Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-09-05

Bu; they ss, Tor duty varying from 40 10 l20 D. CT
1.-THE protecting duty OF article be 50 per ct. and
IL does not amount to exclusion, then the con-
sumner is made to pay half much again as he
could have bought the same thing for, if there ha.
been tariff; and if the same article OF foreign and
domestic production sold at the same price in the
market the consumer is taxed so per cen. for the
benefit of the treasury If he buys the foreign;
and made 10 pay 5oper cent bounty or premium,
Tor the private pocket Of the manufacturers if he
buys the domestic article. Can any just man
say that this is right: Yet upon articles proiec-
ted by higher duty than 90 per cent, (and there
are ,nany) the injustice is still greater. So tina,
the amount OF daiy imposed, the legitimate pur-
poses oil reeenuc, and by way of protection, il
thing less thar an I'M ust eXaciion from the ruany,
for the benefit of the few. We know that Mr.. ".
will deny this. Indeed, what may we not ex
pect from those who assert that protection causes
reduction in prices, and this too Sin the face of the
fact that the manufacturers have constantly called
for it, TO save them as they say, from ruin. What
a stupid race they must be, TO ask for that which
is 20 materially to reduce their profits!
Mr. II. .S!fes.-The veteran editor of the Reg
iser is so completely tariff ridden, that he is
only running into absurdites OF argument but ad-
vances principles and opinions which we did not
expect from him, because they are an,i-repubii-
| can, and lead TO fatal consequences. We beg the
readers attention TO the following paragraph from
| the Register of the 3Oh ull:
1.-The Georgia Journal, we suppose w, admit
that some revenue MUST be had This is to be rails
ed 10y indirect or direct taxa,ion--by the tariff or
valuations OF lands and slaves, the States paying
greeabiy TO representation Does the Editor pre-
fer the latter. I'VE have preferred il for thirtv
| years. as the branch of revenue that should be
mainly depended upon-that the people might fee!
what they paid, and examine and restrict the pub
| lie expenditure accordingly We have di,cdys
regarded indirect taxes partial, and of course
UNJUST, except rs branch of the Feoenae system,
and especially as bearing most heavily on the in
habtants OF our cities and towns But the farmers
and assurediy the planters, opposed to direc,
taxes. The last, have large extra power in the
making oil laws, without regar to their number
citizens, or Tor the amount OF taxes paid by them
Will then the soutir abolish the tariff plan? Nay
verify nay! It's share Of the tdrcs toould be doa-
0!ed, compared with what ii now pays
Thus, g for thirty years. this republican editor
has preferred direct tar " the raluatio,e of
| lands and slaTes, the States paying agreeably to
representation, as the branch of revenue that
should be mainly depended upon.'' He then
would have the whole Union filled with swarn,s OF
federal assessors and federal collectors in addition
TO our State officers harrassing the people with I'M
timely calls and petty demands. He would add TO
the arm oil the federal government another rast
iengine oil patronage and power. With this access
sion OF active officers visiting the homes and fire.
stiles OF the people, might not say, that the pa
tronage oil the government would be :" irressii-
| ble! According 10 Mr. Niles own confession, lie
| must have been, during the Administration of the
elder Adams, in favor of his odous system OF ex-
cises and direct taxes the extravaganza vexa,iops
and abuses which excited the determined opposi.
uon OF the republicans, and, in the end, called forth
the decided reprehe OF the people. MIR. Miles
is remarkable for his ability with figures; and We
ask him 10 calculate the costs OF executing such a
system-hrs' OF listing the taxable property at the
houses oil all the peope-and secondly, Of collect
ing the taxes a'terwar We beg of him not TO for
get to make suitable allowance for the unfaith-
iuiness and deialcaiions that must occur among so
many collectors When he shall thus have ascer-
tanned the number OF necessary officers, and the
immense amount oil the peoples money to be pock-
etetl by them Tor their services-he will please tell
| us II he thinks such an addition to our expenses
and such an increase OF the army of officers to be
led out OF the public crib is at all advisable. Will
II coinport with Mr. Jeffer sons idea OF frugal go
Vernment which secures to the mouth Of labor the
| bread il has earned?
! But Mr.. Niles says, he "has always regarded
indirect taxes partial and of course unjust ex-
Gept as branch of the revenue system" Indeed!
The tariff, for the protection OF manufactures is
not branch OF the rerenue system; and, therefore
according TO this precious confession of the great
iarin Champion, il is partial and unjust. This
Is precisely what we have all along insisted upon.
why then does Mr. ~ insist upon so frequently
and unreasonably increating this partialiy and in
justice by still higher duties? Is it possible that hi
Partiality for the inhabitants OF our cities and
towns, and his hostility TO the 90 farmers and plan
tcrs, could have led him into this splendid contra
diction! he gives it as an F" especial" reason for
"GltodyS' considering ind;rec. taxes as partial and
unjust, because they bear " most heavily Oh the
inhabitants OF our cities and towns" He says
1.-The farmers, and assuredly the planters are oppos-
ed TO direct taxes" But why this opposition? Is
II not because they bear most heavily" on them.
And is it possible, that This be the reason OF Nj
RI. Niles, preference for direct, over indirect
taxes If it be, his readers among the planters
and farmers ought to thank him for his candour
In another part OF the article, the same idea
is equally clearly expressed. But hear him.
" We verify think that on the foreign goods con.
s'tn'ed i'll the city of New York only, a far greater
amount of money is really paid for duties than by
az the cotton planters i,t ,he U,,io7t The family
OF any respectable mechanic in that city, will use
more of coffee, sugar. te. and other highly taxed
articles, than is given to hundred field slaves
and one dandy, who has the means, pays more tag
on his clothing, wines, &c and eiIncyncks than is
paid Tor the entire family of any prudent cotton
planter for himself and household, unless of the
weather. classes, and twice as rlucb as on account
| oil families OF farmers in Pennsylvania and other
states, wherein those who own The land also Guide
me pt0nSh and - lire at k0jne"-mainiy fed and
clothed with the products of their own soil II is in
the natur OF things that persons resident in cities
and towns, consume more dued articles than those
VINO reside In the country. The first have every
article OF tool or raimcnt TO bay; but the farmer or
planter may supply almost every thing within him
SELL except little sugar, coffee, tea and salt SOME
silks and other small luxuries-purchascs of which
are &c few and far between"
Now, what is the writer aiming att Does he @ = =
pect TO convince the inhabitants of the cities and
| towns, and especially of New York that tl,ev nav
iected by imports, that it would be better for MS TO
SHUT our ports altogether against foreign goods and
| ioI the support OF The Government resort to Mr.
Mics IdVorite system Of direct tnres7 I'm that g.
vent he tells them. surely not by way OF induce
InentJ tnat III the SOutlour " share OftGres tCOuld