The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1857-02-24

revenue standaEn-lhat point At winch they
would produce the most revenue. The effect of
these high duties is necessarily very much to
cripple our trade with France. result greatly
tn be regretted, for there is no country with
whic! it is more desirable to cultivate c,nmer-
cial relations than France, even upon the prin-
ciples of the protectonists, for the exports from
France DO not conie in competition with the
products Of this country; besides, there is great
sympathy of feeling between the people of
France and this country, which ought to be
che rished, rs we have much to gain, not merely
commercially, but otherwise, by close relations
with a people SO remarkable ~as the French
people are for great ideas aud noble impulse.
Another defect in the present tariff is, that
the duties on articles of prime necessity. such
as cotton, aooien, and iron manufactures, aud
sugar. are tuo high. These articles are indis
'persable to the great mass of oar people. and
the great mass of our people are the laboring
classes. The duty upon these articles range
from twenty-five to thirty per cent, produc-
ing S2s l45,627 35 Of revenue for the fiscal year
1856, being nearly one half of the total revenue
ofthat year; the result of which is that vast
portion of the burden of taxation is thrown
upon the laboring classes, whereas as little as
Ew,ssible should be thrown upon them. The
effect Of these high duties upon these ar
ticles OF prime necessity, by enhancing their
price is the same las if we were to pass law
to reduce The wages of labor. To reduce these
duties would be- on The other hand, to increase
tire wages of labor; for though they would
nominalI, remain the same, they would hus
- I..,.-, I,rror Snr,,l,,o T. tho IN
tere~r, then, of the laboring classes, insist
that tll,.s tiies should be reduced; and, if done
i. would no, be inappropriate to enteie the
bill. "a bill to reduce the duties on prime
ln.cessi'y. and TO Increase wagas" "a result. !
| apprehend, which would be- entirely satisiac or,
te every IN man the United Stats VII" has t,
earn his bread by The sweat OF his brow.
Another defect in the present tariff is, that
the revenue is derived fiom t,o high rate ol
duties. WiatI mean is evidt Mt when ] state
that fnr the year 1858 $49,000,000, or six
>ev.nlR~ 0f The entire revenue, was derived
| Fl ,m duties of twenty-five per cent, and up
wards Experience has demonstrated, that
upon the generality Of articles twenty per cent
duties is the revenue standard that If you adj
vance the duties beyond that point you more
| or less prophihit importations aud diminish the
revenue It is not difficult, therefore, to un-
d-r,tand how the collection of six seventies o
the revenue a: rste of duty i've per cent. above
the revenue -taridatd nnst .,iera,e m,.si injnri-
"usls upon the. exchanges sfstbe country 3,
diminishing the imp 9ts, ind; lss sc!,nss qaepce
the rxIarl< IL The interest, 'sic,,, of tue es-
chaiineS "f the counlry ] Insist on a reduction
OF our present high rate. uf duties.
In thus p,inting out tn defects OF the present
tariff | would nnr lie understood n< drprecial-
ing the stntemaslip. Of the gentleman, wht
was at the heal of the srrrasur, Department ii
1876, aud who it is understood had more iuaa-
euce iu the passage If this act than any on.
else allude to Mr.. Robert j. Walker. Or
The contrary, think the country owes. him !
great debt oi gratitude for his services upon tina
occasion. His celebrated report. in 1876. is !
mastery exposition Of our true revenue policy
aud it the tariff OF iS46, did no, come up to tn,
high standard of hi> report, the fault, ! ali
sure, was not in him, but in tie difficulties o
1 his prsition. ::
= | now propose. Mr. Chairman. 10 considc
the report from he majotitt of the Commit,e,
of Ways and Means on this subject. fha
report rests upon the idea that The protective
policy is wise policy, aud that the tariff
should be modified in snb>ervirnce TO lha
Icliry | wish TO examine that question; ant
if | destroy the foundation upon which th'
report rests, then the .superstructure- erected
upon it must fall to the ground. To put the
argument. in the most striking aud compre-
hensible 1i.ht, will state il i'll simple anG
practical fofn,. Certain pers"ns wishing to &c
ipto manufacturing, ask G'wernment to- aC
them in business naturally Improbable, b,
preventing the consumers Of the cnuntry from
buying foreign goods cheap, in "'der that those
consumers may be compelled to buy thei
goods dear. These are the three proposition,
necessarily involved 10 the demand-for ptotec-
tion. Let US examine them. -.
As regards the first proposition, Government
is asked to aiI men in embarkipg in an unpro
.Gtable business. think that have stated this
proposition correctly The proposed business
is either profitable or i is unproftabe. IL il
were profitable no application would be made
10 Government for aid. The very fact Of the
that the business is unTr"6iable. This is q
logical conclusion Of absolute certainty. As
sln,ing, thea, that the proposed business is un
profitable, what course onght Government t.
take? T. inot plain that, ifait did anything
instead of aiding persons 10 g" into an unpro
ftable business, il should rather discourage
them from ill For it must be observed tha,
Government does not by it's action increase
the apital of country; it can only give a
nrw direction to it. The capital Of country
then, remaining the same, insist it is unwise
for Government, as mere question of poll
teal economy, to aid in turning any portion
Of The capital of country into an uapro6table
channel; because, in the degree that the rates o.
profit upon the capital thus unpro6tably direc.
ted is below the average rate Of profits Of the
caniiaI of the country generally To that eyt.n,