The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1855-02-02
THE PROPOSITION TO CHANGE THE
TARIFF

The recommendation 10 change the pres
ent tariff seems TO meet with but little favor
in any quarter, while the question-'what is
to be done with the surplus in the Trea-
sury"-whirh has given so much uneasiness
to the democratic inanciers, is rapidly solv-
ing itself. The following extract, pertinent
to the subject, we find in the Frankfort Com
monwealth:
"Facts daily Transporting at the Custom
houses and exhibited upon the books of the
Treasury department, show, in n striking
light, the folly of the proposition and the
wisdom of its defeat These free traders say
they wish to get rid of the excess in the
treasury. The excess is disappearing rapidly
enough without their aid. The receipts do
not now, and have not for months, equalled
the average expenditures; and the surplus
gliding fast away, must soon give place to a
deficit. The falling off of receipts from the
customs for the fall months and first winter
month just past, compared with correspond,
ing months of 1853, is enormous. Take
December for example. In 1853 the receipts
from customs for this month were about four
millions and a half; for the same month in
1854, only about two miliOrs. AT the port
of New York alone, the receipts for Deem
Der, 1853, were some three millions; and in
December, 1854, about one million two hun.
bred thousand. Thus it is clear that very
soon the question will not be how to reduce
the revenue, but how TO increase it.
This falling of of the revenue, however, is
n 1t to be wondered at. 1t results from the
diminuton of the imports of foreign goods,
and that diminution is in turn the result OF
hard times and bankruptcy brought on by
excessive imports heretofore. 1t is, under the
circumstances of the case, wholesome pro.
cess. 1t is fasting after feasting, starving
after gluttony. 1t is the natural course OF
the boa-constrctor policy which modern
Democrats and free-trade politicians have i'm.
posed upon the country. The tariff is fixed
at such rates that MS long as men can find
money or credit, foreign goods como in like Il
flood They exceed our exports by many
millions each year. Specie must be sent out
to pay the difference. Banks are drained to
supply the specie, and must in self.6rfence
contract their discounts.
Everybody is in debt money is scarce, sus-
pensions, failures, bankruptcies, become the
order of the day. All are compelled to take
in sail. The merchant who lately rode to his
countihg-room in a carriage, from splendid
palace at $4,000 rent, now walks from an
humble dwelling at 5000, to clerks stool
in some other body's countng-room. In the
general depression, the sales of foreign goods
fall of as n matter of course; the importing OF
them falls off consequently; and of necessity
the revenue derived from them decreases
with rapid strides.
Now the question for the American people
is whether we shall change our policy-es.
tablsh 4 tariff that will encourage our home
manufactures, keep eur specie at home, de.
velopc our own resources, and have steady
times Of moderate, thrifty, safe prosperity
or go on taking imports of foreign goods as
boa-constrictor takes his food, with alter,
nate gorgings and starvings