Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1855-01-20

g The Tariff. :"

The Spectator attributes the great stress
in the, money market 10 the operation Of
The Tariff Of 46. II such BE- the case,
what was the cause Of the pressure In
1836-S7. 4 high Tariff
II is folly to attempt to attribute the
present depressed state of our monetary
affairs, to any other Cause than want Of
confidence. There Is plenty Of specie in
the Country, but it is in the hands Of those
who will keep it, 1t least for while yet.
The difficulties which now surround al
most every community, are Of periodical
occurrence. and are The correctives Of the
erroneous basis upon which t.ade..is carried
on. They will come upon us, let the
tariff on imports be what j, may, SO long
as the credit system is encouraged to such
an extent as it is now.
We had thought that the high tariff no.
ton had long since been abandoned. But
our neighbors still cling to it. We call
especial attention to the Arguments used
and If they do not strike the reade. as the
strangest ever yet employed, then we will
acknowledge we are know Nothing"
Here is the argument: "The obvious
policy would seem to be" Ito prevent the
county being drained of its specie) ito
raise the duties or imports, which would
increase the cost Of foreign manufactures.
aud thus discourage large impor,ations,
and nj the same time, cause-what is
thought to be desirable-the reduction Of
The rerenue to an amount more nearly COM
mensurate with the wants of the govern
ment." This is the argument the Specta-
tor uses-a tax of fpe per centum will pro-
duce more revenue than tariff Of ten per
centum Why the great argument Of the
wings heretofore has been that high tar
if would be a create, source Of revenue
than low tariff. This idea. also, is I'M
portant to the maintenance of another
prime feature Of their doctrines, viz: The
creation Of surplus fund to be expended
in carrying GU. system o: internal I'M
provements by the general government
The prime aim Of the Democratic policy
is to reduce the tariff on imports to such a
per cent IS will merely answer for ieye-
nue. purposes--hence the recommendation
to which the Spectator alluees, Of the Dem
ocra,ic members Of Congress that the tar
if be lessened. The Spectator sees aud
Acknowledges the necessity Of the object
Of the Democratic policy, but, strange
enough, advocstesa policy entirely antss.
onistic 10 its results, 10 that object. The
nearerlwe approximate TO free trade The
nearer will we create revenue, "more
nearly commensurate with the wants Of the
government" ~
Suppose the Spectators policy were ear
ried out and the tariff Oh imports raise d
to twice the amount Il now is, what would
be the result II the imports were bu,
half what they are now, aud the wants Of
the country but half supplied from foreign
countries. the revenue would 5s the same
Here then would be the inevitable result /:
Without lessening the revenue, we would
build up monopoly in the North. at the
expense Of the South. Every Southern
man would feel it; and instead Of enjoy.
ing the privilege and benefit Of an almost
unrestricted tsade. we would be forced to
buy where the monopolists pleased. To
this conclusion the arguments OF the Spec.
tator bring us. If the Spectator desires to
reduce the revenue Of the country 40 that
It will more nearly correspond with the
wants Of the government. let the editors
advocate the Recommendation Of the Dem
ocratic CAUCUS for q reduction Of the tariff
on imports. We are in favor Of tree end
uure.tricted competition. II man can
buy hia goods cheaper and better article
from "A than he can Of b, there is the place
he his right to 60 and there the place
his interest should induce him to co.
That is the only doctrine compatible with
free government.