Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-07-23
TARIFF PRINCIPLES.

No observing mind can fail TO perceive the
immense advantage of position which we
friends of Protection enjoy in the simple fact
that are are al,cas ready and eager to act up TO
our principles, ,cbiIe our opponents nerer are
We commend Protection and enact Protec-
tive Tariff and stand by it; they eulogize Free
Trade in words, but their acts never come with
in gunshot Of it. Their bill is needy Of Pro-
lection, Free Trade, half-and half, and meth
ing at ALL Il passes the wit Of man to write
an article or make speech which shall really
and truly advocate and justify that bill
Whatever palliates a part Of its provisions
condemns others; and 70 argument can be
framed TO favor any part ofthe measure which
does net demosh other parts. Nearly every
assertion made in its behalf is impudently for
| gstfu Of the contents of the bill 1T taxes the
| Injuries Of the Rich and exenpts the necessa-
ries of the Poor, "says The Union and its echoes,
1 in cool defiance of the fact that Silks are main
/ ly admitted by il at 3 per cent. and the bal
ance at 20 10 %, with Linens at 20, while
most Uooleas are taxed 30-that Sugar and
IRON are taxed 30per cent. while FVrs. Dia-
! inonds and Gems unset, Music, Watches, SC.
are admitted at 10 and God or Sitrer Leaf
at 3. The bill is a mass of condensed ialla-
cies and self-cuntradictons.
/ II the arguments adduced in opposition to
! the Tariff of '42 prove any thing, they prove
that there should be no Tariff at all, but that
whatever Revenue is needed for the Govern
ment should be levied and collected by Direct
/ Taxation Yet not one man Of the One Hun
bred and Seventy Loco-F ocos now ia Con-
gress has ventured TO urge any such change of
1 policy. Not even WALKER in his bill is any
where near the doctrines of WALKER in his
Report. If that Report be sound, the Govern
ment should be supported by Direct Taxation;
/ but If there be not nerve enough IN the Free
4 Traders for that, il should at least be support
ed by moderate duties on such articles as are
not rivaled in this Country, otherwise (Mr.
! WALKER and his followers correctly argue
/ from their premises) for every dollar paid into
4 the Treasury two are paid INTO the pocket of
the incidentally protected classes. Who could
/ Imagine that the man who so reasons should
! kick il all over when he comes to draw bill,
1 by actually proposing higher duties on Cloth
I lug than on Tea and Coffee2 His followers
\ in Congress finish the job by increasing the
duties on Woolens and letting Tea and Coffee
in free! How can these men ask US to adopt
principles which they never put in practice
! Now, while we have never contended that
the present Tariff is perfect, nor do we expect
TO see one of nearly thousand items made so
unless by gradual corrections ofdetails as ex-
perience shall show defects, we do say that no
former Tariff ever enacted was ever SO well
devised and benefcent. 1t has immensely m
vigeraied our previously iaindng, Parayzed
Manufactures, and every home interest, every
section, has profited thereby. Already many
important classes of wares and iabrics are pro-
duced among us cheaper than they ever Were
imported. We have given the evidence oil
this over and again; it cannot be reasonably
disputed Other classes are rapidly advanc-
ing 10 the same desirable state. No man can
/ give reason why Iron, Steel, Silks, Cutlery,
4 sc. sc. should not ultimately be affected by
Protection as Screws, Pins, Nails, Drillings,
! EDGE Tools, Castings, and hundreds of other
articles have already been. Our idea Of
s.ludicious Tariff is that il is one trhieh triH
/ Secure the production on o,g soil Of eeery anti
Gle ,rhich nature does not deny us the means Of
producing as adrantageously as II can be produ-
ced else,rhere. So far we would have Protee-
ton go no farther. If Tea and Coffee could
be grown here as well as elsewhere-that is,
l if our climate and soil were favorable to their
production--we would say at once, Levy Pro-
tective Duties upon them; grant that we shall
pay more for few years, we shall Obtain them
essentially cheaper so in the long run. So
we saF OF Iron, of Cotton and Woelen fabrics;