True Democrat. (Paulding, Miss.) 1845-18??, 1846-12-30
/. tCoatinued from jirst page.)

known that at every session OF Congress appto-
priations are proposed for numerous Objects
which NAV or may not be made, without ma
teriallv affecting the public interests and these
il il recommended should not be granted
The act passed ii your last session "reduc.
mo he duties on imports not having gone IN
q operation until thefFs q the present month,
there has not been time TOT its practical effect
mon the revenues and the business ofthe coun-
nv. ID be developed. lis not doubted, how.
ever. that the Just policy which it adopts will
add largely 10 our foreign trade, and promote
the general prosperity Although i cannot De-
certainly foreseen what amount ot.reYenue i
will Weld, tits estimated that i will exceed that
produced bv the act Of 1912, which i supeFse-
ded The leading principles established by It
are. 10 lew the taxes with view TO raise rev.
enue. and to impose them upon the articles inn
norted according to their actual value,
The act ofi842, BY the excessive rates Of
duty which ii imposed on many articles, either
totally excluded them from importation, or
greatly reduced the amount imported, and thus
diminished instead ofproducing revenue by
ii thetaxes were imposed not for the legitimate
purpose Of raising revenue, but to afford adyan-
tages TO favored classes, atlhe expense Of large
majority Of their feilow.citizens, Those en-
ployed il agriculture, mechanical pursuits, COM
meTce. and navigation, were compelled e con-
tribute from their substance 10 swell the. profits
and overgrown wealth ofthe comparatively few
who had invested their eapila in manufactures.
The taxes were not levied in proportion TO the
value of the articles upon which they werel m-
posed; but, widely departing from lhsiust rule,
tie lighter taxes were, il many cases, levied
upon articles luxury and high price, and the
heavier taxes on those of necessity and low
price, consumed by the great mass oflhe people
Il was a system the inevitable effect Of which
was 10 relieve favored classes and the wealthy
few from contributing their just proportion for
the support Of government md to lay the bur-
den on the labor ofthe many engaged in other
pursuits than manufactures.
A system SO unequal and unjust has been
superseded by the existing law, which imposes
duties not forthe benefit or injury ofclasses or
pursuits, but distributes and as far as practlca-
Bile, equalizes the public burdens among all
classes and occupations The favored classes,
who, under the unequal and unjust system
which has been repealed, have heretofore real.
lied large profits, and many Of them amassed
large fortunes, at the expense of the many " no
have Leee made tributary to them, will have no
reason 10 complain ifthey shaIlbe required TO
bear their just proportion Of the taxes necessary
for the support Of government So farirom IT.
will be perceived by an examination Of the ex-
isting law, that determinations in the rates of
dirty imposed within the revenue principle,
have been retained ia their favor, The Incl
dental aid against foreign competition which
they still enjoy gives them an advantage which
no other pursuits possess; but ofthis none others
will complain, because the duties levied are
necessary for revenue. These revenue duties,
freights and charges, which the inn
porter must pay before he can come in compe-
tion with the home manufacturer in our mar
kets, amount, on nearly all our leading branches
of manufacture to more than onelhird OF the
value OF the imported article, and in some cases
to almost onehalfils value With such advan-
tages, it is not doubted that our domestic manu-
features will continue 10 prosper realizing in
we'll conducted establishments even greater
profits than can be derived from any other reg
uIar business. Indeed, so tar from requiring
the protection OF even incidental revenue duties,
ourimanufactures in several leading branches
are extending their business, giving evidence Of
great ingenuity and Skill end ofiheir ability to
compete, with increased prospect Of success, for
the open market ofthe world Domestic manu-
features, to the value OF several millions Of dol
lars, which cannot find market at home, are
annually exported to foreign countries. With
such rates Of duty as those established by the
existing law, the system will probably be per-
manent; and capitalists, who have made, or shall
hereafter make, their investments in manuiac-
lures, will know upon what TO rely The
countrywill dissatisfied with these rates, because
the advantages which the manufacturers still
enjoy result necessarily from the collection
ofrevenue 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 dissat-
isfactioH and complaint, and 10 constant (
efforts to change or repeal them, rendering
all investments in manufactures uncertain /
and precarious. Lower and more perma-
nent rates Of duty, at the same time thot
they will yield to the manufacturer fair /
and remuneraling profits, will secure him
against the danger of frequent changes in
the system, which cannot fail TO rninously I
affect his interests.
simultaneously with the relaxation OF /
the restrictive policy BY the United Stuies,
Great Britain, from whose example we de- Z
rived the system, has relaxed hers. She /
has modified her corn laws, and reduced (
many other duties TO moderate revenue I
rates. Alter ages ofexperience, The slaies- 4
inen,of that country have been constrained I