The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-06-16
we all work at that business because we then sup

we all work at that business, because we tnen sup
ply ourselves
sAeain-it has been urged, that our revenue
would fail and we should be compelled to resort
to direct taxes to support the government and pay
the national debt. Predictions Of this kind were
made in the bold tone of absolute confidence, and
ardent appeals were made to the public to repudi-
ate policy, which would take from labor its hard
earnings to supply the public treasury. Time has
asifed these prophesies and the complaint now is,
that the government will be ruined by the surplus
funds in the treasury because every portion of the
Union is scrambling to obtain in one form or anoth
| er, its portion of the money.
1 Again-it was predicted, that where duties have
been imposed, goods would rise to an exorbitant
price, and the consumer be heavily burdened; but
here again the prediction has failed for the con-
sumer has found his supplies cheapened.
J Gentlemen are much puzzled with these results,
but still condemn the tariff with much zeal and
vehemence, if every prophecy had been fulfilled
to the letter. They seem to be aware of the en-
barrassments they must encounter in establishing
the old notion, that duty is tax to the amount of
it, upon the consumer of foreign productions, for
they met with the fact, that increase of du-
ties has not produced that result.
The gentleman from South Carolina, being aware
that these objections not easily surmouuted,
seems to have discarded the old theory false and
has introduced doctrine new in many of its fea-
lures and consequences. | for the first time, saw
the substance of it in document from his State,
called GAN EXPOSITION AND PROTEST." which
emanated from the legislature, and which read
4 with too much haste to remember with great accu-
racy. The theory is strenuously maintained, that
duties taxes, although goods are made cheaper
under their operation; and to carry the doctrine
out, it is asserted that the old idea that the con-
sumner pays the tax is founded in mistake for it is
the producer that bears the burden Exports, says
the gentleman, pay the duties imports, and as
merchants and factors mere agents, the planter
is the exporter of Cotton, tobacco and rice. Two
thirds of all the exports, he says, consist of these
articles. The imports he adds are purchased with
the exports and two-thrds of them are paid for in
these articles; and as the exporter pays the duty
it follows that the planters pay twothrds of the
whole revenue that is, sixteen millions of dollars
out of twenty-four Millions which is about the
nual amount of revenue. This burden, he SAYS,
falls on less than three millions population while
the remaining nine millions pay only eight millions
of revenue, because they export only to that
amount.
If this be true, if sixteen millions of revenue are
drawn from the earnings Of less than three millions
OF our population annually, agree that the burdens
are greatly disproportionate-that the South are
grievousy oppressed, and is the duty of this gov
eminent to afford immediate relief. But, Sir the
very statement itself strikes the ear as incredible
Is it true Can it be true, that less than three mil
lions OF persons pay sixteen millions Of annual tax
If so. the planter has a business yielding such
proht as our people are unacquainted with. | say
no people since the foundation of the earth ever
did sustain such burden for succession of years,
and as the doctrine is at variance with all received
notions, it ought to be sustained by strong proofs
before it gains credence. The gentleman says, it
is self evident but to my dull apprehension it is
far, very far, from being So and regret that the
evidence which makes it clear to him has not
been more fully stated.
will, if the Committee will lend me their pa
tence, endeayor to point out Of the obstacles
which must be surmounted to establish this doc
trine. TO disembarrass the question: shall follow
the example OF the gentleman by throwing out of
the way the machinery of trade, and considering
the planter as the exporter. Suppose then he ships
cargo of cotton, for the English market where it
is sold. The theory of the gentleman is that he
must receive goods in pay for he cannot command
j specie, and if these goods subject to duty,
when they arrive in this country the amount paid
at the custom house is tax upon the cotton ITSELF
as raw material and the planter actually ooses it
as much as If an excise were laid upon it, before it
was shipped; and understood him to say, and re-
peat that If made no difference with the PLANTER
wnether the tar, as he called it, iuIyoscd III
rectly on the cotton in his hands before it was
shipped or on the goods it now is at the custom
house. This doctrine he says applies to all import
ed goods thus purchased, be they consumed by
whom they may.
will now state his reasons given in support of
this theory, as understood them. He said that if
the manufacturer in England could raise the price
of his manufactured articles, duties imposed
he would then throw the burden on the consumer
but he finds himself unable to do this, and turns
round on his heel and takes the amount out of the
grower of the raw material. The manufacturer
: says you must receive your pay in goods, of some
sort or other In our markets, cannot raise the
price, and must take the duty out of the cotton and
thus the price of the raw material is reduced and
the earnings of the planter taken from him. Being
aware that the assent of the holder of cotton is
Necessary to bargain of this sort, the gentleman
provided for that difficulty by asserting in unquali-
fed terms, that the purchaser is enabled to accom-
plish this end, because he controls the market, and
established the terms on which he will buy.
Now let us look at this proposition, and see what
! consequences must follow, if it be well founded.
| The manufacturer in England controls the market
and assesses on the raw material shipped from this
country, whatever duties may be collected at our
/ custom houses on any kind of goods that may be
purchased with the ayas. Is it true that the pur-
! chasers in the market control il Every man who
does business feels that the market is controlled by
another, and greater power he feels that commod-
tiles are dear or cheap, according as the supply is
great or small and that it is the supply which fixes
the price, and not The will of the buyer II it de-
ponds on the will Of the buyer, he might as well
purchase at one cent the pound as at twelve.
Again-lf the buyer has the power to fix the price
and make such allowances and deductions as he
Pleases for duties imposed English manufactures
by our tariff, that power will enable him to deduct
| any other duties, or taxes, to which his business
| may be subject; and he would of course deduct
duty of SIX per cent. npon cotton which ia mposed
in England, and paid into the treasury of that king
dom. He can provide for this with much greater
facility, than for the duties on the various kinds of
goods, which are bought with the avails of cotton
and exported to this country. If he has the power
to provide for the one he surely has for the other
Ii the planter carries rice to the same market il is
subject to the same controlling influence, and the
duties, which are three dollars and thrty-tbree
cents the hundred, may be deducted from the value
and thrown upon him in the same way. So also.
of tobacco, which pays duty Of three shiIlin0s
sterling on the pound, which is much more than the
article is worth; and consequently the planter
would, upon this theory, lose bis produce, and be
brought into debt for the balance OF the duty This
singular theory discloses new principle in finance
which must come into high estimation, for, il the
doctrine is well founded, nation may so regulate
It's trade as to draw all its revenues from the for
/ eign States with which it deals.
The next consequence which obviously results
from this doctrine is that our tariff haars vv;th az