Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-01-13
PRINCIPLES OF TARIFF REFORM IN THE
PARTY PLATFORM.

sbe principles upon which we propose reduction
=; imp,s, duties, are enuneisted with remarkable
d:..inc:ress In the Cincinnati Platform. The 5sh
syce declare, thnt"i is the duty OF ever branch of
The vyveruuen: to enforce and practice the nos,
ri.ia economy in conducting public sfairs. and
The: 10 more revenue ought be raised than is
a.rsa 20 de!ray the necessary expenses of the gov
er, 1n-nt and for the gradual blu; certain extinction
Of III. public debt" And the All sf.ms that Justice
and round policy forbid the General Government 10
sgser one branch of Industry to the detrimsnt OF
another or to cherish the interests Of one portion. to
IL. ,.iary OF another portion of our common copn'
ecy."
Ordinarily party platforms are too ambiguous In
.esrs AID 200 indefinite in sensc to supply safe rule
OF Craftsmanship. Blu; here is notable exception.
Thee resolutions Of the Cincinnati Platform pro-
7o.na ;he true principles OF Tariff reform, and pro
o,cnt then too With precision and empaasis which
III. sous!y difficult to evsda or disregard. In the
Er.. p.ace an obligation 10 Imposed upon the DEMO
o:a,;c patty 10 reduce lie Of government to
a i.v.l With lie expense Gatv. an economical admin
isrfeica. So ier all are agreed; bat the Platform
axes step in advance ard prescioesta tie principles
u;lvl Saich government must modify the rates o:
i,;.po.,. And wha: these principles2 Simply
and a9ely that the rates Of npost shall be 90 re-
aac.d .. eeuali5e the burden Of taxation between
az TIE various nerests and sections o: the country
E.c,ts il said Of The duty Of incidental protection
On ,o coS.rarv the Pa,for;n distinctly declares that
.ls ca:-s shJa.i be reduced 10 potnt barely suth
cint for tho ezOapses Of governmeo; under an eco
rc1,.s. administration: and TIC: srcu reduction
s,-'s p, eec;ed so no; to foster one branch OF
usrs,ry 70 ,hs Ge,rnent u another, or 10 cherish
= interests of portion 70 the irary Of another
-.,r,:ca OF our co-:ulon country Try every
srr..no of Tariff reform BY THE ;cs., aud you
:rsv ssccr,cin whether they compatible with
-. principles Of tie party Platform. Suppose
80, :cs; Iron I, exe:nf; :,orn duty, while the iron
-. ~ ice Ordinary operations Of life continues to
hes7 i,e tu,den-wculd not that be 70 "fos;er one
branca OF Industry 10 tie derimen, Of another by
,'ievng class Of corporations 81 ,he. jus. proper
g.. q the public burdens and imposing the weight
o. axs:isn on the iron whlch Inc p,o- in the
e., . which he fe!is the forest Or the knife with
81. lie eats h:s frugal meal! Again, suppose tina,
D ;.1o.ng discriminating du;;ee on The importation
.. .a,pufac:ures, the agricultural in.ros, OF the
South ani W, 81 Is made 10 pay bounty TO the CAPT
ss!sts OF New England would not that es 10 cherish
4,'e interests Of ono portion to Tie injury OF another
:a.r;s-, that tee iron nteres! Of Pennsylvania IS Fat.
ranised 5y duty apoa iron Of foreign manufacture
*.r.: equivalent. to bounty paid out Of the trea-
saTy end levied upon otsr interest in the country
while the agricultural in,er,p: Of Virginia 10 left TO
isn; al: und-r the pGralysiux weight Of neglect and
pir;igi Ixrctions-wouid rot that be TO "foster
ss4nsh Of industry to the detri,neu, Of another -
sapucSe, again, the planter has pay duty on the
:oos.n-ds of his farm and the cio,hiuc of his ne.
yroe. snd he pays this duty. o! course whether he
,rvs of the importer or the domestic manufactured
-,ugoose while the planter is taxed 80 much on b;s
rar a..sr:s, the manufacturer gets his wool, dive
s.u:f., &C., exempt from ali duty Would not tina,
eco be TO "osts, one branch Of Industry to the detr
nen, Of another AID 10 cherish the Interests Of one
,o.;l9, TO the injury OF aaot'e. portion OF com.
,nc.4 county ," And 30, if we apply the principles
D! the Cincinnati Platform to al the details OF moai
ica;!un in tie various schemes of Tariff reform. We
sb. discover that they isli far ehort OF the oblga
Ions which the party assumed to itself aud imposed
roo thu Incoming Administrations. Perhaps from
,i..s g.7e.a! sentence Of condemnation, we should
rcaps the plan ast proposed by Mt. BGyce q South
Ce,oEpo ior if the telegraph reports truly, bis scheme
IL exec, sacorSancs with the party platform end,
ss may sdG With ,Es principles Of justice aud sound
philosophy.
among the individusis ai.h whcm the obligations
CT patty weigh more than tho 5'gter aud more re.