The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-28
THE TARIFF AND THE WAR.


the advocates of tho whig tariff bring up one after
another to postpone obstruct the proposed demo-
cratic tariff reform. The first allegation was, that
the predicted dissension Of the democratic party on
the Oregon question would swamp the tariff move
ment. Then arose the cry that the reduction Of the
tariff was to be the price that should buy of the
claims of England in the Oregon controversy. Then
it was urged that the proposed revenue tariff would
create a deficit in the revenue. And now the whis-
per is heard, and gradually gathers volume in the
wing journals, that the with Mexico will GER
tainly cause the tariff to stand it is. Whatever
might be DONE it is said, in time Of pease, wartime
is no time to change tho tariff.
Just the reverse of this is true. No time
is so fit as a time of war to abrogste a
protective tariff and to establish revenue
tariff The is plain. In time of war,
in so far as war affects the industrial OF COM
mercal system Of the country, protection is NOT
wanting, and revenue is wanting. War is in itself
protection to domestic industry. Our own experience
in the war of 1912 clearly proves this. II the war
with Mexico is to have any effect upon our national
industry, its effect will be surely TO diminish
commerce; that is, to diminish our importatons.
But it need not be proved that protective tariff,
Just according TO its OF protection also tends
TO diminish importation. This was the alleged and
specific object OF the tariff Of 1912. II was enacted
70 obsruct the natural flow of importation into the
country, and thus to pamper particular branches
Of our own manufactures. Now, granting for
moment what we do not believe, that such = tariff
as this is at any time necessary, still it is clearly
I'D al in If
peace 1t would be a strange reversal Of all settled
opinions TO affirm that we are in special danger Of be-
ing flooded with foreign importations at the very
moment when a state Of diminshes the safety of
such mportations. Ii 1t be true, then, as alleged,
that after repeating the tariff of lS42 shall be
liable TO import too much, then it certainly follows
that the very best time for repeal of that tariff is
time Of war. The alleged danger of excessive
importation is then the least. War, with its block
AIDES and its privateers tends to isolate nation; and
lust in proportion as it has this tendency, it makes
any other restriction upon international intercourse
unreasonable and nexpedient The tariff Of 1912
is and Processes to be, such a restriction imposed
for the benefit of our manufactures. In time Of
war; then, even more than in time Of peace, the
tariff OF l542 is altogether out Of season. We see
not how any man on general principles can avoid
this conclusion.
But it is said the tariff of le42 raises rapidly,
and therefore we should retain it TO the expen-
ses Of the war. We shall go more at length hereaf
ter into the effect Of present tariff upon the
enue 1t is enough now to say, in reply to this al
legation, that if the tariff Of 1912 does produce
large revenue, it does so by accident and not by in
L., ,ha of ;t. and
tipe tariff The merit claimed for it is, not that it
brings large supplies Of merchandise to be taxed at
the custom-house but that it ourselves to
produce great quantities Of manufactures for our
own consumption, which not taxed at all. But
| farther than this, we say, the proposed tariff is
| tariff for revenue. The principles upon which it is
recommended, and in view Of which it is construct
ed admit at any time such graduation Of duties as
will raise the highest revenue. The only limit in
it is the maximum revenue limit. The only
objection to it is that it does not make protection an
end. IL the tariff BILL as already framed, should be
adopted, and should then be found not to produce
a sufficient revenue, it may be at any time altered
and that too upon its own principles, to pro-
duce maximum revenue. The proposed tariff
only insists that our revenue system shall be 30
framed as not to tax the many for the sake of pro-
,ecting the few. 1t that should tax for
revenue only. And il at the same time avows that
we should so tax as to gain just what revenue may
be required under just system Of economy in the
public disbursements. If a tariff system had been
devised with special reference to the contingency of
war, it could found itself upon no safer or sounder
principles than these.
W. holI, hat ,lo ,-;n
will when adopted, produce an insufficient revenue
The tariff bill reported by the Secretary of the
Treasury was framed to produce a ne, revenue of
twenty four millions Of dollars; it has been so al
tered in the Committee of Ways and Means as to
produce one and a half millions more--and this
principally by increased duties upon cottons, wool,
| and wooen manufactures. In its present state,
therefore, the bill is estimated to provide for
enue from the customs Of twenty five and half
millions of dollars Add to this three millions, the
estimated revenue from the public lands for the
year. and we have under the proposed tariff the ag
gregate annual revenue of twenty-eigh and half
millions Of dollars and the basis Of this tariff,
we have a reutnne principle which admits such
modification of the tariff to produce maxi
mum revenue. Who then can object to such
tariff upon mere revenue grounds
The true policy Of the country, as we hold, at
any time, it is pre.eminenty and exclusively the
only true policy in time of war More than this.
We aver, and we will take occasion hereafter to
show that under the operation Of the tariff of lsi2,
our revenue must go on decreasing. The report
Of the Secretary Of the Treasury shows that such
decrease has already taken place. Such decrease
Of revenue was expected, and ought to have been
expected from the very first, under the existing
Tariff The present tariff was framed with the very
purpose of keeping large branches OF foreign man.
fractures out Of our ports Is this the ht tariff for
time Of war; Is it not the tendency Of war to bring
With it prices high enough to satisfy the s,aunch
lst protectonist' When nations go to war do they
seek TO cucumber their intercourse with other ma