Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-12-17

last exceed nine millions OF dollars notWtstand-
ing considerable expenditures had been made for
the war during the month of May and June Preced-
ing. But tor the war; the whole public debt could
and would have been extinguished within shor
period; and it was part of my settled policy to do
so, and thus relieve the people from its burden, and
place the Government in position which would en-
able 1t to reduce the public expenditures to that
economical standard which is most consistent with
the general welfare, and the pure and wholesome
progress of our institutions.
Among our just causes of complaint against Mex
lco arising out of her refusal to treat for peace as
well before since the war so unjusty commenced
on her part ere the extraordinary expenditures in
which we have been involved. Justice to our own
people will make it proper that Mexico should be
held responsible for these expenditures.
Economy in the public expenditures is at all times
high duty which all public functonaries owe to
the people, This duty becomes the more impera-
tive in period of war, when large and extraordina-
ry expenditures become unavoidable. During the
existence of the with Mexico all our resources
should be husbanded, and no appropriations made
except such as are absolutely necessary for its Wig
Orous prosecution and the due administration of the
Government. Objects of appropriation which in
peace be deemed nseful or proper, but which are
not indispensable for the public service, may, when
the country is engaged in foreign war, be well
postponed to a future period By the observance Of
this policy at your present session. large amounts
may be saved to the Treasury, and applied to OBJ
Jects OF pressing and urgent necessity and thus the
creation of corresponding amount of public debt
may be avoided.
1t IS not meant to recommend that the ordinary
and necessary appropriations for the support off
Government should be withheld, but it is well
known that at every session of Congress- appropra-
tons are proposed for numerous objects which may
ha Oh
public interests; and these, it is recommended, !
should not be granted.
The act passed at your last session, reducing the
duties on imports not having gone into operation
until the first of the present month, there has not
been time for Its practical effect upon the revenue
and the business of the country, to be developed
1t is not doubted, however, that the Just policy which
it adopts will add largely to our foreign trade, and
promote the general prosperity Although itcannot
be certainly foreseen what amount of revenue it will
yield, it is estimated that it will exceed that produc
ed by the act of 1912, which it superseded. The
leading principles established by it are, to levy the
taxes with view to raise revenue, and to impose
them upon the articles imported according to their
actual value.
Tae act of 1912, by the excessive rates of duty
which It imposed many articles, either totally ex-
cluded them from importation or greatly reduced the
amount imported, and thus diminished instead of
producing revenue. By it the taxes were imposed
not for the legitimate purpose of raising revenue,
but to afford advantages to favored classes, at the
expense of large majority of their fellow citizens.
Those employed agriculture, mechanical pursuits,
commerce, and navigation, were compelled to con-
tribute from their substance to swell the profits and
overgrown wealth of the comparatively few who
had invested their capital in manufactures The
taxes were not levied in proportion to the value of
the articles upon which they were imposed but
widely departing from this just rule, the lighter taxes
were, in many cases. levied upon articles of luxury
and high price, and the heavier taxes on those of
necessity and low price, consumed by the great mass
OF the people, 1t was system the inevitable effect
of which was to relieve favored classes and the
wealthy few from contributing their Just proportion
for the support of Government, and to lay the bur
den on the labor OF the many engaged in other pur
suits than manufactures.
system so unequal and unjust has been super
seeded by the existing law, which imposes duties not
tor the benefit or injury of classes or pursuits, but
distributes, and as far practicable, equalizes the
public burdens among all classes and occupations.
The favored classes, who, under the unequal and I'M
just system which has been repealed, have hereto
fore realized large profits, and many of them amass-
ed large fortunes, at the expense of the many who
have been made tributary to Them will have no rea-
son to complain if they shall be required to bear
support of government. So far from it, it will be
perceived by an examination of the existing law
that discrimination in the rates of duty imposed
within the revenue principle, have been retained in
their favor. The incidental aid against foreign
competition which they still enjoy gives them adj
vantage which other pursuits possess but of this
none others will complain because the duties levied
are necessary for revenue. These revenue duties
including frelghts and charges, which the importer
must pay before he can come in competition with
the home manufacturer in our markets, amount on
nearly all our leading branches of manufacture, to
more than one thiId of the value ofthe imported ar
tcle, and in some cases to almost one half of its
value. With such advantages it is not doubted that
our domestic manufacturers will continue to prosper
realizing in weconducted establishments even
greater profits than can be derived from any other
regular business. Indeed, so far from requiring the
protection of even incidental revenue duties, oul
manufacturers in several leading branches are ex
tending their business giving evidence of great in
genuity and skill, and of their ability to compete
with increased prospect of success, for the oper
market of the world. Domestic manufacturers, tc
the value of several millions of dollars which can
not find market at home, annually exported tc
foreign countries. With such rates of duty as those
established by the existing law, the system will prob
ably be permanent; and capitalists, who have made
or shall hereafter make, their investments in manu-
lecturers, will know upon what to rely The coun-
try will be satisfied with these rates. because the ad
vantages which the manufacturers still enjoy result
necessarily from the collection of revenue for the
support of Government. High protective duties,
from their unjust operation upon the masses of the
people, cannot fail to give rise to extensive dssatis
faction and complaint, and to constant efforts to
change or repeal them, rendering all investments in
manufactures uncertain and precarious Lower and
more permanent rates of Duty at the same time that
they will yield to the manufacturer fair and remu-
nerating profits, will secure him against the danger
of frequent changes in the system, which cannot fail
to ruinousy affect his interests.
Simultaneously with the relaxation of the restrict
i've policy by the United States, Great Britain from
whose example we derived the system, has relaxed
hers. She has modified her corn laws, and reduced
many other duties to moderate revenue rates. AT
ter ages of experience, the statesmen of that coun-
try have been constrained by stern necessity, and
by public opinion having its deep foundation in
the sutferings and wants of impoverished millions,
to abandon a system the effect of which was to
build up immense fortunes in the hands of the few,
and to reduce the aborng millions to paupersm and
misery. Nearly in the same ratio that labor was
depressed, capital was increased and concentrated