The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-04-03


md in this way larger sum will be pro-
duced, than any estimate founded upon
the present ann cunt of impor!ations.
Mr.. Preside mt, let us now present the
question fairly. Shall the people of the
United States, be taxed upwards Of SIX
teen and halfmilions of dollars annu-
ally, upon imported articles, for the pur-
pose Of enabling the domestic manufac-
turers to tax them in the same degree
upon all the articles manufactured and
sold by them This, is the very object
the manufacturers have in view, in pres
sing this subject OH Congress. Their
language to us, is plainly this we want
to make your constituents, one aud all,
pay us higher price for all the articles
we manufacture this we cannot do, so
long as they are permitted to buy the
same kind of articles made in foreign
countries; therefore, we insist that you,
by taxation on the foreign articles, shall
SO increase the price, that your constit-
uents will be constrained to buy Of us, at
prices which will enrich US. Disguise
this matter as they may, this is the true
cause of all that anxiety and solicitude,
which they have manifested from the
commencement Of this system. For my
self, am unwilling to indulge them at
the expense Of those, whose interests are
in part confded to my care. will, here
remark, that if the duty on protected i'm
ported articles, shall amount to twenty
millions Of dollars and the imported ar
ticles, shall constitute one half of the a.
mount consumed in the United States
and the other half shall be supplied from
The domestic manufactures the people
pie Of the United States will be taxed to
the amount of forty millions: of which,
the one half arising from the duty on for
eign imported articles, goes into the
Treasury, and is of somc public benefit
the other half goes into the hands of the
domestic manufacturers, and is of no fur
ther advantage, ihan, as it increases the
wealth Of a few of the capitalists Of the
country.
Gentlemen say, that most Of the pro-
tected articles can be manufactured as
cheap in this MS in foreign countries. If
this be so, they need no protection. The
cost of transportation and q reasonable
revenue duty will give the domestic arti-
cles great advantage in our market
over the imported articles, and therefore
this tax on the community is wholly un-
necessary, SO far as relates to such arti-
cles. 1t is stated by the advocates of the
Tariff, that certain cotton goods manu-
tactured in the United States, are export
ed to foreign countries and are there
competing successfully with articles of
the same kind manufactured abroad.
Will gentlemen be SO good as to tell me
how it happens that the American can
compete successfully with the British
fabric in another country, and cannot do
SO In this, when the price Of transporta-
ton and revenue duty shall be placed
upon the British article ! Sir, we can
not be mistaken upon this subject. These
articles can be manufactured here as
cheap as elsewheres this is proved by
their expectation and sale in foreign
countries. But the retention Of the duty
enables the domestic manufacturers to
keep out Of our markets the foreign ar
ticles, which might compete with theirs,
and thereby enables them to secure mo-
nopoly, and place higher price upon
the domestic manufactures. The Tariff
Of 1928, is the law now in force; and it
is surely the most unfortunate law / have
ever read or heard of; I have never
heard it commended by any one, in or
out of the Senate. No one owns it, or
acknowledges its paternity; or, admits
he had any agency in making it. 1t is
thrown upon the wide world without a
friend, or patron. All admit, that its
passage was attended with circumstances
unfavorable to fair and equal adjust
mcnt of system Of taxation. Yet, this
law constitutes the sacred ground OH
which the unhallowed foot of legislation
is not to be permitted to tread. We are
told, not to touch it, lest the whole sys-
TEN should be endangered. Sir, l have
no desire to touch it, from what learn
ed from the Senator from sachusetts,
Mr.. Webster,) two years ago, in the
debate on this subject l wish the Tariff
law of 1898 to be among forgotten things.
My wish, is now, to see bill presented
by the committee on finance, containing
list Of the articles imported; then, up
on each article separately, we can de-
terminc what reduction can he made,
without endangering the manufacturing
interests.
am prepared to show what reduction
can be made upon cottons, woolleus, su-
gar, iron and salt I; but forbear to pre-
sent them to the Senate at this time, be-
lieving that this can better be done, and