The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-05
THE TARIFF OF 1912.


The tariff Of ls42 was a temporary expedient. 1t
which carried il in the Senate, especially given
to il avowedly in view of a temporary exigency-s
special crisis. ...... ..... ........
The language of Mr.. Wright was most explicit
on this ponr
at had been his habit, he said, as Il had been his
pleasure and PRIDE to act with his political friends;
and he could not describe the reluctance under
which he now found himself compelled TO separate
from them. Yet, after the most mature and anx-
ous reflection, he had come To the conclusion that
il was his duty to vote for this measure, because
he assumed that this bA must pass In The form u
neso bears, on that rtpenus ta'o Gun pass at the
present session. IL he was correct IN this assump-
tion then he could not avoid the conclusion he had
announced; and he did not suppose there
single member Of either house OF Congress who
supposed for moment that, if this bill be rejected
upon this VOTE any further attempt Is TO be made,
at this session, to pass revenue bill The aherna-
pe presented, then Is this bill or none and The deep and
deliberate conviction Of hi, mind pas that this bill
should pass bad and loaded ,oih de as he beisrsd
to be, rather than that none should pass
arhe treasury is empty; and almost daily the
ublic creditors turned away from without pay
ment This very Congress has increased and is daily
increasing the public expenditures, and thus creating
the necessity for increased revenues. And the pub
lie credit is sinking but sunkeni so that loans at
high interest and at long time, cannot be negotiated
AT home or abroad upon the declared reason that we
have not TO meet the payment OF The pubic
Liabilities.
These changes of circumstances constituted, in
his mind the highest necessity for revenue Lato, and
forced upon him under The most solemn sense Of public
duty The course Of action ohieh he proposed 10 pursue
Similar declarations, almost equally strong, were
made by other distinguished senators, who gave
their votes for the bill
This tariff was the result Of a canvass now
universally known as political 'atrnaiia. IL
made no attempt to place the commercial and
revenue system Of the country on basis looking 10
peranenee. Its palpable and strong suoser-
vience to particular sectional interests-s array OF
minimum and specific duties--its reckless extrava-
gance of taxation under the name Of protection
its wholesale sacrifice Of the interests Of labor to the
gains of capitalists total disregard Of the revenue
principle, and its unbushing neglect of that great
agricultural interest, the permanent and paramount
interest Of this country, due consideration OF
which can alone secure stability TO any tariff system
among us-al these lineaments Of hasty and il-con-
sidered legislation, uniting in this measure, stamp
with character merely temporary and ePhemerai,
and mark it at once the result, alike weak and
violent, of the prolonged and ebre excitement, con-
sequent upon a fit Of political inebriation
Thus, every one well knew beforehand that If the
democratic party trumphed in the succeeding
presidential canvass, this tariff act must give way to
sounder and safer legislation. The democratic party,
one and ALL with comparatively few exceptions,
throughout the country, pledged itself in the
most emphatic manner to its reform. Holding this
to be now settled point, believe that the very
first problem presented for solution by the demo-
cratic party in Congress- is the devisng of tariff
measure which may at least hope for permanent e.
adjustment and operation.
Suppose. for a moment that the tariff of lS42
were in itself altogether less Objectionable than it
really is still it would labor law, under one OBJ
lection entirely fatal II is manvssy la,o wh'ch cant
not stand. The more it pampers particular forms of
investment, the greater fictitious advantages which
it thus creates for certain empoymens of capital the
worse and the more delusve and destructive is its
effect 1t must be withdrawn greatly modified;
and the harm of its withdrawal to those peted in
.ersss which have inudiciously grown up under it,
and put faith in it, must be exactly proportional to
the inequality and shortived, because violent, ia
vortsm of its provisions.
Besides this, 80 long as it shall continue on the
statute book anti-tar agitation will be, throughout
the country, the order of the day. This is settled
fact. 1t is no mere hypothesis. Men may regret
it, may complain Of it, and may wish it were 9TH
erwise But still the fact stands. The exist
ing tariff dooms the country, under its present
,,l N per-
petual turbulence and disconnected unrest. Hence,
there is no safety for investment under It's provi-
sions. The manufacturers of New England gather
in their large gains under it on the heavng sides Of
a volcano. From week to week, from day to
day, they labor in dread of that eruption Unpopular
Indignation springing out of the deep central prnci-
pies of our national poty which shall by one violent
throe PROSTATE the whole artificial fabric with
crash, and whem in its ruins the men and the inter-
ests that have reposcd in it their faith is plainly
The first duty then Of the democratic party, in the
first Congress which their votes can sway, looking
as they now rghtulIy look to continuance of their
power--it is their first duty to place the revenue
system Of the country upon stable foundations.
Stability of almost any character is better in the
long run, both for capital and for labor than any
form of agitation. This stability can only come
and the whole fiscal history Of he country proves
this-from tariff act which shall in the first place,
plant itself upon principles known to our constitu-
ton, and shall, in the second place, effect some salts
factory compromise Of the conflicting interests, APP
parent or real, which predominant upon this subject
in different sections Of the country. Iii an objection
to the tariff of lS42, which cannot be unduly mag
nied nor emphasized, that it gives no heed either
to these settled constitutional principles nor to such
a compromise OF these great interests.
In this point of view, we do not hesitate to APP
peal for modification Of this tariff to those sections
of the democratic party Of the country, which may
now find some Of their own interests accidentally
and unduly pampered by this cotton mannfactn-
rer's tariff" They will as we believe, be greatly
pro6ted by changing, and will be content to
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