Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-09-13
The Tarf6.

| The Secretary Of the Treasury a short
time since forwarded to Gen. Van Ant
werp, Of the Fairfield Land Office, series
Of questions the object Of which was to OBJ
tain information respecting the practical
operations Of the present tariff. 1t being
impossible for the officer, to whom these
queries were addressed, to obtain the de-
sired information in any other way, these
questions were published with the request
that Clerks Of Courts, Sheriffs, &c. should
contribute any Information within their
power.
This praiseworthy attempt Of the De-
partment to obtain information upon the
subject Of the present tariff has excited the
indignation Of the Editor Of the Hawk Eye.
The Secretary is charged with adopting a
system Of esPoinage-of disposition to pry
into the business Of private individuals, and
an attempt is made to prevent the Depart
ment from obtaining the information SO ne
cessary to its future course of beneficial
operation. The importance Of Just and
ljudicious tariff is admitted by all. But
how are the officers Of Government to de-
termine what would he just and judicious
how are they to determine what tariff
laws viii be equal and impartial in their
operations, and tend most to the prosperity
Of the great interests Of the country, Agri-
culture, Commerce and Manufactures--un-
less correct information be obtained as to
the operations Of previous and present laws.
And 10 the attempt Of public officer to
obtain facts wherewith to guide his con.
duct-to be characterized as an attempt to
illegally pry into the business transactions
of private citizens? In this country the
people are the only legitimate source Of
power, and the public officer who, in the
faithful discharge ofhis public duties, comes
to them for information which shall enable
him to frame such laws as shall conduce to
their prosperity, cannot fail to commend
himself to their confidence and affections.
This is not the first time an attempt has
been made to prejudice the Government in
the minds Of the people by misrepresenta-
lions like these. Iii 1870 customary CEN
sus could not be taken without the charge
that Mr.. Van Buren, wished to count the
hens and chickens Of the farmer with the
view Of levying tax to support his stand
ing army. 1t has come to pass that the le-
gihnate operations Of government cannot
Be carried on without an attempt on the
part Of the Wing press, to induce the peo-
pie to believe their liberties are threatened.
The Hawk-Eye INDUCES in panegyric
on the present tariff. It has ssadded TO the
prosperity Of the country" and been .sem-
inently beneficial" One would suppose,
from the praises bestowed upon this same
tariff, that the Manufacturers were the only
persons whose interests are 10 be consulted
in adjusting revenue laws. When manu-
featuring companies are enabled to declare
dividends Of from ten to forty-t,ro per cent,
while the farmer and mechanic, by the
practice of the most rigid economy, cannot
realize four, the country is pronounced
prosperous" by men in whose eyes the
law, which induces this state Of things, 10
the very perfection of human legislation.
A law is passed which is intended to "pro-
tect' manufacturers by enabling them to
levy direct tax upon the farmer for every
article Of clothing he wears upon his back,
and when, in time, an oppressed people
hurl from power the authors Of this law,
and an officer Of Government calls upon
the people for such information as shall
enable him to redress their wrongs, the
craft is found endangered, and the cry is
sounded, "Great is Diana Of the Ephesi-
ans" by the Demet,iuses Of the country,
who make their wealth by the unjust OPP
Grafton of protective tariff laws, and who
declare that ruin Is sure to result from any
change in the existing policy. In order
that the patriotism, and motives, of these
men may be clearly understood, and also
that the unjust operations Of the existing
tariff laws may be clearly seen, read the
following extract:
"THE BEST DIVIDEND YEr.-The Es-
sex Steam Mill, in this town, yesterday
made dividend Of torty-tsro and a half per
cent.-the earnings Of the mill the past
year. "-NsU6uryport Herald.
1 What do the farmers Of Iowa think Of
this? While it is with extreme difficulty
they are enabled to realize three dollars
on every hundred they invest in agricul-
tural pursuite, are they ready to uphold a
law which enables favored few to realize
fvty-tsoo dollars and fifty cents on every
hundred invested? We are unwilling to
insult their intelligence BY the supposition.
The Great Fall Company, in New Hamp-
shire, and the Amoskeag Company, in
Massachusetts,, have also declared enor-
nous dividends during the last six months
land this is our Wanted prosperity. The
farmers toll for bare subsistsnce-the
protected manufacturers divide dividends
Of ten, twenty, thirty, and forty per cent,
and, while pocketing the "spoils" wrung
from the men Of toll, they cry out 'stouch
the tariff and you ruin the country
meaning themselves. This cry will avail
them nothing for their motives are UNDER
stood. Bloomington Herald.
We can assure our friends Of the Hawk
| Eye that we are net almost frightened to
death" in view Of the disastrous results
likely to flow from rejection Of the con-
stitution. Wecertainly believed--and We
have seen no reasons for changing our be-
lief--that the acceptance Of il would have
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