Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-10-23


Executives Of other States, for the use oil the Gen
eral Assembly.
| have made this special reference to the proceed
ings Of South Carolina, for the purpose oil bringing
them into immediate connection with the kindred
subject to which have, at some length, invited
your attention, and Of submitting TO you the pro-
prieiy and duty Of full consideration OF these ex-
iraordinary proceedings, and an expression OF the
sense entertained by the General Assembly Of this
State, of their true character and tendency. II
would seem evident that the Union cannot be main
tanned if peaceabc attempts to appeal to the APP
propriate judicial tribunal for the settlement Of great
constitutional questions involving the relative rights
of the States, are TO be put down by mob violence
and the added sanction Of Legislative authority.
1t is worthy of remark, that, upon an attempt by
South Carolina to enforce the same laws against
colored British subjects, and the remonstrance Of
the British government TO that Of the United States,
South Carolina desised and yet she vigorously en-
forces them against one Of her sister States, aud
adds the extreme aggravaon of rudely expeng
from her territory an agent Of that State, rather
than allow him residence long enough TO perfect
the process of submitting the question Of difference
TO the decision Of the constitutional tribunal
Several Of the slave States it is understood have
laws on this subject similar to those Of South Car
olina. Their enforcement in Louisiana induced
the Legislature Of Massachusetts, to send an agent
to that State for the purpose of nstitutlng siml-
lar process who was also driven from the State by
threats of mob violence.
If slavery cannot exist without the protection
which such an exemption from constitutional law
will give it, then it is evident that slavery and the
constitution are at irreconcilable variance. Massa-
chusetts has iorborne TO realiate, aud contented
herself for the present. with a solemn protest and
appeal TO the world and impartial posieriiy, against
these acts. But It is unreasonable to suppose that
there will be no limit to forbearance; that the
Union can always Withstand the power Of such at
tempts to rend il asunder.
The question of protection to labor, in lis other
wise ruInous competition with the starved and
cheapened labor of other countries, continues TO
be one Of undmnished interest Indeed, its inter-
est has increased, efforts to give ascendeRcy to
free trade principles have become more active and
systematic. OF the existence Of such activity aud
system, we haze hut too conclusive evidence, in all
the indications, official and semi-ofcial Of the new
administration. 1t is given cut, in ways not to be
misunderstood that the head of the financial de-
partment is indusiriously engaged in maturing
plan for reducing the tariff TO the revenue stan
dard." What that standard is, in the opinion OF
the school of political economists to which the
Secretary belongs, may be gathered from very
elaborate report Of the Committee Of Ways and
Means, Of the House Of Representatives at the
first session Of the 2sth Congress, in which il was
declared that
Every duty is TO be considered and is properly
denomnated revenue duty, the rate of which Yields
the largest amour, OF revenue from the importation
oil the article upon which II is imposed and every
duty is to be considered aud is properly denomina-
ted, protective duty, the rate Of which is so high
as to diminish the amount of revenue derived from
the importations Of the article upon which it is i'm
posed, and the rates Of which require to be reduc-
ed, 10 increase the revenue. And when a given
amount OF revenue is desired TO be raised upon any
gwen article OF importailon the committee regard
The tOce rate Of duty which will effect the result
as the true and legitimate rereane duty" The con-
mlttee add" The protection afforded under a rev.
enue tariff thus Defined they would denominaie in
cidental. The protection afforded by protective
tarlli, according TO the same definition, is direct
and posltWe-operates TO diminish or destroy the
to lay and collect duties, entirely ihSere%sr be ~
principle and policy"
/, thus appears that direct and positive protec-
tion'-that is, protection which has the effect TO
diminish revenue from any given article is entire
ly ndeienslble in principle and policy"-ihe only
allowable protection being that which is nciden-
tai" to revenue duty-that is incidental 10 that
duty which, without any reference TO protection will
yield the largest amount of revenue from the inn
porlations of the article upon which it is imposed"
The mere statement of this doctrine is sufficient
TO show that it strikes fatal blow at the principle
Of protection, because that rate OF duty can obvi-
ously furnish no stable protection, which is made
TO depend, not on the degree Of protection it viii
furnish, but on the amount OF revenue il will yield
since it is well known that a rate Of duty on
given article, which will yield little OF no protec-
ton, may be the very rate which will yield the most
revenue. There is not protected interest in the
country, that can stand single year. under the ap-
plication of such principle as this.
The true principle may be thus stated: A tariff
which, while ii shall in the aggregate of its duties
yield the amount needed for the treasury, shall be
so adjusted, in IFS details, as 10 throw much of
that aggregate upon articles needing protection, as
to give the protection needed-the balance being
thrown upon articles needing little no protection
1t is against the principle of a duty with
incidental protection, in the Protean shapes it will
be made 10 assume that we are doomed to con-
tend and it is contest with fearful odds when
we take into account the power and influence of
the new administration, aided by the deceptive ap-
pcation of the sliding ruLe Of protection incidental
10 a reuonue duty.
Nor is this the only aspect of the danger The
Secretary OF the Treasury, whose purpose TO des-
troy the protection afforded by the tariff of 1912
is not attempted to be conceded, is engaged in the
unprecedented work of collecting, without the au.
thorlty OF Congress- and by replies to certain ques
tons propounded TO manufacturers and others, to
be answered without oath or cross~examination-
information, to enable him TO carry his destructive
purpose into execution.
Vermont has TOO deep an interest in the great
question thus about 10 be forced to a fearful aud
perous issue, to remain Indifferent or silent 1t is
due to the great value Of our interests involved in
the true principle of protection that we thoroughly
examine the false principle on which. by comb-
nation OF lis pretended friends with its open enc
mics, protection is TO be made to rest The immi-
neney OF the impending danger would seem to call