North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-12-24
N For the Standard.
THE PRESENT TARIFF.


THE PRESENT TARIFF.
Mr.. EDITOR $50 much cause of congratulaon do
feel at the gratifying results developed by the late
message of the President of the United States, in re-
lation to the salutary operations OF the Democratic
tariff of 1896 not willingly permit the occasion
to pass without calling particular attention to this
matter in formal communicative, to be given to your
readers if you should think it matter of sufficient in
terest.
What more gratifying results could the most san
guine advocates of this measure have expected than
developed by its operations, as exhibited In the
message Of President Fillmore? What greater ma
tona prosperity could have been looked for as the
legitimate consequences of this truly national, and
not sectional, measure Look at the commercial,
agricultural, aud manufacturing interests all prosper
Gus, and advancing with rapidity unprecedented In
the history of country, under the auspices OF the
tariff of 46. We have truly cause of congratulatlon
How humating must be the feelings of those who
have kept up continued opposition to this measure
since its first adoption. But it that, though
their pride Isl and must be, much humbled, they can
moi abandon their old They have not the man.
Illness confess that they were mistaken, but con-
tnue ad their old refted arguments, as though
time had proved their utter futility. which plainly
and concusively shows 10 my mind that there is
Interior design in all this. viz: the advancement OF
the doctrines of consolidation.
Before any trial of the PRESENT system had been
fully made, it urged that the revenue arising
from it would prove inadequate for the support OF
Government But under Democratic auspices, 1t
suffced in the very commencement, TO support the
Government ana MAINTAIN successfully
ing protracted hostile foreign war. And during
this time the country remarkably prosperous,
from Maine to Texas. This, it would seem, ought
have been sufficient 10 have queled opposition
til turn had actually taken place. But, oh no, they
could not give it up easily. Their opposition about
this time received, | think | may confidently say,
fresh impetus. By misrepresentation of their real
designs. they succeeded in getting Wing Admins
tation installed into Office at Washington Forum
atey for the country however, they had to encounter
Democratic Congress- which has served 10 act as a
check upon their extravaganza during their entire
reign over the spoils They not inundated at
this, however. The first message of their President
hurled his blqnted at the tariff of '46. Not
finding matter of fact sufficient to justify the recom-
mendalion of repeal, this Administration took
the ground that the country owed its prosperity, not
to the operations of the tariff, in the smallest de-
gree, but the great demand for breadstufs in
European markets, growing out of the famine that
prevailed across the waters. This, 1t was commended,
encouraged trade, and caused the revenue to be
usually large. This of things, it asserted,
would not continue. In this manner they made
estimate Of the great falling off of revenue that
follow. And, by ferretiing out Iarious
objects for immense appropriations, TO raise the
expenditures greatly above ihe estimated revenue,
they thought they had made out the favorable for
change. But, with Difference be it said, no one
thought so but themselves. Well, then, said they,
if we not justify repeal, can at least show
that there ought to be modification for it is
much easier for to deliver false valuation of
goods without detection, than it is for him misre-
present the quantity. Fraud, said they, be prac-
tised Government much more successfully
under system OF ad vdlorem duties than under
system of specific duties, You ought least adopt
the latter where you No one this but the
loom protectors, and therefore their entreates were
unavaing.
Again: 1t urged, and Mr.. Fillmore seems to
entertain the notion still, that imports,
der tariff liberal, would far exceed exports,
to give the balance of trade against US, and thus
impoversh The facts in the message, however
a ra n int w 10 ndI he
theory. By reference TO this document, find that
our imports for the last fiscal year were, round
numbers, $2l5, 100000. For the same year, ex-
ports were $2l7, 00O, 900. And Of this cit millions
nine were OF goods re-eXported, which shows that if
had been sufficiently ind ustrous 10 have produced
all could sell, and not adventurous to import
what we could not find market for here, it would
have stood 2l5 minus g. equal 2O6 against the 2I7
This would have left eleven millions in our favor,
which, think, does not look much like impoverish-
ing US. and Mr.. Fillmore stumbled over it as lightly
possible This matter of fact staring the Presi-
dent in the face the old idea Of breadsiufs strikes
him, and he seems to think that he has much cause
Of consolation in the idea that the exports of bread
stuffs have fallen from 65 millions in 1S47, to 26 mil
lions in 1850. But may attribute this falling
of in this particular article to the demand at home
rather than to any exraneous cause All this, how
ever, fails TO justify the theory Of the message. For
the document shows that alth ough there has been
falling off, since 1847, in the single article of bread
stuffs yet have an increase in " the value of our
domestic exports for the last fiscal year, compared
with those OF the previous year," of 43 millions. So
that it may be seen what we lose in one thing we
gain in Others which is all right. Otherwise, the
particular section that enjoyed the peculiar advan-
ages all the time might grow too fat to think them
selves only equals with the other sections. Let us
take the thing by turns and then prepared to
see our mutual dependence each other. But the
President thinks this increase of forty millions
is owing to temporary causes, which passing
away, and thus he INDUCES himself in fears. Well,
think long the facts sustain the tariff of '46 so
well, had better try another in consequence of
grouLdIess fears So give up your fears, Mr.. Pres-
dent, and with them will go your in relation
the tariff. The principles of the tariff of '46 have
proved themselves, and must remain permanent
which is gratifying to