Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-10
MR. DALLAS'S REPLY
70 The Committee of Washington Co., Pa.


Gentlemen The animated and energetic lei
TEL have lusl received from you calls for an I'M
mediate reply. | cannot allow you for moment,
C suppose me insensible 10 the appreciation yon
a eloauently express fmy recent conduct in the
Stnale OF The United States. The comprehensive
yew which YOU have taken vi the subject gives
gearer value TO your judgment, and entities you
n well 10 my thanks as 10 frank reclprocauon
o sentiment.
An equal system of taxation, and as mild one
a. a pure and economical administration oil their
p,blic concerns will Justify, is the demand OF The
american people. Il is their right resting on a
fundamental principle OF their social structure
and guaranteed by the whole tenor OF their cuns'i-
uuon Why should they moi have II! why
soud their representative agents obstIuct It's en-
pymenl? Why should we persevere IN eniorc-
he mode OF obtaining treasure 10 meet the ma
tona expenses which works unIairy-kinfly
IN the east and cruelty on the west and south !;
Which gathers wasteiu and pernlclous surplus,
anil gradually gives unwieldly and dangerous
power TO a single class OF capitalists Answers
To hese questions might be easy, as long AS The
minority OF The people, sensible OF an unrIpe or
csnizaton volunteered TO sacrifice largely, IN o.
der 10 drive deep into their soil The roofs 81 socla
independence and safety. But answers become d'l-
icult il not impossible, when tha. majority, con-
scious OF matured strength, and prepared 10 cope
with every sort OF anagonsm, avow change oil
nurnose. or rather a recurrence 10 The justice and
freedom from which they diversed under the be-
lief that il was al least prudent, II not necessary,
10 do so. They have now called FOR reduction
of The duties on imports 10 The measure oil reve-
nue. want; for an abandonment OF all legislative
favorilism; for an equalization of the burdens
which they know should be borne BY all alike;
and they have insisted, with emphasis, that indI
rect but copious tribute shall no longer be e1ac-
led from the agricultural commercial and me-
chanical masses under pretence OF protecting
where protection is obviously and VIGOROUSLY
mere pampering. Calls such as these from such
source. il is as wise as il is wholesome, IN con.
formily with the spirit Of our institutions, 10 obey
with as little delay or oppugnallon as possible
NV faith in the intelligence and patriotism OF
the people is habitua. The Democracy never
fail, sooner or later, 10 understand aud pursue
their true policy and interests On The SUBJECT oi
Tariff, however, difficulties existed, al once
complex and covert BY which They were liable 10
be embarrassed and deceived. II is indirect and
unseen taxation on all bu. The importing mer-
chants; and impovcrishes without It's agency be-
ing perceived. Incomes or wages become made
ouaie. and il is not Immediately discovered that
this inadequacy is caused by The swollen prices
which men are obliged 10 pay for heir iron i'm
pemenls, their clothing, their household utensils,
their groceries and their comforts. The demand
OF the tax collector who visits them Tor the ofdl-
nary rates and leyies is distinct enough, anu u
Thai he exorhitant they redress themselves by
eIectina more economical county commissioners
the grievance is direct and undlsguised-and
they know their remedy. Not so with the taxa
ton which taxes in the shape OF duties on I'M
ports. The poushman is unconscious oil nav
ing paid any rate or levy upon Inc machine win
which he is Throwing the soll-so is The black
smith as 10 his anvil-and The family matron as
10 her blankets her sugar and her salt-they
bought the articles al neghborins Store Tor
the same money that others PAID and nothing in
tmaed that part OF the money they gave was
the reimbursement or final payment oil pub
lie tax We OF Pennsylvania, who can scarcely
continue quiet under The imposition oil three mills
per dollar 10 meet the interest on our debt, nave
actually become accustomed 10 contribute from
our means without the slightest mnrmur, hity,
nav, a hundred times as much in as many dccep-
live modes under the operation oil The tariff oil
1912. We not only pay our share towards sup
porting The General Government but We also pay
that portion OF the price OF every article we buy
over and above what il would have cost II Inc Ia
riff had not been enacted. Why, then, wonder
that the laboring classes Of our population were
late in attending 10, and slow IN thoroughly aP-
precialins the oppressive draining consequent
upon an exorbilant tariff? Like banking there
is mystery in it, whose solution Tags al The
close of prolracted discussion, inquiry, vigilance
and thought. YET The same people that gradually
mastered The operations and tendencies OF the one,
and Iesolulely arrested them, have now, with The
spirit which characterizes them and
their epoch pushed forward 10 check the other
The veil by which the evils OF indirect taxa
ton are concealed from The eye oil the people
should he delerminately lifted by those who have
al heart The happiness Of the masses, and seek 10
ameliorale their condition. This is high obi
cation of Democratic representation, legislative
or executive II is the higher, because easily
evaded or pausbly lett undone. Let The wrongs
of confding and toiing constituency be studied
by The agents whom they honor with their sut-
laees, and let the real sources OF those wrongs be
laid bare. II harsh, unfair, or unnecessary de-
mands upon their substance have been made,
they ought not TO be considered sanctihed and un-
assailable, because long and patiently endured.
On the contrary, the faithful sentinel should 'cry
aloud and spare not" the more Zealousy when
the opportunities of his elevated position enable
him to see what is hidden from others. A strong
and gratifying illustration presents itself in re-
Gently distributed document addressed by the Sc
cretaIy Of The Treasury To Congress, and receiv-
ed al The close oil The late session. Our country.
men should have their attention invoked towards
this remarkable paper remarkable in every re-
spcct-ils bread bearing, its precision, its cogen-
cy, lis authentic facts, and its striking results. No
development Of which ] am aware has been made
equally lucid and impressive. II pnrports 10 be
report ain compliance with resolution OF the
Senate, exhibiting a list Of manufactured articles
upon which 81 oOO, 900 (rlrrr-rorR MIlLloSs!) are
annually paid 10 the protected closses (NoT TO THE
NATIONAL TREASURY by enhancing the
prize Of the domestic articles, and the amount SO
paid On each article" under the Tariff of 1912,
and by accurately formed tabular statements il
establishes The annual aggregate of indirect lax
alton imposed by that law-seen and unseen-ior
government and for tavore clasSes-Io exceed
e,gitv-tro millions Of dollars Were The Anne.
rcan people sensible that this tariff which osien-
sby lanced but a single vein, practically made
,h.m hlee1 nj every nore1-uhirh nroipsspd In