Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-05-10

article; called spelter. which entered largely into
metallic manufactures, particularly brass, the duty
on which was now E2S per ton. 1t was, however,
selling In Hamburger at present at ego per ton, SO
that, with the duty, it cost on importation into
England, upwards of ESQ per ton. Our own cop
per mines must be injured by losing the manufac-
ture for foreign countries, and thousands of work
men will be thrown out of employment. New
sources of supply were daily coming into use.---
Copper mines were most abundant in S. America
and live continued our policy of this and exclusive
duties upon copper in its unfinished state, we ex-
tinguished our own manufacture, and forced other
countries 10 find means of manufacturing it. Copper
used to be imported in its unwrought state from
Chill. Now, in consequence of our high dulles roll
lingpresses to prepare what is called copper-shees
were gone out to Chill for the purposes of carry,
ing on the manufacture there, and the consequence
or continuing this system might be TO exclude tlis
country from the manufacture for many, many
years.---How could it be expected that under such
disadvantage our manufacturers could success
fully compete with those of the continent1 They
could not, and consequently, as in iron we were
employed at present in making patterns for the
German manufacturers. Upon this article Le in
tended to reduce the duty one half He should be
willing to proceed further, but objections were
made by persons who had invested capital in mines
which they feared would be injured materially if q
greater reduction took place. The duty on tin
he proposed to reduce from E5 10 E2 per hundred
weight, that on spetes being brought down from
about E23 to ETA ad rdioyenn He had now
stated the course which he designed 10 pursue with
respect TO the principal duties which were con-
sidered protection to manufacturers
But besides those in the book of rates, there
were many articles not connected, upon " hich
there was, if manufactured or partially worked up,
charge Of so per cent. on importation, and if raw
charge of 20 per cent One ould imagine that
In the enumerated articles every thing which really
could create the jealousy or apprehension of
this country was carefully noted down, but there
were besides many Others upon which this duty Of
OF ESQ per cent levied In illustration of this
he night mention that friend OF his, who was Curl
Gus in antiquities, lately imported mummy into this
country. Upon examining the article, the Custom
House officers were extremely embarrassed 10
determine which class of non-enumerated goods
it belonged to. A mass of muscle sinew
Sc- which had been preserved for 5000 Years
could, in their opinion, scarcely be called raw
materia-(a laueh), and they, therefore, after much
deliberation and doubt, decided ii to be a manufac-
tured article.--( Laughter and cries Of hear hear)
his friend was then asked respecting It's value
which he estimated at EI00 and accordingly he was
charged t2OO or fifty per cent, this singular
manufacture (l-augh;er.) He stated The circum-
| stance as one of the many vexations " hich oc-
cured under the existing system. He now proposed
to reduce the duty on these ARTICLES when manu-
factured from ESQ to go per cent and yyhe, ra,v-
/
ductions would, he trusted, be 10 prevent smuggling
to considerable extent; tor lie found, thai If he
duty imposed amounted e thirty per cent the artis!
would still be smusgled, and whatever was re-
mltted be so much given up The smuA Ter
He was, therefore, most anxious o co-opera c with
his right honorable friend the Chaacellor of the
Exchequer, in roofing out Illicit traffic serious
ly detrimental in every regard the country, for
10 continue the protection now III force, was ac-
tually TO encourage smuggling. If any gentleman
wished TO know the state of the coast let him 90
10 Brighton, or Hastings, or any place between
those towns, and he had only 10 ask for China, or
other foreign articles, and he would find indi yitals
in abundance ready to furnish them fl ON the con-
tinent for 80 per cent above their prime cost at
Paris, and IN ten days after the order was given
Thus the legislature absolutely trained up set of
men to violate the law-persons who held all moral
and social duties in contempt-who lived in state
OF constant outlawry, and who, it had been JUST
ly said, we're pestilence TO the country. To
eradicate that appalling evil was one of his pro-
positions. Nor did lie Think that our principal
manufacturers would be at all affected by the mea-
sure although he was certain that by it the revenue
would be improved. To illustrate this, he would
mention that now the whole country was inundated
with what called French caInbrics, while the
Exchequer, which ought to derive sum of 40 or
E5O,OOO per annum from them, did not derive
more than "a 000-and if persons in that trade
were asked how these cambrics were Obtained they
frankly declared that they were all smuggled-
French paper another article OF the same sort
which Tor engravings and other purposes of art
was sought after here--but respecting which, our
policy had been to compel the public to buy a bad
and at the same time dear commodity instead OF
of good and cheap one. In short, the stem had
all the features OF a monopoly, and subjected tire
trade IN those excluded goods TO the evils which
never failed 10 follow limitation in the supply of
any species of produce The consequence of that
Limitation was incessant fluctuauon not ONLY
in the quantity of produce, but in its price and
great inconv enience, both to the dealer and 10 the
consumer. The reduction, therefore, he proposed
would be no injury to this country. He did not
deny, however, but that some foreign goods would
enter England, in consequence OF tie change in the
duties; but if SO, the nation would be benefited b,
It, and also our manufactures lie did not stand
on general principles only in taking this position
but might add something Of experience TO guide
him. In 1855, treaty of commerce was neeo-
Z, Grated between this country and France By that
treaty French cotton and woollen goods were to be
admitted here on paying duty OF twelve Der cent
and our cotton and wooen goods WI ere to be adj
mitted into France upon tie same terms. Glass
also to pay IL, and some so low as 10 per cent
, while none have TO ply more than IS Der cent
What was the consequence? that we sent erect
proportion OF our manufactures TO France in rsf1rn
and increased our commerce considerably But b,
another respect we benefited by that treaty French,
woollens were then in great esteem, Ia short
French cloth was the fashion. The result was our
wooilen manufactures In less than two years 80 i'm
proved that no distinction could be perceived and
e ours sold French cloth The same INN. owe.
ment took place In the manufacture Of FancT
I musins, in which they had before excelled us in
$ the beauty Of their patterns lie had no doubt but
similar Improvement would take place at present
Il IN. feet a al.