Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-04-13

the United States may be properly considered, as dr.
vided into three great classes the manufacturing
class, tho producing class, and the class composed
OF the inhabitants of the States within whose limits
large bodies of unoccupied lands are still held be-
cause yetunsold by the U. States. The public re-
venue is now derived from each of these classes,
and in something like the following proportions:
The manufacturing class pays but little, compare
livery, OF the amount of revenue derived from the
lmposts on foreign articles, similar TO those manu-
featured by themselves. Their own supply is very
nearly, II not quite equal, to their own demand of
these protected articles. Conseouentlv for the
greater portion the taxes imposed for the purpose of
encouraging and protecting their manufactures is
paid by the other two classes. The manufacturing
class Is then plainly interested i'm continuing all the
duties imposed Tor their protection encourage
ment, which taxes paid, almost exclusively bv
the other classes and amount about fifteen mil
lions of dollars.
The manufacturing class is also interested i'm con-
tiniiing the present price of the public lands; for if
tins is reduced, the necessary effect will be to en-
courage greater emigration TO the western country
SO us to augment the wages of the labor now en-
pioyed IN manufactures, and thus to diminish the
profits OF manufacturing capital. This effect has
been often announced, in various reports from n for
mer Secretary of the Treasury part of whose
grand project of regulating the whole abour and
capital oil the country was TO make lands dear in
order that manufactures might thereby be made
cheap Ana the same idea, in effect has been again
presented to the Senate to-day, i'm the speech of the
honorable Senator from Maine, MIR. Sprague0
But although the manufacturing class is thus in
crested III continuing the present high duties of pro
tecuon, from whence revenue of at least fifteen
lllons is now derived; and in continuing also the
present price of public lands from the sale of which
Il revenue amounting to three millions of dollars
more is now received; yet this class is Interested i'm
the abolition of all other taxes that is to saw of all
inc dutics, upon unprotected articles, because of
these, tins class pays its full proportion bv cons,-
ming at least It's full share of such commodities-
Hence, my friend from New jersey is very willing
to repeal or reduce all these duties. althouob he
ieeis no disposition to curai any of the other sup
plies. ~
The producing class is interested. like the manu-
featuring class in reducing the duties upon the nm
projected articles BECAUSE othcse they too are con-
sumers, and OF course bear share of the burthen
Ill proportion TO their consumption. But as the
whole OF the revenue now derived from this source
Is estimated by no one at than seven millions
oil dollars, as no complaints have ever been urged
against these imposts, and as they fall, principally.
upon the rich, who are well able to bear them the
producing class feels less interest in the reduction of
uiis nrahch OF the revenue, which bears Justly and
equally, than 1t feels in the diminution of the other
great sources of supply, the imposts upon projected
articles This last tax falls upon them almost ex
cuSIveiy, and principally upon their poor; it is near
~ double of both the other supplies put rooetber
and so bears most unequay, uniustly and oppres-
sivcly upon this class.
In regard 10 the public lands, the producing class
nave no interest whatever in this subject, if they
nave any, IT'S rather opposed to the reduction of the
price OF these, reduction of The price of lands
any where, must, to some extent, influence the price
Oh lands every where i'll the same country But ms
the present condition of the country does no, re
4ure The preservation of all the sources of revenue
as they now stand, the producing class is willing and
desrous TO act justly with each of the other classes
lhey say, reduce the amount of the public burthens
now unnecessarily imposed upon all classes to an
amount not greater than may be sufficient to satisfy
all the reasonable wants of the government In this
reduction, consult the wishes and grievances of all
and remove every burhen which can properlv he
dispensed with, until you have arrived at the pro-
posed point Do not relieve the rich alone. how
ever, by abohshing the duties which fall upon them
but disburthen the poor also. Do no, relieve Tho
manufacturing class from their share of common
and legal imposition, and continue much greater
burhens upon the other classes. Do not tighten the
heavy load which is now borne by some, by taking
off that portion of its weight which is felt TO he prie
vous by them only, but in this long ooked-for day
OF expected relief, diminish the burhens of ALL And
as you of the classes so well i'm any
other mode, as by reducing the price of the public
lands, grant this boon to them also that none NAV
remain dissatisfied.
The class of our citizens who are inhabitants ofthe
several States within which the public lands are 81
uated, are interested but liIile if at ALL in any of the
dutles oil impost, whether these are imposed upon
protected or unprotected articles. The remote posi-
oh OF lar The greater part of this class i'm the nteri-
or OF the distant west making the cost of transpor-
atio c all such commodities considerable and the
supply irregular, must augment the price, to them,
OF all imported articles, much us to prevent such
articles from entering much into their consumption
Therefore, whether the duties ofimpost are continu-
ed orabolIshed is of but little consequence TO them
In either case, they must rely mainly upon their own
household manufactures and productions to stlDplv
their own wants. Duties of protection give no en-
enlargement TO them, for they not made for sale:
and If these duties abolished, the same cause
which produced such manufactures Mt first must
continue them still. This class therefore feels but
little direct interest in any of the duties of impost
But, although Indifferent to this part of the sinh
Ject, they are not Indifferent to the other The sales
OF the public lands act perpetual drain of their
duced by remttances of the proceeds hither: and
thus The value OF their whole capital and labor is
kept in state of perpetual fluctuations to the great
detrment OF the interests of both. Moreover ac-
cording to the price of the public lands within the
limits OF the States, will be the migration to them
Diminish tins price, and you multiply the number of
emIgrantS desrous OF purchasing there Thus YOU
increase the number of the inhabitants of these
States so open new sources of revenue TO their To-
cal governments, and augment at once the price and
value OF all their productions. Besides while the
united States continue to be the great landlords of
the west, the people of the several States within
whose limits their farms exist, are so fnade the trbu
tares OF this government, dependant upon its power
and patronage more than any others-Suryevs are
made, land-oflces are opened, and offices created
there at our discretion. BY bringing more or less of
land INTO the market at any time and at any place
we are so enabled TO regulate the price of the pro-