Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-28

EAthASTs ~ report maze 10 the cH-enS o) htrhWoHd
6ya Select Committee Mr. Thos. Ruherto0rd, Chair
man, and unanimously adopted by the Meeting, Sep
tender ~ leo:
Your committee have been encouraged to enter into
an examination Of The subject from belief, that when
the House of Representatives passed the bill referred
to- majority of those who voted in favor thereof did
so from an expar,e representation of the subject, and
under The influence OF patriotic but mistaken zeal,
To promote The interests of class of mon, 10 whom
they believed The nation TO be greatly indebted The
ardor of the moment having now, however, passed
away It may be hoped the subject will yet be fairly
| examined and that u just decision will ensue
ii ~ held 10 be incontroverttbe axiom "that the
greatest degree of happiness is communicated TO the
greatest extent oil population, by growing what the
territory Of country can grow most cheaply, and by
receiving r.her countries what 1t cannot produce
but ut tou great m expense
Ii IS almost equally true that TO Interfere with any
Of the different branches o human industry by pro.
trcting or more at The expense of the rest, wall
be productive OF evil and that such interference
the part of Republican Government like ours,
which guarantees to every man the liberty of pur
suing such occupation TO him may seem BEST pro-
vdcd he does jury to the rights Of others, must
he fraught with manifest injustice.
On these principles therefore, It would seem, that
except Tor the sake Of revenue and 10 guard against
too great dependence other countries for absolute
necessnres which, timss Of tcar, especially, might
be severely felt wise Government VII, not interfere
WITH or pretend direct the industry of her citizens,
by any partial favor or particular taxation.
The amount %: revenue necessary 10 be raised, will
be sought for therefore, The first place, by taxes or
duties articles of luxury, such "a by loo free
use thereof prove injurious the health and morals
Of people and in The ncIt place, should these
sources fail To produce sufficient amount, by taxes or
duties on articles which contribute TO comfort; and
asq on those Of the first necessity, having due
gard to the consideration of making all taxes bear us
equally the community as possIbe-Qhnse pad on
Injuries being considered To be paid Voluntarily be-
cause n need not incur them unless he chooses
By wise Government no probitory duties will be
a:d Will any 50 heavy be imposed as absolutely 10
exclude goods OF foreign growth or manufacture, lest
thereby Tie great body OF the people, become for time
prey 10 few Interested individuals, smugg ing
be introduced greatly 10 the in jury Of morality and III
the lair trader (whelher importer rnanutactnrer,)
who is thus exposed 10 unequal competition, ag,inst
such pay neither regard To the interest of their fell
low citizens, ior 10 the zanctity Of an oath.
On all articles of which Cotton is the chief
tcria we find duty already laid, lat the lowest raie
of - per cent nd vaiorem, and that the lowest kind Of
piece goods shall be valued for duty at - cents per
SQUARE ward which valuation far enhances the duty,
ms IN many instances make it actually than 30
per cent ad yaoren, which has already IN effect served
rs prohibition against most OF the cotton goods from
Incia and many of the lowest fabrics Of cotton goods
from Europe. This will very plainly appear, when TO
this drty we add the enhanced price the European
nuiacturer pays for the raw material above what the
manufacturer in the l.. S. may procure II nj, which
nav be estimated al an average OF at least cents per
Mound for freight, insurance and charges to England
with duty and commission there.
The Cotton Manufacturers within the L. S are,
therefore, already protected b. % per cent difference
in the cost Of the MATERIAL by the European Ma
nuiac,urers profit, which il Is presumed may be iair
IL rated at twelve and half per cent mare, by the
charges on Importation, say for Packages, lnsurances
Commissions and Freight commonly rated al Ten per
cent, by the duty of twenty live per cent on lmporta
tlon aud lastly by the Importing Merchants profit,
which il is presumed may be rated nj ID PER cent also
he, US examine what all this viii amount to
Suppose there is laid out in the u. 5, Tor
cotton wool, $1,000 90
To which add the following items:
For freight and charges 10 England, incud
ing the duty there rated at - per cent, $50 0o
Far sunnosod cxpenscs of manufacturing, 900 0U
For manu:aciurers profit, rated al l2l per
cent. Oh the amount expended, Isl -
For charges of importation from England to
America, rated al 10 per cent, 2'3 -
For dny on importation, - per cent, 6!'O W
For importers profit, rated a. 10 per cent
on the aggregate, S'47 VI
7ans erhiLtns an aggrcsuts Of s3523 80
fom The saies Of one thousand dollars
Ind ont in .4mcrica for Cotton Wool.
Now, suppose The American Manufacturer
also lays out in cotton wool, Sl,ooo w
''i inr ;,,s thereof 1000 90
And that he shall have TO pay to an ngent
for the sale of his goods, commission OF
five per cenlum on a similar aggregate OF
80 So III, I?l ~
There will teman to The American manu-
facturer nett profit Of 1857 oo