The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-01-19
REPORT OF Mr. MERE EDITH,
SECRETARY or TnE TREASURY


Ia proposing sOme alterations ~ the exist
inR taun, with view, hs well % the ngoesHa-
~ augmentation Of the Iepsuss as 10 tho en-
Gourngement nf industfy, Z think " right 20
present distinctly the ytewa entertained on the
latter subject, ~ the h0pa that course may
be- adopted by the wisdom and patriotism OF
Congress which may tend 10 hsrmoniEe ois.
oordant feelings and promote tho general pfos,
perity.
l. / entertain no doubt Of the rightful pow,
~ Of Congress 10 regulate commerce and levy
inpoHts aud duties, with the purpose - ca
CouFHginR our own industry, ln HelTohnH Tor
adoption one Of Two proposed regulations Of
commerce, u would appear 20 be- clearly the
tight oi Congress 10 choose that one which
Vagld, ia iia npinlnn, ha moai sAlutaty tn the
oounuyi aud IN like manner IN laying imposls
and duties, "a would seem that the eudeay"f
ought 10 be- 20 regard the Interests Of the
whole people, not 40 little, but hs much as pos.
nhlc
IL isnoi question Of assuming power not
expressly granted by the Consultation, on the
ground lhat it may tend 90 the attainment Of
general end therein expressed Here abe
power 10 regulate commerce and the power 20
levy and collect duties are expressly given,
and the only question 10, whether they ought
of ought not a. be exercised with a view 10
the general good,
II neems TO me that 10 exercise these or any
other pUwoTa viii any other view, would b-
misuse Of power and subyeraiye Of tho lrgit.
innate end ot Government
] hud 90 obligation written IN tho Constitu.
ton % lay tAErh, dvtioa OF impoatA At the low.
est rate that will yield the largest revenue.
If II were true, that a duty laid on a given
article with a yir~ 20 encourage our own pro-
duclons isunlawful, because Il may operate,
disennt-- Ia.l-lul ltlALen. l1Iilal nIo.
hibitiou, the pfoPr-ftinn would be- equally true
N.MaN -. q
il were above or below the maximum Tcye.
nuo rate. But a. under the power 90 rcgu.
late commerce, Il iH competent for Congress
to enact q direct and total prob ibiton of the
importation ofany article, u can be- no oljcc.
ton 20 an act lcvying duties, that II may oP
cfatc in partially preventing importation, -
Whether II be- wise OF just 10 levy duties, ~
another question What mean to any now
ia, that there is no prohibition Of il in the Con.
sttution The proposition ~ maintained, nE
universally true, that the cypress giant Of
power 90 CongrrEH gives % tiiut bnty thr right
VI cXcrciping that power. IN such manner IN
IN It's npinion may be- most conductive " the
advantage oftbo couptry
A. inatahres of tho exercise of the pnwrr Of
regulating commerce, mny be mentioned The
prohibition ofimPoftaiions, except at dcsigna
ted ports, the prohibition of the cuastlug trade
b, all fofeign vcaarla, and 20 all AMERICAN vcs.
sells, not licensed and enrolled; the prohibition
Of certain trade 10 Eurign vessels under the
Navigation act Of 1917; the prohibition Of ccrT
tain trade ~ A Amrriean vessels by the non IN
tercourse act and Of all trade by the Emb1r.
80 act, The drawback on the re- cyportation Of
iorcigo goods 0nally, the prohibition Of the
iutrodn notion &C dultrratcd drugs into the coun
Try by the act of 18th June, lsiS.
UndFf the power Ia levy taxes, dates and
impostr, refer TO the discriminating tonnage
duties on iofcign vessels, the discriminating
| A a. IL.
first law imposing duties passed under the
Constitution, aud tbo cSaeiments Of most of
the Subsequent ones,
These cnaclmcnts show that AT most or all
periods Of our history the views which have
expressed appear TO have been sustained and
acted on
II All irriHatiun drsirned To favor a par.
tieular class To the prejudice Of others, or 80
njurc particular ciass Tor the benefit Of 9TH
crs, is mnnlfestly nnwisc and unjust. Moth
nr can be more destructive Of the true inter.
eats ofihr country tbau such Legislation, cx.
cept The refusal OF really salu,aty legislation,
under erroneous impression that II might
favor ono class To the prejudice ofothcrs, while
IN fact the denial of II iuJurcs all classes, aud
benefits nobody.
III. As every producer in ono branch ol
useful industry ~ also a consumer of the pro.
ducts Of others, and as his ability TO consume
depends upon the profits of his production, It
tuiows that 10 give prosperity 10 one branch
sE4adnAtEg IL 10 lncIcaae- thai of the rest -
W thin each branch oi industry there wall he
individual rivalry, but among the several
branches OF useful ind nstrY lhHLSsr--sr al way 5
+rrrEr Hn UnWokcn harmony of interest.
! No country con attain due strength or
! prosperity that does not ny t,s own labor carry
It's own predictions as nontly ms possible To
1 The point necessary 10 at them for ultimate
consumption, To export it's raw material aud
| rrimport the articles manufactured from II, or
! 10 a,.fs4ast .ts -1aH-inaletinla mud import
! the articles manufactured from that OF anOth'
or county, Is TO prrtermit the means which
nature has provided for hs advancement
( For instance, we exported, during the hsoal
year ending Both June, ls40, raw cotton lo the
| ynIUc OF about sixty.siS millions OF dollars,-
! II that cotton had bern spun and woven rt
home, (supposing it's value To- be 'nefcasod
iourfold by nnnuiacIurc) IL would have pro-
dueed n value of about one hundred aud mae.
ty,eight millions in addition. What would
have been the effect of this increased produc'
ton on the prosperity OF the Cos9try
Thus question would not be completely an-
Awnredhy merely pronouncing the added val
ur OF Que hundred and ninety eight m,uions
OF dollars, TO be large profit TO the manuiac'
turcr, any more than the question OF the effect
OF the production of wheat would be answered
| by deducung the cost oi' seed wheat from the
value of the orop,and pronouncng thedem " AIN
der 10 BE- large profit 10 ttIr tarmef
| The manufacture of cotton cloth Is begun
with III" planting Of the catton--'t is carried
TO certain point by the planter,aud then tax
en- up aud perfected by the spinner and wra'
yer The PLANTER and manufactured Hfo not
lepgRged in different branches of industry, but
fin the same-the one commences the process
/ winch the other completes. Cotton aecd of
lnsig gnrfcant value being by regular stages of
labor developed and brought 20 the form Of
cotton cloth, has acquired value of about twC
hundred and sixly-iour milrons
Tho nInpNnr States have added many mil