Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-04-04

reviewed entirely from taxation. ouch is the conf
promise proposed to the South. The evils of which
we complain are to be increased-the protective
system is to be rivetted upon the country beyond
Jail hope of relief and, we are told, we ought to
receive this as 4 concession. Sir, we say to you,
we are willing to submit to have the foreign man.
ufactures, for which we exchange our productions
taxed for revenue, thoG gh we know that such tax
must operate as bounSy to the domestic manu-
facture; and so far diminish the value of our
productions, but we invoke you not to aggravate
the injustice and inequality of this system, by ex-
tending the tax beyond the just revenue standard
and by so arranging the duties as to throw the
burden entirely upon the protected articles to re-
leve the tariff States from all taxation, and to
throw the burdens entirely on us. Above all, we
lcall upon you to remember, that the British man.
ufactures on which you propose to throw almost
the whole burden of the government, are those
which we receive in exchange for our productions
that to burden them is to burden us, and that
the end of all this may, and probably will be,
that we shall be deprived of our best customers,
and be cut off from the only sure market for our
cotton, rice, and tobacco.
The policy proposed in the amendment which
l have submitted, is founded on the just princi-
pies have advocated. The arrangement of the
details we willing TO leave to the committee.
We do not propose to destroy, or even to injure,
the manufactures. We are willing they should
have the incidental protection afforded by fair
revenue system, and on any plan of reduction,
the duties and charges on the foreign manufac-
ture will not fall much short of SO l-3 per cent.
and surely, Sir, if with protection equal TO
one third of the cost of the article our manufac-
lures cannot be maintained, they ought to be
abandoned at once, since nothing can be clearer
hat hax xuo,,IJ thar ha cuctoipad at
tain loss to the country We do not insist on an
immediate reduction, to the lowest revenue STAN
dard- AS the public debt is not yet paid, we are
willing that the reduction on the protected art-
Giles should be gradual-and spread, if gentlemen
please, over two or three years; and, if they de-
sire it, we will not object to making an immedi-
ate reduction on The unprotected articles, of 10
or Is per cent. The immediate effect of this plan,
so far from being injurious to the manufacturers,
will, am persuaded, serve rather to strengthen
them, and even in its ultimate results, no manu-
lacturs will be injured that does not depend on
protection for its existence, and is not sustained
at the public expense. Suppose the duties on the
protected articles were now reduced ten per cent
below their present rates. and by subsequent
steps carried down gradually to the true revenue
standard, what would be the effect of this first
reduction of ten per cent? If yard of Eng
fish cloth cost dollar, paid duty of fifty per
cent, and, with the addition of charges, could be
retailed at two dollars, the effect of this reduc
ton would only be to reduce the price to one dol
lar and ninety cents So that the protection to
the American manufacturer woald be lessened
only five per cent Now if this provision were
accompanied by an immediate reduction of the
duties on the unprotected articles from fifty per
cent. to fifteen, would not the manufacturers de-
rive some compensation in the diminished cost of
every article which enters into their consump-
ton? and if, in addition to this, there should be
a considerable reelection of duties on the raw ma
terial, would submit to their serious considera-
ton whether their condition then would be worse
than it is now. The true policy of the manutac
turers it appears to me, consists in obtaining
their raw materials cheap, and having their ex-
penses diminished by taking off unnecessary
taxes on their consumption. Sir, if this is to be-
come a manufacturing country, we must look to
the markets of the world. A feeble and sickly
existence may be preserved at home by system
of protection and of bounties--but to be put on
a sure foundation, and to acquire that vigor,
strength, and energy, which will enable them to
enter into successful competition abroad, with
the manufactures of other countries, it is
Isary they shonld be prepared for the contest, by
being left, in great measure, to their own UNI
aided efforts. In one respect the United States
possess an advantage over all the world, of which
it seems to me, it would be madness not to avail
ourselves We can reduce the cost of produc-
ton in every department of industry, to the very
lowest rates. Our People are not necessarily
borne down by an almost insupportable weight of
taxation. We have no debt which can never be
paid--no burthensome establishments-no Kings,
Lords, and Commons, to eat out the substance Of
the People. In this consists our great advantage,
and it will be our own fault if we do not avail
ourselves Of it to the fullest extent. This, sir,
is not only the favorable moment for adjusting
this great question, but if it be suffered to pass
away, it can never be recalled. The manufac-
lures now can be let down without shock, from
the position to which they have been so unjustly
elevated. They will now be renumerated for
any diminution of their protection; but if the
plan proposed in the gentleman's resolution
should prevail, the immediate effect will be an
increase of their protection, an enlargement of
their bounty, and, of course, if these are to be
reduced hereafter, the shock will be much great
err than that to which they would now be subject
ed. Sir do consider that, in making my propo-
sition, am proving myself a true friend to the
manufacturers-and that they are their worst en-
emies whatever they may themselves believe)
Al