Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1842-12-17

smug9ler stepping IN as the corrector Of
eXIraNagantly high duties, even under The
most despoiIc governments, and that the
American Congress have Committed an
egregious error in this respect with many
articles OF the tariff, does not admit of q
question. The result is however, palpa-
bic, and obvious to all persons conversant
with the trade Of the United States. The
moment it is found that it will be more
profitable TO take the risk of entering by
the Canadian frontier than by the Custom
House Of New York, goods will be shipped
for Quebec, New Brunswick, &c., nearly
as openly for the merchants in the eastern
towns of the States as if the trade were di.
rect. 1t is utterly impossible to guard q
frontier extending 1900 or 1900 miles
with population on both sides of the line
interested in affording every facility 10 the
contraband trade. Every person acquant-
ed with the practical effect of the former
high tariff on the Canadian line, is aware
that the bulk of The article was no security
whatever against smuggling. and there is
no reason to believe that the Americans
have GecOme more yirtuous and patriotic
than they were Tn or twelve years agp.-
The best jndge1 are, therefore, decidedly of
opinion that sapposing the southern and
weS'ern States were to submit to the pre-
sent tariff remaining permanent, Case by
the way altogether improbable, the oh ect
for which it IS imposed would most GER
tainly be defeated. 1t will neither answer
the purpose as Il question OF revenue, nor
as protection to the manufacturers in The
north eastern States in competition with
the old settled countries in Europe. The
payment Of the important duties in
hard cash, when the goods are entered at
the Custom Houses, it is concluded very
nationally will have considerable Influence
in preventing consignments on speculation,
but we question if they can be fairly set
down rs an evil.
From tie London Gazette of the 7h.
The more The new American tariff i.
considered, the more cert lin do we fee
that its operation will be injurious 10 the
manu- 'acturing and trading interests of this
country, without producing correspond.
ing advantage TO the United States. In
England we have got by heart lesson in
financial operations which it woull appear
our friends on the other side of the Allan
tic have yet to letrn. We know well that
in matters Of revenue, Two AMI two do not
always make four. The tariff is evidently
resoreI TO with the view of placing the re-
venue on firmer basis than 1t now stands
an it is not li,tlc curious that for this
purpose the United States Government
sho III resort 10 an increase Of duties at
The very time when this country, having
The same object ip view, takes precisely
the opposite course 10 carry it out-name-
lv, hy Iesoltlng to a reduction instead OF
an increase of duties. The duties on
printed cotons are so high as TO prohibit
their importation of any of our low priced
fabrics: and even when they could not 9th
erwisc be sent to the United States with
some advantage 10 the exporter, the mode
in which the ad valorem duty is to be le-
We'd will operate practically as an ad Ii
ional rest lotion, il it be hot altogether
prohibtory. They are II be valued per
var Tut as the value is not to be the &C.
tull value of the goods, but a value impo-
sel arbitrarily, and, as it would appear,
for the purp Sc Of placing all manner of
difficulties in the way OF their introdIc ion,
it Will be very difficult for the exporter to
rcgullte his c0nsignmens.