Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-08-03
MEMORIAL,
C0iHisi;tee

Of tie CHAMBER If Commons Of Charleston
South Caroline TO Congress ia opposition
10 ne TOoNens biz.
Your Nemorsli-ts, members of The Chamber
of Commerce OF Charleston, emitted with is CHI.
zeRs generally, approach your Honorable Body to
oder their solemn circumstance on a subject in
which they cannot bat take the deepest iniercs, s.
iesl the lveliest solci,ute. Your nemoriss,s al
ude to the late Bill for increase of The duty Oh
Woo,lens, and which they have reason TO believe
will be again broush; To HE view OF Congress at
The approaching session. II il against the provi-
sons, not less than the principle of that Bill th't
your Memorialis,s would most earnestly remon-
sirste, and inip!ore your IIonoursbe Body toi
pause before the doctrine of commercial restric-
tons IS 80 incorporated in oui legislation. as TO
constitute part Of our permanent policy. The
danger OF all legal restraints on foreign commerce
a! Intercourse, consists ia their commencement
- the difficulty in their TemOU6l. The general
views on this subject 10 not admit OF further illus
trGtion from argument, nor can they be strength
ened by any additional appeal to experiences. If
the lessons OF History fail TO engh,en aud forewarn
on this subject, the struggle now in progress on
the other side of the Atlantic, between rival in-
'eTests established by lazy, afford solemn ad,no-
ALTON to States, who have not yet cucumber ed
thelr onward course wih restrictive regulations.
Hour Memorialists do not rest their opposition
10 the contemplated act, any exclusively Sec
uonal considerations or local views. They APP
prehend that the people of this country have
common interest In pre.crving their Commercial
Code fom the compleXty and coniI additions which
detoFm those OF Europe, and from the introduction
INTO That code OF any principle that in its results
would place them In a hostile position to each o.
'her- that would arm tbs Agriculiurist of one sec-
uon OF the country, against the Manufacturer OF
different section. II these interests will not har-
monlze by the slow and natural operation of cir
cumsances, they can never be forced into an alli-
ance By law.
There are two leading aspects in which the
SUBJECT Pre-en's itself to your Memorialis,s:
AS the duties contemplated in the Bill must
constitute an aggraYaon OF an already unequal and
ouTthensome tax on the consumption of the South.
ern States; and
AS they must have an increasing tendency to
limit the foreign maTke, fer their staples
On the first of these points, the allegation Of
your Memorialists is susceptible of the readiest
proof the evidence is accessible to all who will
seek II In the spirit ofimpaFtialiiy. The duty on
mat class OF Wooens consumed by the slave,
constitutes an impost on capital, under the euise of
OF tax on consumption. The Slave oflhe South
ern Planter must be clothed according to that
standard OF comfort which both interest and
Keeling prescribe. This is an inevitable tax on
MS owner, under all circumstances imaginable in
periods OF adversely well as seasons of prosperi-
V- 10 ell conditions Of the market for the produce
Of Inc iaoour OF the slave There is this peculi-
arr y then which attaches 10 tax on the consume
ton OF the slave il is one that cannot be got rid
Of, even under the mosl adverse state of things;
nor does The burthen admit of elimination as in
other taxes on consumption. by reduction of ex-
penditure; the expense Of clothing the slave is
Drought within the narrowest limits of an econo-
my that IS consistent with humanity All duties
therefore, which enhance the cost of cIotbinp the
slave TALL with unmitigaed pressure on his owner
IN 'hs view OF their effects, they partake of the
essential features OF "a direct assessment; and the
distinction between an impost in this form and
caplation tax On the slave, is one more in name
'han In substance. The slaves of the Southern
cGl;iya'or constitute the greater portion Of his ca
pitaI- ms land forms but small part OF his pro-
duciye means. The entire Southern region, wi ich
affords, in the produce of its soil, the means of
maintenance to thousands, North as well as South.
would become barren waste without that species
OF labour by which it is now rendered roductive
10 assess the culiivator in the ONLY means at his
command, to effect the most profitable results
from cultivation, from the unfettere1 use of his
whole capitals TO impose a penalty in The form
OF duty on Southern Improvements.
our M-moIiaiisis are'puIsuaded that the tliTthen
10 this form borne by the Southern States. since
the tariff of 1916, would in its aggregate. const.
TUE great deduction from their productive means.
and, In I:s annual amount, heavy per centage on
Individual capital. They believe hat accurate cal
culalion would chow that on that portion in
vested and held in slaves, the present duty
on Woollens is equal TO an assessment of three
Carolina, assuming that half only of her slave
population is clothed in foreign woolleus. now
pays and has paid since 1916, an annual tsx of
between 50 and 20 thousand dollars, on that mr.
lion only OF her consumption of the article of
Wooilens which is limited to her slaves.
II VIII be obvious the least Considerable,
that this is luty distinct in is effects from fha,
paid By the free portion Of the population in gen.
e!al. Ihs latter is part of that CONTINGENT IN
The general tu"d which the Southern Platter con-
tributes In common with ell other orders of mr. !
ncan Society the duty the coarser dsscription
OF Woollens IS an additional burthen on him. in /
The ratio Of the number of slsYes he EMPLOYS il /
cultivation. In cases Of hired services the b,rtian
OF taxes on consumption is borne in part bv The
employer when lsbour is high but that burthen ia
sustained exclusively b. the la5ourer In the din, /
mutton OF his comforts, whsn such labour il low:
1ui the price of maintenance, however high. FOR
Involuntary services being Paid without the posi-
oHiy OF reIet or mitigation the burthen ad,ni,s
7i oeng aei;heT shifted nor divided, it constitutes
IN the opinion Of your Memorialis.s an ,,nsr.,ysr.
Die argument against the policy (not. to say any
hiog oil the jusiice) OF aggrayatng by law this al
eady very unequal pressure. II will be recollec,
I'd that this reasoning applies 70 the very coarses
description OF Toollens, which forms scarcely any
Part OF the consumption Of the labouring and ooo,,
'r CLASSES Of the other States, ard as fesfes 70
he existing duty,
Nor would your Memoir lists omi, 70 urge those
views ct they had not been already sfa'ed with
great force and iruti) which 90 TO shey that the
proposed increase Of duties must bear with ve,v
ineQusi pressure the different classcs of Amor,
"a" oocIsty-ss burihoning the poor in proportion
% ihe'T poverty, and as eEempting the wealthy ip
he ratio OF their ficLy' Such duties are r,ilely
variant from the true intent and genei Gus scope Of
Jui Institutions which look to the eruaI ,st,ii,o,;o