Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-10-06

revoistions Of property, and ono Of the sevorest
trials. Within a short period cotton has fallen to
One-third of it's former pricc,-yet you have sus
tanned tho shock. There has been, in consequence
of your foresight and prudence, no distress, sac
riiicc; your fortunes havo steadily advanced, capt.
tai is still productive, property in demand, money
abundant, and credit and confidence unlimited.
al urn much surprised at this, after hapipg heard
and read so much Of the distress IN The Southern
States Hoo rs this, that tlr0 countries pcry si,ni-
lar, Nth Ikc productions 10Th the same people, and
huing under the same la,os, present such different
resuitsf Have we kinder soil, moro genial sun,
greater enterprise or more industry, or more econ
omy1 They bavc indeed some misunderstanding
nearer tho markets; nearer the sources of sup
ply; Labor cheaper, and the price of the staple
ticle higher by the difference of freight. How is it,
that they sinking in utter and irretrierabic
IN, while ce are IN comparatively fourishing
dition9
"Ihc depression in the south has been ascribcd
to the operation of tho tariff but those laws act
quaily upon us; and we cannot comprehend how
they exert the mysterious and extraordinary nfu-
encc attributed TO them. The decline in the price,
was for time imputed to the tariff 1t was sup
posed to be effected by indirect means, beyond
the reach ofcommon observation. But this be-
iteve, Is now abandoned. 1t is known that the
price fell with the increasing productions it tods the
erceSs OF supply pressing on the demand for eonsump
ton; 1t 'cas the natural effect Of redundant mar
ket.
ave have heard also of a new theory, by which
it is maintained that the producers, and not the
consumers, pay all the duties, and that therefore
the cotton interests taxed with two-thirds of all
the revenue! This struck us at first by its bold
ness and originality. 1t had the merit of being a
cause, which, if true IN principle would adequate
ly account for all the evils whether real ur imagin
airy, ascribed to the tariff but the fact being
true, the theory has been oxl loded; and have
returned to the old opinion, that in reality the
sumner, whoever he is, and wherever he may be,
pays all the duties levied upon all the articles he
buys, and that therefore they fall very equally upon
all; and consequently the duties of twenty millions
| paid to the government, levied upon all the
people, and drawn from all the labour of the coun
try, amounting to many hundred millions; and not
upon the mere producers of the articles that enter
into foreign commerce, which do not exceed sixty
Millions
''But it has been said the tariff is most unjust
and oppressive, and is producing the most fatal eff
tects upon the south. Let how this stands
with us. The price ofcotton has fallen, but so has
every thing else, and from the same cause. The
taxes are necessarily high to defray the expense.
of government, and discharge heavy public debt
but then all contribute according to their
''ln regard to ourselves, we know, that the whole
expenses of or plantations do not exceed thirc
of the value of the crops that is, less than three
cents pound, and that the residue is profit upor
the capital employed. That half of this amount o.
expenses is for articles made in The United States
and not included in the tariff and not in ann ,rn,
affected byit The other half is composed Of arti
cles that are embraced by it, and furnish fair
ample of the general operation ofthose laws. The
whole of them have fallen since the tariff of 1924
from % to so per cent. in value; some of them es
pecally cotton goods, cheaper than in England
and fairly compete with them. Others, such a,
cotton tagging ,ohich constitutes a considerable ite,
Of expense, rs noo made in the iDeStern states of
quality superior TO tie foreign sirteen cents an,
to ioAich 1t rs reducedby competition. Th.
article, together with the cordage, is so low
that it fully remburses the planter by the weight
for all the cost Upon the remainder of the article.
we may perhaps pay 25 per cent; but the price.
| fall Ne mi
quota to the government in some form; could We
expect to pay less upon the amount of our proper
ty or our revenue, or could we pay it in more
convenient form9 Or can ace complain 1rhen 10,
look to the protection naords, and the effect of tha
security upon the udue Of our labour and our proper
ty? Besides, in the present regulated state, are
secure from great fluctuations, the market il
well supplied at fair and steady price which will
not be materially affected during a war"
From this testimony there can be no Legitimate
appeal 1t emanates from source beyond the sus
pcion OF Incompetence undue bias; and mus
foreclose the doubts on this important subject, o
every candid, honorable man in the United States
The letter in preceding page, expresses al opin
ion that the distress of South Carolina is greatly
| exaggerated. 1t may tend TO afford some corrobo
ration to this opinion, to reflect the extent of thu
produce of that state, far the public document
enable us to investigate the subject
! The exports of S. Carolina to foreign
countries, in the year 1885, were 1880 S2I
She exported coastwisc, 81 ,256 bale sof
cotton, at suppose $50 617, $50
And rice, and sundry articles, also coast
wise, suppose 200, OOC
8,498, sol
OF her exports of cotton, there were
1851 bales fthe Georgia crop 7O7, 73t
Exported produce of South Carolina in
1880 $7,79O, III
The domestic exports of the United
States, in 1880, were S59, 1862. 90.
OF which cotton amour
ted TO S29, 674, S83
! Tobacco $3.50, 1865
Rice 1885, 1924