Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-03-09
THE FIRE L MAN.
For The Green lountai,, freeman.
A Glance at the TariffmDirect Taxation
~Free Trade and Slavery.
COnchdeH-


Admit for the sake of argument that this is true. and
would not this be benefit to the consumer? If he
can purchase one or more articles for less money he
will have more left for other purposes. lie can there
fore supply himself better. But suppose that these
rich capitalists are obliged to content themselves with
e less profit, for this is the only sense in which
they can be LOSERS what then? Arc they not better
able to do so than the poor consumers are to paw into
their pockets these extra prices to enrich them with?
But let me ask if the same arguments might not be
used against the Introduction of all abor-saynr ma
chinery steam power, &c. Do not these tend to d.
minish the prices of labor and its mechanical pro-
ducts to very great extent And Shall we dispense
with them2
Again, III often said that protection raises the
price of labor and free trade would depress it, This
kind of gliding is expected to dazzle the eyes Of tho
laborng poor But of what avail is all this f trno
SO long as the prices of every thing else are raised in
proportion to the labor thata man can really buv
no more with his earnings, and is no gainor bv the
rise Sin the long rum "But free trade worid bo
the means of turning many out of employ" This IF
SOY IS no sign that they would not be benefited bv the
means. In country Astounding like this with inm,-
merable fields for labor there is no need ofidenoss
should be no lack Of ample reconpense for all branch
es OF labor, and iooLd be none, if moned men would
mete to others on the principle of Justice and equity
There is one feature of tariff protection, which I
omitted to notice in its proper place, as fully as in
tended. The whole object of protection is to benefit
the nchat the expense Of the poor, have ntima-
ted. II there were no duties, to be paid except on
articles produced and manufactured abroad ercpsgc-
N there would be no projections for then the govern
mont would receive all the benefit of the revenue.
But how is it now? Home manufactures and produc-
tons are placed in the market side by side with tbosa
OF foreign nations. The purchaser or consumer has
the choice of the two. If he takes the foreign, he
pays tax to the government for it, if he takes the
domestic, he pays the same TAG 10 the rich man at home
who by means Of his wealth has been able to furnish
surplus for sale. Thus it is that protection or tariff
taXaton enrches those who are not needy at the ex
pensc Of the miseries and necessities of the poor-or
on the other hand supports the government from the
same source. Shut out foreign productions from our
markets. ahd government gets no revenue. Hence,
in fixing the details Of tariff or rate of duties, care
must be taken that no articles shall receive so high
at the aamc time the rate must be high enough. so
that foreign and domestic can compete together
Thus forming compromise" between government
and rich men, for their mutual advantage so that both
will be about equally benefited; otherwise they would
not agree to the bargain. This shows conclusivesy
that no high protective tariff can ever stand.
Between these two powerful parties, the poor man
gets well plucked. He must submit to one or the
other, and is in much the same condition as the fox in
the fable except that neither party is likely to get
gorged with his blood as long as he lives.
But let us look particularly at direct taxation,
and in reference to the principle on which taxation
should be based have no hesitation in SAYING that
property Alone and not nan, should be taxed There
IS no justice IN making poor pay poll or other
tax equal to the rich We do not mean Nat every
dollar of property should be taxed at a uniform rate,
Tor we think thatThe poor man, who has hardly COM
Portable home, means for supporting family with
out his utmost efforts should not be taxed at ALL
But the scale should be graduated so that the per-
cenage should be increased in proportion to the wealth
accumulated or owned by individuals The rich
can pay and have enough left of their abundance
The poor often cannot pay, and harrassed and en-
barasscd until they do, 1t costs the government
much more to protect the rich mans wealth than if
the same amount distributed through the hands
of many. The man of small means protects his own
Government, to be just should derive its whole sup
port from the property it protects 1t should aim to
protect and tighten the burdens of the poor instead
Of laying upon them taxes which distress them.
Legislation, am sorry to say, is mostly forthe ben
eft OF the rich. The reason is evident Wealth
makes the man. Want of it makes him not lcorh
mindiag. Wealth produces wealth. Money is pow
CIR lie who has it has time to look up and manuf c.
ture arguments in its favor and devise measures for
its increase. Poverty is the parent of povertyAhas
fewer fricnds-fewor advocates and no means of pur-
chasing them. The rich can attend caucusses and
can canvass for votes for they have money to spend
They attend upon legislative bodies, and in the
'thrd house" dictate laws for their own especial ben
Gift Indeed it is not often that man gets NOMINATED
for office unless he has wealth or such abilities and
incination5 as render him sorvcoable to the wealthy
The poor mans vote is sought for and when obtained
he is ofno further use except to tax him. Hence hay
ing obtained power they use it to Accomplishment own
ends. Hence the unequal burdens that are placed on
the shoulders Of the poor. And hence also the var-
GUS impolitic unjust and expensive measures which
obtain the sanction of law
There is an odous feature in the laws of Massacm-
sctts land perhaps other States, though rejoice to
say it is not in Vermont which DISTINGUISHES the poor
man. Unless he pays his taxes he cannot vote at the
polls. This is virtually making poverty crime, and
shows the working Of the principles have alluded to.
Another similar, feature, oppressive to the poor, OBJ
tains in some States Of requiring that man should
possess certain amount ofpropory before he canvote
or be a freeman" This shows that the poor by no
means participate equally with the rich, in the benefits
of government or the manufacture and administration
of laws.
Another thing. By direct taxation, every man
would know WHIT it costs him to support the govern