Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-08-07

WAS tue reduction OF the duty upon raw fine " ,o
in England, since the establishment of our present
tariff, isom six pence sterling TO one penny aud
on the course wool to half a penny. The most
particular calculation he had upon that branch
OF the subject, that lately submitted at a meet>
| ing OF manufacturers in Boston, by respectable
aud very worthy member of the house of represent
ta,ives. IL supposes that the condition of the In
! glsh manufacturer had been improved 10 au ex.
, tent LIat would enable him to make his cloth At
! a less cost by 10 2-3d per centum Gd ualorem.-
Assuming this TO be correct, the question recur.,
were the provisions Of the bill the cut able remedy
/ Would they be efficient! IL is reasonable TO be.
lieve that If the temptation 10 eya-ion when the
, duty was SO ! 81 was too great to be resisted,
frauds would he prevented by making the duties
much higher than they before; how much
he could not precisely say, certainly double, per,
haps treble!
He mad seen many and conflicting statements
and calculations upon the subject OF the rate of
duties prescribed by the bill of the las, session
They were all made, too, by very sagacious gen
temen. who could not we'll brook even question
to their accuracy.
lie confessed, be said, that his faith had been
very much shaken in the speculations and cacu-
sations upon this subject generally, exemplified
by the arithmetic of the theorists of the day He
feared that many honest man bewildered and
dsluded himself by their means, and that the in
stances in which those who were not so honest i'm.
posed upon the credulity of those who were, were
means To arrive at the truth upon such subjects. He
had seen a statement referred TO from Niles Re
Sister in which IL stated that the average rate
OF duties proposed by The bill, was ninety-tw two per
ce2tum al ya!orem. He had not been able TO lay
MS baud upon the original, and could not therefore
speak with certainty 10 the accuracy of the
report. BY some they were estimated at less by
others more. The second minimum, which pro-
vlded that all woollen goods, which cost more than
forty and less than one hundred and tfty cents,
should be considered as having cost one hundred
and fifty cents, and the duty assessed upon that
amount, included, as he was advised, the great body
OF coarse woollens, which were generally purcha-
sed by the poorest classes OF the community. The
duty upon this description of cloth, ranged from
81 1-2 TO 1870 ,, the resent nominal duty being
90 l-;;j, bat actually 81 l >. Assuming any es.
innate, and the increase of duties was very great
lie had before said ne prepared sustain fully
the tsTG OF 1924 The question was as to the
means. Let them, he said be well and dispassion.
ately considered before the subject was again acted
upon, and lei it stand upon it- own merits without
seeking adventurous aid and there was little room
to doubt that all that was right would be ultimately
done.
Upon TIE saliect of The darn created among
the mercantile part of the community by the Bill
in question he made the following opposite re-
marks:
" lie knew to what extent commercial men
carried their sppTehensions of the consequences
to result from governmental encouragement OF
manufactures. The chamber of commerce of the
city CT New York made most gloomy represen-
tat'on Of the probable consequences upon the pros,
peIity OF that city, that would result from sudden
prohibition OF the great amount OF wooilen goods
which were annually brought into the country
Their apprehension was doubtless carried TO ey
remes Ii is natural for those who are chiefly con
ceTned on one side of the subject, whether manu-
lactUrer or merchant, to dwell upon Advantages or
apprehend dangers that will never be realized.
Much thinking makes them enthusiastic AMI being
Ia!l!bie, seli-nteTes, impairs their vision and be
wders their minds Nor Is the case much less
dhculI for those who by their public stations, are
made umPiGes 10 decide upon their conflicting pre-
tensions.
1t is upon the sound and ienab.e principle ira,
reasonable buIIhen upon commerce, ia common
with all other interests nay rigbtfully be imrosed
for the encouragement of our infant manufac.ures
that the protective system is founded. Ii is onIv
when the burIhen becomes exravagaut and onercus
that the merchant has right to complain. General
and objections Of the CHARACTER no
had stated, did not lie said present reasons against
an adherence to, and, II need be- the extension Of
sysiem, 80 long pursued by the government. They
do, however, and II was in that point OF view lie
referred to them, present strong incuceme nt to the
government TO proceed with great crcumspection
and moderation in its mo vemeDts. They demand
that the great interests from which they srring be
not stitied with, exposed 10 Danger from hsstv
unforeseen and injurious ent - that every step
" hich is taken This delicate subject be- as far az
practicable, the result Of reflection conf med BIZ
experience, and not the oG-pTing Of rash and m
thinking speculation.
Nor do the reasons for temperance ard discretion
IN the measure OF the government, said he, SHRINE
altogether from the considerations he had stated
The substantial Improvement and lasting prosperi-
IS of our domestic manufactures would, be thought
be bet promoted by such course. The experience
OF the world admonished US of the dangerous ter |
dency oloo much stimulus in affairs Of this char c. !
ter. 1t has been demonstrated hat in n portion as
ne dependence Of such business upon the atten |
lion, Industry and economy Of those concerned. il
weakened by excessive encouragement. ei,ber I
through individual or governmental patronage, il !
the danger o!its ultimate prosra'ion The embargo /
sd other restrictive measures before the late war
me war itself, with the non-imPortalicn act. AMI
he act for the imposition of double duties for two
years after The peace, held out temptations tn en-
BARK capital in manufactures, haiterine rs 10 lead
10 an unprecedented increase Of sblisln,ents for
hist purpose. One year after The peace the tariff ~
1916 was established, which gave system. & ne
vas supposed certainty, 10 he degree and character
81 protect ton which government intended g. ello.,
o them. lie had learned from sources entitled IN bi
confidence, that Al that period, the capital invss
ed 10 The manufacturing of wool did not rroh, |
'ly exceed ten millions, and hat 70 had srb4s-
iuentlS, ard before 1924, increased some for,v
millions Of dollars. That while the estab,is-ns,,s
winch had sprung Up since tbe tariff Of 1916. had
or many years done well, the hot bel productions
II The war had almost universally gone doyva. So
ucce siul had The business been that when he tariff
'i 1874 was under consideration our brethren of
he east, then ss nov The peculiar seat of fbe ma,
1curins interest," insisted that The lssv a. IL strr,
Afforded ample protection, and az he had stated /
opposed any increase Of ddties. The bill howe /
a r~1sf t~ L.