The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1815-05-17
DUTIES ON MANUFACTURERS.


We learn. from New York and Phiiadel
phia, that Meetings have been held of the
Manufacturers, upon whose fabrics a tax IS
iHiFosed by coDgress with what proper object,
o'her than for the purpose ct rccaonssrancc To
INC next Congress, we Cannot discover We
h"N?:Oeen little disappointed in the manner
III wHnn these taxes ere received By that
part = t.e community which has beer more.
perhanr than any otter, friendly to the war
uidC mace thcse taxes necessary ; and which,
unci' these duties were laid, almost uniforu,Iy
supported tie government III its measures--
we cannot coi'ceiI'e the imposition OF these
taHes TO be q EooA reason for their withdraw
ing then SuppoCtfroFn the present admins
'atioA' !'e mcasrr res, which they, in GEN
erai, warmly advocated, produced a state Cf
things requiring the aid C Internal taxatior
toi the support of govcrnTnent +; and, with tin,
heaNy duties CT the agricultural and cornmcr-
csai Interests, IL could not be expected that
'he nai utac turing should remain entirely eX-
emPt. L he Manufacturers ttem elves could
not wish to stand clear of the blirthan borne
In degree by every other person IN tin.
community Reasoning :hus, we PRESUMED
the taxes on manufactures would We as
cheeffulIy borne as the direct and Indirect
taxes on ether objects were borne the orece~
oh5 year. We are sorry to be undcceived
IA aus respect, nor SO muck from any fears of
me effect OF the avowed hostility to these
taxes, as from fear lest the manufacturers
should be supposed less patriotic, less willing
to bear their proportion of the bur hens 81
thc.state, than their neighbors -.
here is enc branch of the Mechanic krts
winch we are proud to see disdains 10 ulur
MUIR az The burthsns imposed on il. We
mean the Printers Of Newspapers. We as
serf, without fear of contradiction, that. tho'
tiey ABSTAIN IRON complaint, they are more
heaVIiy taxed than any other trade. whilst
tleir lrohts are. generally, pIoportioned to
theiT labor much less. The tax on manu-
ACQUIRES Icing added 70 the cost of the arti-
Iie' rs IN every instance, eventually paid
ny the Consumer, except i the case of the
tax on paper. The Printer Cannot add Der
cent. 20 TIE price of his newspaper, 10 com
I'e!'sa'e hlm for the tax ne pays on paDer
us newspaper has a fixed annual price. AL
ways too low, wsICI he cannot advance with
ONT the hazard Of total ruin to his busnpse
ne whoie tax on the paper he consumes
lais therefore on ms pocket, not on that of
1'ic P"Ptf-nanuiacturcr, nor ON that of the
PU"tei patrons. The proportion of this
tax which the Editors of this raDer nav NAV
be about 400 5 per annum. at a low esfimatc
loi WHICH they receive no equivalent in any
"ay--at me same time that the Tux on post
age operates on their BUSINESS with disDro
Pof-,oNa te severity. Theirs ig ONLY the csse
{" an other newspaper -pr,nters. We can
nov ps mistaken, then, W. s}yins that the tax
hrtahy levied on the printers IF newspapers
IS {" greater amount than IS paid bv any 9th
er citisIon and may he allowed to claim
some credit to tie prof ssou Tor the couan-
lnI'y with which It's borne.
I-et II not be supposed that we are i,,1ifi,--
e.f 10 'hi9 tiX, because we pay it without re-
P'h'"g: IL Is grlesous burtheu, oil q bust
mss OF more pains and fewer pleasures than
any otRer, 2 business that affords no profit
commensurate with the endless and almost
s'eePieSs 'ahors of It, which none bur those en-
geo ~ 1t know how TO estimate. We de,ire
% see the tax repealed. We know il vim lie
repeated, IN common with all the taxes of
'ne same character, whenever IL can he dis
Pens.d With. Until il can. we desire no 60
emp'i from the common Tot.
Wth much Difference, we youId recon
mend to manufacturers, generally. the els,,.-
PlS III the printers-the same c0rsderste
respect Tor thc necessities Of tie state. the
'@n'e Wnitng1cs5 20 bear their mart ~ tb.
common h1rtben. n coutrany co,,rse viii MT
rc'tNe taem irOm their burthers. thcr,oi, !.
",sy e'' uiNss the government, which they.
@p'ye every other class Of the COMMUNITY
ought % aid and support. 6af. I'M. =
= - z-------- .,
~ btc irng patal.. }l1. ,,es, 49,. CIV 49,,
:" @Wt irt1 operaliru--i hree rond p,rrr.,.,t,,.
wadei irlmcds eiv---tesdv vo.s sr,; te,tn, - , ,
z" D. H't--hi %, vnotc tta,, Learv h',r,,,,[.y.
--Ap.dy ''the fcfr' %. ,his par.r
L. y Al 10 warttd ST tf,r t3F-c. M, q. ~. to- A..