The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-23
TO THE EDITOR OF THE UNION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE UNION.
do not know but it affords me much pleas
ure TO retract II would TO reflect that
had never committed one. la the present instance,
assure you it affords me far more. In the sur
prise and excitement OF the moment, did mistake
extract from another paper for one of your edi-
torials, and discovered it day or two after mailing
my letter TO our friend. | cannot say, however,
that | regret having made the blunder, for hope
this apology will remove all unpleasant feelings
from your mind and my letter may be the means
Cf making known TO such democrats elsewhere as
anything for the South or its people, how sens
tive long years Of oppression and in Justice has
made us, how sore we are becoming at the strange
and unaccountabe delay by the democratic ma
onty in taking up and passing Mr.. Walkers bill
with its modification by the committee; for what
the southern wing press may say 1t Is with all
its faults, land 1t has manyO when compared with
the abominabe wing spawn of 1912, Hyperion to
a Satyr. Yes, it has many faults, and comes far
short Of that justice which the farmers and planters
have right TO expect at the hands of a just and
parental government. Permit me, if you please,
TO point out some of its provisions and features,
which esteem faults. ] apprehend It will not be
denied that, but for the necessity Of supporting
governments, no people would ever have thought of
making strangers pay for the privilege of supplying
their necessities, adding to their comforts, and in
creaslng their enjoyments. The original object Of
levying imposts on imports was revenue. The
legitimate, yes, the only legitimate object under the
constitution Of levying imposts on imports is rev.
enue; and | cannot doubt for a moment that the
constitution would have been rejected, if the people
had been plainly told while it under consdera-
ton that there clause in that constitution
which authorized Congress to foster favored classes,
to tax labor for the benefit of capital to pass laws
to create and increase distinctions in society, to
make the poor man poorer and the rich man
richer
The great fault in Mr. Walkers bill is that it
looks to something besides revenue-we think, be-
fore revenue. II does not entirely repudiae the
curse Of class legislation.
The great object of all good governments (not
under class conro) in raising revenue, has been to
let the burdens fall as lightly possible on neces-
saries, and that the greater burdens be borne by
misunderstanding always in view the facility or
difficulty Of evadlng the law | think imports
could for the purpose Of revenue have been better
divided into four classes than into seven, as Mr.
Walker has divided them Thus:
!. Necessaries-of which know but two salt
and iron-free.
2. Quasi necessaries-sugar coffee, tea, comm on
clothing.
3. Comforts large class, most of which will
readily occur.
A. Luxuries-rich drinks and fine clothes, &c.
For the benefit Of the salt makers and iron mas
ters, Mr.. Walker taxes the only two articles of alb
solute necessity high. For the benefit of COM
paratvely small class Of sugar planters, Mr.. Walk
er taxes sugar, next to spirits, higher than anything
else and sugar is of the quasi necessares-more
nearly approaching necessary than any other inn
port. These are strong features in Mr. Walkers
bill, and we esteem them glaring defects and gross
injustice; still we slow to blame the Secretary
and exceedingly unwilling to condemn him in this
regard because we know all legislation is Compro
mise, and believe he has framed for us not as good
bill as he would have us have--not so good bill
as he could frame-but the best one for us that he
believed would pass. think, however, with great
Difference to his better judgment, and to his better
opportunity Of judging, that the democracy Of Lou
isiana would be content to admit sugar at the aver
age duty-l5 or 20;-and that our Maine friends
cannot hope for continuation of 40 cents bounty
on all the exported fish, and will not, for the pit
lance of Is per cent Drawback stand in the way of
our cattle getting lick Of free salt.
A DEMOCRAT.