Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-08-28

Ahehts dlAu ~ may Ue regretted tnaI tlt CoHPpdteu
restrictions which now embarrass the intercourse Of
nations could not, by common consent, be abolish
ed, and commerce allowed to flow in those chan.
nes TO which individual enterprise-always its
surest guide-might direct it. But we must CIV.
er expect selfish legislation in other nations, and
are therefore compelled TO adapt our to their
regulations, in the manner beS. - IL Jed TO avoid
serious injury, and TO harmonic, ,ns conflicting in
terests of our agriculture, our commerce, and our
manufactures. Under these impressions, l invite
your attention to the existing tariff, believing that
some of its provisions require modification.
'Fhe general rule to be applied in graduating
the duties upon articles of foreign growth or man.
ufacture, is that which will place own in fair
competition with those of other countries; and
the inducements TO Advance eUen q step beyond Thu,
point are con trolling in regard to those article,
sOtich Greof primary necessity IN time Of acar.
When we reflect upon the difficulty and ideIicacy
of this operation, it is important that should ne
yer be attempted but with the utmost CAUTION
Frequent legislation IN regard TO any branch OF
industry affecting its rale, and By a0tch as CAPT.
tai DlGy be transferred TO ne,c channels, mast GE-
acUys be productive Of hazardous speculation and
loss
In celebrating, therefore, on these interesting
subjects, local feelings and prejudices should be
merged in the patriotic determination to promote
the great interests Of the whole. All attempts TO
connect them with the party conflicts of the day
are necessarily injurious, and should be discoun-
tenanced. Our action upon them should be under
the control of higher and purer motives. Lcglsla-
ton subjected to such Influences never be just
and will not long retain the sanction of a people
whose active patriotism is not bounded by section
al limits nor insensihe to that spirit of concession
and forbearance which gave life to political
compact and still sustains it. Discarding all cal
culations of political ascendency, the north, the
south, the east. and the west should unite in d.
minishing any burden of which either may justly
complain.
"Phe agricultural interest of our country is SO
essentially connected with every other. and so SUI
perior in Importance to them ALL that it is scarcely
necessary to invite to it your particular attention.
II Is principally as manu. PICTURES and commerce
tends to increase the val"e cfagricuhuralp ~oduc-
tonS and TO ertend their application to the ,O0nts
md comforts Of society. that they deserve the fos-
terjng care of government.
Looking forward to the:period, not far distant,
when sinking fund will no longer he required,
the duties on those articles Of importation Uhich
cannot come IN competition ,Uith our Osrn pro-
d,.ction are the first that should Engage the otten-
ton of COngrc an the modification of the tariff.
Of these. tea and coffee are the most prominent;
they enter largely into the consumption of the
country, and have become articles of necessity to
all classes"
Ertract of q message from Andre,r Jnckson, Pres
ident Of the United States, to Congress, Dec. 7,
1880.
Among the numerous causes of congratula-
ton, the condition of our impost deserves
special mention, nasmuch as it promises the means
of extinguishing the public debt sooner than was
anticipated, and furnishes strong illustration Of
the practical effects of the present tariff upon our
commercial interests.
The object Of the tariff is objected to by some
as unconstitutional and it is considered by almost
I'll as defective in many of its parts
:" The power TO impose duties on imports orisi-
nally belonged to the several States The right
TO adjust those duties with view to the enco,1r-
agcmeW Of the domestic branches Of industry, is
so completely incidental to that power that it i.
difficult to suppose the existence of the one with
out the otkCr. The States have delegated THEN
whole authority over imports TO the general gov
eminent, without Limitation restriction, saving
the very ncousderdhe reservation relating to lleil
inspection avs. This authority having thus en-.
trcy passed from the States the right to exercise
1t for the purpose OF protection does not exist in
them; and consequent If it be not possessed by
the general government, it must be extinct. Ou
political system would thus present the anomaly
of people stripped of the right to foster their OWE
industry, and to counteract the most selfish anC
destructive policy which might be adopted by for
eign nations This surely cannot be the case.--
This Indispensable power, thus surrendered by thu
States, must be within the scope of the authority
on the subject expressly delegated to Congress.
" In this conclusion am confirmed as well by
the opinions Of Presidents Washington, Jefferson
Ha.Ni- Il,
recommended the exercise of this right under th
constitution, as by the uniform practice of Con
gress, the continued acquiescence of the States
and the general understanding Of the people.
THAT our deliberations on this interesting sub
ieCt should be uninfuenced By those partisan con
HlctS that arc incident to free institutions, is til
,terrent ,Oish Of my heart. TO make this grca
question, which unhappiIy 50 much divides AM
cxctcs the public mind, subservient to the short
sighted views of faction, mus: destroy all hope @
settling 1t satisfactorily to the great body of th
people, and for the general interest. | cannot
therefore, III taking leave of the subject too car
nCstly, for my own feelings on the common gooL
VAIN you against the bghtng consequences G
such course.
ETtrGct Of q message from .2ndreO JackSo,
President IF the United States, to Congress
Dec. e, 1881.
he commence win winch the CXtnguiShlnGl
OF the public debt may be anticipated, presents a
opportunity for carrying into effect more fully tn
policy IN relation to import duties, which has bee
recommended in my former messages. modif
cation Of the tariff, which shall produce reduC
ton of our revenue to the wants of the govern
ment, and an adjustment of the duties on import
with view to equal justice in relation to all on
national interests. and TO the counteraction of fO
elgn policy, so far as it may be injurious to thos
interests, Is deemed to be one of the principal oil
jects which demand the consideration of The pre-
cnt Congress. In the exercise of that spirit
concession and Cancellation which has distinguish
ed the friends of our Union in all great emcrge
cie" it Is believed that this object may he eectt
without injury to any national interest"
ITO be concluded merit tUeck.)