The Arkansas banner., 1845-11-05


 pin used by the women, every bauble bought to amuse children--the moment il is entered at the custom-house; and there it leves it's duty, which passes into inc cost paid by the merchant, who finally retails 1t to the con- sumer, with the duty and his profits added to the original cost; and thus, under the shape and ditguise of price, this tariff tax is collected, Instead of employing honest tax l gatherers to do its business, who are not ashamed of their profession, and whom the i people respect, 1t makes the merchant the unwilling instrument of its eXactions; and he IS forced, willing oi no, To act as the tax gatherer of the government. Every man and l boy standing behind the counter, and meas uring off calico by the yard, or dealing out sugar by the pound, is d collector of taxes for the government. And thus are the peo- pie cheated out of the tax they are obliged to pay for the support C. aovemment, under the cunning device of t tdrtt6G ftse, which does not let them know how much they pay, nor for what they pay Il. Nor IS 1t gallant or generous in its exactions. Instead of COZ lining them to the male and adult members of the community, il teommiis its depredatiens alike upon women and children, who pur- chase single article imported from for eign country, or ore which 1t protects by taxing the foreign article coming in compeu- ton withit Nor 1t satisfied with the sin ] gle mode of cheating the people out of the taxes which il leves upon them, as above described; but ii resorts to what it denomi- hates minimHm and SPccifc duties-whch ar but other terms for legislative mendacity and fraud, and which shall particularly ex- pose in future communication. In relation 10 this matter l speak in strong and emphat ic language, because wish to be understood.
 Having pointed out the distinction between tarif tar and direct tdf, will now pass on to the last topic which propose to dis cuss in this communication, viz: the posi- ton, views, and purposes of the democratic and federal parties in relation to the tariff l By the term jcderat mean the party op- posed to the democracy, by whatever name or device it may be known. am aware that that party now call themselves Whigs. l l have known them, in my day, by variety of other names; and il is not the first time that have known persons with bad princl- pies, and worse characters. to change their names in the hope of eiudng detection, It Is the common refuge ot rogues; and If the federal party, under their modern whig aiias, are pleased with 1t, why, shall not quarrel with them for their tricky lances: Without some such disguise to rescue them from the odium which would attach to them on ac- count of their political misconduct, their leaders would hardly be able to keep enough of the rank and file Wlh them 10 be able at any time to make respectable tight with the democracy. But am digressing.
 have attempted to point out the differ ence between d tariff tax and direct tax, and to show that the former was deceptive and dishonest, and the latter an undisguised, honest, and just system of taxation. have not done this because l would advocate a change in the presenlssmode ot collecting the revenues of the general government, but 10 present more forcibly and emphatcally the inequality, injustice, and oppression of the tariff system, when pushed beyond the linl- it's of the revenue standard, into the region of protection. In the present state of the public mind on that subject l would not change the mode of raising the revenue of the general government, by duties on foreign imports, if 1 could All great changes i'll legislation must be preceded by correspond ing changes in public opinion. A change in our revenue system must be the consequent of a corresponding change in public opin- ion. Therefore l would not, until public opinion changes, alter the system under which the revenues of the government are raised Both of the great parties into which the peo- pie of this country are divided, l believe | thiS ,tf1 fWdi JGp nues required 10 sustain he general gorern- ment are 10 6e raised by C hrG, or duties imposed on foreign imports. On this point, the leaders, as well as the masses of the two great parties, agree. Mr Calhoun, regarded as the most ultra of the leaders ol the party opposed to a high tariff, concurs in this gen eral doctrine He, in fact, rcpudiates the ab- solute doctrine of free trade ascrlbed to him by the friends of the opposite policy; and contends that the revenues Of this govern ment should be raised in no other way eX- cept b. duties upon foreign imports. There fore, this proposition may be safely lald down-that both the democratic and federal parties are in favor of raising the revenues of the general government Jy tarD ot d0- ties on foreign imports.
 The only poht of dispute IS, as to Wha this tariff shall be, and as to the method o imposing the duties to be levied under it. The democratic party contends that the gov, ernment has no right 10 raise more revenue under the form of d tariff, than it's wants, de fined by an economical expenditure, require Ii contends that the government has no au thority to tax the people for any purpose except 10 raise revenue. Hence the demo r cratic party is in favor ol a rerenge tariff
 The federal or whig party contend for { different doctrine. They contend that the government may not only impose duties witt a view to raise revenue for its own use but it may impose them for the purpose o protecting certain branches of industry-ir other words. taxing the great mass of tho people for the benefit of small portion who, in general, stand i'll need of no aid iron any source; and they contend that, to eliee this object, the duty may be so high as te prevent the importation of the foreign arti cle-thus defeatipg revenue. And this they call protectjre tariff Here, then, is tht point of diferen4e between the two parties The democratic party are in favor of tarii f of duties, imposed only with view to ras'
 II.