Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-14
1D- In pursuance Of our promise, we pub
lish, this morning, the substitute proposed by
Senator Douglas to the bill for Judiciary Re
form.
REDUCTIoN OF THE TARIFF.

Z
would turn deaf ear to suggestions savoring SO
strongly Of principles long since effectually op-
posed by the Democratic party, and even dis
carded by the party from which they originated.
But we have been induced, once more, to refer to
this subject, although already discussed at large
in our columns, from an article in the Newark
Daily Advertiser Of the 9Th instant, protesting
to answer certain positions we had assumed.
Silence might be construed into satisfaction
with the reasons contained in that article or an
acquiescence in its views.
The view presented by the Advertiser differs
in no material point from the arguments of the
Secretary himself which we have heretofore
endeavored to controvert.
In order that our readers may better under
stand this position, we publish an extract from
the Advertiser, as follows
cit is agreed on all hands, we suppose, that
duties on imports ought to be diminished at
this time, when the Treasury is gorged with
revenue. How shall it be done? Very natu-
rally, we answer, by taking off the taxes upon
articles which enter into our manufactures.
When this can be done as well as not, what OBJ
lection can there be? The duties on other ar
ticles will not be necessarily touched by such
proceeding, for the question now is not about
modifying the tariff in other respects, by less
ening or increasing the present rates. What
harm, under these circumstance, can be done
to any other interests by simple reduction Of
duties upon materials used in our domestic
manufactures? And this is done, observe, be-
cause the country wants to get rid Of part of
its income. Should any body take offence at
this merely because it happens to be incident
ally favorable to American industry"
Now, in reply to the questions asked by the
Advertiser, we say emphatically, that there is
just ground of complaint in this palpable de-
parture from the system of free-trade, which
has so long been one of the cardinal princi.
pies Of the Democratic party. And we con-
tend that the principles of that party are not
correctly administered by Secretary Of the
Treasury who suggests system of protection
to any one interest of the country to the exclu-
sion of others.
We hold it to be political axiom, long re-
cognized by every free government, that taxa
ton is at last necessary evil, which should
only be exercised for the legitimate purpose of
providing for the necessities of government in
the most economical manner. Hence we con-
slider surplus in the Golfers of the treasury to
be an evil calling for an immediate remedy,
not only because such surplus may be used as
an instrument of power and corruption, but
also because it is exceeding the limits of legiti
mate taxation, and depriving the people of
more of their money than is required. The
remedy for this evil must, therefore, be such a
reduction of this plethoric revenue as shall re.
lieve the people of the inordinate taxation by
which it has been produced. But if in order
to effect this reduction, we add to the free list,
and thereby even incidentally protect pecu-
liar interest, do we thereby relieve the rest Of
the community of the unnecessary burden
which they bear? In other words, does the
system of reduction proposed by Mr.. Guthrie
and advocated by the Advertiser, diminish in a
fair proportion the tax derived from the agri-
cultural community? Surely not; and there
fore to they very extent to which this reduction is
applied to the benefit Of manufactures, it is in
furious, unjust, and unconstitutional.
Let us illustrate our position. The reduction
proposed is tscclUe and a half millions. The ad
dition to the free list for the benefit Of manufac
turers is eight millions, thus leaving the whole
taxed community benefited only by the reduc-
ton of four and a half millions of taxes. But
according to the idea which we have been en-
deavoring to elucidate, the taxed community
being the real sufferers from inordinate taxa
ton should receive the whole benefit arising
from the diminution. The conclusion is there.
fore irresistible that under the system proposed
twelve and half millions of taxes, are only
relieved from the payment of four and q hall
millions, and are thus improperly taxed by the
amount of eight millions Of dollars. This is a
condition of things esuivalentto extorting from
the people eight millions Of dollars more than
Government has any right to demand of them
The only equitable system Of reduction is to
lower ratably all the subjects Of taxation EN-.
braced in the tariff Of 1916.
The second view taken by the Advertise,
which, in this, also, but echoes family the start
ling proposition Of the Secretary, is that it is
expedient by this system Of protection to coun
tervail the policy Of England, who admits free
Of duty raw materials used in manufactures
and the arts. To this extraordinary position
we need only reply in the language Of that old
strict constructions, Shylock that il is not SC
nominated in the bond. We must read the
Constitution with other eyes before we can see
that it vests in Congress the power to lay tax
upon imports for the purpose Of rivaling q
foreign power in any Of the branches Of indus
trial pursuit-more particularly when by SC
doing it would prejudice the rights Of much
larger interest in our country. II is new
principle in the Democratic code that the Fed
eral Government has right to build up .
favored interest as houses are built in a crowd
ed city---by the destruction of Others