The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-01
CON EssION AL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
In HogsE OF RErREsESTArIvEs, JUSE %, 1916.
THE rAkiEF.

SCI shall neither question nor defend the eonsti
uuonsl right TO discriminate in the imposition Of
aties, with view TO protection, within the reye-
ue KNIT, IL is sufficient for that the right is
anctioned by the uniform practice OF the govern
rent, and recognised by the very bill under discus
The question Of the extent to which that right
hould be exercised, is question of expedlency,
nd as such propose to consider il.
IL 10 said, and certainly with some appearance Of
ruth, that the financial policy Of this admlnistra-
on was settled by the election Of 1874 IL Is true,
nat the democratic candidates were charged by
leir opponents with maintaining ultra free-trade
octrines and IL is equally true that they, for the
.ost part, avowed hostility to the tariff OF 1912
he issue thus made up and contested was not,
owever, sufficiently definite and specific in its
rms, nor so universal in its adoption an TO pledge
ther party TO the extremes of free trade the one
and, or protection on the other. And the success
Il candidate was left TO develop the details OF his
nancial policy, not under positive instructions from
e people, but with Just regard to the manifesto
ons Of the popular will.
The bill reported by the Committee Of Ways and
leans is understood 10 embody the views Of the
Eecutiye department Of the government; and II now
mains for the legislative brunch TO examine whe-
er its provisions are in principle adapted to the
interests Of the country, IN accordance with the
uth Of the party pledged prior to the election OF
3li and adequate TO the increased wants OF the
reign relations.
IN the FIRST place, it may be observed that one Of
he Fundamental principles Of the bill assumes
round Common I" all parties IL proposes to raise
b. revenue 'ecessal> to meet the expenses Of gov
rument by tariff uP>1 imports. IL IS conceded
IN all hands that systemof indirect taxation for
purposes Of reVehue merel is best calculated to
tupply the wants OF governnI.,t, and best adapted
Ions genius and policy; and yet, must be as readi-
v col.sduA that 1t is not the list equal or most
il aad n G,rniah n r
Axstion Il IL the resorted TO irfsI cases of d.
rect taxation and manifestly upon eNety principIe
n political philosophy, furnishes as well the true
,cale for graduating the liability of the hdividual
Is the source from which the expenses Of govern.
nent are to be paid; but in levyng the revenues Il,
he support of the government by means Of tariff
his fundamental principle is wholly dsregarded
The property Of the Hation, and even its produc
ions, manufactured or agricultural, are not taker
nto the account The basis assumed is that Of con-
nmption, and the tax is paid in that ratio by the
tdividusl for himself and his dependents. Hence
lrises the inequality and bjusnee in the working Of
he system. The man Of small property and large
smiy pays more In tenfod proportion than the
nan Of immense wealth and no family or depend.
hts; and yet direct taxation for the support Of gov
trHent mus fsvJs yi,h no party. The mos
rendous advocate Of free trade-the plateJr OF the
,outh--checks his spirit Of inquiry at this pon
ind falters in his patriotism when called upon :
ivy tax upon his property for the support Of gov
,rnnent.
II is supposed that the public burden, howeve
diminished in weight or equtably arranged woul
le more grievous and less endurable if i'm
tosed in the form of direct tax, and the
ne patriotism Of the nation would not be foun
adequate TO the emergency. ! am not the aC
focate of direct taxation. | am not abo,
% condemn the proposed plan, or to suggest a ne'
sne; but insist that a system proceeding upon
alse and assumed basis, confessedly unequal an
mi. -
sity and as choice Of evils should at all events b
limited to the exgencies Of the occasion which coul
alone justify its adoption. The stern behess of ne
cessity having been obeyed, and its purposes an
wered, it's not the part of political wisdom pro
ong or extend to ulteror and collateral objects TIT
Perntion of a false and fictitious system
The points at issue in this controversy are, as
Understand II, between revenue tariff with moder
te incidental protection, and tariff for protection
ely; and the advocates Of the latter claim to fort
their position by the uniform practice of the gov
1ment from its earliest history. Sir, the object Of
ariff at Its origin was never protection, but reve
D.; but protection, from being the incident, very
adily becomes the abuse of the SYSTEM. 1t had It's
,ign in the same necessities which gave birth tc
cry description of gratuity and bonus for the gran
monopolies, and resorted to by corrupt gov.
aments as the readiest mode of repenishng the
hausted Golfers of vicious and prodigal court
II corrupt governments seldom providen In
eased expenditures consequent upon a temporary
pply Of the means, soon lead to its corresponding
haastion, and induced the usual resort to like rem
les for relief. Large loans were negotiated with
aIthy and powerful corporations as the considera-
n for the grant of additional privileges, and du-
upon imports were enhanced, both with a
10 swelling the tide of revenue to the gov
ment, and as a compensation for pecuniary aid
nished by opulent manufacturing companies
ese privileges, once granted, could never be with
wn The enormous advantages thus secured to
Il. AL a,, tha rnnt n n
resources of the nation, and needy sovereign
anne dependent for the supply of his wants upon
too powerful subject. Thus grew up moneyed
Wocracy, whose interests became paramount to
tcf the crown, and the principle of protection
vailed to the exclusion Of revenue. Upon the
umpton, then, that the protective policy has new
,een carried in this republic TO a sufficient extent
operate periodically upon the great interests OF
nation, we find in this brief history OF its
in and growth, enough OF Its sure ana rapid
iency towards overshadowing monopoly to
,lfy all the opposition which it will have to en-
inter- at this time, or at any future Perioo' lme
gTess Of civilization, and the spread OF lntelll-
zee, has essentially changed in its character the
of governing the many for the benefit of the few.
subject il no longer oppressed by the exercise
arbitrary power II is the combination OF prlvl-
ID and protected wealth, controlling the re-
rces of monopozing the fayors Of overnment,
scribing the wages Of labor, and closing up the
nues Of independence, drawing within the folds
its influence and its power all the energies,
lte and physical, Of the nation, and tightening
grasp upon every struggle with the fatal grippe
he anaconda, which has become to civilized Eu-
ca meet substitute for the bowstring and Bos-
rus. This, in modern times, 10 the resulting
potism of unwise legislation, but not necessary
dent of any particular form of government
ctiCaly, it isl matter ofvery little consequence
ether this oppression be exercised under a gov
ment democratic in its form, or the most abso-
edespo,sm. The system can be as efficient IN
importing the industry, contracting the means OF
oport ~thering the hopes and drying up the
Inces Of hsppness to the people, under the one
The Other The securing by any means, and in
y form, exclusive privileges to individuals OF
sSes, il n direct violation Of the Fundamental
ncipes Of our government; and the design TO ac-
mplish this purpose through the medium OF q
elective, as contradistnguished from revenue
III, is to be viewed with the greater dtsrust and
ultimate consequences the more to be dreaded,
at It cnnc,als the weapon which ibActs the
ound, and ,veetens the poison as It proHers 1t to
g lip. ........
"a Il NJ