Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-06-15
+" MEANING OF WORDS"

long essay, headed "IHe meaning of
cords" is going the rounds of the newspa-
pers, IN which much pains are taken to prove
that the duty on imports as q tar on the con-
SuneTS. Without assuming to ourselves any
extraordinary degree of astuteness, we con-
fess that we ourselves had, for considerable
time, been under this very impression. and
even thought that the same idea was pretty
generally entertained by the people at large.
But from the CALCULATIONS of establishment
which have accompanied the translation of
this article into many papers, we might be
led to suspect that we have been strangely
deluded; and that the fact set forth is, in
truth, discovery. After establishing the
surprising position that imposts are tares-
" grlevous, oppressive taxes"-the writer of
the article to which we refer proceeds to di-
late on the ruinous consequences of support
ing the public expenditures by revenue
drawn from such u source, and declares, in
cldentally, his preference for direct taxes
that is, he thinks the importation of certain
articles offoreign fabric ought to be forbid
den, and that the revenue lost by their ex-
clusion ought to be supplied by tax on the
domestic fabrics.
Wetook up the pen to notice the article on
account of the aforesaid singular detection of
an occult truth, and not with any view of ex-
aiming at large the question which it pre-
sents for consideration. That has already
been fully discussed in our columns, between
manufacturer and planter--the champions
OIL the two interests-each of them perhaps
carrying their doctrines to extremes between
which, IT is an old observation, we are to look
for political truths and political WISDOM
There is one proposition, however, presented
IN the article above referred to,which, coming
CIR u
doctrine, deserves more than playful no.
tice. The argument on which it is founded
VIII be found summarily stated in the fol-
lowing extract:
will close these remarks by calling the
attention ofthose who will read to one state
lnent. In 1916 the amount of revenue from
lmposts was thirty-seven millions ofdOlars.
III this Is taken as one fourth of the custom
valuation, or first cost, it would be one hum
dred and eghty-iive millions. Add the pro-
hts OF all the sets ofmerchants, SO per cent
makes the sum of 946,OO0,00O that was
drawn from the country by the collection of
revenue of 37,0O0,OO0 in one year. If the
same amount of revenue had been drawn
from sources ofinternal revenue, then at least
1OO,00O,000 of manufactures would have
been made at home, which were imported
The effecto on on the prosperity ofthe nation is
beyond calculation. Thus has the country
been brought to ruin by imposts !; it must be
restored by new system, which / will ex-
plain and defend after one more notice of
the old one" Niles Reg.
Heard ever man the like of this? We
certainly never have,and we should have sus-
pected our friend Mr.. Niles OF an ironical
purpose in writing it, were it not for the
grave and elaborate process by which he has
arrived ut this formidable conclusion. We
have never before heard it denied, that the
system OF duties onimports had two objects:
first, to raise revenue in the easiest posi-
bic method, and, secondly, by determinations
IN these duties, to encourage our own manu-
| lectures by sustaining them against foreign
competition. But Mr. Niles, it seems, has
! discovered that it is the duties which pro-
duce the imports, and not the imports which
| produce the duties. We do not mean to
imp,Itc TO him the utterance, in terms, of so
! gross an absurdity but it appears to us his
| premises afford no other conclusion. II is
evident, indeed, that Mr.. Niles, IN endeav-
| orng TO restore words to their proper signi-
ficatIons, has run into an extreme, quite as
| lndcfensible as that which he writes to con
denim. We find him, for example, saying, in
another place that " the government adopts
| such system that the country is obliged,
in order TO raise fifteen dollars for tile pub
I lie treasury, to likewise raise sixty dollars
for the foreign merchants, and twenty-five
dollars for the domestic merchants. This
IS fact-no man can deny it," &c. We do
iatly deny, not his facts, hut his inferences.
What has, in fact, been the policy ofthe Uni
ted States IN regard To- the two interests of
navigation and manufactures Let us look at
i with an impartial eye. On thu latter 4 has
imposed no restriction OF any sort, MT left it
free as air. On the former il has laid bur-
.acn I'm the shape Of iaSationl light at first,
but gr9slaally Increased, until the weight OF