The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-03-18
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
AN OPEN, MANLY LETTER FROM
CONGRESSMAN DIeBLE.
Free Trade. Impracticable at this Time
but VIII Cheerfully Assist in an Effort
to Correct the Irregulnrities ofths Pres
ent System.

-
duly, and in reply to your invitation to
deliver public address On the tariff per-
NIT me to state that the exacting nature
of my public, professional and private
duties does not admit of compliance with
your request at present, am relieved
of regret on this account, because I am
satisfied that you will realize, on refec-
ton, that the wrong of protection Is
not, as you aver, endured, only because
uprealized and unexposed; for no griev-
ance has been more fully ventilated be-
fore the American people, in Congress
and out of Congress. by debates, votes, es-
says stump speeches, newspaper articles
and party platforms; and on no public
question is the position OF Congress,
and of every member of Congress, more
clearly defined.
':My own views were long since given
to my constituency, in the press and on
the stump; but since you desire their
reiteration I snatch a few moments
from important engagement to repeat
them briefly.
I'm common with others I have given
to the subject OF Federal taxation much
study and reflection, and especially in
its relations to State taxation; and
I have been impressed with the ap-
parent wisdom of the system, where
by the States surrendered TO the Fede.
raj Government the absolute control
.oftthe customs as the ordinary means Of
raising revenue; and it has always SEEM
ed to me to be the spirit of the Constitu-
ton that the other modes of taxation
were to be reserved for State and local
purposes, except when war or other
emergencies compelled the General
Government to collect extraordinary
sums from the people. Hence, IN my
Judgment, it !s neither desirable nor
proper to demand Of Congress speedy
abolition ofartifcial barriers and Govern
mental toll-gates,' in which proposition
I interpret your meaning to be the aban-
donment of costoms duties and the sub
stitutions OF something else in their
place. This would require fundament.
al change in our entire system Of taxa
ton, as established by the fathers; and
is inconsistent with the traditional
attachment Of South Carolina to. the
fanshtntioa, and the past record OF her
stat9smen for Conservatism" and strict
construction.
Would you raise Federal revenues
by direct taxation? Consider for mo-
ment that the State OF South Carolina
has debts of her own to pay-her State
bonds, her county and other municipal
indebtedness-and that our people, in
their depressed and impoverished con-
dition, are already sufficiently burdened
with the annual calls of the tax-gatherer
to meet cnrrent State and county expen-
ses and interest upon these debts, 10
say nothing of paying the principal. Ii
YOU add to this the share of South
Carolina in the debt Of the Federal
Government, (one-fiftieth of it, according
to the Constitution you make the bur-
den heavier than we can bear. The
Federal debt is fifteen hundred millions
of dollars. ION February l. 1886, the
total debt of the United States, less
available cash items, was sl,5l4, 472,
1850 Our share Of it is thirty
millions. The annual expenses OF the
General Government are two hundred
and sixty millions; our share would be
over five millions annually. Under the
present plan of raising revenues for
Federal purposes the ordinary expenses
are met, and the United States debt is
being reduced al the rate of abont two
millions of dollars a week, at which rate
it will be settled inside of twenty years
uWhen this burden shall have been
removed, and when conditions exist other
than the present, absolute free trade
may become practical question. Now
IL is O theory, not applicable to OR
situation. :.
HFor reasons equally conclusive, it
IS impolitic and impracticable to rely
upon an income or an excise tax to meet
the exigencies of Federal requirements
Shapc it as you may, the main depen-
dence for Federal revenues must be upon
the costoms. Besides, should all OF these
alternative expedients be resorted to
for the ordinary revenues OF the Govern
ment. the States would find but little to
clean from an impoverished people,
after the Federal inquisitor and tax
gather has levied contribution upon
them: and suits in the Federal Courts,
brought by spies and mercenary inform
ers, would intensity the evils we have
already suffered under the operation Of
the present internal revenue system.
So far as the present tariff is concern
ed, with its unjust Determinations, ID Ia,
vor OF some sections and against others,
Will checrfully assist in any Judlci9us
effort to correct its irregularities and &c
tighten its unnecessary burdens. 70
'"In this you and 1 cannot widely dli'
fer both of US being servants OF the peo:
ple under Democratic designation: ano
having as our Shlbboleth the platforms
of the State and National Democracy,
approved by the States in their electoral
vote in 1854, and by the people IN re-
turning q majority of the same nolltlca
faith in the present House OF Kepresen
tatiyes at Washington. And 1 trus
tiot ,.ou oorec with me that 1t would Dl