Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-13

ginIa about ID. In some parts, there is free
labor; IN others, there is only slave labor
Now, sir, let Inc ask, what hope is there, in
the career of competition, between two sec
lions of country, in one Of which there is a
combination Ofthe three great advantages oil
large capital, dense population, and free la
Dor and in the other of which there is com
binatlon of the three great disadvantages of a
deficient capital, sparse population, and slave
labor The question needs only to be stat
ed to be answered. 1t would indeed be the
race between the tortoise and the hare the
last must stop, or never he overtaken Now,
slr, IT certainly was the intention, in forming
this government, that the different states
should, as far as circumstances would permit,
participate equally in its burdens and benefits.
And hence, the provision, that direct taxes
should be apportioned, to number; that other
taxes should he uniform that no regulation
oi commerce should give preference to the
ports OF one state over those of another, Sc.
out, sir, the balance is equally disturbed, whe-
Their a weight is taken out of one scale, or
put into another. II, in the exercise of A power
Tor the purpose for which it was given, one
state suffers less burden, or receives more
Dement, than others, we must submit to the
consequence; but, when a power is to be ex-
ercsed for purpose for which it was moi
we have just cause of complaint.
l come now, sir to consider this bill in the
different lights in which II has been presented
by It's advocates, and TO examine the several
grounds on which they have rested its defence.
IN The lrsi place, IT is said that the bill will
increase The revenue. | think shall be able
10 shew, that II will have directly CONTRARY
effect; that diminution of revenue. not IN
crease, will he necessary consequence of its
passage. IL is conceded, on ali hands. that
the inevitable effect, in the first instance. " III
be 10 increase the price of the goods import
Ell this can be denied by no man. This be-
ing the case, the amount of the produce ex-
ported rom The country, whatever il may be-
WI purchase fewer commodities than il did
before, Unless gentlemen are prepared IA main
tam me proposition that the same sum of mo-
ney VIII purchase as much, at higher price.
az IL would do at lower one. The uuantitv
OF goods imported then, must BIZ diminished :
me only possible ground on which il can be-
cnnfended that The revenue will not be dimin-
isheu, Is, That the increase of duty on the
goods winch will be imported, will be equal
10 the loss OF the former duty upon such
goods as shall cease To be imported. II is i'm
possible to say, what will be the precise ey
tent of the diminuion of Importation but
we may resort TO some data which will con
stitnfe the basis of reasonable calculation.
Ii may he, that articles Of mere luxury, which
are consumed only by the wealthy, may, at
me advanced price, yet be imported, as
before articles of downright necessity will
BE- SO imported but there is large descrp-
non OF articles which, though they may be
convenient, and may contribute to increase
me STOCK OF comfort, may be dispensed with.
This latter kind of article is used by tina. great
CLASS oil our people, constituting decided ma.
Jofity OF The natien, who are either poor. OF
IN the various gradations Of properly, from
poverty towards wealth, hut falling entirely
short OF hat point Now, sir. il IS in this
KIND of imported goods and in this part of
our population, that think it fair to infer
that very great diminuton will take place
and considerably more than will countcryai
any advantage to be expected from the in
creased dnty upon goods which will continue
10 De imported. Thus. sir, the goods import
ru ~ the year 1892, paying an ad valorcm
uu'y oil 20 per cent. amounted to S21 ,7O1 ,O4O :;
more than one-fUurtb part of the whole i'm.
ports of the year. II is known, that all the
goods paying this rate of adj yaUrem dutv.
are those of which wool and cotton are the
materials How large Il portion of the coarse
Kinds OF these goods is used by our poorer
people, and by the weaIthierfOr their slaves :;
ana yet, these articles can, and most of them
probably VIII, be manufactured in household
establishments, rather than pay the high du
ties imposed by this bill {; especially such as
plains or negro cloths, which, from the state
ment appended to the New York memorial.
would upon the minimum in the tariff, and AT
the rate OF duty after June, 1895, paw from
lO4 to $50 per cent. But, if | should even
mistak nc IN this, II Is clear, beyond all question,
That the progressive and ultimate effect would
no a mir Of
which gentlemen have in view, is, by high du-
ties, to exclude foreign articles from, coming
into competition with those of domestic
manufacture. If this consequence were not
to follow, the whole policy Of the bill would
iail; the manufacturers would not receive the
encouragement Intended, and the consumer
would, unnecessarily, AS well as unjustly he
lncumbered with higher prices. Bu, surpos-
ing the operation of the bill to be, W hat it Ger
tainIy will be, that, in consequence of the pre-
lection afforded, the domestic manufactures
will progressively displace the foreign. and b.,
consumed in their place. Then, il is palpa
blefthat m exact proportion as this takes
place, foreign goods will cease 10 he imported
and, consequently, the revenue will be cor
respondiogly diminished; and, finally, when
ever the time should arrive, that the cofsump-
ton Of domestic manufactures should entirely
t"ht NV P'dCe vi lOTeiSn, t"cre would be To
tai stop TO all imports, because there would be
an end 10 importation. But the revenue lost.
must he supplied aud beg leave to inquire
how, and by whom We have been told.
that manufactures themselves, after they shall
he firmly established by system of protect
ing duties, viii be able to supply this deficit.
u we were to Judge from past experience.
this promise niids out hot little consolation.
In 1916, duty Of 70 per cent was imposed
upon cotton and woOlien goods, with y mini
mum upon coarse cottons, under the expec
TALON that, IN three years. these manufactures