The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-04
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND A PRO.
TECTIvE TARIFF.

The wings habitually discuss the tariff, as il their
opponents were opposed to the manufacturing in
dustry of the country. This is a singular error.
Il is desirable to manufacturing establishments
springing up in the country, il they shoot forth Of
themselves without the artificial stimulus of q hot
bed protection. These would undoubtedly contrib
ute to the national prosperity. But manufacturing
establishments must spring up spontaneously and
not by process forced and unnatural, a. well an
Injurious 10 other interests. As party, the anti
protective tariff men allege, that in the existing for
wardness Of the manufacturing establishments, and
the prosperous footing upon which they have for
long while been placed, no other protection is ne
cessury, or should be demanded, than what re.
suits from revenue tariff But further than this,
tits believed that il such amount of encouragement
DO not sufficient, Congress does not possess the
rghtful power 70 bes,ow more. The superstition
that the federal legislature can build up one class
Of the community by exactons upon another
does violence to the spirit Of our institutions As
the President truly remarks in his message, The
farmer or planter who tolls yearly in his fields is
engaged in domestic industry and is as much en-
titled to have his labor protected the manufactu-
rer, the Of commerce. the navigator, or the me-
chanic, who engaged also in domestic industry
In their different pursuits. The joint labors Of all
these classes constitute the aggregate of the domes
tic industry Of the nation, and they equally en-
titled to the nations protection No one OF them
tan Justly claim to be the exclusive recipients of
protection, which can only be afforded by increaa
ING burdens on the domestic industry of the 9TH
srs." Altare branches Of "American industry" the
farmer well the manufacturer and to protect the
one by undue cxactions, is to promote one portion
Of American industry" at the expense of another
portion. Those are the plain dictates Of common
sense. "Whoever runs may read them." ' p
When the government lays duty beyond or be-
owthe point of revenue for the production of par
hal eftes such diminution or increase is incompat-
ibs with the ends Of a constitutional tariff Fair
play and equal Justice should be the motto Of Amer
can legislation. II would, in our opinion, be as i'm.
proper desgnedy to Discriminate sgsinst the Amer
lean manufacturer, by sinking the imposts on
any manufactured article below the revenue point,
as it il uniust 70 the agricul,urist, and consum-
era in general, to fix the tariff beyond tho
revenue standard with the simple view to protection
universally acknowledged to have been one of this
las, description, The act Of 1923 has now few or
no advocates. It yielded revenue, owing TO the
expansion Of the currency, which so high tariff in
ordinary times would not have produced. t#
II may be said truly, that the beat friends Of
the manufacturing interests are those who are OPP
posed to tho stimulating means now employed, and
LEADING In dcetr,,ctive cor,ne titop and m oener,I
complaint equally unpropitious for the permanent
prosperity OF the manufacturer. No very unequal
and oppressive tariff can continue without oppos-
ton alteration; and we hold that in the investment
of capital stability Of duties is Of more real con-
sequence than high and temporary rate Of du-
ties. - .r..asE ..r ..
The New York News has an interesting article
upon this subject, which we lay before our readers
The News Is impatient for the action OF Con-
sress. We are not surprised at this feeling; but
some allowances ought to be made for the situation OF
Congress. lst The treasury report is probably the
longest, and one Of the most important documents,
which has ever emanated from that department II
s full ofrue and figure work, and covers more than
$50 pages! II was not laid upon the tables Of mem
berS soonerthan Monday last ID. The COMMITTEES Of
Ways and Means are employed 10 the work Of franz
ing revenue system and revenue bill, with the aid
Of all the information which the Secretary Of the
Treasury can impsrt. This, Of course Is long and
complicated labor. Then, in the 81 place, the House
o. Representatives whose duty IL is to originate tn.
NH have been engaged Ia very able and interesting