so framed that much Z e
greatest burden which il imposes is thrown
on lsbor AMI the poorer class who are
asst able TO bear It, viii e IT protects cspi-
tai and exempts he rich from paying their
just proportion Of the taxation required Cor
the support Of government. While it
protects The capital Of the wealthy manu-
faeturer. aud increases his profits, it does
not benefit the operatives or laboreTs in
his employment, whose wages have not
been increased by it. Articles Of prime
necessity or of coarse quality, and low
price, used by the masses # the people.
are in many instances, subjected by IT to
heavy taxes, while articles Of finer quality
and higher price, or Of luxury, which can
be used only by The opulent, are lightly
taxed. IL imposes heavy and unjust bur-
dens on the turner, the planter, The com.
mercsl man, and hose OF all other pursuits
excep, the capitals, who has made his
investments in manufactures. All The
great interests Of the country are not, as
nearly as may be practicable, equally pro-
tecied by it,
The government in theory knows no
distinction oi persons or classes, and should
not bestow upon some iavoTa and privile.
ges which all Others may not enjoy. Il
was the purpose fits llustrious founders
TO base the institutions which they reared
upon the great spd unchanging principles
OF justice and equity, conscious that if adj.
m'nislered in The split in which they
were conceived. they would be Eel, only
by the benefits which they diifused. and
would secure for themselves defence in
the hearts Of the people, more powerful
than standing armies, and all the means
and appliances invented to sustain govern
ments founded in injustice and oppression
The vell-known fact that The tariff act
Of 1912 was passed by majority Of one
vote IL the Senate, and two Of the House
OF Representatives, and that some Of those
who felt themselves constrained, under
the peculiar circumstances existing al the
time, to vote IN lis favor, proc;a med its
defects, and expressed their dr.ermina.
ton 10 aid in its modification On the f rst
opportunity, affords strong and conciu
sive evidence that it was not intended to
be permanent. and Of the expediency and
necessity of iIs thorough revision.
In recommending 10 Congress reduc
ton OF the present rates Of duty. and q
revision and modification Of the act OF
1912, | am far from entertaining opiu.
| r., Il r.
On the contrary, desire to see them
prosper Gus, as lar as they can be so,
without imposing unequal burdens on
other interests. The advantage under
any system Of indirect taxation, even
within the revenue standard, must be 10
favor of the manufacturing interest and
Of this no other interest will complain.
recommend 10 Congress the abolition
OF the minimum principle, or assumed or
bilrary, and false values, and OF specific
duties, and the substitution in TIER place
Of ad ualorem duties, as the faresi and
most equitable mdirert tax which can be
imposed. By The al ralorem principle.
all articles are taxed according 10 their
cost or value, and those which are OF 10.
ltIiOT qudIill, UT W SIHI COST OeiT oHly
the just proportion Of the tax with those
which are Of superior quality or greater
cost. The articles consumed by all are
taxed al the same rate. A system Of ad va
loren revenue duties with prop, dicrimi
nations and proper guards against frauds
~ collecting them, It is not doub,t d, will
afford ample incidental advantages To the
manufacturers and enable them to de.
i've as great profits as can be derived
| from any oih'r regular business. Ii IS
o, lieved shat such sy stem, strictly with
in the revenue standard, will place the
manufacturing interests on a stable foot
ing, and lnure TO their permanent ndvan-
,age while it will, es nearly as may be
practicable, extend TO all the great inter-
esis of the country the incidental protec-
ton which can be afforded by our reve.
nue. laws.
Such system when once firmly estab-
lished, would be permanent, and not sub.
ject to the constant complaints, agita;ions,
and changes, which must ever occur,
when duties are not laid for revenue, but
for the protection merely" of a favored