The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-02-07

be doubted, 1t any thing more is meant than
small tonnage duty,) should be glad to he
informed how protecting duties will enable
us to enter into competition with foreign man
ufacturers in any market but our own?
A FARMER.
(a) We presume our correspondent would
not Intentionally deceive others; admitting
which, it must be evident that he is himself
deceived. The expenses OF importation are
as much part Of the cost Of an imported ar
ticle, to the consumer, as the price originally
paid for it; and, as such, ought 10 be consid-
cred in comparing the relative advantages of
importing or manufacturing. On any other
principle it might ss reasonably be argued
that, because corn s hut IS cents bushel in
Ohio, it would be better to bring il from
thence than to raise il. and that by so dong,
the Ohio farmer would subject himself to a
loss OF seventy five cents per bushei. and that
we should gain the same amount. So far
then, from having protection of so per cent.
as rs argued by this writer. or even he 331
FER cent. intended by the t, thew probably
derive no protection, or but a very trifiing on.
from 1t. Ia the first place. as we yet have to
depend Oh importation tor our supply o. wool.
the duty on that article takes off one half of
the amount OF duty on the manufactured arti.
Giles, aud the other half, it may fairly be esti-
mated, is lost by the frauds practised on the
Cu'to'n-house. These are effected by the
foreign manufacturer having agents in this
country, to whom the goods are invoiced far
below their value. II is now customary, to
great extent, 10 ship goods in an unfinished
state, so that they have a rough and coarse
appearance. and 10 have them finished here at
cost of but 6 or 7 cents per yard, after which
they sell for twice or three times the invoice
price. So extensive have these frauds on the
revenue become, that the regular importers
have been driven from the business. and nine
tenths OF all the wooliens, now imported,
come through the hands Of English agents.
o. The whole of the latter part ofthis par
agraph is palpabIe distortion ofthe arguments
of those who defend protecting duties. Pro-
lection is asked, not because we cannot mau-
utacture as low as the average cost OF impor-
tation, nor for the purpose of raising the price
above such cost. II is for the purpose of e.
qualizing the price, and preventing the Auctu.
ations to which the business otherwise must be
subject. 1t is so that, when the foreign arti-
Gle is depressed, the manufacturer may still
obtain a fair price, and. when a reaction
takes place, the consumer may not be subject
ed to the eXorbitant cost OF the foreign article
Where Sc Eiuch manufacturing is done for for
eign markets as in England, the business must
always be subject to fluctuations from one ex
treme to the ether; and what is lost when de-
pressed as at present. rs made up by the extra
profl when the demand again revives. The
Immense amount Of capital invested in manu-
features in England. beyond the demand TO-
their wn consumption, enables them, when
ever they find any branch growing up here, to
throw such quantity of the same article into
our market, at so educed price, as effectualv
to check the business here, if unprotected,
without sensibly telling the loss TO themselves.
And this loss, whatever it may be, is more
than balanced by the extra price obtsne d
when they get the control OF the market.
The true question at issue then is, whether we
will suffer ourselves thus to be played upon for
the benefit OF others, or, by granting an ade-
quate protection to our own manufacturers,
enable them to furnish Us, at all times, at a
price below the average cost of Importation.
(c)' This paragraph is even more unfair than
the last. 1t is by connecting the reasoning
applied to different branches of industry, ex-
isting under different circumstances, some Or
them protected, and some not, that these APP.
parent Inconsistencies are made to appear
II is held, and we have never seen it disprov-