Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-02-24

Oily, dependent upon the
n nations, the access TO the
ZrSet should be easy, !. not en-
a Acting upon this principle,
proper, above al, to respect the
"a shi3 building and navigation,
Eserioi when the equalization of the
lies upon tom ,gc and merchandise, by
&c operat on of acts of Congress, aod tres-
'ties, will probably gvr rise to IN intcces
ting competition between foreign essels
and vessels Of the y. 5. The shipping
interest, and the manufacturing interest.
must however be reconciled and consult
ing both INTERESTS, he following suggestions
ARE respectfully offered
:. Imported iron cables, anchors & bar
iron cables, cordage, hemp, pack
th-ead, twine and seines sheet cop
per, copper nails and lead SO far as
they enter essentially into the con-
strection and equipment of ships.
and are not suppl ed by the American
manufacturer, ought to be lightly tax
ed.
2. The case of foreign vessels employed
N bringing to the Z. ). goods that are
not the growth CT manufacture ct the
Country 70 which the vessels belong,
may furnish proper field for legs
iative restrictions.
8 The case of goods imp lrtsd from coun-
tries, which by law confine the carri-
age of su>h goods to tlcir own vessels
respectively, will ALSO furnish pro-
per field for similar regulations.
The principles involved IN the PROPOSE
ton Tor a new tariff, in relation 10 the pro-
tsction If domestic manufactures, being
thus presented for consideration, the nsorc
general princ'pes of the system remain to
DC briefly stated, IN relation to tRe produc-
tion Of the revenue-Thus;
I. Articles intended as the source of re-
venue, should never be so heavily
charged with duties. as to prevent
importation, or much to diminish
2. Articles should never be so heavily
charged with duties, as to Create
temptation to smuggle.
8. Articles of great SIZE and weight, OF
comparatively small value, are dill
cult to be smuggled and, other things
being equal, they may be charged
with higher duties.
4. Articles of small SIC and great value
are easily Struggled, & must be char
ed with low duties, to destroy the o.
therwisc tatai temptation to evade the
law.
$. Articles imported to great amount,
should rather be charged with speci-
tic duties upon their weight and mea-
sure, 10 ordrr to guar, aga nst eva
scns and frauds, than with ad valorem
duties on their value.
The difficulty of carry ing the last-men-
tionci rule into practice, has been found
almost insurmountabie. 1t has been al
I. Il IL.
OF manufactures, there were several ar
ti-lcs differently classed, which can scarce
w be distinguished from each o,her, and
which could not be separately described,
with such distnctness and precision, rs is
requisite in tariff, to mark the line of
discrimination, for different rates of specific
Cutits In the cotton and woollen manu-
features of the u. S. for instance, there are
several Kinds OF goods extensively produ-
cd VII sc names are arbitrary, & continu
ally CHI lnging; &c whose teXtul Z & quality
are so various, * so easily altered or d,sgui-
sed as to eIude the vigilance & skill of the
custom house. For this reas1n-and Con-
sidering, also, that the entertainment of du-
ties by the or g,n cost Of the goods, az
cording to their weight an measure, is
sometimes source Of veXation to the i'm
porter, leading, perhaps, to great Corrap
ton in the ex cution Of the law; the pre-
cedent of tive existing tar fl has b en- gene
rally pur.ucd, which subjects all gods.
lfur example, all cotton or wooieu goods,
whether fac Or coarse and whether they
are or are not, of the kinds manufactured
IN the United States to one common rate
Ok duty. A general description desigrates
the article renders the imposition Of the
duty uniform and certain, at all the ports
Of entry and, eff ctually, guards against
mistake or evasion.
Upon the pr nciples, and with the views
thus stated, the proposition for the new ia
riff has been formed. The variations from
the tariff of permanent single duties, con-
sist, principally in the following points /:
/. The rates of the duties ad va'orem
are changed in number from three to eight.
The increase of the number will not, it is
tho't be attended with any disadvantage &
il viii az asst, afford better means
o. as-ertainng hereafter, the value OF ar
tiC,es nf diff rsnt descriptions, VIII Oh are
now blended in one class as well as the
amount of the duties collected from each
description. Tic amount of the rates of
duties adj vaorem is also changed from 123,
Is. and 90 per cent. to 7 ., IS, 20, 1928,
80, 80 Is, AID IS per cent.
II. The rates of the specific duties are
generally increased upon the amount of the
permanent sing rates, ave aging, with the
increase Of rates of duties ad yalo-
IOtn in aggregate cf about 40 per cent
upon the aggregate product of the customs,
estimated at about 100000 dollars per
anBum.
III. The following articles heretofore