The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-12-12


Economy in the public expenditures is at
all times a high duty which all public fhnc-
tionaries of the Government owe TO the peo-
Me This duty becomes the more imper0- |
live i'm II period ofwar, when large and eX-
,ra,ordinary expenditures become unnvoidn-
lie. During the existence of the war with
Me xico all our resources should be husband
ed, and no appropriations made except such
ms nre, absolutely necessary for its vigorous
prosecution and the due administration ottbe
Govern ncnt. Objects ofuppropriaton which
in peace may be deemed useful or proper,
but which are not Indispensable for the public
service. may when the country is engaged
in foreign war, he we'll postponed TO flu
tire period. BY the observance ofthis poll
CIV at YOUR pre-, leut session, large amounts
NAV be saved t., the Treasury, and he up
blied to objects depressing and urgent neces-
lsitv. and thus the c,'eation ofu corresponding
amount ofpublc deI't may be avoided,
It's not meant to recommend that the or
binary and necessary appropriations Tor the
support of Government should be withheld,
bur it is we'll known that at every session OF
Congress, appropriations are proposed lor
numerous. objects which may or may not DO
made, without materially affecting the pubic
interests; and these,it is Tecoinhehuou'
should mol be granted f., b.
The Act passed at your last st'ssioh e
ducing the duties on imports" 10! huvne
Tone INTO onerntionuntil TIE first OF the pres
ent month, there has not been time Tor i's
practical effect upon the revenue, and the
business of the country, to'be developed u
is Rot doubted, however, that th9just pol!cy
which it adopts will add largely to or IoreIsi
trade, and promote the general pros. Uerl'y'-
Although it cannot be certainly iCh esee''
what amount ofreVenue twill yield, il is es,
timated that it will exceed that produC Gu
by the act of1Sl2, which it superseded. Tbs
leading principles established by it are, TO lev
the taxes with view 10 raise revenue, and
to impose them upon the articles imported
according 10 their actual value.
The act of 1912, by the excessive rates OF
duty which it imposed GA many articles, eli
ther totally excluded them from importation,
or greatly reduced the amount imported,
md thus diminished instead of producing re-
venue. BJ 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 other fel-
low citizens. Those employed IN agrlcul-
ture, mechanical pursuits, commerce, and
navigation, we've compelled TO contribute
from their substance to swell the proilts ana
homegrown wealth Of the comparative few
who had invested their capital in manuiac-
lures. The taxes were not levied in proper
ton to the value ofthe articles upon Wh'ch
they were imposed but, widely departing
from this just rule, the lighter taxes were, ia
many cases, levied upon articles of luxury
and high price, and the heavier taxes on
those ofnecessity and low price, consumed
by the great mass of the people. 1t was II
system the inevitable effect of which was to
relieve favored classes and the wealthy few
from ontributing their, Just proportion for
the support of Government, and TO lay the
burden on the labor of the many engaged in
other pursuits than manufactures.
i A system so unequal and unjust has been
superseded by the existing law, which inn
poses duties not for the benefit or injury of
classes or pursuits, but distributes, and, as far
us practicable, 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 realized large profits, and many
of them amused large fortunes, at the ex-
pense ofthe many who have been made trib-
, utary to them, will have no reason 10 com
plain if they shall be required to bear their
lust proportion of the taxes necessary for the
support of government. So far from 1t, 1t
will be perceived, by an examination Of The
existing. law, that Determinations in the rates
of duty imposed, within'the revenue princi-
pie have been retained in their favor. The
incidental MD against foreign competition
which they ,stl enjoy gives them an advan-
tage which no other pursuits possess; but OF
this no others will complain, because the
duties levied are necessary for revenue
These revenue duties, including freights and
/ charges, which the importer must pay before
he eGn come in competition with the home
manufacturer in our markets, amount on
nearly all our lending branches of inanufac-
tire; to more than oHe-third of the value of
l,the imported article, and in some cases 10 al
most one half of its value. With such nd
vuntages tits not doubted that our domestic
manufacturers will continue to prosper, real
ling in Avell-conducted 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, our manufacturers in several
Heading branches are extending their business
giving evidence ofgreat ingenuity and skill,
and of their ability to compete, with lncreas-
adprospect ofsuccess, for the open market
of the world. Domestic manufactures, to
the value of several millions ofdollars, which
cannot lind market at home,are annually eX
ported to foreign countries. With such
rates fduty as those established by the ex-
listing law the system will probably be per-
manent :; and capitalists, who have made, or
shall hereafter make, their investments III
manufactures, will kndv upon what to re-
ly. The country will be satisfied with these
/ rates, bccnase the advantages which the man
ufacturers still enjoy result necessarily from
the collection of revenue for the support OF
Government. High protective duties, from
their unjust operation upon the mass of the
people, cannot fail to give rise to extensive
dissatisfaction and complaint, and to con-
slant efforts to change or repeal them, rem
dering all investments in manufacturers UNI