The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-12-10

a'on nntl The first of the present munth, there
has peeh iime for its practical efec, upon the
revenue, and the business of the country, 10 b<
developed. 10 not doubted, however, that the
just policy which il adopts will aid IargeIy ~ am,
foreign trade. snd promote the general prospptilv
Although II cahhot be certainly corcspen wha,
amount OF revenue it will yield. II is estimated
that it VIII exceed that prdpced by the az, u,
lo4I, which u superseded. The leadiny p,ioci
pies established by It are, 10 levy the taxes with
a view 10 raise revenue. and TO impose lheu, nr,u
the articles imported according to their actual
value.
The act of l842. by the excessive rates Of du,v
when u imposed ON many articles, either totally
exc'uoea mem from importation, or greatly re-
dueed the amount Imported. and thus J;m;n;shed
instead of producing revenue. BIZ il The taxes
were not imposed for The legitimate purrnse of
raising revenue, but Ia afford advantages To- IA.
vored classes. at the expense of large ma oriry
OF their fellow citizens. Those employed in ay-
rlculture. mechanical pursuits, commerce, and
navigation, were compelled la. contribute from
their INSTANCE to swell The profits and overgrown
wealth OF the comparatively few who had invest
ed their capital in manufactures The taxes
were not levied IN proportion tn the value of the
articles upon which they were unused bu,
widely departing from this just rule. The lioh,er
taxes were, in many cases, levied upon articles Of
luxury and high price, and the heavier taxes on
those OF necessity and law price, consumed bv the
great mass of the people. II was system the
inevitable effect of which was tn relieve c,vor,d
classes and the wealthy few from conrrbutnu their
just proporion iur the supper, of government. and
10 lay The burden on i!e labor of the many. en-
gagged in either pursuits than manufactures.
A system so unequal and minus, has BEEN su.
perseded oy the existing law, which imposes du i.
ties not fur the benefit or injury of classes or pur
suits. bat distributes. and as far rs prac,icahle
equalizes the public burdens among all classes and
occupations The favored ella sses, who. under
the unequal and unjust system which has been
repealed, have heretofore realized larpe profi,s
and many of them amassed large fnflunes al the
expense of the many who have been made trim
tary 10 them, will have no reason 10 COMPLAIN il
they shall be required bear their lust prooor,i,
of The taxes necessary for the support of govern
ment. % Tar from 1t, 1t will be perceived by an
examination OF The existing law, that discrmina
tons IN The rates of duties imposed within the
revenue principle, have been retained in their
favor. The incidental aid against foreign compe
titon which they still enjoy gives them an advan
tage when no other pursuits possess hut of this
none others Will complain, because the duties
levied are necessary for revenue. These revenue
dntles, including freights and charges. which the
porter must pay before he can come in CONNIE
ilon wihthe hume manufacturer in our markets.
amount on nearly all our leading branches of
manufactures. To more than one third of the value
oil the imported article. and in some cases to al
most one-haif its value. With such adj van,aoes.
II is not doubled that our domestic manuIac,pres
VIII continues to prosper, realizing in well con
Quoted establishments even great profits than can
be derived from any other regular business In
deed, so tar from requiring the protection of even
Incidental revenue duties. our manufacturers in
several leading branches are extending their husi-
ness, giving evidence of greater Ingenuity and
sklll.a and ct their ability to compete, with in
creased prospect of success, for the omen market
of the world. Domestic manufactures. To the
valre Of several millions of dollars which cannot
ind market at home, are annually exported to
foreign countries. With such rates of dniy as
those established ny the existing law the system
VIII probably be permanent; and capitalists, who
have made or shall hereafter make their invest.
menis IN manufactures, will know upon what TO
rely. The country will be satisfied with these
rates, because The advantages which the mann
lecturers still enjoy results necessarily from the
collection of revenue for the support of govern.
ment. High protective duties, from their unjust
operation upon the masses of the penpIs. cannot
tail TO give rise 10 extensive dissatisfaction and
complaint, and TO constant efforts to change or
repeal them. rendering all investments in manu-.
'aciures uncertain and precarous. Lower and
more permanent rates of duty AZ the same time
mat they will yield 10 the manu- facturer fair and
IemuneTating profits. will secure him against the
danger OF frequent changes in The system, which
cannot fail to ruinousy affect his interests.
simultaneously with The relaxation Of The re
slrcllve policy by The United States, Great Brit
am from whose example we derived the system.
mas relaxed hers. She has modified her corn laws
and reduced many other duties TO moderate reven.
ue rates After ages of experience. The statesmen
VI 'nat country have been constrained by Stern
necessity, and by public opinion having lis deep
foundation IN the sufferings and wants Of irnpDyer
lsned millions. 10 abandon system the effect uf
which was to build up immense fortunes in the
hands ofthe few, and to reduce the Iaborinq mil
Mons to panpersm and misery. Nearly in the
same ratio that labor was depressed, ca pal was
increased and concentrated by British protective
policy.
The evils of the system in Grea, Britain were
az length rendered iniolersble and il has been
a,oahooned, bat not without severe struggle ON
'"e part OF the protected and favored classes IL
,e'aih Inc unjust advantages which they have So
,,ohg enjoyed. IL was 10 re expected that's simi
iar struggle would be made by the same classes
W the United States, whenever an attempt was
MADE TO modify or abolish the same unjust sys
'em here. The protective policy had been in
operation in the United States for much shorter
period, and lis perncious effects were moi. there
ore' so clearly perceived and felt Enough, how
eVer' was known Of these effects to induce its
repeal
IL would be strange if, in The face of The exam
pie OF Great Britain, our principal foreign cnsto
ner' and of the evils Of system rendered mani
YES. IN that country by long and painful experience
a"o 10 The face Of The immense advantages which
"""er more liberal commercial policy, We are
already deriving. and must continue to derive, by
I1pPying her starving population with food. the
united States should restore a policy which SHE
ndS oeen compelled to abandon, and lhns diminish
"et ability to purchase from US The fond and other
S."c'eS which she 50 much needs, and we 50 thuc
desire TO sell
ny The simultaneous abandonment of the pro.
SS,c'Ive policy by Great Britain and the United
oIaIes. new and imnnrIani rnarknis hnro aI-.aAu