Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-12-28
REPORT OF THE
SECRETARY OF TIE TREASURY,
r(AucIuGedl
Mr.. NtEREDIrH's VIEWS ON THE TARIFF.

right present distinctly the views entertainer ph W
latter subject, IN the hope that course may DC aoopeo
by the wisdom and patriotism OF Congress whch may
tend to harmonic dscordant feelings ana Proio'e Tile
general prosperity.
gress regulate commerce aud levy mposs ana ouIes
with the purpose Of encouraging our own mdosry 10
selecting Tor adoption otwo proposed regulations OF
commerce, it would appear to be clearly the rlght OF
Congress to choose that one which would jim its opinion,
be most saIutary to the country and IN like manner, IN
laying imposts and duties, it would seem that the en-
deavour ought be to regard the interests OF the wnoe
people not as little, but as much as possible.
Ii is not question of assuming power not expressly
granted by the constitution, the ground that it may
lend TO the attainment OF general end therein ex-
pressed Here the power regulate and the
power to levy and collect duties expressly gwen,
and the only question is whether they ought or ought
not to be exercised with view to the general good
1t seems to me that to exercise these or any oner
powers with any other view, would be misuse OF
power and subversive OF the legitimate end OF Govern
ment.
find no obligation written in the constitution to lay
taxes dutes or mposts at the lowest rate that will yield
the largest revenue. -,
Ittwere true that duty laid on given article WIN
view to encourage our own productions Is unlawful
becauseit may operate, by dscouaging mportauon as
partial prohibition, the proposition would De equally
true every duty laid with that INTENT Whether II were
above or below the maximum revenue rate But as,
under the power to regulate commerce. It IS competent
for Congress enact direct and total prohibition OF
the importation of any article, it can be no objection 10
act levying duties that it may operate IN Pafllay
preventing importation, Whether it be wise or Just SO
TO levy duties is another question What mean 70 say
is, that there is prohibition OF 1t IN lhe cGlsu
ton The proposition is maintained as universally u,
thu, the express grant of power to Congress gives
to that body the right Of exercising that power IN socl
in its opinion may De 1nos' coiiouciso W o
| advantage OF the country.
As instances OF the exercise OF the power Of regua
ting commerce, may be mentioned the proholtlon OF
mportaons, except al designated ports; the prohol-
tou of the coasng trade to all foreign vessels and 10
all American vessels no: licensed and enrolled; the pro-
hbon OF certain trade to foreign vessels under the ma
vgaton OF 1877 the prohibition OF certain trade TO
American vessels by the n-lntercourse act and OF all
trade by the embargo act the drawback the re-eX
portaton OF foreign goods; finally, the prohibuon OF
the introduction OF aduerated drugs into the eo4al
by the act OF 26th June, l64S.
Under the power to levy taxes, duties, ano lloss
refer the discriminating tonnage duties on oTea Ts
sells the discriminating duties on their cargoes me DIE
amble the first law imposing duties passed unoei If
constitution and the enaclmens vi most OF The suos'
ones =
These enactments show that at most or all periods q
our history the views whch have expressed appeaI 10
| have been sustained and acted on
Ii. All legislation designed TO favor particular cass
the prejudice OF Others or to nure particular eas
for the benefit of Others is nantesty unwse and UNJUST
Nothing can be destructive OF the true interests
OF the country than such legislation except the elusa
OF really sanitary legislation, under an erroneous I'M
preston that it might favor one class to the peudce Oh
Others while in fact the denial of Injuries all classes
and benefits nobody
Ill As every producer in one branch OF useful indus
try also OF the products OF others, ana as
production, it follows that to give prosperity 10 one
branch OF industry s to increase that OF the rest
Within each branch OF industry there Will be Individual
rivalry, but among the several branches OF useul hous-
try there must almost exist unbroken harmony OF IN
terest.
No country can attain due strength or prosperity
that by its labor carry It's own productions
nearly possible to the point necessary to mt them Tor
ultimate consumption. To export It's raw material and
reimpo the articles manufactured iromlt or to neglect
| lis own materials and import the articles nlanufac-
which nature has provided tor Its advancement
For instance exported during the fiscal year end
ing Both June, lS49 raw cotton to the value OF ABOUT
sixty-six millions OF dollars. II that cotton had been
spun and home, tsupposng its value to be m
creased fouitold by manufacturer would have pro
dueed value OF about one hundred ana nnely ECU.
millions in addition. What would have been the effect
OF this increased production on the prosperity Oh ule
country? :,
This question would not be completely answered by
merely pronouncng the added value OF one hundred and
ninety eight millions OF dollars 10 be large proht 10 the
manufacturer any than the question OF the effect
the production OF wheat would be answered ny oeduc
ing the cost of seed wheat from the value OF the crops
and pronounclng the remainder 10 De large Plo' "
The farmer al. a. .
planting OF the cotton It ID carried 10 certain ponl Wy
the planter, and then taken up and perfected by he spun
ner and weaver The planter and manufacturer are not
engaged different branches OF industry put III e
same the commences the process when Inc olher
completes Cotton seed oil insignificant value oelnG oy
regular stages OF labor developed and brought to the
tom OF cotton CLOTH has acquired value OF ABOUT two
hundred and sixty-tour millions.
The planting states have added many millions TO the
annual production OF the country by the culture OF cot
ton. By continuing the process they could quadrupie
that addition,
The planter would then have market at his door Tor
all his produce, and the farmer would IN IKE manner
have home market Tor his. The power OF coneump-
ton OF only beadstut but OF every article useful or
necessary the feeding clothing, and housing OF man.
would vastly Increased the consumer and producer
would be brought nearer to each other aud III act
hunT at
stimulus would Do appueo 10 every oanch u poouc'e
industry.
has already been introduced into evera OF the planting
States, see document marked hereto anne3ed) and
it ought not be doubted will rapidly be extended.
Tie manufacture OF iron, wool and our other staples
would lead 10 similar Iesuis The effect would be vast
augmentation OF our Wealth and power
Upon commerce The effects might be expected to be-,
possible still more marked. II isnot enough to say that
no country dimuhhed its commerce by increasing
its productions and that injury would, therefore, re-
suit to that interest There would probably be, not only
great increase IN the amount but an improvement not
less important in the nature OF our commerce
Ofthe immense addition that would accrue to cur III
tsrnal and ccasting trade (Which every country torn
great and valuable body OF commerce. 1t Is I'M
necessary do than merely speak IN passng--but
may be we'll TO OTTER few remarks ON foreign COM
merce.
Commerce is the machinery OF exchange. 1t is the
hadn,ad OF agriculture and manufactures 1t will not
be affirmed that is positively injurious but 1t will
BE- less useful as co-operates more or less with
the productive industry OF the country lhe mere car
mage OF commodities by land Is necessarily prot-
table only to the carrier who is paid for it, 1t may be
useful to others accoldngto circumstances Inc
farmer finds railroad great convenience but ne nn-
dertands that it is better employed in carrying his crop
han III carrying away his seed-wheat and manure.
The commerce which should consist in carrying cot
ton seed abroad to be there grown would not be SO
useful as that which is occupied in exporting the
raw cotton grown at home. We should easily under
stand also, that the commerce thus employed would
be much more limited in amount and much less profta-
bic 10 the carriers than what we now have. Yet
present commerce is in fact, OF the nature with
that above described The seed bears the cotton the
relation which the cotton bears to the cloth II
we now export cotton of the value Of about sxty-mi-
lions the same cotton when converted into CLOTH would
make an export OF some hundred and sixty-our
Millions or some two hundred and iorty-hve millions
after deducting the fifteen twenty millions which
would be required for own consumption, lin addl-
ton TO the portion OF present manufactures con
sumed al honey and our imports would be thereby IN
lrs.a LtiA Of h.r from SnnulnG and