The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1845-03-14

..pi5oI9 ep No. 2.
BILE administration of the government,
consists in the adjustment Of our reve-
nue. laws, and the levy Of the taxes ne
cessary fo the support ofgovernment.
In the general proposition,that no more
money shall be collected than the ne
cessities of an economical administra-
tion shall require, all parties seem to
acquiesce. Nor does there seem to be
any material difference of opinion as to
the absence Of right in the government
to tax one section of country, or one
class of citizens. or one occupation, for
the mere profit Of another. "Justice
and sound policy forbid the federal gov
ernment to foster one branch of indus
try to the detrlment of another, or to
cherish the interests Of one portion to
the. injury Of another portion Of our
common country" | have heretofore
declared to my fellow citizens that, in
+" my judgment, III is the duty ofthe gov
ernment TO extend, as far as it may be
practicable to do SO, by its revenue
laws, and all other means within its
power, fair and just protection to all
the great interests of the whole Union.
embracing agriculture, manufactures,
the mechanic arts, commerce, and nav
igation." /, have also declared my
opinion to be /" in favor OF a tariff for
revenue and that, s'in adjusting the
details Of such a tariff. have sanction
ed such moderate discriminating duties
as would produce the amount OF reve-
nue. needed, and, at the same time, af-
ford reasonable incidental protection
to our home ildrstry;" and that was
"opposed to a tariff for protection
merely, and not for revenue" -. l.
The power"to lay and collect taxes,
duties, imposts and excises," was an
Indispensable one to be conferred on
the federal government, which, without
it, would possess no means of providing
for its own support. In executing this
power by levying tariff Of duties for
the support Of government, the raising
of revenue should be the object, and
protection the incident. To reverse
this principle, and make protec-
ton the object, and revenue the
incident, would be to inhict man
ifesl injustice upon all other than
the protected interests. Ia levying
duties for revenue,i it is doubtless propeI
to make such determinations within
the. revenue principle, as will afford in.
cidental protection to our home inter-
ests. Within the revenue limit, there
is a discretion to discriminate; beyond
that limit, the righlful exercise of this
po xer is not conceded. The inciden.
tai protection afforded to our home in
terests by determinations within the
revenue range, it is believed will be
ample. In making determinations, all
our home interests should, as far as
practicable, be equally protected.
The largest portion OF our people are
arricultural,ts. Others are employed
in manufactures, commerce, nav vigation,
and mechanic arts, engaged in their
respective pursuits, and their joint la
bors constitute the national or home in
dustry. To tax one branch of this home
industry for the benefit of another,
would be unjust. No one Of these in
terests can rightfully claim an advant-
age over the others, or to be enriched
bv impoverishing the others. All are
equally entitled to the fostering care
and protection of the government. In
exercising sound discretion in levying
discriminating duties within the limit
prescribed, care should be taken that it
be done in manner not to benefit the
wealthy few, at the expense of the toI-
ling millions, by taxing lO,oest the luxu-
ries of life, or articles of superior quail
itv and high price, which can only be
consumed by the wealthy; and highest
the necessaries Of life, or articles Of
coarse quality and low price, which the
poor and great mass of our people must
consume. @
The burdens of government should,
as far as practicable, be distributed just
lv and equally among all classes OF our
population. These general views. long
entertained on this subIect,l have Deem
ed it proper to reIterate. 1t is asubject
upon which conflicting interests of sec
tions and occupations are supposed to
exist, and spirit of mutual concession
and compromise in adjusting its details
should be cherished by every part oi
our widespread country, as the only
means Of preserving harmony and a
cheerful acquiescence ofall in the ope-
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