Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-01-27

part VI Inc Tree trace b'ch u tSu5ien"'
iavorably met By these gentlemen | fear n".
However honest their convictions may nave oeeh'
apprehcnd they were driven TO This p:e'e3,, Ia,
Their Tor defence, for the want OF heVef, lhau
from any great regard they may have iot 1tee
trade. Al least, when the time comes, vas Cou
grant it may come shorllyD we shall oe aoie 70
Weigh the worth OF such professions. wouiu
no, willingly do injustice 10 any-no no. even 10
pro,eclionist-bu' greatly fear, ~ nfaill
will be found Joined 10 his ito' must mol DC
understood 10 mean, lha, he party have ever
been ready 10 concede 50 much. kno" lna'
there are many who upheld protection '"l pro-
lecon's self, and more for ptotecliohs SANG
These men will never make any concession ~
the advancing spirit OF the age, until ihey are
overwhelmed by lis current. ! have already
heard their rejoinder: England is not gong 10
consult our inlerest-she is only LOOKING 10 hel
own" True she is doing nothing else. fot my
own part have no wish that Eng snoula
regard our interest, farther than II is laen.iheu
with her own 1t would equally effect my wishes,
II the two countries would consult their mutual
advantage, or each one its own 10 'ease .nis
head OF The SUBJECT, which, after all, may prove
mere speculation let us come 10 the acsuai s'a'e
Of the case.
And, first, lei me protes; against what consi.
der misrepresentation Of The sentiments OF me
freelrade advocates, based upon a verbal eli
tcism. We are charged with wishing 10
bring about direct taxation, Tor, say ihey, d
tariff and free trade are incompetence. ms
is my defence. What do we understand oy ree
tradel An unrestricted interchange OF commo-
diles, whether between our own QUEENS OF WIN
the subjects OF foreign powers. Aos'raciy cohsi-
dercd. we believe this would be mutual advar-
tase. But does il for this reason follow, that Tor
purposes OF revenue, we would net, TO some *
tent ioreso this privilege? As well might It be
objected, that because The Legislature couia no'
consider The value OF property 10 be enhanced oy
the impos,iou of direct tax consequently lhey
would never Law any tax for The support ol Inc
Government This objection would lhns reouce
US TO The necessity Of having no rr"enhe; "hich
is, think, a fair conclusion from suci premises.
The fac, is. ,ree-trade men 90 not Object 'has
Tariff should lie laid for revenue. They believe,
nroperly imposed. il may be as fair ard equitable
a, any other mode Of taxation, as il is certainly
The easiest 10 collect and the least obnoxious 10
The peone. But rather than il should be made
The inst, umen of partial favor and partial OPP
preston, suppose they would all prefer direct
taxes. But what, Messrs Editors, il il should
appear, that il is The tendency ui these same pro-
reciye duties TO produce necessity for direct taxa
lion: do you suppose that any oil these gentlemen
who have such horror Of direct taxes, would be
driven from their posiion2 lapprehenc not one.
This proposition may seem paradoxlcai, pul u -
certainly true, that it's the tendency OF protective
duties 10 bring about direct taxation. ana why
Because il is their operation 10 produce 10 ms |
country the manufacture of variety OF aHicies |
which, without their protection, would De maze /
abroad, and imported into The country, SO mat re-
venue might he raised from them. Does any
man speak of an excise duy?-l apprchend lhe
Iune of some persons would be changed. bu'
his is moi all. See what Mr.. Madison says IN
The 4ist No OF the Federaist. lie IS contenu'ne
for an unlimited power Of taxation 10 congress.
az will address one additional reflection only 10
hose who contend that the power ought 10 nave
been restrained 10 external Iaxation-oy "hich
hey mean taxes on articles imported from
,,her countries. 1t cannot be doubted, lnal ,n's
viii always re valuable source ui revenue; lha''
or considerable time, il must be prln-
:ipal source; thai at this moment Is an
essential one But we may form very ms,
AIKEN ideas on this subject, il We do mol eau
. mind in our calculations, that the extent OF re-
.enue drawn from foreign commerce, must vary
,i,b The variations, both in The extent ana Inc
,;nd ofimports; and, that these variations 10 not
correspond with the progress OF population, whlch
nnst I've he genera measure OF The public wants.
s1ono as agriculture continues the sole Held OF
abour the importation of manufactures must
prease as the consumers muN'p9. AS soon d
omestic manufactures are begun, by The hands
ow called for BY agriculture the imported manu-
lciures will decrease as the numbers OF people an
ease In more remote stage, the imports may
onsi., in considerable part Of raw materials,
,fich will be wrought into articles for exporla-
on. and will therefore require rather The en-
ouragen,cr, Of toua.es. than obe loaded with
i>colragn9 duties
So that large portion Of our foreign COM
.crce, SO far from beng source Of revenue,
,usl be prnsioncr on the treasury. Gentlemen
Ms has grown 10 greater length than | could
ave imagined il would. Even il might tres
ass farther on your columns, have not the
me to pursue the inquiry. II any man, how
YER will ponder the proposition, in connection
,i,h what MIR. Madison has written, II does seem
me he canno, fail 10 come 10 The conclusion that
rolec,ive duties must produce direct taxes:
PEROTE.