Wilmington journal., 1870-03-25
Ezovcnue-Eot Protection.

In the course of Mondays debate on the
reduction of taxation, Mr.. Marshall offered
q resolution to the effect that the depressed
condition of business and Of the various
industrial interests OF the country demand
shat Congress shall promptly relieve the
people Of all burdens Of taxation not alb
solutoly necessary to provide for the wants
Of the Government under an economical
administration Of all departments OF the
public service, ana that in reforming the
existing tariff laws al legislation should be
/ Da#od on the following principles First
That 10 duty should be imposed on any
article above the lowest rate that viii yield
the largest amount Of revenue. Secoud-
That the maximum revenue duty.shou!d be
imposed on Iuxur1es. Third-That the
duty should be imposed as to operate as
equally as possible thronghout the Union,
discriminating neither for nor against
class or section.
In th;s Drief and sensible resolution IS
embodied more practical wisdom, SAYS The
New York Fi1aacial Bulletin. than is often
heard on the floor Of the House, whatever
may be tLa topic under discussion. Mr.
MARSHALL ha5 said nothing original or start
IiuS, Il - true, nur are the principles be
lays down as the foundation OF ali tariff
Legislation altogether unknown 80 political
economists; but he has GONE better than
this. and like Gynplaine before the
House OF Lords, has spoken to Congress
for and III the name Of the tax -burthened
people. Precisely what he recon-
mRnds is what is now demanded by ajl
classes of the community and in all parts
Of tbo country-namely, that if tariff
is necessary, it shall be levied for revenue
alone, and not for the protection Of
any one class or section at the expense Of
the rest Of the country. 1t is also demand
ell, and Justly, that the maximum of taxa
ton should be upon luxuries-and not up
on those articles of daily consumption
which, whether indispensable to life or not,
cannot be classed otherwise than among
necessities. The presentation Of these sim
pie and practical truths was no doubt, q
matter OF considerable astonishment to our
honorable representatives, who are not
accustomed to hear propositions concern
ing the tariff from members who have no
axes TO grind while the obedient and sub
missive people turn the stone and it is
probable that, like Gynplaine again, Mr..
Marshall 57ill be laughed at for his pains in
representing the demands of constituent
cy that has only honest labor and honest
earnings to protect, and cannot afford to
pay for their protection. But whatever
may be the fate of his resolution in the
bottomless pigeon holes of the Ways and
Means Committee, to which it was referred
for lnterment in the usual parliamentary
way, the popular demand which it express
es must be heard sooner or later. What
ever is needed to sustain the Govern
ment under prudent and economical ad-
ministration, the people will cheerfully
pay. Should more than this be demanded
before the country has recovered from the
effects OF the four years Of war, and the
four years of extravaganza, over trading
and speculation that followed, there will |
be more who favor Mr.. Marshall's resolu-
hon III the next Congress than there are
in this.