The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-02-02
WAS ANDREW JACKSON A HIGH TARIFF
MAN?

WHtCH tHt paper is otHt.sEH
WAS ANDREW JACKSON A HIGH TARIFF
! MAN?
The kennebec ,Jounal, delvng among the
biographies of Andrew Jackson, has discov
cred the letter, written in reply TO one ad
dressed to him by DIR. Colman, of Virginia,
in 1894, on the subject of the tariff. On the
strength of this evidence it claims that the
great apostle of Democracy was Il high tariff
man-a protcctionist Jackson was at that
time Il member Of the United States Senate
and he was questioned concerning his vote
on the impending tariff measure In that
portion of his reply which the Journal does
not copy he said
"You ask me my opinion on the tariff. answer
that | am in favor Of iudicious examination and
revision of it and so far as the tariff before
embraces the design of fostering, protecting and
preserving within ourselves the means of national
defence and independence, particularly in state OF
war, would advocate and support it,"
This was sound doctrine then, and it is
to-day 1t should be borne in mind that the
country was in it, infancy. Its resources
We're undeveloped In the war with Eng
land, the country had suffered feartully from
a need of manufactured articles which at
that time had came almost entirely from
English factories. 1t was the purpose of the
early protectionlsts to foster manufactures
only until we could be free from dependence
solely upon foreign sources of supply, and
not to force the people to buy from home
producers at any and all cost. This folly was
reserved for the high tariff advocates of the
present day.
Thirteen years attcrward, Wien President
Jackson was about to retire to private life
he embodied the result of his experience in
public affairs, and the counsel he desired to
leave for his countrymen in q Farewell Ad-
dress. The sentiments which he then enter
tanned towards the class of gentry who are
now being enriched at the expense of the
people, We're therein expressed without re,
serve He says
There is, perhaps, one of the powers conferred
on the federal government so liable to abuse as the
taxing power. The most productive and conyen-
lent sources of revenue were necessarily given to
it, that it might perform the important duties i'm
posed upon it; and the taxes which it lays upon
commerce being concealed from the real payer in
the price of the article, they do not so readily at
tract the attention of the neonle as smaller SIMS
demanded from them directly Inv the tayoatbarar
But the tax imposed on goods, enhances by 50
much the price of the commodity to the consumer
of nacacv;tv which ,ro Ia;lv ,,Snj nv tba raat
Of thc nconlc the money raised by these mnosts i
drawn from their pockets. CONGRESS- has no roht
under the constitution to take money from the
people, unless 1t is required to execute some one of
| tl i,fr tod 10
n r. thov r,iSe mora than i; naaolv fnr l
ana II lhey RAISE more t.ll Is necessary LOT such
pui pos.s, - ~ ua1 VI rI,o lu"ei ~ iaAs'.lon
anu uhust anu @ ~ nay ilae , nIpl,eh
lhat Tue Ie,e WI" soiiletes eAceeo llie amount
,lntlc ~, WIEN 'me aaAe1 y; wtle la,u' Mhel
however, 1his ~ ascedtleu' II Is easy 10 reduce
duty OF the government TO reduce them, for no cir
cumstances can justify it in assuming power not
gwen 10 II by me constitution, nor IN taxing away
the money OF the people "heh II Is NOT needed for
the legitimate wants OF the government.
Ram rs thesc prihclples appear 10 De, you VIII
find that there is constant effort 10 induce the
general government TO go beyond the limits of its
taxing power, ana TO impose unnecessary burdens
upon the people. Many powerful interests are
continually at work 10 produce heavy duties on
commerce, and to swell the revenue beyond the
real necessities OF the public service; and the
country has already felt the injurious effects of
their combined influence. They succeeded in OBJ
tanning tarlfl OF duties, bearing most oppressvely
on the agricultural and laborins classes of society,
and producing revenue that could not be usefully
employed within the range of the powers conferred
people this unjust and unequal system of tayation
extravagant schemes OF internal Improvement We're
and to purchase SUPPORT. Thus. one unconstit,;.
tlonal measure was INTENDED to be upheld by an
to be maintained by usurpns the power Of eXpenI.
ing me mon, money III internal . improvements You
struggle through which we passed. when the eS.
nePa t OF 1e by its veto
justice, and to bring back the legislation of Con-
fon The good sense md nracticai ;mdamnnt q,
the people, when the subject was brought before
this plan Of unconstitutional expenditure for the
purponses OF corrupt influence is trust finally
The various interests which have combined TO-
VI tressur ear ivy % ana 10 produce an
much at stake, to surrender the contest The cor.
IN LARGE m" are