Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-10
Richmond, July I.
A WORD IN SEASON.


France-he is also of the first authority a
mong the English literati. The Edinburgh
reviewers speak of him in the highest strains;
it is therefore to be regretted that no Eng
lish translation OF his large work " Traite d
Economic Politique has yet been publish
ed in America. We have however obtained
copy Of his small subsequent volume which
is called Catechism of political Economy,
or familiar conversations Of the manner in
which wealth is produced, distributed and
consumed in society" This small treatise
hiss much merit-and from it we extract a
chapter that is very appropriate to our pre-
sent discussions, when high tariff appears
the order of the day. Perhaps we cannot
better fill column than by The chapter.
On mportations, duties and prohibitions.
"What does the word importation signi-
fly?
"The purchasing abroad and introducing
into country foreign merchandise.
What do you mean by prohibitions?
Forbidding certain merchandise to be
introduced into country. Sometimes with
out prohibiting them entirely, they are made
to pay duties ON importation, which diminish
the quantity imported.
What results from an absolute prohibit
ton?
"An absolute prohibition forces the capi-
tai and indu,try which would have been de.
voted to this kind of con- mercial production,
to apply itself to some production less ad-
vantageous.
why less advantageous
because we should not engage in it but
ioI the inpossiblity Of directing our indus
try in the other mode. The prohibition
would be superAuous, if the prohibited pro-
duciion were not the most advantageous.
"What happens, when instead of an alb
solute prohibition. a duty is only laid on the
product imported T?
''The evil is then partial, and consists in
dearness equal to the amount of the duty.
The consumer pays for the product more than
it is worth.
"What does it signify fthe consumer pay
dearer for any thing, since the producer
gains By it?
The producer does not profit by it; for
what it sells for more. goes in charges OF
production which are lost to every body or
in contributions consumed for the service Of
the state.
Why do you say that the charges ofpro-
duction are lost 10 every body? 1t appears
to me that such Of these charges as are com.
posed OF the profits raid 10 the producers,
are not charges lost, since the producers pro-
fit by them?
The producers are people who sell The
service of their land, their capital and their
industrious talents, whose gains are not the
greater when all these services afford pro-
duct less abundant but dearer.
"Wben any regulations render it necessa-
~ in order to create pound of sugar, to
employ more Of the services of the land, ca
pital and industry, the sugar is dearer with.
OUT the producers being greater gamers. If
they receive more values in payment, they
have also furnished more values in services.
"Do not the prohibitions and the duties
sby compelling the creation of product in the
interior of a country, create the profits whict
are made in such a production
They only cause the profits which wonld
have been made on commercial produc.
ton, to be replaced by other profits, proba-
bly, less lucrative, made on manufactured
production
"Is not that good! Are not our capitals
better employed in putting into activity our
own national industry than that of foreign
ers?
Yes but when we make the consumers,
that is the nation, pay dearsr for certain pro-
ducts, simply to support greater number of
national producers, it is just as if part of
the nation were compelled TO devote por-
ton of its income to maintain work shops of
charity. Perhaps nopopulation is truly de-
sirable, but that, which industry left to itself
can naturally support.
" You have just considered the import du-
ties in their influence on the income, on the
riches OF nation and you have proved,
that without augmenling the income OF a ma
ton, they cause it to pay dearer for the OBJ