The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-12-19

|. from whoss example We derived tbe system. M
! reIsxed hers. She has modified her corn isws:'
and reduced many other dutiesto modern revenue
+ rates. After ages Of experience. 'he nase.neu
i of that country have been constrsiDse ~ s.en
, necessity, and by public opinion hsvng ~ deep
foundation in the sufferings and wants Of Hnpovef
ished millions, to abandona system the eresV or
L which was to build up immense fortunes 10 NJ
hands Of the few, and to reduce the aboring MIR
lions to pauperism and misery. Nearly in the sans
ratio that labor was depressed, capital was ncreae,
ed and concentrated by the British protective poll
The evils Of the system 10 Great Bsifain were At
length rendered intolerabe, and 1t has been sp.l-
doned. but not without q severe struggle on ne
part OF the protected and favored classes TO refstu
the unjust advantages which they have % long en-
loved II was TO bs expected that sirnjIar strug-
gIe would he made by the same classes in he Uni
led States, whenever an attempt was made p nod
ify or abolish tie same unjust system mere - ~
protective policy had been in operation IN me-
United States for much shorter period. and -
pernicious effects were not, therefore. 50 clearly
erceved and felt Enough, however, was known
| of these effects to indece its repeal
II would be strange If, 10 the face the example
of Great Britain. our principal foreign customer,
and Of the evils of system rendered manifest V
that country by long and painful experience, and
in the face OF the immense advantages which, un-
der more liberal commercial policy. we are alrea-
dy deriving. and must continue to derive, BY sup-
plying her starving populstion with food, the Uni
ted States should restore policy which she hes
been compelled to abandon, and thus diminish her
ability to purchase from US the food and other arti-
cles which she SO much needs, and we so muchds-
sire 10 sell sls -
By the simultaneous abandonment OF the pro- y
tective policy by Great Britain and the United
States new and important markets have already
been opened for our agricultural and other pro-
ducts commerce and navigation have received {
new impulse; labor and trade have been released
from the artificial trammels which have SO long
fettered them and to great extent reciprocity, in
the exchange Of commodities has been introduced
at the same time by both countries, and greatly for
the benefit of both. Great Britain has been forced
by the pressure Of circumstances at home, to absn
don policy which has been upheld for ages, and
TO open her markets for our immense surplus. OF
breadstuns;and it is confidently believed that other
powers OF Europe will ultimately see the wisdom,
if they be not compelled by the pauperism and suf
ferings of their crowded population, to pursue
| similar policy. 81 l4 lTs
Our farmers are more deeply interested in mair-
tanning the just and liberal policy ofihe existing
| law than any other class of our citizens. They
constitute large majority Of our population; and
il is well known that when they prosper, all other
pursuits prosper also. They have heretofore not
| only received none of the bountiesor favors OF
government. but, by the unequal operations of the
protective policy. have been made, by the burdens
Of taxation which imposed, to contribute TO tho
bounties which have enriched others. b.
| When foreign as well as home market il open.
ed to them, they must receive, as they now re-
cfiying, increased prices for their products They
will find reader sale and at better prices, for
their wheat, flour, rice, Indian corn, beef, pork.
lard, butter. cheese, andother articles which they
produce. The home-msrket alone is inadequate
to enable them TO dispose of the immense surplus
| OF food and other articles which they are capable
of producing, at the most reduced prices, for
the manifest reason that they cannot be consumed
IN the country. The United States can from their
immense surplus, supply not only the home demand
but the deficiencies of food required by the whole
world. s Sa ,t.'iy ga = s:lis
| That the reduced production of some Of the
chief articles of food in Great Britain, and other
parts of Europe, may have contributed to increase
the demand for our breadstuffs and provisions q
not doubted; but that the greatland efficient cause
OF this increased demand. and of increased prices,
consists in the removal of artificial restrictions
heretofore imposed, is deemed to be equally GER
tain. That our exports of food, already increased
and Increasing beyond former example. under the
more liberal policy which has been adopted, will
be still vastly enlarged. unless they bs>checked Or
prevented by restoration Of the protective policy,
cannot be doubted. That our commercial and nav
igatng interests will be enlarged 10 correspond.
| IdtlO luCTtasc Oi trd0e, l9 eQualiy
certain; while our manufacturing interests will
still be the favored interests of the country and
receive the incidental protection afforded them by
revenue duties; and more than this they cannot
| justly demand .ss4s.F,s
In my annual message of December last, a tariff
Of revenue duties based upon the principles Of the
| existing law was recommended; and have seen
| no reason to change the opinions then expressed.
| In view OF the probable beneficial effects of that
| law, recommend that the policy established by
1t be maintained. 1t has but just commenced 10
operate; and TO abandon modify 1t without Civ.
Ing it fair trial, would be nexpeGient and unwise
Should defects in any Of its details be ascertaned
by actual experience to exist, these may be here
after corrected but until such defects shall become
manifest. the act should be fairly tested.
II is submitted for your consideration whether
1t may not be proper, as a war measure, to impose
revenue duties on some of the articles now embra-
ced in the free list Should it be deemed proper
to impose such duties, with view to raise reye.
nue. 10 meet the expenses of the war with Mexico,
or TO avoid to that extent the creation OF public
debt, they may be repealed when the emergency
which gave rise to them shall cease to exist, and
constitute ho part oil the permanent policy Of the
country. .
The act of the 9th of August last, "to provide
for the better organization Of the treasury, and for
the collection, safekeepng transfer, and dsburse.
ment of the public revenue, has been carried in
to execution as rapidly as the delay necessarily
arising out of the appointment of new oficers,
taking and approving their bonds, and preparing
and securing proper places for the safekeeping Of
the public money. would permit II is not pro.
posed to depart In any respect from the principles
or policy on which this great measure is founded.
There are, however, defects in the detail OF the
measure, developed by its practical operation.
which are fully setforth in the report Of the Sec
retsry Of the Treasury. to which the attention Of
Congress Is invited. These defects would impair
70 some extent the successful operation Of The law
at all times, buta especially embarrassing when
the country is engaged in war. when the expen-
dsures are greatly increased. when loans are to be-
effected, and the disbursements ale to be made at
points many hundred miles distant. in some cases,
from any depository, and large portion Of them
IN a foreign country, The notifications sugges-
ted 10 the report Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
are recommended to your favorable consideration.
10 connexion with this subject. invite your
ataDti0n IN fba runo of