The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-08
COMMUNICATIONS.


uutics LOT dVOWed purpose VI 10
iechon or encouragement to home industry" shall not
enter into elaborate discussion OF the question oil Inc
constitutional power levy duties ayowedy for proiec
lion, but will state briefly possible, the different
views held BY eminent men on the subject of such power
and the expedency Of exercising IT, that we may clear
y understand the errors OF Secretary erediths re-
port.
Ii is maintained by many that the clause in the constr
tuition OF the United States giving Congress power TO lay
and collect taxes duties, and mposts, and the one TO reg
uate commerce. and particularly the latter, confer upon
Congress unlimited power to levy protective or pohib
tory duties foreign mporations Those who give to
the constitution this broad construction, insist that is
expedent and wise TO exercise the power though they
admit that no money should be raised than the
cessities OF government require This, however, no
restriction upon the power as the greater the protection
the prohbtory the duties the less the revenue
and to prevent surplus, Congress have only to increase
the duties
Another opinion. somewhat more restrictive in Its
construction OF the constitutional power, Is maintained
by many able men. The constitution, they contend
is OF enumerated and limited powers, and the
specified power to lay and collect taxes duties. and
mposts, and the TO regulate commerce, do not in
any other species Of industry but that il constitutional
Be- ha IS may
laying duties for revenue, arrange them, discrm
mate, 10 afford protection to the industry Of the
try, though more money should be drawn from the
pockets oil the people than the absolute necessities of the
government require This called incidental protection
the other already referred called avorsd protection
advocated BY many able statesmen they not only deny
the constitutional power implied in the definition have
given OF avowed protection, but maintain that dscrm-
tutional and nexpedient They contend that the sole OBJ
ect OF all duties should be revenue and that il protection
should in any result, should be accidental rather
than incidental or avowed or, in otner words,
rangemen of duties with view encourage protect
any species Of industry should be madeno design TO
afford protection should existbu that the lowest rates
OF duty compatible with sufficient revenue should be
adopted All the determinations should be on revenue
principles.
opinion which exists upon the subject might show
the absurdity OF some Of the views alluded to- though
such is not my design Between what is termed avowed
incidental protection BY dserimnaing duties for that
purpose, do not perceive much difference The differ
ence is verbal than otherwise. But between dis
wide difference, The term accidental, when applied to
protection badly chosen. first applied, believe,
by Mr. Settler Protection is accidental result
where revenue If the duty be laid on an article
imported that comes in competition with similar article
OF home growth or manufacture, protection is inevitable
no matter what the design OF Congress may be- upon
what principle they discriminate. But duty cotton
wool gives no protection to the planter does il af
ford any revenue because there is foreign competition
Neither does duty wheat most other breadstufs,
afford any protection to farmers, and but little
nue., for the same reason Also duty on articles not
produced IN this country gives protection though reve
inevitably protective that is il gives advantage to the
home manufacturers producers OF similar articles, and
y b euTd e,.d q sss. Inc and
direct benefit from tariff taxation. Such benefit must
ever be confined TO other interests-such as the manu-
facture Of cotton, iron, &c
II tbs benefit, or one Of corresponding value could be
extended to the planting and farming interests directly
or Indirectly as the result OF the taxing power for the
benefit OF other interests then, there consttu
tona objections to the exercise OF the power, there
would be no weghiy reason why high duties should not
be levied, except onethe unavoidable inequality in the
amount drawn from the pockets of the peope-toally
dsregading their respective ability to pay the benefits
they receiveakng from the industrious poor man az
much, and often more than from the who is in the
possession OF thousands, and often millions. This in
equality Is inherent in all systems OF indirect TAXATION
though Is more oppressive when increased by the addi
tonal burden OF what termed protective duties
will now proceed more Immediately 10 an examina-
ton OF the treasury report What have said may be
necessary to clear understanding Of the criticisms de-
sign TO make upon the report.
To provide for the payment Of the public debt and 10
insure sufficient 10 meet the expenditures of the
government. Secretary Meredith says;
It will be to adopt for increasing
the and the most available that end
70 be found In raising the duties imports"
This is the Of the Secretarys argument
IS wanted u carry On be and nav s
debts than the present tariff produces This is the posi-
ton assumed, at least Grant the correctness OF the
ties 10 get more money! The tariff Of isIa was higher
than the present one though the former produced less
than the latter Why not. them lower the pres
Renee would dictate Congress that they lower the rates
Of duties, II they want to bring more money into the
treasury
But the Secretary is a frank man. He does not con.
ceal the fact that II Is not much that
ed but protection for the manufacturers He boldly
avows such to be the chief end in view. He says:
"n proposing alterations existing riff with
view well to the necessary augmentation OF The
the encouragement OF industry, thirk right
present distinctly the views entertained the
ject."
These "views" shall examine. and hope TO be able TO
show, concusvely that most OF them entirely fala
eious and many OF them extremely absurd The Secre
ary says he enierans no doubt oil the rghu power OF
Congress to "lay duties and imposts for the purpose OF
encouraging our own industry" And, under the power
regulate commerce, he contends that it is competent
for Congress to enact total prohibition" OF imposis
the power raise and to afford protection, by
openly avowng that protection is the chief object.
discriminating for that object, but that they have the
power 10 destroy all revenue from tariff TAXATION Accord
ing 10 this theory OF constituting the power TO regulate
commerce, Il includes power to destroy commerce |
This would be species OF regulating thai had sup
posed no sound lawyer would contend for
Constituting the power in this broad, lattudinaran !
sense, the Secretary finds difficulty in avowng tina,
interests is the wisest policy for the country He insists
that duties laid upon this principle most beneficial to
the largest number OF people; and, what is still
absurd be contends that the restrictions least what
all sensible men call such--that is, high duties with |
view lessen or prohibit mporaiion-tend to increase
foreign commerce. Secretary Meredith is very extra
ordinary ogcian. Commerce, which he admits lis the |
machinery OF exchange would be ncrea sed four
fold by duties partially totally prob hitting Importation
Why, simply in this wise LEI manufacture all of our
md