Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-01-06
General Jackson,s Tariff Doctrines.

General JacksOn's Tariff Doctrines,
whenever the opposition desire to propagate a |
political beresy and render it acceptable the pec-
pie, they industriously search the records of the
country to find some Democratic authority for the
doctrine If the proposed measure is found to have
received even qualified sanction from any of the
leaders Of the Democratic party, its orthodoxy is
thought to be unquesdonable and it is expected TO
be hailed with enthusiasm by tie whole nation.
This is an involuntary tribute which opponents
are forced to render to the prestige of our party
and our principles it is an unwilling acknowledge
msut Of the correctness of Democratic policy, and
Of the wisdom Of those Whs inaugursted and es-
tablished it. While we value these evidences of
popular respect for the opinions Of great leaders
we are unwilling that their sentiments should be
perverted in order that a false and pernciOus doc
trine may escape merited censure under the shadow
Of their iIluslrious names.
The champions of the Protective policy have re-
peatedly attempted to convince the people that Gen
JACKSON was an advocate of that system, and now
that the question is about to become an important
issue in the presidential contest, we observe that
these efforts are renewed.
We find in tie Patriot of Thursday, an article on
that subject from which We make the following
tract
The course of the Democratic members of Cons
gress from Tennessee in regard to the revision and
modification of the existing tariff will show how
they revere the principles" Of Gen. JACKSON, and
how far they are disposed to Establish the doc
trines which he taught" and acted upon in relation
to the policy Of protection.
In favor of this policy, Genl JACKSON took
strong and decided ground SO early as 1924.
Now in 1924 the necessities Of the country demand
ed higher duties than at present The quantity of
goods imported not nearly great and the
country was burdened with heavy debt. The Tar
if as passed was regarded at the time q triumph
of the revenue system, and though unavoidably
protective in some of It's features and higher than
would now be desirable, it great abatement of
the demands of the greedy capitalists who large
lyrepresented in that Congress The friends Of the
protective policy complained of It's provisions. Mr..
FORSYTH commended that "the Bill as amended was
no longer bill to protect manufactures, but merely
to increase the Revenue" Mr. CAMBERLIEG, Of
Pennsylvania, said ''the Bill was wholly revenue
Bill " and the manufacturers were greatly dssatis
fed with it. That General JACKSON regarded the
measure merely compromise and authorized by
the necessity of the case is proved by the fact that
he afterwards recommended q constant and steady
reduction of the duties aud approach to the
Revenue standard. The following extracts from
General JAcKsoN's messages will show thst the De-
mocracy of Tennessee have not departed from his
teachings in opposing the Odious doctrine Of proec
tion. In sill of his annual messages to Congress
until the compromise of 1882, he recommended
reduction OF the Tariff. In his third message
after some of the notifications which he advised
had been adopted he holds this language, speaking
Of the revenue:
alt is therefore desirable that arrangements be
adopted at your present session to relieve the peO
pie from unnecessary taxation, after the eEtinguish
ment of the public debt" In his fourth message
he says: f" But those who have invested their cap
tal in manufacturing establishments cannot expect
that the people will continue to pay high IS for
their benefit, when the money is not required for
any legitimate purpose in the administration Of the
Government" In his eighth annual message, even
after the Tariff had been greatly reduced by the
sliding scale of 1882, he recommeudeda still further
reduction aud strict adaptation Of the duties to
the actual wants of the government In his fare
well address to his oOuntrymen we have his matur>
ed opinions in these calm but emphatic words:
There is perhaps one of the powers conferred
on the federal government liable to abuse as the
taxing power. The most productive and convenient
sources Of revenue necessarily given to it that
it might be able to perform the important duties
imposed upon it; and the tazss tchich lays upon
commerce being concealed from the real payer in the
price Of the article they do not readily attract the
attention of the people as smaller sums demanded
from them directly by the tax gatherer. But the tar
supposed on goods enhances By 50 much the price Of the
IN and Il
duties are imposed on articles of necessity ,c6ich are
daily used By the great body Of the people, Ms aaoney
raised from these imports as draVH from their pockets
Congress has right under The constitution, 10 take
money from the people, unless is required to execute
Of The specific POUers Htr1sted to the govern
ment; and if they raise than is necessary for
such purposes it is abuse Of the vO,cer of taraoa
and unjust and oppressive. 1t may indeed happen
that the revenue will sometimes exceed the amount
anticipated when thetaxes we're laid. When, how
ever, this is ascertRined it is easy to reduce them;
and in such case 1t is unquestonaby the duty of
the government to reduce them, for no circumstances
can Justify il IN assuming pOrer giDen 10 By the
constitution, nor IN taking aOay the money Of the PEG.
pie sohen IS not needed for The legitimate rants of the
government"
Here is destinct declaration that a protective
tariff, indeed all other tariffs except those for the
collection Of revenue to carry on the government,
are unconstitutional unjust and oppressive That
is to-day the opinion of the Democratic party. and
the principles here taught are those of which we
have assumed the guardianship. But see the pic
ture which Gsnr JACKSON presents of our oppo-
nents. " Plain as these principles appear to be,
he continues, "yOu win yet find that there is con.
slant effort to induce the general government to 20
beyond the limits of its taxing power and to impose
unnecessary burdens upon the people. Many pow
erful interests continually at work to procure
heavy duties on Commerce, and to swell the revenue
beyond She real necessities of the public ser.
vice; and the country has already felt the
injurious effect of their combined Influence
They succeeded in obtaining a tariff Of du-
ties, bearing most oppressiyely on the sgricultu.
raj snd lsbOrng classes of society, and producing
9 revenue that could not be usefully employed with
in the range Of the powers conferred upon Con.
gress and in order to fssten upon the people this
unjust and unequal systsza Of taxation, extravagant
schemes of internal improvement were got up in