Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-07-10

sts r. he in want OF these duties for the pup
lie eypences, are they more mischievous than
apy other kind OF impost?
NO; they are an impost on commercial
production which procures US products from
without; as the land tax is an inpost on the
products which come to us from the earth
as the persona! contributions and licenses are
impo,ts on the interior manufactures. The
effect of all these imposts is to increase the
price of all our products without augmenting
the income of those who consume them
They are all useful in providing for the pub.
lie expences, from which the nation derives
advantage. But they never encourage pro.
duction, nor augment the income CT coun.
try.
| "However favorable the suppression OF
the taxes which bear on industry, and con.
sumers might be, would it not he attended
with some danger?
eyes; when the suppression is sudden.
The laws, and in general the whole legsla.
non of country have long since induced the
particular employment ol certain capitals in
the productions in which they are actually
engaged, and from which they cannot be
Withdrawn without losing great part, and
sometimes nearly the whole OF their value.
For example, if on the faith OF security from
laws which had for long time prohibited
cotton goods, the manufacturers had laid out
| large sums in machinery, fit for the manu-
facture OF cotton goods only, and il by new
law foreign cottons might all at once be in
troduced ata cheaper rate this law, though
in tact favorable to the income of country,
! since it is enabled to procure the same pro-
| ducts at less expense, would be Unfavorable
to capital. because it would reduce the va
lue Of the capital, actually engaged in the
production OF cotton goods.
"Besides, part Of the capital engaged
in any kind of production is composed OF
the talents of the persons employed 10 this
production for the advances which appren-
ticeships require are capital; and this ca
pital is lost from the moment that the ap-
premiership becomes useless. A new ap.
premiership is necessary that is new
capital must be laid out. The loss of this
kind of capital is the more painful as it
tails on the working class. who, in general,
are little able to bear il.
And even in those cases in which a
change in the Legislation does not cause a
Total loss OF capital. it always produces some
evil. A building, by its arrangement. aud
its situation, is convenient Cor certain kind
of Industry. 1t loses part of its advantages,
if its destination must be changed. The
simple change Of the habitudes, the depen.
denotes, and the connections of producers,
exposes them 10 serious losses. Ii is only
with great circumspection, that even the
most desirable ameliorations ought to be in.
troduced otherwise we are in danger of
overturning many fortunes, and destroying
the happiness of many families"
How careful then ought governmental bein
meddling with the natural destination of ca.
pital and labor, lest having once regulated it
by artificial means, it will be extremely diff
fcut to return to the natural condition of
things. Leave industry to itself. Wait till
the genial heat Of the sun shall ripen your
fruits: don't hasten nature by hot-bed The
plants Of the last are fictitious but those
brought Out by nature herself, require less
expense, and have always the finest fayor.
From the Baltimore Morning Chronicle.
FOUR1K OF JULY.
Is there an American bosom, that
does not heaye with, strong emotions,
when his eye beholds on this day the
streaming radiance of the sun. empur.
ping the morning clouds of the frma.
ment Who does not watch the adv nce
of light and the retreat of the shadows,
and read the history of his country in
the beams; who does not run parallel
between the solar orb and the march OF
oar national glory between that first
dubious, uncertain, trembling lustre
that tiuged the clouds of our desponden.
cy, sickened over with the light of hope
and that broad. commanding sweep Of
radiance that eliminates our political
armament. 1t is in vain. to say that
these are the visions of fancy; they are
but facts obtruded OH the evidence of all
our senses. FOrty.four wears a~o. end