Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-10
'New Directors.
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

In the last No. considered the first objection to the
lai mat 1t impedes the progress of national wealth.
ana sau that, by substituting domestic manufactures of
nigh natural price for foreign ufac whose NAT
9rai price is low, it certainly has that effect except when
by reason oil the stimulus it gives domestic manufac
ures competition at home eventually reduces their price
lower than they be procured from abroad or
inc foreign article itself lower than it before. We
VIII now pass TO the other objection.
Secondy The opposers of the Tariff farther saw that
eough the protecting policy could not be shown to
feet the total Of the national wealth. il woud he oh
ectonable for its inequality among the several States =:
that operates unequay both its burhens and lis
means are more oppressive and its results
Union. ~
One of the arguments used to prove this inequality,
founded on the notion, that tax imports equivalent
TO tax on exports we have to be unfounded. The
others VIII now be candidly considered.
Independent OF Mr. McDuffe's dogma, that the effect
OF the Tariff on the different States may measured by
their several exports it is generally believed by peo-
pie OF the South that they than their proportion
OF the inpost, because they believe themseves 10 he
greater consumers of imported merchandise But the
Northern and Middle States refuse 10 admit the fact and
some 60 so Tar as to say that in proportion to their gross
population they pay of the mpost than we
heither consume as much, in fact produce
much as free men.
at the nor in any other department the
Government, for determining ii would it be easy TO
devise mode of ascertanipg the amount of foreign
chandZe consumed by the respective States at an
pence and trouble altogether dsproporonate to the object
But there are strong reasons for believing the differ
ece In tins respect among the States is considerable
The tendency which labor and capital TO find COM
mon level especially in this country where the people
readily change their homes and their habits favors tb;S
opinion It's true that slaves less liberal
es oil foreign goods than the poorest our Northern
cilzens but then we know that their masters consume
more freely Tor the compulsory rugaly of the slaves
And If the sum OF industry is less with us than in the
Northern States, as must admit that difference NAV
De by the advantages of SOIL rather of eli
mate. H. 100, there Is greater consumption OF foreign
Injuries in the Northern cities than in the Southern they
are probably consumed in the country freely with us
than in the Northern and Middle States The time has
ia
greater in the Atlantic than the Western States their re-
motcness from market than tho for
UNITY oil their SOIL but since steam navigation has enabled
them to Ind market for their exuberan products they
probably consume their full proportion of foreign mer-
chandize.
Surprising, them that there is no material difference in
the consumption of the several States in proportion 10
their numbers they equally BEAR not only the tax that
paid imports but also that which though less
visible, is no less real which paid domestic manufc-
lures and the complaint Of the Southern States of being
most heavily taxed by of their being the greaes
consumers, seems 10 be unfounded
1t has also been supposed, that the Tariff operates 10
dcpress the price of exports because it lessons our
consumption OF European merchandise, and others can
puy o us oy IN proportion as we buy OF them. Ii is
true, If our Tariff reduced to one half its present
amount we should be consumers to the extent of
twelve millions more than at present. part of which
millions would be laid out in European fabrics TO the
amount perhaps OF five six millions. But this amount
when distributed among the manufacturers of wool cot
tom silk linen, ron SC. of England and France would
bear so small proportion their gross products could
have no sensible effect in increasing their profits and their
would consume tobacco and the additional demand
for cotton, by OF increased consumption OF
cotton fabrics, would be utterly insignificant on the gene
raj cotton market OF the world. Those look TO re
peal OF the Tariff to raise the price Of cotton might
reasonably expect great Charleston dinner to raise the
price OF wine throughout the Union.
Ii may, nevertheless, happen that heavy mpost may
lower the price OF exports Thus il by its checking
sumption, did not import much as we exported 10
foreign country there would be more sellers than buyer
of bills that country-or, in other words excbanp o.,
would be against and this would proporonabIv depres
the price oil our produce in the maket but the depres
SION could not exceed the expcnce of sending spcce
bullion from the foreign country But in point of fact
we know that, in our dealings with England. the chic
purchaser oil our raw produce, notwithstanding our heav,
impos on her manufactures we have steadily bought
her more than we have been able TO SELL appears
change being almost always above the real par by which
our produce rs somewhat enhanced in prices that the dc
preston which the Tariff tends TO produce, has not il
act been produced, and this supposed grievance of th
Southern States, is also uniounded
The protecting system does, however operate unedual
yPon the and the difference is this portion OF the Ia,
which paid by all the States domestic manufactures
Pad 10 the manufacturers in the way of profits and oft
en- Tor time, Of extraordinary profits and this NORTON
centres exclusively in the Northern and Middle States
Those states have two advantages those of South
which secure TO them the whole OF these profits One
their denser population, by which they can have the adj
vantages oil DIVISION OF abour and the other u.s. the
herent advantages Of free labourers over that Of slaves
part Of the tax them which the Northern States nav
Is returned TO them in the profits Of their manufacturers
and in the additional employment afforded to every specie
Of their industry. But the which is paid by the South
ern States is altogether uncompensated
The friends Of the Tariff say that the loss to which III
southern states IS thus subjected, is but temporarytha
the effect Of the bounty given domestic manufactures
by excluding foreign competition, will be to reduce IN
price Of tho article, until II finally is made cbeauer
home than II can be imported from abroad-and that 4