Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-18
The Tariff mn.

The bill reported weeks ago from the committee Of
and proposing reduction Of existing duties
upon impors,-but not aboshng protective duties, In ac
codance with the resolution OF the Baltimore Convention
and the reiterated pledges OF MI Folks Southern part-
in the campaign Of s44wss taken in the House
OF Representatives. on Monday last by majority OF 80
This vote however is not TO be regarded as ind
eaive OF the fate OF this deceptive BILL whatever shape
may be given by the ndments be pro
poscd before the question shall be finally settled That
a majority Of Locofoco members will adopt it in the
shape in which from the finance committee is aea
dy, think sufficiently obvious Mr.. Wentworth, lead
ing member Of that party from Illinois, has given Of
his intention strike from the bill the duty salt
and likewise the extraordinary contingent duty and
cotee duty the of evying which by the bill
feed the should the from the duties
imposed absolutely prove Deficient provision less
Pecedened in its than remarkable for its incorpo-
ration in bill the protessed object OF which augment
the revenue from imposts BY investing the President,
indeed with this discretionary power the authors OF the
scheme emphaueay confess that they have faith in the
truth OF their own reasoning; for although they
with the utmost gravity that augmented will
result from the reduction of duties they propose, they
vertheess fear that the opposite result will be produced
and they therefore take steps guard against by
ing to the singular plan OF lerying contingent duties by
Presidential procamation TO supply deficiency in the
revenue OF which. according their theory, there
the rcmoest possibility II that theory indeed, be
sound one they should have engafted their bill
mode OF disPosing OF the surplus for will be
bered that it reported peace and the
present high duties yield abundant they have
done, for the ordinary of the the pro-
posed reductions necessarily according their
sonng have brought into the treasury annually many mil
lions beyond the expenditures Thus do their reue
their arguments. Mr. wentworths proposed amendment
doubtless based upon this absurd assumption and while
dmnishcs our respect for his judgment nevertheless
demonstrates that sincerely believes dogma OF low
duties and abundant Yet it shows that he is
less Of free trade" than those who advocate the
contingent duty upon and coffee for, w will be de-
MED that in system, from which du
ties be excluded, and coffee, instead of being
placed upon the free list ought be embraced the class
Of articles upon which the highest duties levied.
Mr.. Hungcrford, Of New York, another Locefoco, and
member of the Committee of Ways and Means, has offer
cd a substitute for the entire bill of the committee We
have 1t but informed by the Washington
correspondent OF the Baltimore American that while
braces many Of the provisions OF the bill the
range Of duties higher, he goes for higher duties doubt
less, because the War with Mexico leading larger
penditure, demands revenue that he a
vert to the Locofoeo theory and there marked diser
mnston in favor OF iron and sugar His bill imposes a
duty OF 90 per and coffee and bushel
salt The Americans correspondent thinks that there
IS stronger prospect of the passage OF Mr.. Hungcords
man OF the committee s-whlch strange,
the duties in the latter bill lower than those Mr. Hun
gerord's, and will therefore, according the lights,
yield more revenue consideration which ought
be disregard the demands upon the Treasury
the present year will be twice thrice large they
have heretofore been. We look the denOuenert with
Of curiosity than We shall regret course
the adoption of policy which will prove detrimental to
all the interests Of the country but the people
satisfied with the disastrous results OF the experiments
49,, Il.
fresh in their memory perhaps be repeat
ed in order that the Government may speedily posi-
bic settle down upon fred and permanent system
for serious the mischiefs be apprehended from the
changes IN the revenue system proposed they are
insignificant when compared with the frequent fluctuations
to which tariff policy has been heretofore sublecte
by party leaders for their own selfish purposes.