The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-11

mates minimum and specific duties winch uc put
other terms for legislative mendActy and fraud, and
which I shall particularly expose in future COM
munication. In relation to this matter, write IN
strong and emphatic language, because wish to be
| understood.
Having pointed out the distinction between a Tar
| if tar and direct tar, will pass on to the last
| topic which propose TO discuss in this commune
cation, viz: the position, views, and purposes Of
the democratic and federal parties in relation
| 10 the tariff By the term federal, i mean the
| party opposed to the democracy, by whatever
name or device it may be known. am aware
that that party now call themselves wings
have known them, in my day, by variety OF
other names and it is not the first time that have
known persons with bad principles, and worse char
acters, to change their names in the hope of eluding
election. 1t is the common refuge of rogues; and
if the federal party, under their modern wing alias
| are pleased with il, why, shall not quarrel with
them for their tricky fancies. Without some such
disguise to rescue them from the odium which
| would attach to them on account of their political
| misconduct, their leaders would hardly be able to
keep enough Of the rank and file with them to be
able at any time to make a respectable fight with
the democracy. But am DEPRESSING
! have attempted to point out the difference be-
tween tariff tax and direct tax, and to show that
the former deceptive and dishonest, and the
latter an undisgused, honest, and just system OF
taxation. l have not done this because would adj
vocate change in the present mode Of collecting
the revenues of the general government, but to pre-
sent more forcibly and emphatically the inequality,
injustice, and oppression of the tariff system, when
pushed beyond the limits Of the revenue standard,
into the region of protection. In the present state
of the public mind on that subject, would not
change the mode Of raising the of the gem
eral government by duties on foreign imports, if l
could. All great changes in legislation must be
preceded by corresponding changes in public opin-
ion. A change in our revenue system must DC the
consequent of corresponding change ~ pubic
opinion. Therefore would not, until public opin.
ion changes, alter the system under which the
revenues Of the government raised. Both OF the
great parties into which the people this country are
divided, believe agree upon this point, viz That the
revenues required 10 sustain the general government are
to be raised by tariff duties imposed on foreign inn
ports On this point heeaders, as well as the masses
of the two great parties, agree. Mr.. Calhoun, re-
garded as the most ultra of the leaders of the party
i opposed to high tariff, concurs in this general
doctrine. He, in fact, repudiaes the absolute doc
trine Of free trade ascribed to him by the friends of
the opposite policy; and contends that the
of this government should be raised in other
way except by duties upon foreign imports. There
FORE this proposition may be safely laid downfall
both the democratic and federal parties are in
favor of raising the revenues of the general gov
eminent by tariff Of duties ON foreign imports
The only point of dispute is, as to what
this tariff shall be, and as to the method of i'm
posing the duties to be levied under it. The dem
ocratic party contends that the government has no
right to raise revenue under the form of ta-
riff, than its wants, defined by an economical expen
| diure, require. II contends that the government
has no authority tax the people for any purpose,
except to raise revenue. Hence the democratic
party is in favor of a rersnue tariff.
| The federal or wing party contend for different
doctrine. They contend that the government may
not only impose duties with view to raise reve-
nue. for its own use, but it may impose them for the
purpose of projecting certain branches Of industry
in other words, taxing the great mass of the people
for the benefit of small portion, who, in general,
stand in need Of no aid from any source; and they
contend that, to effect this object, the duty may be
so high prevent the importation of the foreign
article-thus defeating And this they call
protective tariff. Here, then, is the point of differ
ence between the two parties. The democratic par
ty are in favor of tariff of duties, imposed only
with view to raise revenue for the necessary
wants of the government; while the wing party are
in favor of tariff of duties, imposed not only for
II tho tbo
protect and foster certain branches of manufacture
by increasing the duties in some cases to absolute
prohibtion--thus defeating all revenue.
The principles and distinctive differences of tar
if for revenue, and for protection, will be con-
sidered in my next communication.
BUNDELCUND.
P. s. I notice that the National Intellgencer, in
two of its late numbers has made very important
admission in connection with the subject of the tar
if, and propounded one ridiculous absurdity. The
admission is, that the relative ratios of demand and
supply regulate the prices of a commodity. That,
general proposition, is correct, far goes
But the state Of the currency is another important
fact in the problem of prices. The. absnrdity pro-
pounded by the Intelligencer is in regard to the bal
ance of trade. The erudte and profound editor Of
that paper proposes that this nation should always
export more Of the products Of its own labor than it
imports of the products Of the labor of other ma
; tons, and bring home the balance in cash. If
this were the principle of trade between nations
how long would it be before nations having to buy
more in value than they can sell, would be exhaust
ed Of their currency and become bankrupt And
how long would it be before this nation would be-
come surfeited with money, her citizens tempted
into the most extravagant and ruinous speculatons
and the nominal prices Of all descriptions of prop
erty SO much increased as to check and put an end
to all foreign trade--thc whole ending in individual
bankruptcy and distress' In the proper time and
place. intend noticing at length the truth admitted
hu the Infcllioencer and the ahsurditx rronnnnded