Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-12-21
Good Sense Observation-Disclosures
of Wing Principles by DEM
Ocraflc President.

There is an Old proverb truth is mighty ant
will prevail" We find a striking illustration o
this proposition in the recent annual message o
President Buchanan.
For more than twenty years the Wings have
been earnestly contending that in levying ia
riff two great principles should be observed LIST
That the duties should be laid so as to afford In
cidental protection to American industry. End
That as far as practicable these duties should bt
specific and not ad rGtorem.
Against both these propositions the Demoora
cy have uniformly fought most bitterly-and IN
fortunately for the good of the countrywide
successfully.
Now we see that the Democratic party, speak
ing by the mouth of James Buchanan, have back
ed out from their old positions, and come SCARE
ly up to the good old Wing doctrine!
1t is not often that we find any thing to com
mend in Democratic messages, but now tina
we see the head OF the party repudistins the ole
fallacies of his associates, and advocating the
sound common sense doctrines of the Wings, We
feel great pleasure in according to him the praise
which is due to him, and extending to him thi
right hand of fellowship
See what be says in his message:
an regard to the mode of assessing and col
lecting duties under strictly revenue tariff,
have long entertained and often expressed the o.
pinion, that sound policy requires this should be
done by specific duties, in cases to which these
can be properly spilled. They are well adapted
to commodities which are usually sold by weight
or by measure, and which, from their nature, ars
of equal or OF yearly equal value. Such, for ex
ample are the articles ofiron of different classes
raw sugar, and foreign wines and spirits.
SIN my deliberate Judgment, specific duties are
the best, if not the only means OF securing the
revenue against false and fraudulent invoices,
and such has been the practice adopted Tor TINS
purpose by other commercial nations. Besides
specific duties would afford to the American
manufacturer the incidental advantages to which
he is fairly entitled under a revenue tariff. The
present system is sliding scale TO his dissdyan-
tage. Under il, when prices are high and bust
ness prosperous, the duties rise in amount when
he least requires their aid. On the contrary
when prices fall, and he is struggling against sd
yersity, the duties are diminished in the same
proportion, greatly to his injury.
Neither would there be danger that higher
rate of duty than that intended by Congress-
could be levied in the form OF specific duties
1t would be easy to ascertain the average value
of any imported article for series OF years; and
instdad of subjectng it to an al ratoreHl duty al
q certain rate per centum, to substitute IN III
place an equivalent specific duty :.
SPY such an arrangement the consumer woulC
not be injured. 1t is true, he might have to pay
8 little more duty on given article in one year
H. another
and in a series of years these would couuter5al
anoe each other, and amount to the same thing
so far as his interest is concerned. This incon
venience would be trfing, when contrasted will
the additional security thus offorded against
frauds upon the revenue, in which every consum
er is directly interested.
II have thrown out these suggestions as thS
fruit of my own observation, to which Congress
in their better Judgment, will give such weight
as they may justly deserve"
We see also that Mr.. Buchanan has abandon
ed another Democratic ground and come over t.
another Wing position. We allude to interna
improvements by the General Government
This doctrine has been denounced by the Democ
rscy as one of the vilest federal heresies. Blu
now, Mr.. Buchanan, not satisfied to mount the ok
federal horse, actually, in his hot haste, lesl
over it! 10 his recommendations of the Pacific
Railroad he goes bowshot beyond Henry Clay
All we have to say to the President on this sub
ject is "Be cautious !"-you are going it little
too strong you will repel even Wings from you
support if you continue to run Wing doctrines
into the ground! Ten grains Of calome ma!
be very good thing, but half an ounce may b.
fatal