The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-01
From the same.l

= ..... From the same ...r. 49,
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
We think we are paying the highest compliment
to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury when
we say it is worthy document to accompany the
most excellent message of our democratic President.
His account of the state of the finances Of this
try is plain and brief Our public debt, consisting
of treasury notes, &C., is now but Sl7,075, 445 SO;
which it proposed to extinguish during Mr. Polk 8
administration. .... .h# s.".s..
The part of the report that strikes us with pecu-
liar interest is that relating to the modification of
the tariff in which all the farmers mechanics, and
operatives are interested in particular. A clearer
and more forcible argument upon this subject we
have no remembrance Of ever seeing. In the out
set, Mr. Walker takes six positions, which il is inn
porant for all persons in discussing the tariff to
derstandi .5 a#f-'
Ist That no more money should be collected
than is necessary for the wants of the government,
economically administered. at
This proposition would seem to be self-evdent
II is the same to say that ought to collect no
more taxes in Illinois than are absolutely necessary
in order TO raise revenue enough to support an eco-
nomical State government. But it is denied by the
wings who believe n high tariff (Which is but
another name for high axation) blessing Of ITSELF
inasmuch a. it protects the manufacturing interests
of this country by excluding competition and there
by keeping up the the prices of the greatest
portion Of the necessares of life. Hence we find
the wings anxious to give away to the States the
proceeds OF the public lands, IN order that the tariff
or taxation may be higher. The democrats shy,
Keep the proceeds Of the pubclands in the treasury
and reduce the tariff or taxation proportionably On
this very proposition, then, plain as it is, the two
parties take issue.
3D. That no duty be imposed on any article above
the lowest rate which viii yield the largest amount
Of revenue. ''
Now why do we levy tariff, or, in other words
why do we tax the people for the iron, salt, glass
sugar. cotton CLOTH &c, &c, that they usel Plainly
10 raise revenue. The constitution says "Congress
shall have power TO lay and collect taxes, duties i'm
posts, and excises'' The only othr clause refer.
ring to this subject is the one that says ''a bills for
raising revenue shall originate in the House of Rep
resentatives." Now tariff bill is bill to "rai,e
repenue." And we cannot levy taxes, duties i'm.
posts, and excuses except that we ''coect" them
and in order to "raiss rerenue" Nothing is palmer
under our constitution than this. Hence, in taxing
any article, or in laying the duty upon any article,
we must look to "raising revenue" only; and when
we get to that point at which an article win raise
the most "revenue," we must there stop. We have
no right TO tax article so high that its revenue
will be dminished-or much less, that its importa-
ton will be entirely prohibited. Here, again, the
two parties take issue. The taxes for constitu-
uonal purposes-viz: TO ''raise revenue" The other
taxes without regard to this constitutional provision
and looks to the interests of the manufacturers
alone.
30. That, below such rate, discrimination may be
made, descending in the scale Of duties; or, Tor i'm.