The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-09-13
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
THURSDAY MORNING SEPT. "a, ls4o.
1,he rarln.

The tariff whether il be called revenue or protective
tariff is nothing less than system Of tazaion
Literally defined. il simply bill OF rates - and
as il is practically applied in this countryas well as in
others is the list OF rates OF duties taxes, imposed
upon the products OF foreign nations imported into the
Union. Thus the present tariff imposes a tax iron
imported into the United States OF $50 for every 800
in value, and $25 for every 500 in value of cotton
goods and these with the hundreds OF other rates OF
duties imposed upon the products OF foreign countries,
imported into this country comprise what is technically
called the tariff, list of the OF duties imposed and
levied on foreign imporations
But much has been said during the last twenty FIVE
years of and protective tariff; and upon those
two words, qualifying the general ing of the word
tariff the political parties Of this country are now
divided The democratic party has planted itself upon
a tariff whose object is revenue alone; that is, the
raising OF the necessary for the use OF the
government, and for that only, by means Of duties
imposed foreign productions imported into this coun-
try. It contends that no other tariff system is const
utional 1t contends that Congress has no authority
10 tax the people in any form, whether by impost
duties upon the products Of foreign countries imported
into the Union, excise duties, or direct taxes upon
real and personal property for any other purpose what
taxes upon the people, Of whatsoever nature they may
be- is for the support and maintenance of government
And such, certainly, in estimation, is the true
ing of that clause OF the constitution which vests in
Congress the power lay and collect 1t says
express words, that Congress shall have the power to
lay and collect taxes, duties, mposts and excuses to
pay the debts and prouide for The defence and
general gelfare Of the United States" Such are the par
da6 NJ In,
be "lad and collected and for no other Therefore the
democratic party take the ground that these taxes and
duties should be laid for revenue purposes onlynamey
supply the government with ''to pay the debts
and provide for the defence Of the Union And
hence the tariff which that party advocates is truly and
appropriately called "a revenue tariff
But, even from revenue tariff, above defined
protection 10 every similar article produced in this
try results necessary and inseparable consequence
from duties imposed upon foreign products 1t
not be avoided For instance, every ton of iron cost
ing in England $780, the present tariff imposes
duty OF 80 per cents according 10 its value, lad valo
rem) which amounts tos To this are 10 be added the
profits oft importer and retailer upon that duty, and
the expense OF transportation, which make the protection
the American manufacturer equal at least TO so per
cent or $25 each In other WORDS IT enables the
American manufacturer sell his article of equal value
for SIS per tom instead of $50, the original of the for
egn article in England And thus from tariff imposing
duty for purposes, the American iron
ter derives protection equal to so per cent, half
the cost OF the foreign article. This is resulting pro-
lection, nsepaable from any tariff system which be
devised. Such, in principle, tariff for revenue, which
is advocated by the democratic party, and such the real
and efficient protection to American interests which re-
suits from il as an nseparable consequence.
Such is the tariff of $780, 1t imposes, or aims TO i'm.
pose, duties merely for the purpose OF raising
for the OF the government, although in in
sances-for instance, the cheaper kinds OF cotton
manuiactures-even the duty of 20 per cent ad vdior
to prohibitory duty, prevents their impona.
ton and thus defeats all from The duty, proving
concusvey That il is not only unwise, but unconsu-
tonal Generally, however the tariff OF 1916 has fully
met the most sanguine expectation of IFS friends II has
been as productive OF revenue was anticipated and
has amply and abundanily supplied the treasury with the
for meeting all the necessary wants OF the govern
in ordinary years, and for its usual and ordinary
pendtures.
Yet, notwithstanding the unquestonabe and splendid
success Of the present tariff revenue measure. the
party now in power have announced TO the world that il
shall be repealed essentially modified in its prnci
pies as 10 convert it into "protseiirs" tariff
And here for moment we will stop and consider what
sort OF tariff that is which the federal party denomna,e
protective tariff II OF course something more
than tariff whose sole object is the raising Of
II we comprehend the meaning Of the term, il implies
that the power vested in Congress by the constitution TO
lay and collect taxes for purposes, shall be
used for other objects foreign 10 tho constitution namely
10 clay and collect duties TO promote private interests
That is the federal party claim the right under tina, pro-
vision OF the constitution authorizing Congress 10 raise
revenue for the OF the government not only TO i'm
pose duties high enough to raise all the money which
the government needs but TO benefit private Interests and
10 enrio indiuiduais They go far in the ad-
vocacy OF their system TO contend that Congress has
the power not only to lay duties for but 10 de-
feat by putting those duties at such high rates
partially, il not entirely, to exclude from our markets
the foreign commodities on which they imposed thus
securing monopoly OF our market TO the American
manufacturer, and thus enable him TO charge the con-
.umer whatever price he peases for the article which he
manufactures Such is "proteetiUe" tariff as defined by
the practical legislation OF the wing party The reader
will at once see that il is clearly unconstitutional And
is such an unconstitutional system which the leaders
and presses Of the wing party advocating a
substitute for the constitutional and just tariff system
abshed by the ac, Of July 30, 1916, and now in opera
ton.