The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-09-16
THE DUTIES ON WINES IN THE TWO
r...-..a-r s... TARIFFS. ... n.
a sample Of ,Ohis honesty

..
dsa"P@ @ ""s "'"e''s
We have shown that Mr., Walker gave, IN his
comparative statement of the two tariffs, the most
exact and clear explanation OF the methods by which
the results IN each offs columns were arrived
at. II the wing journals think this was done TO de-
esiVe the people, let them persist in saying so. We
are content TO leave the matter as it stands. But
now We will show that these journals, while ella
moring about the alleged deception in Mr.. Walkers
table, have been in very truth 'strainng at gnat
and swalIowipga camel" There was deception
Svery gross decepdon-atrempted on the people
in the duty Of so cents per gallon, nsminaLiy i'm
posed on Madeira wine by the tariff Of 1912. The
shame Of that deception rests not at all on Mr..
Walker, but on the whig trainers of that act them
selves. Here Is the proof OF what we say.
lst. Madeira wine is phiis wine, produced Sin
the possessions of Portugal"
I'd. The same section Of tho act Of 1912 which
imposes duty Of so cents per gallon on Madeira
wine imposes on other white wines of various other
countries, duty Off cents per gallon.
Sd. The same section Of that act provides that
nothing herein contained shall be construed or per-
United to operate to interfere with subsising
treaties with foreign nations"
4th On the day when the act Of lS42 became
law, our reciprocity treaty with Portugal had just
four years rum and the third article Of that treaty
provided that mo higher .or other duties shall be
imposed on the importation into the United States
of America Of any article the growth, produce, or
manufacture Of the kingdom and possessions OF Por-
tuga, than such as are or shall be payable on the
like articles being the growth, produce, or manu-
facture of any other foreign country"
These are the undispuied facts Of the case. Now
1t is evident that this stipulation OF the treaty with
Portugal was intended to protect the importation OF
the white wines of Portugal and its possessions,
from the payment Of higher duties than were i'm
posed on the white wines OF other countries. The
act OF 1912 let IN various white wines oil France,
Austria, Prussia, Sardinia, &c, at duty OF u
cents per gallon. What then could be the motive
leading the wing trainers Of the act of 1912,
(knowing a. they did the stipulation OF our
treaty with Portugal0 to impose nominal duty Of
60 cents per gallon on Madeira wine, being white
the same section Proviso guarding against con-
structlon Of it, which would violate any treaty. The
motive is plain. These high tariff politicians knew
well that duty of 60 cents per gallon on Madeira
wine, though nominally imposed, could not be col
Lseted. Yet they hoped that the odium of their
"back tariff could be midgated by the pretsnes that
they had intended to put high tax on costly Ma
deira wine. The imposition OF that 80 cent
duty on Madeira wine was trick to cheat the Peo-
pie. twas clause for "Buncombe" inserted into
n statute. Fixed in their purpose to make tariff
for the rich man. the trainers of the act of l842
thought to conciate the people to their work by
pretending to impose heavy tax on one of the rich
mans luxunes, while they well knew that an exist
ing treaty would render such an imposition wholly
imperative They could then say on the stump to
the people that they had taxed Madeira wines 60
cents, while, at the same time, that wine was com
ing into our ports at u cents per gallon that u.s. 81
cents ad valotem. Such was the honesty Of the
if Of ls42 and yet the Baltimore Patriot gables
about the dishonesty of Mr. Walkers comparative
statement in reference to this very matter!
That the whole purpose of the famous wine sec
ton of the act of ls42, was, to tax the poor man
cham wine heavily and the rich mans eYpen-