Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-09-29
THE TARIFF

simply 4 "bi.i OF rates; ana Rs II is practically
applied in this county, as well as in OILERS. 3, is
the s, Of rates ct duties, for taxes. sed upon
the products OF foreign nations Imported into the
Union. Thus the present tariff imposes tax
on iron imported into the Duiied States Of $50
Cor every 500 in value. and S25 for every Slt0,
in value OF GOTTEN goods; aud ttese. with the hun
d eds Of other rates OF duties imposed upon the
products Of foreign countries, imported into this
country, comprise what is technically called the
taiifl,, or list d the rates Of daties imposed ana
levied on torcigp impoItations.
But much has been said during the lasttwep'y
five years of rerGuc and . protective tariff; and
upon hose two words qualifying the general
meaning oftbe word tariff, tbs two political par
ties Of tbs county are now divided. The dem.
ocratic party has painted tselyupoa a tariff whose
object is recehue alone: that is the raising OF the
necessary means for the use Of the government,
and that only, by means Of dulles imposed on for
eign productions imported into this country. 1t
contends that no Other tariff system is constitu.
tional. 1t contends that congress has M author
ily to tax the people IN any orn whether by
impost duties upon the products Of foreign coun-
tries imported into The Union, or excise duties,
3
for any other purpose whatever. II contends
that the sole and only object of0ll taxes upon the
people ofwhasoeyer nature they may be is for ne
support and maintenance Of government. And
such. certainly, in our estimation, is the true
/ meaning OF that clause Of the constitution which
4 vests in Congress the power 10 lay and collect
taxes. 1t says, in express words, that Congress
shall have the mower to lay and collect taxes, du-
ties, mposs, and excises, to pay lbe debts and
| proriGs for The common defence and general eel,
I fare Of The United States" Such are the partic.
llar and definite objects for which taxes and du.
ties can be "laid and collected and for no other.
4 Therefore, the democratic party take the ground
that these taxes aud duties should be laid for rer-
rape purposes only--namely TO supply the GOV.
( eminent with means "to pay the debts and pro.
vide tor the common defence" ofthe Union. And
hence the tariff which that party advocates is tru,
" and appropriately called rcrsaue tariff
Hut even from mere reuenus tariff, as above
defined, protection TO every similar article pro.
I dnced in this country results rs necessary and
/ inseparable consequence from duties imposed up-
on foreign products Il cannot be avoided For
instance, on every ton ofiron casting in England
$50, the present revenue tariff imposes duty OF
80 per cent, according to its value, lad valorem.)
which amounts to Sl5. 70 this are 10 be ad.
ded The profits Of the importer and retailer upon
that duly and the expense Of transportation,
which make the protection 10 the American man.
udcturer equal At least to 80 pep cent, or S25
on each ten la other words, it enables the
American manufacturer to sell bic article Of equal
value for S75 per cent, instead Of $50, the origi.
hal cos, OF the foreign article in England And
thus, from tariff imposing duty for mere reve-
nuc purposes, The American iron master derive.
q protection equal to 30 per cent, or one halfthe
cost Of the foreign article. This is a resaltin.
protection, nseparablc from any tariff system
which can be devised. Such in principle, is
ntifi' Tor rtrsaue, which is advocated by The dem
ocratic party, and such is the real aud elIiciea
protection 10 American interests which result
from it as as insoparable consequence
Such is the tariff Of 1876. ltimposes, or aim
to Impose, duties merely for the purpose of rails
ing revenue for the use Of the government, nj
though in some lnstances--for Instance, on tho
cheaper kinds OF cotton manuiaciures--eve the
duty OF 20 per cent dd ualoren amounts 10 a pro
hiblIory duty, prevents their importation, anc
thus defeats all revenue from the duty, provin
conclusiyely that it is not only unwse, but I'm
constitutional. Generally, however, the tariff 0
] SAC has fully met the most sanguiue eypec,a
ton Of Its friends. II has been rs productive q
revenue as was anticipated and has amply an,
shundantly supplied the treasury with the mean
iar meeting all The necessary wants Of the GOV
erumcnt in ordinary years, and usual and ordi
nary expenditures.
Yet, notwithstanding the unqucsonable an
splendid Success Of The present tariff as rcuenu
measure, the party now in power have announ
cedto the world that it shall be repealed or S
essentially modified in It's principles as to cor
vert it into ''prolectre" tariff,
And here for moment we will stop and cor
slider waat sort Of a tariff that is which the ied
raj party denomnate a protective tariff. II
course means something more than a tarTwhoi
sole object is the raising otrevenue. Ii we con
prehend the meaning ofthe term It implies tn
the power vested in Congress by the constitute
to clay and collect" taxes for revenue purpose
shall be used for other objects foreign 10 tho col
stitution; namely, to ''lay and collect duties
promote pirate interests. That is, the feder
party claim the right, under that provision Of Il
constitution authorizing Congress to raise rev
nue. for the use Of the government not only
impose duties high enough to raise al the mo-
sy which the government needs, but 10 Jaac
private interests and 10 enrich tndiridGals. Tht
even 20 SO far in the advocacy Of their system
to contend that Congress has the power not on
to lay duties orrevenue, but TO defeat rereauc
putting those duties at such high rates as partia
", il not entirely, to exclude from our marke
the foreign commodities on which they are II
posed thus securing monopoly of our mark
to the American manufacturer and thus to en-
bic him to charge the consumer whatever pr
be pleases for the article which he manufacture
Such is a 'proiectiue" tariff, as defined by t
practical legislation OF the wing party. I
reader will at once see that it is clearly unco
siitutiona And is is such an unconstitutior
system which the leaders and presses Of the WI
party are now advocating as a Substitute for
constitutional and just tariff system establish
IL - IF Tsiv IGAn -. -