The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-11-23
n UNI B ER AZ

Had it been any other kind of taxation
than that levid through the Custom,
house on which the Central Government
was to subsist, the matter would have
been easy; but the difficulty lies in the
peculiar nature Of revenue has two fold
operation, protective as well as financial,
that the difficulty has arisen. Nobody is
fond of paying taxes for their own sake
and the resources Of the Federal Govern
ment would long ago have been cut down
toa level within its expenditure if the
question had not been embroiled by the
fact that large classes OF American citizens
claim an interest in the imposition of taxes
which the State no longer wishes to re-
ceive or the people to pay. In other WORDS
the question of Protection supcrsedes that
of the duty Of the Government to its
subjects, and requires that moro revenue
than is wanted should be raised, in order
that one part Of the community may levy
Il tax on the other.
The advent Of Frce-tradc doctrines
into America has dismissed this apparent
difficulty, and the people are beginning to
learn that raising revenue has eno neces-
sary connection whatever with showing
particular favor to any branch of industry.
1t does not appear, from the tone Of tho
American papers, that they have yet ac-
quired very clear or accurate notions ofthe
doctrines of Free-tradc One of them
protests, with much earncstness, against
what he calls i'll language moro expressive
than accurate, "a blind horizontal tariff
and another is eloquent on the enormous
evils which fall upon a country whose
imports continually exceed its exports
Still, however, if the theory be not very
i accurate, the conclusions deduced are
! tolerably sound. The dread Of English
competition is much alleviated by the
increased cost production, resulting from
the effects of emigration to Australia, and
confidence is felt, and that with great
Justice--in the rapid increase of capital,
and the adv nce which has taken place
oflate years in the management and ap-
plicaton of machienry. Moved by these
considerations, tho great majority of the
American people is prepared to second
the efforts of Mr.. Guthrie, and to divest
him of that supertluous wealth which he
finds so grievous burden.
! This is indeed singular spectacle
Il great nation voluntarily relinquishing its
revenue because it has more than It knows
how to spend, and seeking to pay off their
debt on terms extremely beneficial to the
holders of stocks, in order to be rid of
some portion Of the treasure which is
poured into its lap against its will. We
heartily wish Mr.. Guthrie success in his
undertaking. 4 concomitant to this free
trade principle he is about to substitute
a system Of specific for ad roloren.
duties. The frauds that were committed
under the former system seem to havs
been barcfaccd aud innumcrabe, and we
doubt not that the revenue will be con.
siderab ble perhaps an inconvenient gamer
by thus transferring the power Of taxation
from those who pay to those who receive
the tax. Altogether, the prospects Of the
change are extremely CRAFTY ing, especially
as it can, it would seem, be effected with
out di|pleasing any political party, or
making the repeal of the present duties
portion Of the capital Of any class of
politicians. 1t is fortunate that the change
comes in the shape of an imperious
necessity, and that in order to continue the
present system the American Protec-
ZIONIST would have to require that taxes
utterly superHuous and in no degree what.
ever needed for the walfare Of the State
should be raised merely to enhance the
gains of one portion Of the community.
Il is refreshing to turn from tho con-
temptation Of the worn out and effete
despotism of the Old Word, where the
revenue ofthe State are asorbed by profit
less standing armies, and squandered in
the maintenance of Police employed TO
suppress thought and Of spies organized
to defect it--where the annual deficit
threatens to absorb in its pouderous jaws
all, and more than all, which can be
wrung from the exhausted peasantry
this now and vigorous country, actually
bowed down by the weight ofits own
prosperity, and embarrassed in selecting
those burdens which il Is actually ecni-
PEELED by The force Of circumst nce to re-
NIT. Wiili us, when little surplus gives
us the op,rtunity Of remissios, there are
always 50 many injusticcs to remedy, 50