Southern planter., 1832-02-25

dalton Tor The assertion thanfhs, thai the prices of
coilons, woolleny, md iron, have actually fallen
since 1927 But al other articles havo likewise
fallen, protected and unprotected Real and per
personal estate, cotton, flour, and tobacco, al-al
have gone down; and most of them have ALLEN in
much gFeiier degree than woOens c1lions, md
IRON Has tic idrfFdonc oil fhsg What say the
qcnilemeni ihaye horea price current containing
the prices Of 25O articles, in 1916 and 1873
From this Il appears that there has been an unyof-
sal reduction in the price Of articles Of every dc
scripiion, and that those admitted duty free have
been reduced, al least, IN on equal ratio with those
paying duties. Indeed, Sir, think thai careful
examination Of this table will sbew, that reduction
IN The protected articles has not been so great as 10
the others But The reduction has not been confn.
ed 10 this country, lihas taken place in England
and all over the world, in an equal, nay, in great
er degree. The very articles most highly protected
10 this country, cotons, woollcns, and iron, are now
selling IN England much lower than they can be OBJ
tanned here Thisis fact perfectly notorious to
every importing merchant, and have abundant VI
donce oft now in my hands. Here are statements
showing that such goods have actually been impori-
"a within the last year, into Philadelphia, New
York, and elsewhere, and aner paying duties from
so 10 an 100 per cent have been sold az low as tho
domestic manufacture. Sir, / ascerainod before
len home, thatthe whole quan ity ofcotou goods
imported into Charleston during the last year, paid
on average duty offny per cent, and then ihcy
were sold as low as American coiions Of the sauie
quality. Bui am really ashamed TO argue aques-
non 20 solEeyident. How can taxes possibly les
sen nricesi How can protection diminish tho cost
Of produciion7 What are the elements Of pricei
Arc they not the cos, OF tho raw naterial--the wa
ges Of iabor-aud the interest Of capital; and how
can these be- lessened by tax on the artlclel To
anu to- ~ n,
tlemen might az well contend that two added 10 liv
make three, as ihai fly per cent added to The cost
ofan imported article, lessons its price. Ifgentie-
men can believe this, they may believe any thing
But tho truth ", NJ. President, this whole matter Of
The reduction in the price Of goods is very easily
explained II depends on general causes, which
have operated To certain extent all over the world
From thorough investigation Of the subject, which
has taken place in Great Britain, il is found 10 have
resulted from the appreciation Of the currency, i'm
provemonis in machinery, and the general restora
lion ofpeaco. The resumption ofspecie payments
and the diminished supply Of the precious metals,
lscalculaied to have lessened the circulating me
dium TO the amount Of upwards Of f500,O 100000
Tile effect ofthis single cause has been, within
the last ten years, the reduction Of prices in that
country 10 the amount Of thirty per cent: 10 which
fifteen per cent may be added for the other causes
fN "-N"'N'l'~ -hhetAhk W tHc NHutV o iNNhN-
ton Of almost fifty per cent in the money price Of
oil articles The same thing has taken place in this
country, and therefore. When gentlemen allepc that
the price OF manufactures has fallen, the naked lact
proves nothing unless they can shcw that they have
iallen in greater degree than other articles abroad
But this Is 30 far from being the fact, that The pro
tectcd articles have fallon les, IN proportion lian
those which receive no protection. Cotton is
striking example, which has, in a few years, fallen
TO one third Of lis value, while no protected ar
'icle has, in The same period, flou one half
trust, Sir, that we have now made out our case
--tlat VIC have shown the unjust aud unequal op-
erailon, N every point Of view, of this system, and
that, as far rs the South scoDcernod, and tho West
also though not N Tho same degree il Is an unmit-
gated system ofburdens And, oven with regard 10
the favored section, would submit how iir il is
wise to insist upon a sysiom which Gun only be
maintained al the expense Of other sections Sir,
eel too much confidence in the justice and magma
nlmily ofour Northern brethren TO suffer myself 10
dbobt Their willingness 10 abandon this system f
they could see 4 in the light that we do. H. may
enrich them for the moment, but the prosperity i
creates V artificial, and will assurodly be nnsnb
slanual. No country can be permanently benefited
BY system Of bounties This system may destroy
the South, but il will not permanently advance the
prosperity ofthe North Il may debress Us, but can
no' eleVale them. Besides Sir, Il perseyercd in, il
must annIhilate that portion Of the country from
which The resourcesur 70 heldmwn, that are 10 en-.
rich the Northern manufacturers And it may be
well loF gentlemen to reflect, whether adhering to
this policy, would not be acting like the man who
"kiled the goose which laid the golden eggs {"
Let gentlemen be assured, that this is system
which cannot possibly last twill sooner OF later
be utterly overthrown. Would il not be we'll
therefore, for them 10 seficlhis favorable occasion
to make some sacrifice Of tbeir peculiar interests 10
tile general wellareg
In concluding, Mr. President, what have 10 saw
on this branch Of the subject must take the iber-
/ fpresenting few general considerations. In a
broad view oflhe question, It never can be expe-
dient to Introduce into a country the manufacture
ofany article that can not be produced as cheaply
al home as It can be obtained ffom abroad. There
are some such now made in this country, and their
ability TO sustain themselves, without protection. is
unquesiionable. The only exception I would adj
init to the rule have laid down, reates TO articles
strictly necessary to national defence. lido moi al
ude to the habimenis Of soldier, ot the articles
necessary 10 his consumption, but TO arms and rnn
HifioHs Of edr. ltis the true policy of all nations
TO "buy where they can buy cheapest" Thss
the very instinct Of our nature and when we depart
fromit in national concerns, we violate the sound
est principles ofpolitcal economy, science which
IS in fact but fhe lessons or ,v;adon and ~, o,lL