Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-12-10

ries Of the Government owe TO the people,
This duty becomes the more imperative IN =
period oil war, when large and extraordinary
expenditures become unavoidable. DurinS
the existence Of The war with Mexico I'll 2
resources should be husbsnded, and no appro7
prlai,ons made except such as are absolutely
necessary for is vigorous prosecution and the
due administration ct govetnmt. OhJects %
appropriation which in peace may be deemed
useful or proper. but which are not indlspenj
sable for the public service. may, when th6]
country is engaged 10 a fore gn war. be well
postponed 10 a future period. BY the ohser-]
vance Of this policy at your present session.
Ilarys smoungs may he saved TO the treasury
and he applied to objects OF pressing and ur-I
gent necessity. and thus The creation of q cor-|
responding amount Of public debt may be]
avoided.
1t is not meant TO recommend that the ordi-
nary and necessary appropriations Tor the sIp-1
port or Government should be Withheld. bur
il IS well known that At every session Of Cons
gress appropriations are proposed fer nunacr-
Gus objects which may or may not he made,
without materially affecting tie public inter.
e,ts and these il IS recommended should not
be granted.
The act passed at your last session "redu-
cling the duties ON Imports moi having gone
into operation until the first OF the present
month. there has not been time for its practl-
cal effect upon the revenue, and the business
of the Country to be developed. II Is NOT
doubted, however, that toe just policy which
ii adopts Will add largely TO our foreign trade.
and promote the general prosperity. Although
it eanno, be certainly ~foTeseen what amount OF
revenue il will Weld, il is estimated tina, it will
exceed that produced by the act Of 1872.
which ii su superseded. The leading principles
established by il are, TO levy the taxes with =
view to raise revenue. and TO impose Them up
on the articles imported according TO their 40
tual value.
The act OF 1912, by the excessive rates Of
duty which II imposed upon many articles, ell
Their totally excluded thet.l from importation,
or greatly reduced the amount imported, and
thus diminished instead of producing revenue.
BY II the taxes were imposed not for the leeit-
innate purpose OF raising revenue, bu, TO afford
advantages TO favored classes, at the expense
Of large majority Of oar fellow Citizens
Those employed in agriculture, mechanical
pursuits, commerce., and navigatlon, were
compelled TO contribute from their substance
TO swell the profits and oyersrown wealth Of
the comparatively few who had invested their
capital in manufactures. The taxes were not
levied in proportion to the value OF the articles
upon which they were imposed but widely
departing from this just rule, th- lighter tares
were, in many cases, levied upon articles of
luxury and high price. and the heavier taxes
on those Of necessity and low price, consumed
by the great mass of the people. 1t was a syA-
tenn. the inevitable effect OF which was to re-
lieve favored classes and the wealthy few from
contributing their just proportion for the sup
port OF Government, and 10 lay the burden on
the labor Of the many. engaged in other puT-
suits than manufactures
A system So unequal and unjust has bean
superseded by the existing law, which impo-
s~s duties not for the benefit or injury of clas-
sss or pursuits. but distributes. and. as far az
practicable, equslizos the public burdens
among all classes and occupations. The favor
cd classes, who, under the unequal and unjuss
system which has been repealed, have hereto
fore realized large profits, and many Of them
amused Large fortunes. at the expense OF the
many who have been made tributary 10 them,
will have no reason to complain il they shall
be required 10 bear their just proportion Of the
,shes necessary fer the support Of Govern.
ni.nt. Sc far from il, it will be perceived, BY
al eIsm.sa;ion Of The existing law ihat dis
elimination IN the rates of duty imposed, with
N the revenue principle, have been retained
IN their favor. The incidental aid against for.
eiga competition which they still enjoy gives
them Al advantage which no other pursuits
possess but Of tins none others Wdl complain.
because the duties levied are necessary ior rev.
snue. These revenue duties, including lreIghD
and charges, which the importer must pay bS
fore he can come IN competition with the home
manufacturer III our markets, mount, on near
ly all our leading branches of manufactured
10 more than one third Of the value of the I'M
ported article, and in some cases to almost ono
half its value. With such advantages, it ID
doubted that our domestic manufactures
viii continue to prosper realizing in well con-
ducisd establishments ever greater profits than
can be derived from any other regular busi.
ness. Indeed, SO far from requiring the pro-
lection of even Incidental revenue duties, or
manufacturers ia several leading branches are
extending heir business, giving evidence Of
grea, ingenuity and skill and OF their ability
10 compete. with increased prospect Of success,
for the open market of the world. Domestic
manufactures, 10 tie value Of several millions
ofdollars. which cannot find 4 market at home,
are annually exported to foreign countries
Win such rates Of duty as those established By
the existing law, the system will probably DO
permanent; capitalists, WHO have made OF
shall hereafter make their investments in man
ufactures, Will know upon what 10 rely. The
COUNTRY will be satisfied with these rates, he
cause the advantages which the manufacturers
still enjoy result necessarily from the collection
Of revenue for ise support Of Governments
High protective duties, from their unjust ope.
ration upon the masses of the people, cannot
fail 70 give r,se to extensive dissatisfaction and
compliant, and to constant efforts TO change or
repeal them, rendering all investments in man.
ufsciures uncertain and precarous. Lower
and more permanent rates ofduty, at the same
time that they will yield TO the manufacturer
fair and remuueraling profits, will secure hun
against the danger oil freuqent changes IN the
sy stem, which cannot fail to ruinously slleot
his interests.
simultaneously with the relaxation ofthe re-
policy by the T.. States, Great Britain.
from whose example we derived the system.
has relaxed hers. She has modified her corn
laws, and reduced many other duties TO mode
rate revenue rates. After ages Of experience.
the statesmen Of that country have been con-
strained by a stern necessity, and by a public
opinion having IFS deep foundation in the suf.
lerings and wants of impoverished millions, 10
abandon a system the effect of which was to
build up immense fortunes in the hands OF the
few, and to reduce the laboring millions TO pau
perism and misery. Nearly IN the same ratio
that labor was depressed, capital was increased
andconcenlraiedb by lheB rilishprolecuyepolic