Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-12-26

On revenue, & i believed that the experience of
he mos, sniishsenrd comnerisl nst,oss II ~ |
ygpe has Vsused Tito be iufoiiiic aud us'saie
Under the operation uf the British isftfi, revis
- "a NAG The whole revenue derived from ar
0cios payiqI I'd Uniorrm du,i.s has been only an
hsessge Il about E36Op0 lsi62000) per an
rum, ina Rruss rc.pt from customs OF E22.-
10000 (SlO5 600 coO) beng less than one fIlh Of
en- per ceal. ii this Immense inc ame fro,r i'm.
psfs and me evident design Of Parliament was
10 ,r-ke specific duties the source Of revenue
from iuposis, % far as it poes,bly could be eff
tec,ed. A like policy has also aIwsys been ,n,r-
sued cy The other commercial nations Of Eu-
rope.
The primary object 10 be kept in view in lev
ying duties upon imports is admitted To be reve.
nue.. Il Is equally well established a. the poll.
cy and duty of the Government SO to discr,min-
ate IN the levying Of duties, %. without FILLING
below tie ceceesary Amount OF revenue 10 give
the greatest encouragement possible to all the
industrial pursuits OF our own people. One lea
tire OF the Law Of le46. 10 the opinion of this
Departuent y opDused 20 both the controlling
principles just stated. have reference 10 an
equal or higher rate Of duty on ihsSaw matcri.
a, Than upon the manufactured article of WHICH
is composed. Such provisions certainly take
from the manufacturer and artisan inat encour-
some extent, was intended to sfiord, and also
checSs The importation Of the raw material to a
degree detrimental to the revenue. The con-
slant fluctuations in prices, and consequently in
The uies, under any unrestricted adj yalorem
tariff, give to the act OF 1876 that most obiec.
tiona5le feature, instability. These variations
giving high duty when least required, and
low duties " hen prices are rulnous, tend to All
excess Of importatlons, and subject all the pro
ducts OF labos in our own country 10 the f,equenl
and enormous fiuciustons in the markets abros
arising from the disturbed CONDITIONS of those
nulious, with whom our foreign commerce j,
chiefly carried on.
Unjer the present system, duties are higles
When the article Imported Is highest, and wher
the purchaser and consumer can leust aft rd le
pay The duty; and lowest when the price of the
article wanted would allow u heavy addlliona
du y To be levied on II. Thus, If an article cos
Slu, duty ot thirty per cent, would compel al
addition of So, if that article falls IN value to SIS
then is the da'y reduced one half.
hat cannot be wholesome system of taxa
ton which follows the Consumer In his purcnas
es, u Gre ass,g iis burden when prIccs are high
and taking IL of pflces fall, and his ability I,
bear 1t incfeas S. Il applied 10 articles of sub
sisience, It would operate a. heavy tax upoi
bread Ia gsar of famine, increasing with tn.
in,ei SLY oil the evil, and gradually disappearing
with tie returI OF abundance.
he objection 10 lie pr sent system, from
cunan. rcia fluctuations IN prices, Is constant,
forced upon the attention of TIE Department by
instances If extreme ineqsaiiy aad predjudci
operation. The Eusupesii price Of IRON was u
lc46, greatly above that which has prevslet
tor TIE last Two years. Ii the duties upon ba
irol hid beer. levied in srrict accord with for
eigu cost, li.ey w"u d now be bui liiIle thai
at ~ tbt-V ore IN RI ms prt.
Cess besaes The imlneus- injury inflicted upnI
Go nestle Industry our ieyei,le : uad. IL fiuc u
ale With Tie acci.e Is And r. WILSON'S OF foreign
coairneIce, and hese accide Its anu finctuiln Us
WHICH originate absoad, are Imported with thei
attendant mi -c:Ieis
Our revenue, as already stated mus, be main
ly dependent GA dutics on lnpvris. Those In
psrs tom abroad eau only be paid for by exporl
made up o. tlls piodacs of our labor III ali lis Va
rIei.cs, Or IN Tie precious metals. flour imporii
snail exceed The value of our exports abroad i,
any gwen year, Ia The extent OF such excess d,
We clcaie afJreisn debt Ii this ope latlun bt
reseatsd for only d few years. it Is obvious tina
II VIII eject The wlliIdfawal irCm US Of Ine guam
lily of the p.ci us metals equal, or nearly 81,
the au,ount of the accumulated debt, bringing
with it 5ankrup cy all departments OF buei
nces, Consequent inability ~ purchase foreigl
eooas, and Illus, for tie time, causing a rulnoul
depression IN the r. ceipts into the treasury. |
then beromes equally the duty of Congress an,
the intert SIS oi tIe prupie If Po>sble) SO to reg
ulae unpors as TO cunhne tie importations in,t
this county. TO an amount about equal TO suci
exp ITS OF our own as can find IN ,rket at reinu
neratiye prices abroad. The bare statement o
the iors gong well es, abli.hed laws of trade
would seem 10 furnish safe guide IN ali legs
latlau on the SUBJECT.
Reiaainder next week