The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-05-22
THE MEMORIAL

CCagfess assembled,
THE MEMORIAL
OF the Board oil Manufactures of the Pennsyl-
Vauia Society for the Encouragement of
American Manufactures, respectfully shew-
eth
That we hope to make it appear,
there are SO many radical defects in the
existing tariff, as to imperiously require
revision and correction, IN order TO
reconcile it to sound policy and equal
justice.
Our objections to it are, principally
of two kinds -
1. That in this country of equal
rights and equal freedom, it is marked
by one feature, condemned by the IMAM
imous voice of all wise statesmen, and
by every principle ofjustice and policy,
viz. it bears with enormous weight on
the poorer classes of society, by exor-
bitani duties on necessaries of life, all of.
them universally, and some exclusively,
used by those classes-whereas great
variety of articles, partly of luxury and
partly of convenience, used exclusively
by the middle and wealthy classes, are
admitted at very low rates.
9. That Notwithstanding the Glamour
raised against protecting duties on man
ufactaFes, as 'staxing the many for the
benefit of the few,D the manufacturers
have far less protection than the agri-
culturists. Whereas, manufactures be-
ing generally of small bulk in proper
tion to their value-being therefore
subject to light freights- NEST of
the, very important ones being fabricat-
ed by machinery, of which the powers
of production are almost beundless, they
stand much more IN need of govern,
mental protection than the fruits of the
earth, the great bulk and limited pro-
dnction of which present a bar against
such enormous. importations, as have
taken place with respect to manufac-
lures.
On the first point, we respectfully
represent, that,
The price of Muscovado sugar, at the
Havana, Jan. %, 1922, was 3 per
104lbs. The duty, 3 cents per ID. is
about per cent. 100
The Bohea tea imported into Phila-
delphia, November, 1890. cost 10
and II cents per ID. The duty
is 12 cents, which, on the inferiour
kind, Is 100
On the superiour, 100
The duty on East India coffee isfrorn 40 to so
Salt at Liverpool, on the I'd of JAN.
1922, cost 90 shillings sterling per
ton, or about n, cents per bushel.
The duty is20 cents, and therefore
is equal to-. ~ s 1870
Molasses at the Havana on the Goth 49,
of Jan. 1892, cost Is cents per gall
Ion. The duty Is 5 cents, equal to 81
Ii forms a most striking and revolving
contrast to the above. that silks,
satins, bombazines, bonbazets, >lin. II
ems, and cambricks, pay only spe-
click duty of t Is
Girandoles, chandeliers china, cut
lery, and hardware, generally, pay 20
Superfne broadclo;h, Cashmere, and,
meiino shawls, chintzes, carpets and ,ss
carpeting, pay t~ 25
Thus it appears that r
500 worth of Bohca tea, Pays s 100
66 do. of salt, duty, which
100 do. of Muscov. sug, is only the
$50 do. Of molasseS same amount
260 do. Of coffee, as is paid by
430 worth of super6ne broad
cloths, cashmere and merino
shawls, chintzcs and carpets.
5000 of superb cutlery, china,
girandoles, chandeliers, &c.
$500 worth of silks, satins,
bombazets, cambricks, linens,
&c. &c. ' :
We respectfully state, that we are
persuaded there is not, and never was,
in the world, even under the most des-
potck governments, or in the most un-
civilized nations, system of revenue
more unequal than the above.
On the second point. we observe, that
we have been greatly concerned to find,
during the intense distress and excessive
ruin, which for years past spread among
the manufacturers, whereby hundreds
Of capitalists, among whom were to be
found many Of. our most valuable cit-
zens, with large and eetlmable families,
were ruined-thousands of workmen
bereft of employtnent-an and millions of
capital wholly sacrificed that many #
the farmers and planters arrayed them
selves in opposition to the application
Of the sufferers for relief by an increase
of duties, although the duties on all
those articles interfering with the iu-
terests of agriculture, which are usual
ly imported, are higher, and some Of
them twice as high as those imposed on
manufactures, I, On this point we make
no comment. We submit the facts to