Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-10
From, the Boston Daily .4dcerftser.

january 81. ts1
From the Boston Daily advertiser.
The Ncw 7a',!f.-We proposed to offer ano-
Their reason why the public viii not permanent
ly submit to 50 high rate of duties as that pro-
vlded III the new bill. Ii is, that the people of
those parts Oft the country not directly interest
81 In the success Of manufactures, will find
themselves disappointed il, the effects to be pro-
iuccd by it. What are the great benefits to
be derived from this measure which have rem
deredit so popular throughout the country? 1t
is not merely the relief of few individuals,
struggling under the calamity of having invested
their fortunes in all Improbable concern, nor G.
ven the cprich!ng of those capitalists who have
embarked III spcculations which already pro
MISE the best reward of any that the country af-
!ords, that Is hoped for, from this great project
1t is regarded as no less than an universal sys
ten Of relief that is to Danish forever that evil
all evils, the scarcity OF money. 1t is to dam
.p the long deplored drain ofspecie, and to pro-
duce al eternal influx ofgold and silver into the
country.
Hwould involve discussion fthe whole mer-
1t OF the scheme, as measure of national poll
cy to undertake. to olfera full demonstration thai
all t. sc expectations are delusive, and that the
acclAiuatlons which are ascending from all parts
OF the country in favor of the measure, proceed
from gross mistake with respect to its nature
ami tendency. But it is not necessary at pre-
sen go into this general discussion. 1t will
be sufficient for the present purpose to show,
that here arc popular errors with respect to the
anticipated effects of the measure, which II is on
y necessary sho;:ld be removed by short expe-
rIence of its operation, TO abate much of the ar
dor which is now felt in favor Oft, if not even to
turn the tide CT public feeling in the opposite d.
rectlou.
The great error is in supposing that every
dollar that goes out OF the country to pay for
goods consumed within the country, is so much
dead loss to the country, and that a dollar paid
Tor an article produced by domestic labor, in
stead of purchasing similar article produced a.
broad is a positive national gain to that amount.
This supposition forms the basis Of much of the
reasoning in favor ofenc0uraging, at any sacri-
nee, the manufactures of our own country 1t
forms the has S, five mistake not, of that system
of political economy VIII Oh has brought forward
the whole western country as advocates for an
increase ofduties.-Let US test its accuracy BY
little more minute inquiry into the nature of
these operations, and their effect, particularly
upon the western country.
1t can hardly be necessary to state, that goods
purchased voluntarily from abroad, and appro-
priatcd to the subsistence, convenience or com
fort of the purchaser, must be supposed to i'm
prove his condition. If the condition of each in
dividuai is improved, SO also must be that of the
nation, and there can be nothing in the pur-
chase, to be deplored national loss, unless the
articles might be procured more economicalIy
and beneficially by domestic manufacture The
only inquiry therefore is, whether in compelling
the consumer to purchase that which is manu-
featured here, there is in the aggregate a saving
of money or property to the inhabitants of the
country. If the manufacture here, were the
mere act of volition without any expense or la
bour, it is manifest that there would be a clear
gain to the country In procuring the article in
this mode, in preference to purchasing it from
abroad. But unfortunately manufactures are
not so cheaply conducted. 1t is sufficiently well
understood, that they are the joint produce of
capital and labour, both of which if not so ap-
propriated, might and probably would be devo-
ted to other profitable objects. The inquiry
therefore results IN this question, whether in the
supposed case, the capital and labour are more
proftably employed in producing the article,
than in the pursuit from which they have been
diverted for this object
To illustrate the principles on which this in
quiry rests, we will apply them to the operation
| of the encouragements offered by the new tariff,
in supposed case, resembling in its general
into effect. Let il be supposed that there are
now annually imported into the United States
goods which cost, including the expense of i'm
portation, 100000 dollars and pay 900 ,0OC
dollars duty-that these goods cannot now be
prohtably manufactured in this country for the
| 5000, 900 dollars which they cost the importer
but that for the additional sum of SOC, 900 dol
lars, sunless than the proposed additional duty,
they may be manufactured, so as to afford net
profit to capitalists, labourers and all persons
| concerned, of 500, 900 dollars or a clear profit
equal to the whole sum demanded for the goods
beyond the present cost of importation. The
consequence will be that by the operation of til,
new tariff, the 100000, except such part oil
the sum as is embraced in the expenses of i'm
portaton are snUed to the country as it is called
100000 dollars are lost to the treasury
100000 dollars are gained by the persons
employed in the manafacture,-the same sum is
lost to the consumer, in the enhanced price of his
goods-aud 100000 are absorbed in the OK
pense of manufacture, instead of being appropri-
ated to the purchase Of the means of remittance
and the payment of duties. 1t may be remark
ed in passing, that the money which is set down
as &c lost to the country" is for the most part
paid in the purchase of ashes, cotton, tobacco OF
other produce, to be shipped abroad; or by a lit.
tie more complex operation in the purchase OF
bills of exchange, drawn for the proceeds OF
such shipments; and the money is thus as much
appropriated TO the encouragement of domestic
industry, as when it is paid for the labour or
materials employed IN manufactures.
But to pursue our illustration, the imagined
advantage derived from manufactures, to com
pensate for the loss of 100000 dollars to the
public treasury, and the tax of 100000 dollars
to the consumer, consists in the payment of the
price of goods to our own countrymcn, instead
L.. g. L.