Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-11-07

tes pay than tho sthar seetsns Of ths Gown.
Try, 1t IS proof the. consume more, and enjoy
more, and have greater ncans that their capitals
productive, and they spend freely what they can
spare.
But that ia great and fatal error. The South
does not consume more of the dutiabe ar iclcs
contribute more to the All society is d.
vided into two classes, tho productive and unpro-
ductive.
The unproduotivc Glasses, who live by their ia
Tents or upon their capital, perfectly equal in
every part Of the United States They live they
please in different degrees of comfort or elegance.
They who live in the somo manner, must consume
the same articles, pay tho prices, and contri
buto equally to the Government, whether they
side in Charleston or Boston They who spend
more, enjoy more. Capital is more valuable, and
interest higher i'll tho South, and TO that extent is
favorable to the South
But capital invested in planting IN quite pro-
ductive as in manufactures. The same amount IF
property will produce the same incomo-purchasc
tho comforts. If the South spend more of
their income than those of the North, they also
enjoy moro. Its results from the different habits
OF tho people, and government cannot control that.
But, upon given capital, the expenditure is
much greater Mt thcNorth. The expenditure upon
| manufacturing establishment of 100000, To pro-
duce $4,000 i, much greater than on plantation
OF like value and product. 1t consumes u much
greater quantity of articles paying duties. The
same capital contributes moro TO the revenue 1t
isa dangerous fallacy to suppose the South pay
more, and contribute unequally. This ought to be
100000, and yielding $4,000 a year nett, docs
| not spend more $4,000, of which not more than
ono fourth pay duties. This is easy of illustration
Now look TO manufactory of that value, and see
how much larger portion goes to the Government
! When, therefore, you suppose South Carolina
exports eight millions, and that the expense is less
than third in making the staple article, and docs
not exceed two million Six hundred and sixty-six
| thousand dollars-thnt not more than one fourth
| of that sum, $1,000 0U is for dubitahs articles,
upon which the duty does not exceed 33l per cent.
IT becomes manifest that the planting interest, and
the labor and capital of the country is not oppress
ed. The burhen does not fall there: the weight of
the taxes ia upon persona expenses, upon families
and upon individuals; and therefore, equally among
the several States South Carolina having s, 900 600
dollars divided among, say SEQ, 600 whites, spends
doubtless more than any other people having less
revenue; but probably exactly in proportion to their
excess. But if divided among COO, 900 whites and
blacks, 1t will probably appear that they
per head, about much any other portion of
people III the United States, aud contribute equally
withthem to the Government.
1t is difficult to comprehend the inequality or
! oppression of tho South and moro especially of
South Carolina. If tho %, 000, 900 had been d-
Carolina, having one twenty fourth of the politi
! cal power Of tho United States, would have been
upwards of million. If that had been levied by
direct tax, IL would have taken oneeight of their
whole export Now, admitting her to buy 5000, 900
/ year, and that half of that sum is for dutable
! articles, paying 335 per cent. she docs pay
moro than her proportion. The planting interest
pays much less than its proportion of what falls
upon the Slate, and less than the capital en-
Ployod in any manufactures at the North.
II there Is any inequality in the tariff, 1t is not
against the planting interest, but il is against the
unProductive classes in the several States. But
there is no mode by which they DO made to
contribute their portion to the support of Govern
ment, except by the impost system. But it is not
| that class that complain.
The payment of the pwblic debt will role sc tho
country from this heavy load of taxes, which, with
few exceptions, have been met with most patriot
is spirit. we must now provide for the new state
of things, in the spirit of amity and Justice. "