The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-01-28
From the Phila. SIirit ofihs TINES.
Low TARIFF VS.. HIGH yAPIrE.

\ ~
We pecaise that the Secretary of the Treasury
recommends the adjustment Of The Tariff TO the
economical wants of the government, and does not
advocate protective tariff per Sc.
We believe the Secretary has always been high
tariff man, (atleast up to the passage of the Com.
promise Act,) and rs such, has written, in his an
nual report, about half column III favor Of an in.
crease of duties on certain unspeci!ed commodities.
He says,
"Nolhing ismore established by our experience,
and the experience Of other nations, than that the
augmentation Of duties does not augment, in I'm
equal degree, the cost Of the article TO the cOnsu-
ers. In many cases it appears not to increase that
cost Il, all. Very often the price 10 the consumer
is kept down, Notwithstanding IN increase ofdulies,
partly by the greater supply Of the home produc-
lion, and partly by the reduction ofthe price in the
foreign market. IT is believed indeed that there
have been cases in which the joint operation Of the
two causes mas accustomed prices TO f:ll lower than
they were before the increase Of duties was lain.
Now, if this be true, why are such perseyerina
efforts made land 50 much time and money wasted,
by members OF Congress TO raise the duties 1t
seems, that the Augmentation Of duties may be III
furious to the manufacturers; and at medium the
goods be imported at the same expenses AS before.
Surely, man not given to speculation, would pre-
fer to rest satisfied with the protection he enjoyed
rather than hazard so uncertain benefit as u raise
in price,
The argument is strange one TO be brought for
ward IN support of an increase Of duties for il is Of
more value when used on the opposite side. Iio
further asserts, that the producer in some cases
pays the whole increase Of duty, and cites US an
analogous instance, that the wheat grower Of In
diana, pays the whole cost of transportation to IN
Atlantic city! This caps the climax!
Mr. Webster, il was snid BY the high tariff party,
had completely demolished Gen. Iayne, who ar
gued that the producer paid pqrt o the tax
What Hercules in aid oiGen liayne, the worthy
Secretary would have been, We doubt whether
u single individual could be found in The Union TO
back the opinion of the Secretary.
lie says again, "The cost of transportation does
not operate so much to raise the price at the place
Of sale las to dnish il at the place ofproduclion.'
The whole Of the argument on this hand, and the
calculation Of, and effect upon, the wheat grower
is tops-taryy. If his argument and statement be
correct, cotton growers Of the south have been
vastly more imposed upon, tlma they ever dreamed
Of How aslonshed the plain farmer Of Indiana
will be, when he reads the Sccrelary's report lie
will discover that he has been paying from three 10
five dollars on every barrel Of -four he has raised.
and which may have been shppied 10 an Atlantic
cily--l loss that before, he kenw nothing Of, ana
cannot now calculate because he Is unable TO nsctr-
tain how many, if any Of his barrels have gore
there, He will no doub, ,ako care, that no person
shall hereafter be purchaser his -four, who in
tend to send it TO an Atlantic city, and make him
suffer so severely in his pocket
What absurd arguments the resllcliyes are fer
ced TO assume, 1t Is grevlouS task 10 b0 compell-
ed to notice their nonsenscal illusions But as
they are reputed to be wise men, the unwilling
labor is at times forced upon US. We have to tell
I h,, th.t - i, Il
where the commodity is produced, that governs the
price; and if the price in an atlantic city will more
Than pay the extra charge Of transportation, tho
price will rise at the place in which it was pto-
dnced, This is the business mode. and his imagi.
nation has turned The rational of it upside down.
! On newly settled lands, prices are always low
est, when the grain is first raised, and gradually,
rises; but the cost of transportation never lowels
prices TO the farmers, unless The means oftranspor-
lation have decreased--and not them unless some
other grain furnishing section Of the country has
facilities superior 10 those Of his own from the (ain-
l'hlng oil tie same market Another NfgumenI 10
in account mat, because England makes her peo-
pie pay high prices for wheGt, we shoid make
ours pay The same high prices for their cloths ! he
rest Of this Argument IA founded upon his singular
fact, That il certain persons in the Union do not
work IN certain kinds Of factories, they will neither
eat nor drink. Whether or no, their wounded feel
ngs will prompt them to adopt this course, he does
not say, But he shows it very clearly, tina, ifihey
do moi eat, (and Tins he says will be the cnse,l
there will be IN absolute loss 10 the wheat and
.oru growers
The truth Of tho matter il, the " Restlc,ires'
have hut one argument whichis good for any thing,
! Knock that from under them, and down they fall.
Yet this very argument, they never ayow, although
all their other arguments ure based upon it. 1t is
SO absured they are ashamed TO recognize it before
the world. 1t Is this That this country is not
able to support its small population unoss q por-
ton of it work in certain munuiac,orics--whch
may We specified ns cotton aud wooen, If we ever
find m argument Of theirs worth examining, NO
will find this humiIia,ins and false position to 10
its basis.