Democratic banner., 1850-02-04
1.-THE TARIFF.

tons contained in the Presidents Message upon
This subject and took occasion, perhaps, to ex.
press our objections to a change in the existing
system Of collecting duties, unless it should he
made clear that the present mode is either i'm
practicable, or attended with great inconvenience
in its practical operations. No sane man will
for a moment deny that an 0draiorem tariff is the
most equitable and just, in all lis bearings, 10
every class Of community. 1t bears equally upon
every section of the country, and affords such
protection to every class of business as the peo-
plsSthrouglr their representatives, shall see prop
er to bestow.
IT is now too aie for politicians TO undertake
To- prove that duties are not paid by the consul
mer. The tax paid to the Government enters
iuto, the price of any given article, and becomes
ss much a portion OF its value as the cost Of the
raw Imsteriafofthe expense Of Manufacturing
Then thsrs Gamble no question as to the justice
and correct policy oflevying duties directly upoa
the value Of the article. That value should be,
as under the present law, The worth Of the arti-
Gle at the port of entry (; and this can easily be
uscertained by the officers Of the custom, from
the sworn invoice Of the importing merchant,
from the prices current Of the world, from his
own judgment and experience, connected with
the assistance Of appraisers such as are required
under the present law
But It may, be argued that it is too difficult TO
arrive at the correct value. This is an argument
Of no weight. for two reasons LIST, it is untrue
in point of fact; and I'd, If true, the difficulty Of
valuation eOuldnot be aObviatsd by any oonceiva-
baemods IF collection, without imposingthe most
unjust determinations. In fact, the Secretary Of
the Treasury, Mr.. Meredith, in his late report,
whilst Recommending in the strongest terms a re-
turn to specific duties, says: "Of course such
aAuty is not laid without references to the aver
age est Of the commodity."a It is true, we ad-
init, ihatoaspeci6etsx might very well be laid
upon SEINE articles of deportation, such as sugar,
tea, coffee pepper, nails. coal, &c., for their diff
fsfeht qualities vary but slightly perhaps in price.
But no one, not even the Secretary himself, it
sesas, is desirpus 10 adopt and apply such an In
iVsitcus Hygtsn 70 u goods ware, and merchan-
diks impaired, awithqut reference to the cost" or
valas OF sthsc csnmodiiy." Then, according to
the Secretary's own plan, the controversies of
aPprsisenent oigsin meet US. and we are again
afflicted to those deplorabie frauds upon the
revenue. These simple facts destroy the whole
fabric Of totteting and lI-jOinted arguments and
unmeaning assertions, which are piled like Pelion
apca ASA, to prove that the magic name Of sps-
sJ6e viii revive commerce. give life to manufac-
turing pursuits, open fhsipent-up channels Of in.
dviduaIaDd national prosperity, and even replen-
ish the empty Golfer, Of the country. 4ST'
Even should its operation effect any one of
these objects, it wonh far sIurpass any expecta-
dep, that can possibly be justified by experience.
and its potency to effect them all is somewhat re-
pugnant to common sense IN. 7,,..
.iJpst a. any tarif adds to the profits Of manu-
featuring; 50 in proportionAre our markets closed
against foreign importation, and other nations
rendered che less sbiei to become the purchasers
Or cur surplus agricultural productions. By
heapihg shackles upon trade, and preventing the
free exchange Of commodities between the ma
tipns Of The world, commerce must sicken and
aeeline, Reason, toe, viii expose the fallaey of
Iung.ttatistics' and wsishtS talk, to show that IN
JssidUat pfospertyis promoted by the imposition
ef sadfGSnsl. ts1es y emptyt The pockets of indi-
HduatSi into the national treasury, whilst they
also atgiys life to manufacturing pursuits:9' 3e''
But ,sys esssbhs u me- Dds
nafis eaangfte .sppp SHE dafSs ! nth r. The
sEpassrg:.fis hweslah sassy to sseye in our
opinion the fasiag Il. tAi. aegea1s naisne, that
Uu exist according q ths lrstssyssI sssinatcl
in June, lS5tS nj It IS to CIV the ignorance Of
9fSHe.s iths % s.liag fsr f. tati.. = faisnes
eAfssS tsysnus. =, a.s,orl asais sIs ~ sas
~ knownto n4 sA hatarnush larger amount
Of revenue has beea eolIefsd every. year under
the tariff Of yaluasies dusss, enacted in 1886,
thh wis ev~efe0lIsdtsd dsder any Sather system.
TAs~ SpFPOasftt 81 ttia9 Id frsmsdsssriOds 'ex-
cuses for the great increase of the first yeas.-
The still farther increase II the second year was
sscribsd dtp the famiss y Ireiandh The third
and the fesrh year came without the fulfllpent
Of their propheeies, and ahs present Secretary