Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-17
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE
TREASURY,
ReUiswed By Member Of the 9Th Congress.

important departments OF the Governmental that
Department, at any rate, which sustains all the
others. tits, besides, made the duty of the Secre-
tary, in his annual report, in addition TO the es
mates of the public revenue and public expenditures
to lay before Congress "plans for improving or IN
creasing the revenues from time to time" being as
expressed Z" for the purpose Of giving Information
to Congress-
The theory Of our Government is, that II is Co
vernment Of the People. The early practice under
it was for the people, by their delegates in the two
Houses Of Congress, to originate the laws intended
for their own government, leaving the Executive
branches their appropriate duty of carrying them into
cution. The theory of monarchy is that all laws emanatc
the Sovereign and his Ministers only have the initiative
OF them. General Jackson the first President who
dertook practice upon the monarchcal theory His
OF the dynasty follow his example, and
here, this secrearys report, presented, not with plan,
but arguments in favor of Lan change entirely the sys
by which has been collected the esab
lshmon Of the Government This SYSTEM especially
adopted in 1916 and sustained for thirty years by all sub
sequent legislation, is pronounced by this modest Of
the people "uaequa, unjust, erorbiat, and oppreS
sire This system he proposes change favor OF Of
which he gives US, in many words, confused outline.
We propose examine, with all the respect due high
officer of the Government Of the assertions, theories,
and specuatons contained in this very extraordinary report
der his hand published in the newspapers to bring the
tariff down to the g standard" OF course much
curiosity existed learn what he understood intended by
this cabaistc phrase. Without finding any very precise de
hnon OF the term have difficulty at getting at his
meaning, especially after comparing with the Presidents
Message, in which the theory is plainly stated.
revenue duty is not only producing revenue, but
must be constructed avoid in the highest possible de-
gree becoming protective. duty is anagonistic
b.,l
similar articles those which is levied to be pro
duccd home lessen the revenue thereby
protective, and be reduced. Discrimination may be
made for revenue, but for protection duty laid
ticles of which imported cannot be collected and is
therefore clearly unconstitutional These the undamen
tai principles which the system be established
lie thus states the Object Of the protective system
"a protective tariff question regarding the enhance
profits of capital that is its object and not to
augment the wages of labor which would reduce those profits
ii question Of centage, and decide whether
vested in manufactures should special legislation yield
profit OF ten twenty, or thirty per cent whether shall
remain satisfied with dividend equal to that accrung from
the capital when invested in agriculture, commerce.
navigation"
II is difficult to say whether the above paragraph bcrays
greater ignorance of the objects and grounds which the
protective principle adopted and engaed into
SYSTEM of the and universally admitted
principles of political economy. The protective system
their benefit is weknown fact that they were, with
lew if any excepons opposed to it, It the patriotic
nocracy OF the country which advocated and introduced
system What the argument The country is wholly
agricultural and commercial In the existing policy Of the
world, produce than SELL except prices
niseraby low We have to buy clothing. and other for
eign productions, from abroad their prices in pay
Of which constantly being drained Of specie
10 the arrangement of circulating medium, and paralysis
Of all business The proposition is hold inducements
to the merchants Withdraw portion of their capital from
foreign trade and employ it in manufactures and the do
mcstic trade Of their distribution. We shall thus withdraw
portion Of labor from agriculture, and producers
into We shall thus furnish ourselves with
portion Of the manufactures which require by the labor
OF citizens, and pay for them with those productions
which find market for, poor We appre
bend the question started in these discussions
whether there danger that those who should be drawn
into the occupations would make much money be-
in those days considered settled principle con-
red by all experience that any business yielding profits
above the average attract capital and labor
anti the profits fall 10 the general level usually for
a time below it.
At any rate the protective policy adopted, and men Of
business employed their earnings the occupations TO
which they invited by the policy and laws Of the country
doungy and hesangly at FIRST but afterwards freely
and confidently The most successful branch and the one
which has absorbed the greatest capital is the man
niacture Of cotton The possession Of the material on the
spot and the peculiar adaptation Of machinery produce great
results IN this manufacture, made evident that the cot
ION manufacture rapidly TO become Of the leading in
teress Of The country Capital into il freely and conf
denty Us rapid extension has parallel andis only equal
led IN the corresponding reduction in the price Of its fabrics It's
success furnishes the only ground Of its dcuuncaon The
manufacturers are growing rich. That the whole bur
den OF the report Special legislation in their favor sAn
other form Of privileged orders" We regret 10 sec high
ocer Of The Government descending use the screoypd
slang OF the party waper But what we PASS by in silence
in tho Evening Post in the rankings OF the dous RIM
decund ought not to pass without censurc when COMING
Secretary Of the Treasury.
10 carrying his views find some very extraordinary
assertions For instance, Experience proves that AS &C.
neral rule, duty Of 20 per adj vaorem will Weld the
largest revenue" We should be glad to know what erro
l. it that Of Great Britain whose necessities require
her push her duties up down what she finds by expe-
renee to be the highest standard Her duty on tea
y Is ID or 30 cents the pound all teas without dscmna
on being at least 200 per cent the cost producing for
the year ending January 1912, the comfortable sum Of
139sooo as revenue. Her lowest duty sugar that year
was 24s The ct 81 cents the pound producing revenue
1 lzoooo, upwards Of twenty -four and half millions Of
dollars true this duty sugar has since been reduced
but Tor ee not for Her duties on wines are S.
Cd the gallon rum 9s i'd, brandy 22s 3d. tobacco 3s the
49,.