Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-09-15

questionable charge might be brought forward
II is conceived unnecessary to proceed fur
Their by way of example, to show how ali our
different manufactures arc already protected
and encouraged under the existing Tariff, rs
nearly all of them may be ranged under one
or the other of the examples already stated !;
but your Committee, avowing themselves the
friends of Internal Manufactures, as a means
OF promoting national industry and security,
and therefore conceiving that they ought to be
fostered rs far rs they can be without injury to
other branches of industry, would most gladly
suggest any thing which might conducc to
that end, without being highly Injurious to the
revenue, destructive to the interests of CON-
merce, and oppressive to the great body of
the people. In this view, therefore, they res
pectfuliy suggest, that I'll articlesnow subject
ed to duty of seven and half per cent. nnay
be made subject to duty of ia or Is per
cent. under the impression that this difference
in the duty will make little or no difference
in the consumption that these articles being
for the most part such as may justly be rank
ed amongst articles of Luxury, will bear an
addition of Taxation, without being felt by
the great body ofthe people and that while
the Impost does not exceed twelve and
half to fifteen per cent, smuggling is not
1nuchto be unprecedented, as tho the Smuggler
will not be restrained by his principles from
y
interest will operate TO restrain him aud in
this view it is to be observed thai the Snug
gler must incur greater expences, Oh bring
ing his goods to market, than the fair trader,
as he is obliged to conceal his operations, and
he must alsosel at reducedrates, to get them
quickly of his hands, to escape detection. If
therefore, ten per cent. is allowed to cover
these items, and it is believed it will require
that proportion at least to do SO, } the remainder
al.
principlcd to engage in business Of so much
risque.-Your Committee beg it distinctly to
be observed, however, that in their view u
Duty OF twenty five per cent. offers to the
cupidity OF Smuggiers three times the temp
tation that Duty of fifteen per cent. would
do, and therefore do they deprecate i'll the
strongest terms the imposition of heavy Du-
ties, as highly Injurious TO the revenue, to
the equal rights OF their fellow citizens, and to
the morals ofthc people. hitherto frauds up
on the revenue have been comparatively few,
and Smuggling has been rcpressed by the
general sense of the Mercantile Community
but, should a system be adopted which should
hold out temptations to Smuggling, what
means can bc'found in the United States to
repress the practice, especially when the
Laws imposing heavy Duties shall become
odious as the supposed instruments of opprcs-
sion
From 4 reference to the Tariff now in ex-
lstence, your Committee find that al articles
now Manufactured within the United States,
and which $50 far as they are capable of judg-
ing,) 1t is the present interest of the United
States to manufacture, are already sufficient
ly encouraged by protecting Duty, as is in
I,decd fully demonstrated by the effects there
eaofi as we now scarcely import any Of the Man
STRUCTURES of Leather, Copper, Lead, Pewter
and Tin generally, Paper and Stationery, Hats
of Wool or Fur, Carriages OF any kind, all
(which articles are SO amply protected by ad
ivalorem Duties, as nearly to have excluded
altogether articles OLA similar description from
abroad-Many articles of our Manufacture
are still more amply protected under the
mongst which we cnuIner.lte,
Ale and Beer, Boots and Shoes, Brown and
Refined Sugar, Manufactures of Tobacco,
Cables and Cordage, Hemp and Sail Cloth,
Candles and Soap, Cheese, Chocolate, Coal,
Lead and Shot, Molasses, Window Glass,
Nails OF all sorts, Spirits Of all sorts, SC. &c.
&c. the use OF which from abroad has within
few years past been gradually giving place to
articles OF Domestic growth or manufacture;
and hence, amongst other causes, may be found
the source of the present deficiency Of the
revenue from Imposts.
If it be desirable to encourage the manu-
tended for by some, it might seem properto
repeal the Duties on Bar Iron altogether, that
the manufacturer might have it in his power
to supply himself with the raw material best
adapted to his purpose, at the cheapest rate;
Tor, 1t is we'll known, that for many purposes
the Swedish and Russia Iron is indispensa-
bly, necessary, and from the heavy duties
thereon imposed, the Iron Manu- factories may
be thereby subjected TO an unequal competi-
uon but here the interests of the Iron Ma
nutacturers and the Makers of Iron within
the United States, come in direct competi-
ton and as the latter have as good right to
claim protection by Duties on Imports, as
any other class of Manufacturers, and the
Revenue claims protection also, it does not
appear, as if can be expedient, TO make any
change in the Duties thereon at present.
rs the British Government grants Boun-
ty on the Expectation ofCut Glass of twenty
live shillings sterling per hundred pounds, it
may perhaps be proper to impose an Aug
1ncntation of Impost Duty thereon, the better
10 enable the Manufacturers thereof, TO COM
pete with the Importers, and more especially
as the enhancement of the price of this arti-
Gle will fall exclusively on the rich, and on
them even not of necessity it is moreover
an article which cannot be smuggled, US to OBJ
tain the bounty and drawback of E-cisc
III Hh5'anu' IL must DC cleared out at the
Custom Houses there as Cm Glass.
Your committee having suggested all such
81. eI1tions IN the revenue system, as iii their
pnion, can IN any way serve to promote the
interest OF manufactures, without being vital.
y destructive to the interests of commerce
nd navigation, and at the same time most OPP
ressiyely burthensome OH the people, will pert
! roceed to examine the justice and policy of
tie measures so strongly advocated during the
Il st session OF Congress, as to have obtained a
majority OF the House Of Representatives in
their favor.-In the first place, let us enquire
INTO the claims of the manufacturers them
selves, and why they arc so clamorous for an
increase of duties, when we find such an