Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-03-08

| own country Is Instructive. TTeVlous "
| 1916, the duties on imports were extremely
low. Bv the 6rst tariff act, that of 1859,
with the exception Of a dutyson carriages of
fifteen per cent, and on East India goods Of
twelve and half per cent, the highest rate
Of duty was ouy ten per cent ad ualorcm ;
on iron it was seven and a half per cent, on
cotton and wooden fabrics it was five per
cent. Intervening tariffs, up to 1916, in
creased these rates but very little. In 1916,
the protective policy was adopted. And
here | may remark, that in its inception. it
was advocated as temporary expedient.
Government was urged to extend aid to in
f,nt manufactures struggling into existence.
1t was not contemplated that such aid would
be permanently necessary.
In 1924, 1928, and 1882, however, the
country advanced still further in the protec'
! tive course of policy. In 1888, to avoid. a
c,mvulsinn, it was agreed to he gradually
abandoned In the act Of 1888 was incor
porated the great principle that :" duties shall
be laid for the purpose Of raising such rev.
enuc as may be necessary to an economical
administration of Government" and provi-
ding that after the Goth of June, 1912, no
duties should be over twenty per cent, which
was considered the highest point of revenue
duties. In 1912, profting by the financial
difficulties in which the Government was
placed, and other circumstances, the protec.
tive policy was revived. in violation of the
compromise of 1888. In 1916, the country
receded from this policy to some extent. 1t
appears from this rapid summary that under
the administrations of Washington, the first
Adams, and Jefferson, the tariff was used
merely as revenue instrument-that the
protection they favored was the universal
protection which the entire country expert
enced from low taxes. 1t further appears
that after the protective policy was adopted,
it was constantly progressive, until arrested
in 1884 consequence naturally resulting
from the nature Of the system. Extension
of Government favor to any particular form
Of industry induces competion in it, which
reduces the profits, and creates the necessity
on the part of the protected interest for more
protection. The first necessity is for protec.
ton from foreign competition; the granting
OF this creates necessity i'r iur!ner pro
tecrion from home competition. The logi-
cal end Of the system is prohibition aud
bountics.
am glad to see, from the Secretary oil
the Treasury's reports, that over aud anove
our resources, out debt is nominal. Alone
among The great fowers, we st""u eminent ~.
y conspicuous lot our lreeu"''' 'ro"' oe"..
we are a' l'or'!E' ''e''' 20 auop' 'nas s'em
OF revenue "n'ca We may c""ee''e '. ""s.
conducive 10 our interest. singular an" e'en'
privilege, how much o' snoo or e'il uepe"uS
upon our wise exercise OF II
There are. no doubt, difficulties intrinsic
to this subject of taxation; but they have
been greatly multiplied by false and complex
theories. The best plan is always to ANA.
I'VE political questions into their general
principles. BY so doing we escape setlous
errors for il we are right in the great pr'n'
cIIes, errors of detail are comparatively
harmless. propose To 40 t!'s WIN re'er'
ence to the question OF taxation oeIore US
What Is the object OF taxation IL varies
in different Governments In some II 10 TO
depresS the masses, and secure the permanent
domination OF the few.
In our country we go upon different idea
in theory, at least; we consider the Gov,
ernment merely trustee for the benefit OF
the people, and taxation is only means TO
execute the objects of the trust; we regard
taxation AS an evil in itself, but an evil to be
endured, that a greater good may be accom-.
pIished-the carrying on of Government.
With this general idea in view, the first
principle of taxation with us should be to
take as iule as possible from the people, d.
rectIv or indirectly. apprehend no one
will dissent from this principle. The second
principle is equally clear, that the burdens
Of taxation should bear upon all classes and
eactons with rs much equality as possible
Third that there should be as little interfer.
ence as possible with the industry of the
country, Fourth, that the mode of taxation
should be constitutional.
No ovtardod aroonaut is necessary to es.
.o,,;o, J s 49, ,,s;,.i,Ins Eor Whit wisdom is
.t'" .@ :, f.n,, .ho noorle tho;r hard
.ur, oarn;nms horemJ ,be wau,r Of the Govern.
e i, - .,.,.ul,, ;,Jofa,s;i,la. for while
% u imnovsrisbes tbs n.onle It corrup,s the
cana.nroant = m Ras;dsc wbat r;uht have we
~ ,noro or the neonI.,s money than is neees.
w." sT,. co. ,I,o ~ w .u.noIas of Goyernmonta Nome
,vhstsvsr v . aIJ psyond that nuiuti is Injustice
and rohharv II therefore hv ,nv means.
hv dirsct;on nr ~ ;ndrection Government
J,,r;,as " ,Ia ,oo,,a af n,ors mnney than is