The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-01-23

ment VI contempt 1Or western manners and civil
lzation are not to be terrified by means so made
quate into the abandonment of measures which
they deem necessary to their security.
The Proposed Notifications In the Tariff
AID valorem Duties.
Amongst the various amendments now before
the House of Representatives on the new tariff
bill, there is one by Mr.. Mace, of Indiana, which
proposes that all importations, except coin and
bullion, shall pay duty of fifteen per cent adj
aalorem. The arguments in favor of this measure
far outweigh all considerations that may be
urged against it. In the first place, its simplicity
is in itself a powerful reconansnlaton in a coun-
try in which economy of time is one of the main
elements of commercial success; and in the next,
we are satisfied that it would be attended with
considerable economy of expenditure in the col
lection of the duties themselves If we add to
these advantages the certainty which it would
impart to commercial speculatons, and the saving
Of trouble and annoyance which it would occa-
sion to the mercantile community in general, it
will, we think, be difficult to convince unpre-
JUDGED minds that an experiment ought not to
be made of principle which promises such
benefits.
We might cite numerous illustrations in
evidence Of the necessity of establishing the
revenue of the country on some fixed
basis, which would enable the Treasury
to deal with ascertaned results, and to effect such
reductions on taxation as our present prosperous
condition calls for. 1t will be sufficient for our
purpose to take the item Of bounties granted to
vessels engaged in the cod fisheries-a system
which it would be difficult to justify on any
grounds Of necessity or expediency These boun-
ties have been bestowed during period of about
sixty years, and amount TO about $500 900 per
annum, divided amongst the 12ss vessels en-
ployed in this business Surprising these figures
to have undergone no substantial variation dug-
ing that time, the country has paid for protect -
to the fishing trade sum amounting to all
$4,000, 900. Now, the question is whether if the
trade had been left to itself II would not have
been equally, if not more prosperous. The expe-
rience Of other nations in the bounty system
would go to prove that such would have been the
result; and we cannot see the policy or benefit of
continuing principle which establishes an inju-
rious precedent, fastens heavy annual charge
upon the industry Of the country, and causes
unnecessary trouble to the public departments.
We see that an effort is being made in the Senate
by Mr.. Clay Of Alabama. to repeal these bounties.
Similar attempts have been repeatedly made
within the last few years but the resistance Of
the protectionists has hitherto succeeded in de-
fcatng them The public mind Is, however, be-
coming 30 enlightened on the fallsciousness Of
the theories by which class interests have hitherto
every other form of commercial protection. must
soon go by the board. Fish, as we'll az sugar and
other natural and artificial productions which
are now surchargcd with the expense Of fact-
tious and unhealthy system Of encouragement.
will be subjected TO the laws of free competition
and not only the consumer bat the industry itself
will be largely benefited by it, There is nothing
so difficult to drive into peoples heads as the
absurdty Of the protective system for IL holds
out the certainty of small proximaie results, |
whilst the large benefits derivable from an uure-
snicted trade have yet TO be realized IL is only
the more general diffusion Of information on the |
principles of political economy which can open |
nations eyes to its true interests, and happily
we are fast emerging from the dense ignorance |
which existed amongst us on these points.
Besides the economical views which may be |
urged against the imposition Of unnecessary du-
ties, there is another argument which with us IA
even still stronger. Under the present revenue
system larger amount of money is collected
than the necessities of the government demand.
surplus of thirty-fve millions in our treasury
may to unrefecting minds appear very salts
factory and gratifying fact but IL would be easy
TO show that nation which keeps its capital idle
IS in pretty nearly the same condition as an indi
vidual who boards bis wealth IRON the apprehen-
don that IL may be pilfered from him. II Is pro-
iuctive neither to the owner nor 10 the comrnu-
lity amongst which it was intended to circulate,
ind for all purposes might as we'll lie embedded ,
It's native earth. What right we ask, has Con-
5ress to take from the national industry 30 much
# the wealth by which alone IL can be viviaed
nd sustained! Such course Of policy is not
My unconstitutional, but IL is suicidal and on !.
bis ground alone the country would be justified ,
D demanding that IL shall be revised 4
There is on moral grounds another objectiont 10
be present tariff system, which has scarcely less
nee than those we have already mentioned We '
old that the standing surplus created by il is :
ne Of the most fertile sources Of corruption and
generalization which ever existed amongst free '
eeple. II is an irresistible temptation TO worth
ss men to struggle for Office, whilst those who b