Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-07-27
sELEUTroMs.
THE WOOIIEN BIIJ,,

published at the request OF The meeting.
4HT. ChGt'moh-I never with plea
sure 10 accress an assembly, than upon The pre-
sent occasion. This meeting presen's a spectacle
which as the strongest illustration Of the freedom
anu excellence OF our institutions, You have
caiied upon me, IS your representative, to render
you an account of my conduct, in regard TO the
| !" ooHen BIZ To the people OF this ContTessio-
nal District bold myself responsible and 10
,hem shall therefore cheeriully answer. As yonr
Representative, have no doubt often erred In
judgment; but that have ever Intentionally
. nandonsd the rights The interest OF my Consii-
'uens, no person, trust, within the sound OF
\ nay voice VIII for moment belseve. Such an
abandonment OF duty wouli, upon my part. be
tine oasest ingratitute ell the blacklist guilt
am bound TO you by every winch can biud
man to his fellow ioen.
Friendly to the Tariff policy you know
am anu ever have beeD; still reflection has only
served more firmly to convince zoe OF tn propri-
ely OF my vote agans, the Woonen Bill Be
lore proceed 10 state the reasons which induced
me mus TO vote, 1t viii be proper explain TO
the meeting the nature of it's provisions.
Immediately alter the organization of the Feae-
raj government, Congress, in the preamble TO the
act oil I1SS recOgniz ed the policy of protecting
domestic manufactures. Under that act the duty
upon the importation Of woollen goods wss fixed
at hve per cent. This duty has been increased
from time to time, until at length by the Tariff of
1874, II was raised from % 10 33 l-3 per cent
actual -
| ~ Is greater; because in estimating it, you must
add ten per cent. TO the OF the article at the
piece from which II Is imported, and Calculate the
duty upon the aggregate. ghn- if yard Of
Wooilen cloth cost one dollar at Liverpool, YOU
add 10 this ten per cent. which makes 81 10
Thirty three and one third per cent. upon that
sum gives you the actual rate of duty which is e.
/ quail To 30 ? 3 per cent. Every man in this coun-
! try, who purchases coat OF imported cloth.
pays TAX OF 80 : per cent. upon It's original
cost, tor the benefit of domestic manufactures and
OF the public revenue. Thus stands the law at
present.
Al an early period Of the last session of Con-
gress, Saany petitions presen Ell from NV
bnslsnd, alleging hat the TaIff OF 1924 had been
eVaded at our custom houses, and that the pro-
'eetion which II meant 10 extend to our Woolen
manufactures, was net afforded For this evil The
petitioners asked remedy; and / never heard a
member oil Congress express an opinion adverse TO
their petition. The language of one and all was.
let The act OF 1921 be fairly executed; if frauds
! against rs provisions have been committed lei
them be prevented and punished. Tue Committee
OF Domestic manufactures, instead of reporting a
Bill Tor this purpose, reported the Woollen BIZ.
which does MOI contain solitary provision aaainsi
the frauds upon the revenue OIL winch the manu-,
E fac,urers complained
The Bill, noninay, did not increase the exis
ing rate OF duty. 1t was Intended tc produce IL
effect in different manner. Instead of continn.
ing 10 estimate woollen goods imported into mi
country, at their real value established -four ar
biHary standards. Thus, in assessing the duty m.
= der IT whenever The actual value of square ysfe
= OF woolien Cloth, At the place whence innoYte1
! did not exceed 40 cents, 1t was yalne1 a. 40 c,s
!, when 1t exceeded 40 cents, and did no, exce.,
: s so, when it exceeded 81 so and did NOT en-
: coed W 90. il was valued at So so; and when i
= exceeded 50 so and dill not exceed s4 90. i
= was valued at 81 90 The Tariff of 1924, re
NAMED unchanged in regard TO all cloth, which
cost 81 90, OF more, The square yard Those ar
hirary standards of 40 cents, 81 90, So SO an,
n 81 90, were called minimums.
+, The nature OF the Woollsn Bill, will be hes
/, explained by few examples, showing the manne
! IA which 1t would have operated.
" hat would have been the rate Of dntv tn h,
paid under II, upon square yeId OF cloth, co,,l
90 cents at the place from which il was j,unorted
In estimating the duty. you must assume the fact
that II was worth s % instead OF so so AHd II
per cent. to 81 90, and the aggregate is s Go
IbiriS-three and one third per CO. upon his sum
Is equal TO % cents. Thus 1t appears thai such a
yard OF cloth worth so cents, under this Bill. bat
II become law, would have paid duty of 8:
cents, or ITO per cent. Under the law, as
now stands, II would pay duty OF is Z 9 cents
Under the Woolen Bill, square yard OF cloth
worth but i cents at the place whence inpore ed
would have paid the same tdty, as though it hac
been v oIh s. so. The principle of the B1
was the Lighter The pfice, between any two o
} Tue momuns, the lower the duty. a yard o
cloth, worth Al cents, y Ouid have paid duty q
30 cents; but ii the estimate OF is value could bay
been reduced 10 so GEMS, the duty would only b,
II cents.
/. 1t may be called unfair in me 90 put exirem,
cases under this Bill. VIA, then would have beer
It's operation upon the three intermediate prices
between the four mini'nums5 They are, 95 cents
y 50 90, ard 80 Is. a square yard cos..as O..
cents would pay duty Of 5S per cent; If II cos
81, he duty would be IS per cent. and If So %
It would be 49, From 80 %. he duty yosld
have gradually sunk, tie value Of tie cloth in
creased until il arrived az 81, at which point II
reached The old dHy, aud would have esa ftee
/ lOm the operation OF the Boil.
Having thus endesvolred 10 explain he naiu E
Of the Woolen BIZ, shall now lroceeeI to state
10 Jou, some OF the reasons which compelled
me 90 vote against j..
And, IN ae fast place, bad il become q law.
hswould not have been gfisvogs tax uron the
poor for she benefit Of q. nfsIc naaafari utes.
tu' il would have imposed irus o. no adj ionaj
burden upon me rich Whilst the poor he.
would have been compelled 10 ray tax OF 100
per cent upon tie coarse cloth which he rurcha
and ~ cover his nakedness aud shield hin from
The winuy blast; tie wealthy individual, who
clothed himself with rosily raiment, would have
paid more han Tie existing duty. Such LAW
would have been unequal snd unjust Ii would
have violated the spirit Of republican institu-
ions. do not wish to play the demagogue up
on this, or upon any other occasion The
poor man has no nght 10 exclusive advantages,
on account ofLi- poverty. RE ought 10 bear his
share Of the public burdens lie o0eht 10 be taxed
A. ne now is in proportion 10 what he purchases.
To this respect, be nOw stands upon the same foot.
ing with fhe weslihy. Al are now taxed BY his
equitable rule. l was willing 10 increase this
D.. r.