The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-24
THE DAILY UNION.

and planter and to the poor this tax operates most
oppresslyely, not only in the use OF the article IL
self, but as combined with sailed provisions. The
salt made abroad by solar evaporation is also most
pure and wholesome and, as conservative Of health,
should be exempt from taxation"
As to IRON, the duty proposed by MIR. Walker is
not high. Il is thirty per cent. ad valorem the
foreign market uaIus which is nearly equivalent TO
the twenty per cent. al vaorem on the home market
price under the compromise act OF March, 1888.
The duty is reduced nearly one-haf, and is not pro-
posed for "the benefit of the ron-masters," but
for necessary revenue to support the government,
and is bslow that lowest rate which would produce
the largest amount Of revenue, as reference to the
tables and estimates clearly demonstrate. Every
duty proposed in Mr.. Walker bill was a strictly
duty because never exceeded, on any article,
that lowest rate of duty which would produce the
largest amount of revenue; and therefore "A Dem
ocral" is mistaken when he suggests that "Mr.
Walkers bill looks TO something besides revenue"
"A Democrat" states that "for the benefit of com
paratively small class of sugar planters Mr.. Walk
er places sugar next to spirits, higher than anything
else" Instead of Mr.. Walkers proposed duty on
sugar being, "nsr to spirit, higher than anything
sss," it ID placed in the class and at the
duty, with more than hundred other articles, at
thirty per cent sd valorem on the foreign market
value which is nearly equivalent to the twenty per
cent. ad vaIorem on the home market price, under
the compromise act of March, 1888. This day of
thi.ty per cent. on sugar was not proposed by Mr..
Walker for "the benefit of sugar planters" for 1t is
lees than halfthe present duty, and below that low
est rate Of duty sugar, which would produce the
largest amount of revenue on that article. Does
ga Democrat" believe that an act would
be more truly revenue bill than MIR. Walkers,
by introducing iron "duty free" and sugar at
duty Of from "l5 to 20 per cent" and thereby
sacrificing about four millions of reyenuel In his
official letter Secretary Of the Treasury, of Feb
ruary last, sending the estimates of revenue at
s24, 000, 900, under his bill, to the Committee Of
Ways and Means, Mr.. Walker says:
"The estimated revenue would, in state of
peace, be too large in my judgment, if the public
debt were eXtingulshed and | submit respectfully,
for the consideration Of the committee, whether
prospective provision for further reduction Of the
duties, TO go into operation upon the payment Of
the principal and interest Of the public debt, might
not with great propriety be inserted tn The present
BILL"
Mr.. Walkers bill then proposed
l. To raise no more revenue than was necessary
for the economical wants Of the government.
2. It abolished all minimum and specific duties,
and introduced the ad valorem throughout on the
foreign market value.
3. 1t proposed no duty ON any article above
the lowest rate which would produce the largest
amount Of revenue.
4. It proposed to insert in the bill provision for
further reduction Of the duties on the payment Of the
public debt.
5. As "a Democrat" recommends. il did give
chance to "our cattle of getting lick Of free salt"
by proposing to make salt duty-free.
As then "a Democrat" was mistaken in all his
structures on Mr. Walkers bill, he will no doubt
take pleasure in correcting his errors. We can
sure "a Democrat" that if the present Congress
should fail to adjust the tariff, Mr.. Walker is pre-
pared long life spared 10 derOte all his energies
10 the great cause Of free trade. The anti-com law
league Of England has given that country free trade,
and free-trade convention f Congress- fail to acD
of all the States in the Union, To establish societies
in all the States, and to diuse tracts and discuss
monopolies before the people, can accomplish the
same results here; and into that PAUSE Mr. Walker
would enter with zeal and energy.