Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-20

by the act o. tlTi.- -, 1876, Gotten goods
were subjected to duty of % per cent, and it
was provided that all cotton cloths should be
considered as having cost at least % cents the
square yard, with the 10 or 90 per cent added.
The duty i;selfwas heavy one, but the opera
ton Of the provision was of much greater conse-
qucnce, as it proved an entire prohibition ofthat
part OF our trade. Many of the coarse cottons
imported from India previous to that period, and
extensively i'll use amongst the poorer class of
our citizens, did not cost originally more than
- or IL cents the square yard, and were thus
subjected TO an inpost of about so per cent. in
stead OF - per cent. In the same manner it is
now proposed 10 aunihilatc large proportion
of the trade in manufactured cottons imported
from Europc. The ratio of duty on cotton
goods by tho proposed Tariff it is true, still re-
Irgins nj - per cent; but it is provided that all
cotton cloths shall be estimated as having cost
az icIs, 30 cents the square yard, instead of 25
cents, as heretofore. By this mode of estimate
many OF the cotton goods imported from Eng
land, which now pay duty of % per cent. adj
vaiorem. will be subjected to an impost of from
80 10 leo per cent. Canbrcl< muslins that
cost Cd per yard, ~ inches wide, will pay an
impost of g., per ccnt.--A very large quantity
of these musi;ns is yearly imported which cost
not more than Id and Sd per yard-39 or 40 in
clcs in wi'ith-a,id must of course pay much
higher rate ci duty. Book and Lcno nuslins,
by this mode Of calculation, will pay duty of
from 30 To 100 per cent; and such are used in
largc quantities for musguto nets in our south
crn States, will be charged with 4 tax of from
10 10 100 per cent.
Another cxpciient resortcd to, by which the
community is TO be subjected to the burthen of
AN augmentation of duties without being appri-
Sod of its extent, appears in the provisions of the
Sd section of the bill. BY this it is proposed to
add to the duties certain articles &c the full a
mount OF such bounty or premium, or allowance
i'll nature thereof as on the expectation of similar
articles, may DC given, paid or allowed, in the
country or place from which the same shall be
exported, &c.
The extent of this provision will appear more
obvious wien it is recolectcd that the bounty
aud drawback allowed in England upon the ex-
portation of hollow glass ware, is nearly $50 per
cwt. which added to the proposed duty in this
country of2 and cents per h. and so percent.
on the value, must prove an entire prohibition
ofthat article of commerce, and of course must
cut off so much of the revenue of our govern
ment as has been heretofore received from that
branch of trade.
The operation is the same on the article of
printed calicocs, which form large portion of
our imports from Great Britain In Great Bri-
T.
" OF } led sterling per square yarl-an expe-
dent to which our ow1, government must soon
be obliged to resort ifthe proposed bill goes into
operation. This excise duty is returned by
the government to the shipper on expectation,
and Is probably TO be considered as a bounty
or premium, on allowance IN nature hereocn-
With the addition of this led per yard, as
proposed, printed calicocs, which cost in Eng
land lbs sterling per piece of % yards, % in
ches wide, will pay duty of 90 per cent and
those which cost COS duty of 80 per cent
These calcoes are worn almost exclusively by
the poorer classes of our population, and the
consumption is very considerable. Low priced
prints arealso imported to a large amount, which
must pay still higher duty, and there are very
few Of this kind of goods, even those worn bv
the more wealthy, which would not, under the
proposed regulation, pay a duty of at least 65
per cent ad valerem.
1t is notthe least oious feature of this bill tina,
IFS prvisions bear with peculiarand even ,.,,merci
til severity upon the labouring poor of our coun.
try. The poor man is obliged to paw double ano
even treble the amount of duty imposed upon hi.
richer neighbours, and this it is said is the PRO.
MOTION OF NATIONAL INDUSTRY. 1t may be sc
IN one sense, as the poor man will be compelled
whenever this tariff is adopted, to exert double
the industry he has hitherto stood in need of
to supply himself s. his family with the garment.
they require.
The promotion of national industry! Is it ne
cessary for this purpose TO exact from the labour
er in the field at teast tax of so cents upon the
meonest straw that he can procure to shelter hi:
head from the scorching rays of the sun?--Is il
necessary forthc promotion of national industry
that every iabouring man, farmer, or mechanic
from whom the law requires the performance of
untV clol IL, adj tn
his time, pay also tax of one dollar and one hall
upon the stand of arms with which he is rcduir-
ed to furnish himself?*-Can it promote national
industry, to compel the blacksmith to paw cents
per Id. duty on the anvil, and 1-2 cents per ID.
duty on the hammer and sedge, by which he
obtains his daily bread will the house-car-
penter be more industrious because his saw, and
his hammer, and his axe, and his adZe, and
every tool of his craft arc taxed, with the most
scrutinizing eXactncss, with duty of 20 TO 80
cents each?-Will the miller be more industri-
Gus because he pays cents per Id. on his mill
cranks and mill irons ?-Will more houses be
built, ormoreshops erected, becausesspilSes, nails
and brads areto pay duty of 4 5 cents per ID /?
VIII the farmer reap bettercrops, because his hoe
and his spade, and his scythe, and his SICKLE arc
to pay each duty of IL % cents'-Will the
ship carpenter, the sail maker, 81 the rigger, find
more employment, because the duties on hemp,
and cordadge, and duck and iron bolts and ca
bles, are to be raised SO high that our ship-own-
ers will find it cheaper to purchase, and to fit out
their vessels in other countries, than to build
them at home?-Wil the planter feel more en-
couraged because he pays half dollar per bale
duty on his cotton bagging?-Can our book-sel-
lers, or printers, competebetter with foreign pub
fishers because printing types pay duty Of IS
per cent. ad valorem, and paper is taxed with a
duty OF II or 20 cents the Id '-Will our infant
woollen manufactures be encouraged by the pro-
posed duty of25 80. DO and 80 per cont ,,ron f,o