Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-03-18
Present duty. Duty proro'- Daty propo-

1t is here proper TO remark, that all the above
descriptions OF goods, are now actually imported,
and pay, at the Custors House the rates Of duty
bove stated under the head of present duty
or course, under the existing tariff, the consumers
oil cotton goods, actually pas, for the protection
OF the domestic manufacturer, high rates of duty
on the foreign articles imported; and still higher
rates, upon the cOarser fabrics supplied by
manufacturers, in consequence OF the exclusion of
their foreign rivals.
The committee will here make single remark
on the comparative effects upon the revenue, of the
schemes presented by the Secretary OF the Trea-
sury AMI the Committee Manufactures, rea-
tive TO woollens Though the duties proposed in
ftne latter scheme, are equally laid upon the
different qualities OF goo and less in amount.
thiS committee regard the difference as being mere
y nominal one; the duties, in both cases, rising,
with very unlinportant exceptions, 10 the point o!
ultimate, not distant, and in most instances imme-
diate prohibition. Duties which amount to SO per
cent. viii result in prohibitions and those which
amount to 2Sl per cent, DO more. 1t is OBJ
vious, therefore, that the duties proposed by the
Committee on Manufactures, ranging, principally,
IRON 90 10 so per cent; eflectually prohibit
tory, as the more unmeasured impostons propos
ed by the Secretary OF the Treasury. IL indeed,
a doubt could be entertained as to the prohbiiory
character OF the lowest average OF the duties pro-
posed, that doubt would constitute conclusive
objection TO their imposition. For, if the foreign
manufacture can be imported s. sold, for any con-
siderable length OF time, cheap as the domestic
manufacture alter paying 20 per cent. for the char
ges and profits incident to its importation, and so
per cent. duty, making an aggregate of 40 per
cent, It would seem, TO the committee, that no
principle OF sound policy, under any of the con-
ilcting theories of political economy, would give
countenance to measure involving permanent
imposition, so excessive, upon the consumers OF
wooilen goods, for the benefit of the nianulac-
tnrers.
1t may be asserted, indeed, without any qualiii-
cation, that duties upon foreign merchandise can
afford protection TO the rival productions of domes-
tic industry, only by prohibition. A home market
cannot be provided for the domestic, but by the
exclusion of the foreign production The direct and
necessary effect, therefore of PROTECTING duties if
they really accomplish their protested object, is
the exclusion Of foreign merchandise; Mt least TO
the extent that home market is provided for the
substituted articles of domestic industry. But this
is not all. In all cases where high duties are ne
cessary to afford adequate protection foreign COM
MERGE must III the nature Of things, be diminished
to greater extent than domestic industry is en-
couraged. For, in the cases supposed, the encour-
agemen is given TO the protected articles by rails
ing their price ut least 90 per cent above that at
which similar articles could be imported. A consi-
derable increase of the price of any given article
must, upon obvious principles, diminish its con-
sumption. If therefore, the effect of a protecting
duty be TO diminish the aggregate quantity of the
protected article consumed by the community it
results, as an unavoidable consequence that for a
given quantity of the domestic production substi-
tuted, there must be n still greater quantity OF
the rival foreign production excluded. In treat
ing as prohibitory, the proposed duties on the great
mass o. the wooilen & cotton manufactures now
imported from abroad, the committee, therefore
! desire 70 be considered as using terms with due
consideration, and in their strict and proper accep
tation