The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-12-25

posed, not for the legitimate purpose
Of raising revenue, but to afford adj
vantagcs to favored classes, at the
expense Of a large majority Of tarir
fellow citizens. Those employed IN
agriculture, mechanical pursuits,
commerce, and navigation, were
compelled to contribute from their
substance to swell the profits and
overgrown wealth of the compare
tiyclv few who had invested their
capital in manufactures. The taxes
were not levied in proportion to the
value Of the articles upon which they
were imposed; but, widely depart
ing from this just rule, the lighter
taxes were, in many cases, levied
upon articles of luxury and high
price, and the heavier taxes on these
Of necessity and low price, consum-
ed by the great mass of the people.
It was system, the inevitable eff
feet OF which was to relieve favored
classes, and the wealthy few from
contributing their justproportion loI
the support Of government, and to
lay the burden on the labor Of the
many, engaged in other pursuits
than manufacture.
a system so unequal and unjust
has been superseded by the existing
law, which imposes duties not for
the benefit or injury of classes OF
pursuits, but distributes, and, as far
as practicable, cqualizcs the public
burdens among all classes and oc-
equations. The favored classes,
who, under the unreal and unjust
system which has been repealed,
have heretofore realized large profits
and many Of them amassed large for
tunes, at the expense Of the many,
who have been made tributary to
them, will have no reason to COM
plain if they shall be required to bear
their just proportion of the taxes
necessary for the support of govern
mcnt. SO far from it, it will be per-
ceiyed, by an examination Of TIE cX-
isting law, that determinations in
the rates Of duty imposed, within the
revenue principle, have been retain
ed in their favor. The incidental
aid against foreign competition
which they still enjoy, gives them
an advantage which no other pur-
suit possesses; but Of this none 9TH
ers will complain, because the duties
levied are necessary for revenue
These revenue duties, including
frcights and charges, which the i'm
porter must pay before he can come
in competition with the home manu-
acturc, to more than one-thira OF
The value Of the imported article,
and in some cases to almost one-ha!i
lis value.
Nith such alsa.. rcs it is MT doubted ihai
our domestic mauubcturr VIII contnuo to pres
por. rcol Eng IN wc'lcuuduclod cstall -hmeut-
even greater profits ihla can ne derived from ATTY
r'hcr regular business. Iulcel, 81 ior from "a
l1irius the protection Of even incidental revenue
4uucs, our manufacturer, in several ic.drgg
branches nrc extending their husnc-s, si,irg c,-
il nee e eTtat ingenuity and sAil', aud 4 lh,il
.Hl ny 10 compete, with Increased yruspCc. ul
success, l,r the open market Of the world. Do
nestle mlnutttsrc., :. the value Of several mix
tons # dslilrs which Caa1ut iiud u market at
home, are annually exported 10 foreign countries.
y ith such rates Ut du'y as those 60. b'isbcd by
tie existing law, the " TEN " III bc pruhahiy PER.
uautn; and capitalists, who have made, or sha'l
Greater make tdc'r Investments IN manufactures
viii know uVop What 10 rcly. The county WI
be- sHtr,li i with lh,s' rates because the at,lu-
a-cs which the manufacturers still cal ~ result
necessarily lr1m the collection Of revenue far the
support Of Government. High protective duties.
from their unjust ofc. o.irn upou the mass Of lhc
people, cannot Jii to give rise lo extensive dis.
Satisfaction aad complaint, and 30 cau.tul efforts
- r'i"iI them, rendering oil Investments in
manufactures TN 'rraip nud pTrcAtiuus. Lower
and more prrmcncut rates Of duIy, at tie SANE
luuc that ;hcy will yield to the manufacturer fair
and femunrrd,ng profits, viii secure him nc liusr
the danger Of trrqurut changes in the system,
"a ch cannot ta,l 20 ruuousy effect MS interests.
: anu tantopsly with The reuxi,on Of the re-
.tucuvc policy 10y the I. States, Great Britain,
.ram whose example we derived the system. has
rcaycd hers. she has ~ .'lad her corn laws,
md reduced many other duties 10 moderate rcvt-
nue. rates. Ancr ages of experience, the states
men Of that country have been cpns'rtnu hv a
Jnll oplnl II having lis deep foundation in the
suffering, and wants ufimr0vrrieh,i mllIiru-, Ia
"A ,4u t,t tg,