Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-11-24
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE U. STATES

TO THE CITIZENS OF THE U. STATES.
REVIEW OF THE ADDRESS OF THE FREE TRADE Con-
vENTIoN-No. " LAST.
TARIFF.
The Address goes TO state, that
1.-The diminution of price has not been produced
by the Tariff, but in despite of it-and has been
retarded by it. But for this law, the imported,
which would take the place of the domestic article
in the consumption of the country, would be OBJ
tanned at Il price greatly below that viii On
tually pay, and the difference amounting yearly to
many millions of dollars, would bo saved to the
community. 1t cannot be doubted, that the prices
of all domestic articles, the production of which is
forced by the imposition of duty on n foreign
article Of similar description, are raised by the
Grnountof dHiy necessary 10 effect the exclusion II
re latter, that this increase of price is paid
by the consumer, and that the loss to the nation,
which is occasioned by this system of protection,
is nearly equal to such difference of price,
There is degree of ambiguity in the latt or
part of this passage which ought never 10 appear
in public document, intended for general peru
sal. The most obvious meaning is, that the price
OF all domestic articles protected by duty, sis raised
by the amount of duty imposed That is to say,
the amount of the duty whatever it may be, is adj
dcd to tho cost of the imported article; that the
American manufacturer sells his article at the az
grcgate amount of the foreign cost of, and the du
ty on, the rival article; that this increase of price
| is paid by the consumer; amounting yearly to
many rillions' and tina! ''thc loss the nation is
| nearly equal TO such difference Of price"
This is radically wrong-andit is very extraord.
| nary that Mr. Bcrrien, vino wrote this address
could have overlooked the manifold +, ut atoms that
have been published of this error which lies at
tho root of all the alledged grievances that have
excited tho prevailing efIorvescence in South Caro-
lima, and prepared many of its citizens for insur
roctionary movements. 1t has been trumphantly
refutcd at least twenty times, by ndisputable facts
Il is irksome to be obliged to travel over the same
ground often, and to refutc over and over again
the same mistake or misrepresentation. This, how.
ever, is duty Of daily in tbs contro-
| yersy. Assertions, not merely not true, but tho
reverse of truth, arc made with the utmost conf
| dcncc. They crushed by the force of fact
but it is oil in vain
They rise again to annoy US, as dormatically
as if they mad never been eontrovortcd or disprov
| cd.
The duty the lowest priced cotton goods i.
| a. cents per square yard, 81 cents per running
yard According TO the doctrine OF the address
this duty ought to be added to the price Of the LIN
giISh goods by the American manufacturer, anC
would bring his price TO IL -, 49, H. or ID cents
But what is the fact? Full half the plain good.
produced IN this country, are sold at,from 81 to
cents per running yard. Some of them for less
than the mere amount of the duty to which the ri
val article would be subject. Yet, in the face o
4 this overwhelming fact and while yard of shirt
ing, which, if imported, would re subject to a du
ty of 81 cents is sold for 81 cents, the Americn,
people grGUeLy assured by n b0dy Of tlrO Inn
drcd rs respectable citizens are 10 be found IL
tic country that the price Of the american article is
ERASED BY THE AMOUNT TIE DurY"-that is, Mn
tie duty IS added TO the price ofthc foreign simla
article! Comment would be superfiuous.
Nails strong case in point, and would of
themselves suffice, if on this mighty subject facts
were allowed thoir due weight, to settle this cues
ton. The duty is five cents per l5.-and yet the
arc sold at six and quarter cents, and have beer
sold for five and half. The material costs
three, four, and five cents.
I But will call in to my aid a southern advocate
from whose testimony no appeal can be made.
mean Edward White, Esq, Member of Congress
from Louisiana.
Having stated that the protecting system,
''by opening new markets and creating new de-
/ mands, and by promoting rapid interchange of
commodities between different sections, had mu
| tipled industry and employment, and thus brought
an increased mass Of virtue and industry to the
( people,"
he introduces The reduction Of the price of cotton
| baggine and continues
''Iron of which consume much, more per.
/ haps than any two a.. the States, which enters 50
largely into the manufacture &C sugar is also one
| Of those things against which the calculations IN
| our noiChborvtood are loud and cudrrinr
Well, Sir this Indispensable convenience has fall
len in great or greater proportion, than cotton
baggiug. Er0porGIj1g Eeifics, Of n bciier rlctqL
1rhich Ctcr ipfHifcIy more cfccfnaI resistance IN
The intense heat arr frHqccarc MIR ret dopestic
eds tro1r frcHty.rc IN Nriyfrc per cent less fbau
/ 1rc Paid forfhem before IKE Thrift nj 1913. Su%ar
tor expression, and steam engines, nor cost one.
haJ 'ohat ,rc paid fOr them Hrrc or four ycarg mr.
And Sir not only do get these things but ,rc ret
them ab"Hd0ntiy. Vhiiom 6, HIc svPpiy rag extreme
/ ~ Wecdrio"s owing 20 the three thousand miles oi
ocean THAI flowed between US and the countries
/ form whence we derived them. Now, assortmcnfs
ot tho implements from the Atlantic sea coast and
form the western States, are accumulated at every
village and hamlet along coast 10 be obtained
/ 'y INC iariner on the most accommodating terms.
/ but, Sir, this is not all. While we u-c drudr
lng at the mill and watching by the midnight oil
INC cbutlons of the kettle, VIC must have rameni.
/ Accordingly, there are the domestic cottops for
clothing ourselves and laborcrs, which cost us
something more than Zero, COARSE WOOL
/ LEN CLOTHS HAVE BEEN CONSTANTIY
/ DECLINING IN PRICE, AND IMPROVING
/ ~ TEXTURE, FOR THE LAST FOUR OR
: FIVE fEARS."-Nr. Writes epcccbip.fhe House
/ 81 R'FeseHtGfirss n tie L. S. Fcb. 1881.
This overwhelming testimony, which complete.
" "nullihes' the assumptions, the hypothesis, and
tho theory Of the address so far as regards the on.
preston Of the tariff will amply repay tho readers
attention, and Justify Tor IL extreme length. II
- not from an eastern nau--iroU of those ma