, 1866-01-13

Government, fbeso would soon occur 4 hcaltt-
ful decline IN H3eea-
THIRD AED:FouR1H. II the reader L. not
yet sensible, that to defeat the threatening
scheme Of the ProtectIonists, to tasten npon
the country an additionally onerous syatem OF
impcste, and obtain, instead, jndie3ous
revenue tariff, ,would not damagingly affect the
financial ability or credit Of the Government.
his insb.Iity 10 comprehend the simplest
proposition In political economy Is truly to
&c conmisserated. But, the people already
pay direct td1es. Lam not the advocate or
that system but, II Tor a time they arc una
yoidahle. By all means let them be as light as
possible. To illustrate BY d single statement.
Government confessedly gets almost no Teye-
nue on Iron the duties are prohIbitpry on
most descriptions Of this article. Cut down
the duties one hall, permit Just competition
BONE Income. and 10 the people cheap iron,-
the consequence would be, for example. that
the direct tax Of a quarter OF q dollar On
every key Of nails, leyicd In their passage
from the domestic manufacturers to the cou-
sumers, would scarcely be felt Just 80 with
any other article Of necessity upon which the
duties are IN effect ptohibitory. Glands
houses and effects " are now taxed for State
purposcs-and the Protectionlsts have at no
time fntimatcd their intention to remit this
tax. No doubt their owners would rather,
II they must choose the alteEnative)' con
tinuo 10 pay this tax, with even an Increased
assessment, With the satisfaction Of knowing
how much they do really pay, than to feel
that they are contributing an uncertain
amount in Indirect ways, dishonesty, for the
benefit Of the monopoly class.
FIFTH. The necessities Of tho Government
do not call for S18, ,00o, 900 in taxes from ILL.,
nois !; but u such were the fact, "Protection''
increased or lessened by ono system Of taxa-
ton or another. It Is the $18, ,00O, 900 the Gov
eminent wants, and II IL is not obtnincd by
direct, 1t will be by indirect means. The vice
Of the Protectlonist theory is, that, In addl-
tion to the ascertained wants Of Government,
which arc cheeEinlly met, the people are
mulcted Of once ortWice as much more In the
purchase Of articles, at prices made e1orbi--
family high by unwArrantabls legislation.
HI1TH. Those who hold the Government &C.
curlties are not the manufacturers who employ
such fabulous sums in their business, learning,
annually, 200 or 800 per cent pronts,) aud en-.
gage IN frequent conspiracles to depress the
prices Of raw material, then buying It up on
speculation. The PEOPLE hold the Govern
mcnt securities, aud there will be less danger
Of repudiatfou ii they are simply required 10
! pay the necessary tax for revenue (which in
clndes iutercst) without, at the same time,
paying an e1tort1onary tribute to manulac-
turers who hAye nlready made oyersrown for
tunes of them. Il.
To conclude, am one Of those who believe
the interest Of the majority Is the Interest Of
/ the nation that what Is manlfestly the trae
policy Of the Northwest should be persistent
| y advocated by ali good citizens; that tho
nou-manufhcturfng mass, numbering almost
the entire population OF the United States,
have rights, which mot only manufacturers,
but Congress, should be compelled TO respect.
| And tlnally, that the Free Trade League now
established In this city, will be of substantial
| advantage to every interest In the community,
promote the welfare OF the whole country,
and conduco to the peace Of nations.
FRANCIS A. EASTMAN