Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-02

ana unequaly on the southern states. will illu-
trate this We will assume that South Carolina an
nually exchanges eight millions of dollars worth
OF cotton and rice for foreign goods pa wing duty
OF nifty per cent, equal to four millions of dollars
| now suppose tho consumer to pay tho whole tax,
how would the account stand! Assume that mo
more than one half of our importations are consul
fned at hsmc' say 100000
| The tax, at so por cent, would be 1900, 900
Suppose two millions exchanged with
our northern brethren for protected
articles, the increased price of which
would be equal to the duty, this
would be 100000
Making $4,000, 900
The remaining two millions being exchanged
Tor unprotected articles, tax of one million would
be PAID on their consumption by northern and
western brethcren. From this state of the case
1T would follow, that if the consumer paws the
whole tax, he would pay consumer three mil
hons out of four imp upon the foreign articles
received IN exchange for our productions, though
we should consume only half of them. But if we
take 1t tor granted that the cannot be added to
| the price, we would of course get back part of
the duties paid at the custom house; and in that
case we should bear the whole buvthen. 1t has
Deen SAID tn at the duties imported articles fall
chiefly on the Rerchant and the foreign manufactu
rer but hold this to be impossible for surely two or
three per cent is the utmost reduction that can be
me de from the profits of the merchant, 81 not much
more could be taken off from those of the manu-
facturer. Indeed, how could it be expected that
the American demand for British manufactures
would materially affect their price, when not more
probably, than twentieth part of the whole finds
market In this country? 1t is on the American
producer therefore, that this tax must chiefly fall
Or, the duties upon imports either paid by the
consumer or they are not If they are paid by him.
1 nave shown that the FAR greater portion of the
duties on the goods received in exchange for our
cotton falls upon the planter, and that for this he
receives no remuneration whatever. If the duties
are not paid by the consumer-that is to say, if
thcy are not added to the price-thcn it is mani
fest that the whole amount of duties falls upon us
without the possibility of relieving ourselves
from amy part of the burden. AS to Inc popular
notion that all consumers must pay equally, |
VIII ask any gentleman to tell me how it is with
those who consume the tdS? Here is tax of six.
teen millions imposed directly or Indirectly upon
southern production. Fourteen millions Of this a.
mount are transferred TO the north, and there
consumed Are the consumers ofthesc fourteen
| millions taxed on their consumption as highly rs
those whe have paid the whole amount!
| Sir, have done with this branch of the subject
Great as are tho present evils of this system on the
| south, there are greater sti-in prospect We
are seriously threatened with the entire loss of tho
foreign markets for productions. a IL trade is
but an exchange of equivalents, and is founded
on the maxim of"gvc and take" If you exclude
Dritish goods from our markets, you, in effect,
exclude our cotton from their markets. II is vain
TO tell us that England must have our cotton. You
may force her to do without it. Even now she
supplies herself to great extent, from other
countries; from her East India possessions, Egypt,
BRAZIL and elsewhere; and you will make it her
| interest, IN the end to give up the American
trade entirely. Even she Is looking to this as
possible event. You find her encourag ing the pro-
ducton OF cotton in the East Indies, by dscrimi-
| mating duty to which you have forced her,
and stimulating the production of the article
| In South America, where she is furnished with
market for her manufactures, almost, duty free.
Can we, then, be blind to the fate that awaits us
when the American System shall be consumma-
ted, and shall be off from market for seven
hundred thousand bales Of cotton? an event
that is hardly necessary for to say, would IN
volye the whole south in irretrievable ruin. 1t
10 idle for gentlemen to pretend that the north can
ever furnish a home market for all the cotton of
the south. Two or three hundred thousand bales
is the utmost extent to which wo could find a
market In that quarter. The catalogue Of the evils
Il OF this system, however, is not yet completed. 1t
is not merely the mischicf has DONE and the still
greater evils which it threatens, hut it has arrest cd
our march to greatness, and prevented us from fall
hlllng our high destinies. What would have been
the condition of this country now if VIC had never
been deprived OF tho blessings Of free trade? Why
is 1T that our tonnage and our exports have not
grown with our growth, and strengthened with
our strength? 1t is because prosperity has
been blasted by the restrictive system. Look, Sir,
at this picture. In 1910, with population Of Sc
ven millions, we had n tonnage Of ono million four
hundred thousand. In 1891, with population OF
thrtcon millions, our tonnage is reduced to one
million two hundred thousands; and going still
ed to eighty one millions, while now, with a po-
Pulation ofthrteon million, cur exports rcdu.
eCd to seventy two millions Thus, while our
81 population has increased nearly three fold, our
foreign commerce has not advanced at all. Sir if
WasiIington's free trade system had continued
until this day, (for, bc it remembered, that Alex.
andcr IiamIlton's protecting system was essentially
system Of free trade, imposing ties only Of from
FIVE to seven and one half per cent? can it be
doubted that should now have had TONNAGE OF
two millions and half and that exports
would have amounted 10 one hundred and aud Gf V
mIons7 / am told that ono oC the ahcst fnanci.
ers IN this country, has recently declared shat hc
should consider an average duty of twelve or fi,
teen per ccntum adj vaiCrcm, aLundan'y suiIic
on, Tor all tho purposes OF rcvcuuc, and that under
3 such system, imports and exports woul,
/, in his opinion, exceed an hundred millions o
dollars the very first year. know, Mr. President
that IT has sometimes been said, that the evils un
> der which the south is suffering, arise from th
y over production of cotton; but this is not So
Cotton is an article tho production Of which, can
. not be overdonc. 1t is the cheapest Of all know
u raw materials. 1t is fast sePcrseding silk, WOO
{ hemp, and flax, all over the world. As a proc