Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-02-21

and the increase Of the class of consumers
that we must abandon protective duties, or have
no revenue; and that revenue duties must be
low, or we will have too much revenue.
The difficulty from revenue tariff is not that
we will have too little revenue, but too much
AS an evidence of this, would refer TO the re-
suits of the present tariff. Messrs. Webster,
Evans, Winthrop, and others, insisted that the
tariff Of 1916 would not furnish sufficient reye-
nue.. They estimated the receipts from twenty
two to twenty-six millions, and yet for 1853 the
receipts from this tariff were $5S,93l 1865 So.
nearly three times more than the smallest est
mates / have no doubt that if we abandon
the protection policy, any reduction of the du-
ties, which it may be found practicable to make
at this time, will be followed in less than then
ten years by another surplus in the treasury
for the resources of the country are in an ex-
traotdinary state of development. Our com
merce on one of our oceans, the Pacific, is yet
in its infancy, excluded as II is from the eastern
Archipelago by the cupdity of the Dutch and
from Japan by fierce conservatism. Whenit
bursts these barriers, and glitters with the treas
ures of the gorgeous east, the most sanguine
will be astounded.
To prevent these future surplus accumula-
tions would authorize the Secretary of the
Treasury to reduce the duties a regular per
centage every six months, after a surplus be-
gan to accumulate, until the receipts only
equalled the wants of the government. 1t may
be objected that this is dangerous power to
entrust to an executive officer, but | do not
apprehend the people can ever be seriously in
Jured by reduction OF taxation.
From such tariff as ! have recommended
the material advantages would be incalculable.
We would approximate as near as possible to
tree-trade-the great privilege of selling where
you can sell dearest, and buying where you can
buy cheapest-the richest boon which, under
good government, can be extended to the in
dnstry OF any country. Agriculture and COM
merce would feel the touch of magic wand.
Manufactures would rest on a more natural,
and, consequently, more permanent basis. Of
all interests, however, the commercial would
be most benefited. OF all parts of the conted-
eracy, no spot would be so electrified as the
imperial city of New York. The golden
streams which free trade would pour into her
lap would be richer than the sands of the Pac-
tolus. Her merchant princes would light up
their marble halls with Aladin's lamp. Hor-
ace Walpole once said, with a foresight in ad-
vance of his age I: Make London free port,
and, by consequence, the market Of the world
Make New York free port, and London and
Amsterdam will be at the mouth of the Hudson.
Indeed, the advantages which would result from
this advance to free trade beggar description.
American industry would spring to her feet,
and, breaking the chains which have hitherto
impeded her progress, her giant tread would
shake the continent.
/ have no doubt there are some around me
who will dissent from this picture, and consider
any departure from the protective policy as
great calamity. To all such, / recall to mind
the notes of woe which were sounded in 1916,
on the passage Of the tariff of that year modi-
flying to some extent the more protective
tariff Of 1912. Mr.. Miles, of Connecticut, said
" that if the bill passed, it would be equivalent
to general confscation.h In describing the
disastrous consequences to result from the re-
peal OF the act Of 1912, growing eloquent, he
said "The only parallel to it was to be found
in the repeal Of the edict of Nantz.' Mr.. Sim
mons said: "This bill (tariff of ls46) was to
lake the daily bread from the orphan, and from
millions whose employment would be swept
away" Mr.. Huntington protested against the
bill in the name of his people, "who were about
10 be thrown upon the world without bread or
the means of obtaining it." Mr.. Webster, in
his peculiarlyfelicitous manner said: "All the
industry of the land is against it; the manu-
facturers are against it.; the importers are
against it; the shp-owners are against it; no
man cries, God save it; it is against the senti-
ment of the land" Such were the melancholy
forebodings with which the modified tariff of
1916 was ushered into being.
Iappeal to the signal progress of the coun-
try since then, though we are far from having
free trade yet, as the best commentary on these
protective prophecies. ! would however, par
ticulary refer to the increase of imports and ton
mage, the best possible thermometers of the pros
perity of the country. In 1874, the imports were
Sl0e, 435, 033 against $l0s, 1881 in 1893,
showing that under the protective policy, while
the population had increased one-half imports
remained stationary. In 1853, under the less
protective tariff Of 1876, imports had run up
10 $267,97s,647. In 1888, the tonnage was
$l,606,l5l ; in 1914 it had only increased to
S2,2a0.095; in 1853 it had expanded to 4,4O7,
Ol0. These are stubborn facts; and if such
be the ruin to result from departure from the
protective policy, commend me to such ruin.
The country may well say to free trade, in the
words of the maiden's love song:
q Ruin is sweet. If thou undo me-
Those protectionists who oppose further
Of duties now, will, trust, be some
what guarded in their prophecies of woe. Great
as would be the material advantage resulting
from an adjustment of your tariff strictly to
the revenue standard, the moral advantages
would be greater. AS Mr.. Burke philosophi-
cally remarks the spirit of liberty in modern
society inheres in the taxing power. And there
are no peoplemore sensitive upon this subject
than the people Of this confederacy
1t cannot be denied that the taxing powers
of this Government have been exercised I'M
Justly to the section to which / belong. We
are not ignorant of our wrongs, whatever may
be the patience with which we endure them
You have fortunate opportunity Of remodel
ling your financial policy on the great principles
of truth and Justice. Will you avail yourselves
of it? / trust you will. Before us is future
more glorious than was ever given to any pa
triot in any age to look upon. To realize it, it
is only necessary for those III whose hands is
the direction Of public affairs to elevate them
selves to the dignity of their mission, and, ris-
ing above class and sectional ideas, advance
boldly in the path of truth, justice, and the
Constitution. Place the foundations of your
government or those great principles, and fac
ton, and anardy, and fanaticism will in vain
seek to impedebur triumphal progress to pros
yor;tr a., a., ond IN rlory = T,Jar IL, - /