Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-03-10
Mfr1lp1oerU GmGteta'er-

raising the duty ON cloth TO IS per cen you leuu
the revenue derived from The article, 'ne W., !,
then too high and must be reduced 10 o,n"S ,h.
down to the revenue standard. We ~ "a an
duty 10 be properly revenue duty so ions q. az
increase of The rate OF duty will increase me
nue. derived from the article; and though lne We
gree of protection is increased WIN ~. anJ
of The rate OF duty, yet that IS an l' Sn,v rs
does not change The character q .,'e uo',, and
duty 70 raise revenue. Hut pass ma. l:o'I.,
raise The duly so high that the revenue IS dlnn
ed and lie character is chansed-!hus making
protection the principle, and revenue lhe ,i ,I
cilenl: continue 10 raise The duly SO "'s"
thai il amounts 10 a Prohibition, ana eo"-
seauentIy no revenue can be derived from !ne
article and il would then be protective
duly in The sirictesl sense OF sn1
and we believe il is Justly entitled 10 maj aPPel-
a,ion from the roinl where lis prohlDl,um1y
come paramount 10 its revenue powers.
ieve, then, The power 10 "lay ana colec. un. 40,
pay the debts, and provide lor lhT . ;s', c,a,ssn
fence and general welfare oil inc onreo -
yenne. yet 4 ". understand The Wing policy OF
protective Tariff they embrace this principle,
ami would Law The duties so high IS 10 amour. 70
a p!chinition. We are ready 10 acknowledge
that .here is much difficulty in adjusting -,
RI; and while We would be as prouu as any ~
q! lie Old Dominion 10 see oar county 'ee ~"
dspcn.ance on The pauper labor OF o'"sl h.''o''
YET we think il wron. 10 tax one Class VI u"S ~
cu;alion OF our citizens, for the mere PROM o. a.
urhrr We think Justice and Sound Po!,cy 'oIo",
the Federal Government TO ioslcr one Luz" :.
business or industry Of our common couh..f u,
the expense OF all Others ana thouS" W.
we'll be proud of entire independence 'loli Gu
other nations, we think nothing SO dangerous do
partial legislation, and nothing ihat squi's nv
al aris,ocracy. than The taxing Of the many ioi
the benefit of The few. We believe our Union OF
States can only be kept together by prudent ex,
ercse OF the limited powers vested 10 me feusfa,
Government, leaving the res 10 The States ana
Tie people; and conflicting interests cannon ionS
maintain Governments which frequently 'iah-
scend> its authority, an Inc false ground on Pfo'
ecting particular Interests and SECTIONS. !'"' "
come 10 a few particulars.
We think the most unjust and oppressive ea-
lures in the presen, Tariff law, are The specIfc
and minimum duties We think The only equi-
table Tariff must be based on the cd rafp'em Piin-
ciplc; and though the duties might be more oiil,-
cult and less certain, yet II would nave .hiS "u.
vantage, that recommends II TO our minus: !"
would not AK the cheap and coarse article hlgn,
and the lne and costly low; but such IS The elccI
of The present law ltaxes goods worn hy Inc
fine ard costly articles which none but Inc rich
can purchase. The law regulating The dnty on
cotton fabrics taxes all alike, by The yard ana
whether that yard cost or 30 CENTS il has 10 pay
The same duty, without reference 10 It's aclnal
cost Such, likewise, is the effect Of SPECIFIC du-
ties Silk, Tor instance, has 10 pay - % per 10 ;
and whether that pound cosl five dollars, or thiE,
" dollars, an w;elh,r the fabric BE- coarse and
cheap, such as Is commonly worn by the poor, or
the finest salins worn only by The rieh II has 10 pay
The same duty. Such, too is The csc with all HE
square yard duties on 0annels, &c. Now, We
think This is not only violation, but perversion
ofhe principle that should govern legislation; Tor
il Determinations are made in goods oil The same
general description, they should be in td;or OF The
poor instead OF The rich in favor OF The cheap
instead Of The dear and in favor Of the necessary
instead oil the luxury. We think, with these
iacts and features Of the present TaTiH law
SO opposed 10 sound justice and policy, that
Tho present Democratic Congress cannot Ia
10 make the necessary and equitable ,nodi!l-
cation; but, if we should be disappointed,
alter the plainly expressed will of The Presi-
dent in his message on The subject, and that mes
sage approved by The gtea! mass OF the people.
and the strong prospect We have OF reduction Ct
duties on our exports with one OF our principal
reciprocal commercial nations, thereby reiuing
The argument for retaliation; it, AFTER all, We
should be disappointed, we for one will say, that
il onr nfdence be mol entirely gone our attec-
lions will Re almost alienated from the party
We will conclude, that while the Wings will
hold The principal offices in our own State, The
fanatics OF The North, The Yankee manufacturers
and Pennsylvania iron monscrs will rule the ma
licn. RANDOLPH AND BARBOUR.