Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-15
REDUCTIoN OF THE TARIFF.

REDUCTION OF THE TARIFF. ao
The Secretary of the Treasury proposes, as
we stated yesterday, to reduce the revenue, by
making large additions to the Free list, and BY
new classification of the articles which will
remain subject to duties. ,sssw sa WHY.
The entire reduction irecommended by the
Secretary amounts to $l2,5Oo, 900 and he
would accomplish that reduction by admitting
free Of duty an amount Of imports which now
furnish revenue Of about $4,000, 900 leaving
areductioh Of only $4j6oo,Ooe, to be made by
altering the present scale Of duties on articles
to be left subject to taxation. 14S. a@sar sapte
The Democratic party denies the right JUS
tice, and expediency of protective duties; and
IL maintains the doctrine Of Free Trade, as
modified by the necessity we are under to tax
imports for the purpose Of raising the means
necessary to meet the expenditures Of the GOV
ernment economically administered The doc
trine of Free Trade, thus modi fed in its prac
teal operation, furnishes the Revenue Principle
to guide as, in scaling and apportioning the
taxes which ought to be levied and collected on
foreign products coming into our ports. That
principle requires that every interest shall sus-
tain its due portion of the public burthens, and
that no interest should receive special benefits,
or even be exempted from its share of taxa
ton. ~ ~ "
The Secretary Of the Treasury has, know
ingly or unwittingly, departed from the Demo-
cratic faith on this important point. He pro-
poses scheme which would not only yield
the amount Of protection, that must be Incl,
dentally afforded by anyorevenue bill what
ever but which makes determinations with
the intent and purpose Of encouraging, foster
ing, and protecting the manufacturers of the
country. The Secretary proposes to add to
the Freelst, list of articles which now pay
duty Of eight million dollars; and in designat
ing the article to be thus exempted from taxa
ton, he selects those which are used as raw
materials by the manufacturers and are not
produced in this county. sal,s
This rule of discrimination enables the man
ufacturers to import what they need, TO the ex-
tent of the free list, without paying any tax.
To that extent they are discharged and excused
from all obligation to. pay their share of the
expenses Of the Government. But this is not
all. The fabrics from abroad, which will come
into competition with those to be made from
the raw materials introduced free of duty are
to be taxed under the plan recommended BY
the Secretary. This taxation will act as an
additional bounty TO the manufacturers. By
making large additions to the free list the
revenue from customs is thrown on those arti-
cles which remain subjectto duty, and the tax
OH manufactured fabrics is thereby increased
beyond the proper revenue point This tends
to the special and particular benefit of the
manufacturing interest and 70 the direct and
positive injury of the great agricultural and
Commercial interests Of the country. The
rue, which the Secretary of the Treasury re-
commends for observance in making selec.
tioss for free list, gives still further encour'
agen1nt and. protection to the manufacturers
bypernftting them TO import raw materials free
ofduty, tobe sold in q manufactured state at
monopoly prces, Y z. ~. ~ n I.
The Secretary would Justify this singular re-
commendation IL pointing to the example o.
England and Of oth,r manufacturing nations
and by saying that foreign manufactures have
an advantage in foreign markets by being per
mitted to use raw materials fres Of duty. he
says that we should initiate the example set us
and he sees no departure from the revenue
principle in admitting free Of duty whatever
foreign nations admit free of duty. Surely tn,
honorable Secretary must have spoken witbou
due consideration, or he does not fully under
stand the revenue policy which the Democrat,
party has established after SO many years o
arduous contest 49,, 4aller
The Revenue policy has nothins 70 90 witt
the ability or the inability Of our manufac
lures TO sustain themselves in foreign markets
According to Democratic principles--accord
ing to the Revenue policy now in operation
the revenue laws Of the United States mus
not undertake TO build up any interest an
strengthen it for competition in the markets :
the world. The Constitution did not COME
the power TO tax imports for any such purpose
and sound policy forbids that it should be 9,
ercised with view TO effect such an objec
II the Secretary only wished to exempt fror
taxation raw materials, which we're to be r.
exported in manufactured form he ougbt I
have recommended a drawback equivalent
the duty. In that event bis object would ha,
been accomplished, without abandoning u
principles Of Free Trade. But he has seen
to add enormously TO the free list after q
manner we have stated and he thereby reco'
N.II III +
mends that the manufactures shall enjoy 81
cial privileges and immunities in our own ms
kets, and that other interests be required, AFT
paying most Of the expenses Of the goyernmer
TO pay protective prices for the manufactur
goods they consume. ue
A large free list composed Of those articl
which are used by tie manufactures, or Of tho
which do not come pto competition with thu
fabrics, has always been q favorite idea wi
"a s1s Hftl ZOE f1H ftF Fl9