Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-12-18
The Tariff.

The Tariff.
The system Of protection hAs been again and
again rspudiated BY the American people. Though
wealthy capitalists sre benefited by the increase Of
duties the policy is oppressive upon the people and
the people have sense enough to know it. Even in
Pennsylvania "the great Protection State as it
has been called, the fact is beginning to be recog-
mixed that high duties only benefit the maaufacur-
en- while the wages Of the labOrers arenOt enhanced
ct all. The Philadelphia argus says that the mis-
cradle cant about "prOtsction Of labor, is false
and hypOOrideal from beginning to end It is the
most transparent gull-trap baited to dupe the
ignorant and the eredul0us. The classes which the
isndsOfs tariff hypoCrtieally profess to be desrOus
Of protecting trestedby them but very little bet~
ter, than if they slaves; indeed in many resp
ects nothsf 90 we'll The negro isCared for in sick
ness and in health his wants are eli provided for
he has no care or anxiety for Tomorrow Not so
with the factory operative, and the toiling drudges
of the iron furnsces. They tre paid at starvation
prices; receive just enough to keep soul and body
together; paid in orders, any thing, every thing,
except real money. Let them presume to vote g
Democratic ticket at an election, let them dare to
express their honest indignation at the deception,
hsartless oormorrants who are protected by
special legislation, and they are turned into the
highway to beg, steal, or starve.
No. The Almighty has, in his munihcent prOvi-
dsnce, already protected the rich men who 50 fOrtu
nately own mines and furnaces, in bestowing upon
them great wealth, which others do not possess.
They siready have vastly superior advantages over
g great majority Of their fellow citizens TO in
crease this inequality by special Legislation iswicked
and unjust-a fragrant violation Of The doctrine of
equal rights, as well as tie spirit Of the divine
laws.
The views of the Secretary of the Treasury on the
revision of the Tariff are entitled to very great
weight. 1t will be from the sujOined extracts,
that he Secretary desires render aDy increase Of
duties which may be temporarily necessary as
little oppressive as possible upon the masses Of the
people. Yielding to the financial exigencies of the
country arising from the late commercial crisis the
Secretary recommends a slight additional duty upon
such articles Of luxury as may be dispensed with
by all, and which the wealthy are able to pay for
He advises st1icter adherence te the revenue sys-
TEN. and does not in any way tolerate the idea that
the mechanical and agricultural classes should be
compelled TO pay more for their utensils of trade
and articles of daily use in order to increase the
profits of the wealthy manufacturer.
In revising the tariff, the same principles should
direct and control the action Of Congress that
would be considered in the adoption Of original
act
do not deem it proper TO enter into any extended
discussion Of the theoretic principles on which
tariff act should be framed.
They may be briefly stated. Such duties should
be laid as will produce the required revenue, by
imposing the people at large the smallest and the
most equal burdens.
1t is obvious that this is most efeetualy done by
taxing in preference TO others, such articles
not produced in this country; and among articles
produced hert, those in which the home product
bears the least proportion to the qusntity imported
are the fttest for taxation. The reason is that in
taxing articles not made in the country the whole
sum taken from the consumer goes into the treasury
while in the other class the consumer pays tue en-
HANGED value not only on the quantity imported |
but on the quantity made at home. This last tax /
is paid not the treasury, but to the manufacturer
thereby rendering such duty not only more bur |
dsusOme, but grossly unequal; the home producer
being benefited at the expense OF the consumer
II these principles are eOUnd, tbs obvious that
tariff strictly for revenue has ever yet been enact,
ed IN the United States
The early legislation Of the country contemplated /
other objects, such as fostering our then infant
manufacturers, and encouraging the production of
indispensable articles; 50 TO render country.
independent OF foreign governments in case Of war.
The objects which originally led to our system oS
duties have long since been attained but under that
system large interests have grown up which have |
slvays claimed and received such consideration |
from Congress SIS TO prevent the abandonment Of the
idea of protection.
rigid revenue principles but in all changes an effort
should be made at least to avoid further departure
from them.
Assuming that the general principles Of the pre-
sent tariff act will be adhered to- all will admit that
having sscertained the additional revenue required
as accurately possible, the least increase OF duty
that will raise the SUMS the proper rate 10 De ADOPT
Cd.
In determining, however, on what articles the
duty is to be made discriminate as to afford re-
lief to certain interests said to be unusually depress-
In a period Of general financial Distress such as
NE have not vet entirely passed. each interest in the
country naturally feels the want Of any AID that
would relieve its embarrassments and restore It's
prosperity. In responding TO such demand, care
should be taken not TO afford the required relef 81
the expense Of another interest equally in want Of
assistance and equally entitled to receive il st the
hands Of the government When a general calam-
Iv has psrslyzed the hand of industry and eramPed
the energies Of the people il is unfortunate that ct
such time, when the country is least able to besr
Il The wants Of the government should force an in
.r.ssa Of taxation. In yielding to the necessity
hitch compels the imposition Of the burden, let it
Ia dome with that spirit Of justice which regards
with eouul care and protection all the varied inte~
rests of the country.
vonId respectfully referio the views presented in
nv last annual report 70 Congress.
II is also subject Of regret that public ne
ossstv requires revision Of the tariff act Of 1897
before sufficient time has elapsed to test Its legtl-
mate effects upon the business Of the country, as
Iii a. he revenues Of the government. False i'm
ressions astoits operation must b carefully guard
"a AGAINST. The fact that this act went into op
s-ation on the lst July, 1857, and vas followed
40 soon by the disastrous revulsion Of that year.
-. 80 necessary cause Of the other. The sdvO-
Csiss Of high protective tariff have not failed to
tbemseIyes of this circumstance to press upon
az nnbIie mind their peculiar system Of ahOrding
-sfief 70 3 distressed people, BY increasing teslr
tsAss' - .snsrsl calamity has bees earnestly ap-
a.Isd 10 snd No efforts have been spared to induce