Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-10-13
THE ENQUIRER.
RICH MOND, VA.
Monday Morning, october IL. 1916.
"ANoTHER DISTINGUISHED DEMOCRAT"


ing address delivered by Mahlon Dickerson, Esq,
of N. Jersey, a, The Fair of The American lnsli-
tute in New York, in which, according TO The
Wing, he is most decided and emphatic in his
condemnation oil The tariff Of 1916, asserting it 10
be one Of the first duties oflhe government TO pro-
lect The labor Of The country against foreign COM
petition. This is no news 10 US. We know that
in our ranks there are many at the North, who,
on this question: 60 as far as the most Jealous
Wing. The Wing papers, too, had formally
promulged The fact, that Mr.. Dickerson was "lob-
byins"lit at Washington, in order to prevent any
change Of the Tariff. We were, therefore, not
surprised to see him renew his declarations OF
faith in high Tariff, though we regret 10 see
an association which might be prolific of good,
converted into political machine for The pro-
duclion oil what we look upon as false and mis-
chievous doctrines. Democrat though he be,
MIR. DIS. Tariff address did not escape without
well directed shot from the N. I. Evening Post
which laid bare some OF its sophislries. However
respectable Mr. ID. may be, he is an Interested
witness, and his evidence should be received with
some grains of allowance. But admit that ms
leading Democrat and many others are adyo.
cafes OF The protective system, We can offset them
with numbers OF The Southern Wings, opposed
10 restriction. The Georgia Journal, first class
Wing paper, avows that the whole Wing party
OF Georgia have always been and are now op-
posed to The principle OF proection-and il de-
nounces the new tariff, not because it is destruc-
A Init ~ l1,,t &c fDo
prOteclire. This was the position Of the whole
Southern Wing party until MIR. Clay became
their candidate Tor the Presidency, and, in older
to Justify themselves for sustaining The great
"Falher OF The American system" they were
compelled 10 throw up their hats and cry out for
protective Tariff.
But says the Wing, "when Gov. Dickinson
was a member OF Gen. Jackson's administration
we doubt whether this doctrine was dissenled
from BY any one OF his associates in The Cabinet
Gen. Jackson himself, as his writings official and
unofficial prove, wGs not less lecided in ms 0Gro
caey Of prOleetirs tariff than MIR. Clay himself"
On this last declaration we take issue with the
Wing. Whatever may have been Gen. Jackson's
previous opinions, we are prepared 10 shcw, be-
yond shadow of doubt that his last yards 10 the
American people were in direct opposition 10 The
principle Of protection. We make long, but at
this time very Interesting extract from his Fare
we'll Address:
"There is, perhaps, no one OF the powers confer
red on the federal government 50 liable 10 abuse
The taxing power. The most productive and conye-
nient sources OF revenue, were necessarily given
10 it that it might be able 10 perform The impor
lant duties imposed upon il; and The taxes which
it LAYS upon commerce being concealed from the
real payer in the price Of The article, they Ito not
so readily attract the attention Of the people as
smaller sums demanded from them directly by
the tax calherer. Blu. The tax imposed on goods
enhances By SO much The price Of The commodity
TO the consumer; and rs many Of these duties are
imposed ON articles Ut necessity which arc daily
used by the great body Of the people, The money
raised by these imposls is drawn from their pock-
e,s Congress has no eht under the Constitution
10 take money from The people unless il is required
to execute some one of the specific powers en-
trusted TO The goverEmenS and if they raise more
than is necessary Tor such purposes tits an abuse
of The power Of taxation and unjust and oppres-
siye. II may indeed happen that the revenue
will sometimes exceed the amount anticipated
when the taxes were laid. When, however, This
is ascertained il is easy 10 reduce them; anu, I'D
snch case, il is unqueslionably the duty OF The
government 10 reduce Them, for no circumstances
can Justify il in assuming power mol given to
il by the constitution, nor in taking away The
money of the people when it is not needed for the
legitimate wants OF the government
"Plain as these principles appear TO be, You
will ye, find that there is a constant effort 10 in
duce The general government 10 go beyond the
limits Of its taxing power, and TO impose unne.
| cessary burdens upon the people. Many power
| ful interests are continually al work 10 procure
| heavy duties on commerce. and To swell the reve-
nue. beyond The real necessities of the public SER
vice: and the country has already felt The injur-
| Gus effects Of their combined influence. They
succeeded in Obtaining tariff OF duties bearing
| most oppressively on The agricultural and labor
ing classes OF society, and producing revenue
that could not be uselully employed within The
| range OF The powers conferred upon Congress;
and in order TO fasen upon the people this unjust
| and unequal system at taxaion, exlrayagant
schemes OF internal improvement were got up,
| 10 Various quarters, 10 sqaander The money and
10 purchase support. Thus one unconstitutional
measure was intended TO be upheld by another,
| and the abuse ot the power of taxation was to be
maintained by usurpine the power OF expendlns
| the money in internal improvements. You can
| not have forgotten The severe and doubtful srug
gle through which we passed when the executive
4
vored 10 arrest The prodigal scheme of injustice,
and to bring back the legislation OF Congress 10
the boundaries prescribed by The constilnlion.-
| The good sense and practical judgment oil The
people, when the subject was brought before them,
sustained the course Of the executive, and this
plan OF unconstitutional expenditure for the pur-
poses Of corrupt influence is, trust, finally over
thrown.
"The result oflhis decision has been felt in The
rapid extinguishmeni oi The public debt, and The
large accumulation OF a surplus in the treasury,
notwilh. landing the tariff was reduced, and is now
far below the amount originally contemplated by
its advocates. But, rely upon il, The design TO
collect an exirayagaDt revenue, and TO burden
YOU with taxes beyond the economical wants oil
the government is not yet abandoned. The
various interests which have combined together
to impose heavy tariff, and to produce IN over
| flowing treasury, are too strong, and have Too
much al stake 10 surrender The contest The cor
poraions and wealthy individuals who are en-
gagged in large manufacturing establishments, de-
sire high tariff 10 increase their gains. De-
signing politicians will support ii TO conciliate
their favor and 10 obtain the means Of proluse e1-
pendiIure, for The purpose Of purchasing influence
iu other quarters; and since the people have de.
cided that The federal government cannot be per
mitled TO employ its income in internal improve
ments. efforts will he made 10 seduce and mislead
The ci,iztns OF the several States, by holding ou
to them The deceilful prospec, Of benefits 10 be de-
rived from a surplus revenue collected by The se
neral government, and annually divided among
the States And il, encouraged by these falla
cious hopes, the STATES should disregard the prln
ciples Of economy which ought 10 characterize
every Republican government, and should IN
dulge in lavish expenditures exceeding ihsil
resources, they will, before long, fad themselves
oppressed with dsOs which they are unable 1:,h. &c
SUPPORT high tariff in order to obtain surplus
distribution. Do not allow yourselves, my TEL
federal government cannot collect surplus f"'
The constitution, and assuming powers which have
justice, and persisted in will inevitably s lead :.
corruption, and must end in ruin. Inc surplus lbs
revenue will be drawn from The pockets Of Inc
people,-from the farmer, the mechanic and The
iaboring classes of society bu! who will receive !;
il when distributed among the States, where II u
| . - ~, LEADING Stale nOliticianS who