The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-04-28
by MlTCHENER & MATTHEW'S.
From The Union Democrat.
RETALIATORY TARIFFS.

iaion ofsuch duties laid by that country our pros
ducts and manufactures. The prolessed Object gener>
ally is by thus inJuring her market 10 compel that
country TO reduce her duties order that her people
may be able to purchase more ofour products and man
ufactures give better prices for them. In reference
to such Tariff, there are several points which it is
the duty orlhe Legislator well to consider.
FIRST. In what manner does relaiatory Tariff
reah so as injure the market of foreign nationl-
Obvious y. by impairing the abi,y.ofour own people
to purchase her products ana nste ibc:ures If by
heav, duty the prizes of those articles be doubled in
market. our people will rare the means to purchase,
Is general principle, only half as much they did
before 0as hpf The money they paid aglhe necessa-
~ comfort, or luxury imported from that country, is
now taken by government aud put into the FIeaSu
.y. The conseque" zee is. that they get only halt as
much lUr their money they formerly did. aud one>
huIfthe fruits OF their industry expended for those ar-
,ices, is taken from them altogether.
The first effect, therefore, falls and falls heavily on
our own people The effect upon foreigners is secon'
Diary and consequential only. hmay be serious or ul'
fling, as it is influenced by other considerations If our
country be their only market for the articles thus highly
taxed onehalf the demand will be cut off, and the ef
feet will be serious upon that particular interest II
their market he as extensive the commercial world,
the loss of half in our country will have but slight eff
feet. rsny at all. Aud ifdriven measuraby out ofour
ket, they have ere gy aud ability t. make or find
new one Of the same extent our retaliation will not be
felt qt all.
One thing is certain Tie H. furious effects of retail
ao5y tariff tall Gr,t aud inevitably our own people.
Whether they fall heavily or lightly or not at all, on
the cIun,ry intended to be injured, is matter which
can be determined only by the circumstances Of tie
case.
Secondly. Can we by legislation jure the market
of foreign country without ultimate injury to our ownl
How do our people pay what they buy abroad'
Obviously in their own produce and manufactures.
Our country produces but little gold and silver We
purchase those articles do all others by the pro-
ducts our indu sty, agricultural manufacturing,
and commercial aided somewhat by the fisheries and
the chase. France, England, and The principal coun-
iries with which we deal are similarly situated. Our
trade with them is but mutual exchange produce d
manufactures, INTO which gold and silver sometimes en-.
ter to adjust Laances.
Nothing is more Obvious than that any measure
which mpa;rs the ability of France England to buy
Of our people, impairs in equal degree the market
for our produce and manufactures in those countries.
The first step of a Retaiaory Tariffs, to make our
people pay double price for French and English pro-
duce and manufactures. OF course they are able TO
buy but one>hafthe usual quantity. As they can sell
us but half as much as usual they are able 10 buy but
half as much Of our produce and manufactures in return
The result is, that Relaaory Tariff mpairs our own
market as much as il does that Of the country at which
it is aimed We lay this down as a certain general
result somewhat varied ooe wayor the other by pecu-
liar circumstances
Now e, us strike the balance of profit and loss pro-
duced to our people by etsatory Tariff. Our peo-
pie buy oi England will say, million of yards o.
broad cloth ats per yard, costing $3, OOoOo. But
because she will permit her people to buy our -Four
or other produce except at high price Congress lays
RetaIiatory duty Broad 9th, which makes it cost
So per yard The So, ,0OO 600 which formerly bought
Il million of yards will now buy but half a million. u
the English lose their market TO the extent of 81 5OO,>
OOO In losing their MARKET they lose their ability 10
purchase of us in an equal degree, that the market
for our products is also impaired the extent 500
600.
The people lose the whole amonnt of the retnIatory
duty paid into the Treasury, 81, 500 900
They lose their market to the extent Of 500 0OO
Total loss TO our own peorl4 $3OoOOOO
The English lose their market the
extent of 5COC COO
Balance Of loss against our own people, $l ,5VO OUO
In its nature, the effects of such measure are not as
certainable with mathematical precision, and we pre-
SEM the foregoing only TO illustrate general result
That in most cases Retalalory Tariffs produce more
injury the country which imposes them han to those
which they intended to operate we have not the
least doubt. They suicidal IN the highest degree
and can ony be useful temp orary expedIent, and
under circumstances which bring the foreign nation Pc
cuarly within The reach ofour legislation. Nine times
out Of ten, they do unqualified mischief producing no
effect but 10 provoke Hind retaliation on the other
side.
Who profits by ,hissystem1 Not the PEOPLE Of
either OF the two Countries nobody but The dependents
of governments--none but those who live by taxation
: upon the labor Of the people. ..
The philosophc statesman will look upon high tar
IFS in foreign countries he dses upon natural obsruc
tons to lhe trade Of his own-to he removed il they
can be without much cost, and TO be submitted to
ifthpy cannot. lie would think it remedy for bars
IN the mouths ofthe rivers of Europe A-a and Africa,