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

ing the skill and machinery, aud on account
OF labor being in this country perhaps oearel aiso
that American Manufactures may be subjected 10
an extra expense Of fifty per cent for
there will still remain 10 him nett prohl OF nearly
thirty per cent the whole amount expended. but
Will be SAID that certain articles Of Woollen ahniac'
ture pay only fifteen per centum duty, VIZ: piahHe,S,
rugs, worsted and stuff goods To which 1t may De
answered, that II was deemed mpotc TO charge these
goods with higher rate of Duty account Of lhe'r
beng OF general necessity, and it may moreover o.
urged, that account Of their bulk &:, the tfeSn'
and expenses importation Of these goods Will conS
deraby exceed the ten per cent charged tor tha PuF'
pose, and that the foreign manufacturer must IN most
cases also pay commission for the sale OF his gocaS
rs well as the manufacturer here, though it was iri'
out in The preceding estimates, that questionable
Charge might be brought forward.
1t - conceived unnecessary to proceed further BY
way Of example, 10 show how all different manu-
features are already protected and encouraged under
the existing Tariff, nearly all o! them may be raogcG
under the other Of the examples already stated
but your Committee, avowing themselves the friends
of Internal Manufactures means OF promoting ma
tiona industry and security, and therefore conceivin
that they ought 10 be fosered as far they he
without injury other branches Of industry, would
mos, gladly suggest any thing which might conduce to
that end, without being highly injurious TO The revenue,
destructive 10 the interests oil commerce and OPP.
pressye to the great body of the people. In THIS view,
therefore, they respectfully suggest, that all articles
now subjected to duty of and half per cent.
may be made subject duty of l2t 10 per cent,
under the impression That this difference in the duty
will make little difference in the consumption
that these articles being for the most part snch may
BE- Justly ranked articles Of luxury, wilt bear
addition Of taxation without being felt by the grea;
body Of the people; and that while the lmpost does not
exceed twelve and half TO fifteen per cent, Snug.
Cling is not much TO be apprehended, though the
snugn!er will not be restrained by his principles from
the practice thereof yet due regard 10 his interest
will operate to restrain him; and in this view it is 10 be
that the smuggler must incur greater xpenses
bringing his goods to market, than the fair trader,
n obliged conceal his operations and he must
also sell reduced rates, 10 get them quickly oil his
hands, to escape detection. IT. therefore, ten per cent
IS allowed 10 these items, land it IS believed II
will require that proportion al least 10 do so, the
mander will not be sufficient TO induce the un
orincpled TO engage in business OF much risk
Your committee beg il distinctly tn he observed, how
ever that in their view duty Of twenty five per cent
oilers 10 the cup:dty of smugglcrs three times the temp
that duty Of fifteen per cent would do, and
therefore do they deprecate til" strongest terms the
lmposton of heavy duties, as highly Injurious to the
revenue to the equal rights Of their fellow and
To the morals of the people Hitherto frauds upon me
revenue have been comparatively few, aad smuggling
has been repressed by the general Of the mercan
tile community; but should system be adopted which
should hold temptations 10 smuggling what means
can be found in the s. to repress the practice, espe
cally when The laws imposing heavy duties shall be-
odous as the supposed instruments oil opPress'on'
Your committee having suggested all such alterations
in the system, their opinion, can IN any
way serve To promote the interest of manufactures,
hont being yiialy destructive to the interests oi
commerce and navigation, and at the same time most
burihensome the people, Will nert pro
coed examine the and policy of the measures,
go strongly advocated during the last session of Congress
as to have obtained orty of the House OF Repre-
scnatves in their favor In the first place, lei us en-
uue into the claims Of the manufacturers themselves,
and why they are camorous Tor increase OF du.
ties when we find such an ample protection already
afforded them They say, we told, they sutf-r-
inu By the heavy importaons Of manufactured goods
and must be- ruined II check is not put thereto, where
rs the truth is that oil classes of society are now sui
frrn9, and have yet much to suffer, from the many
millions suddenly withdrawn from circulation, To ena-
BILE the banks To resume specie payments which by les
ming the value of all articles operates most severely
and must prove great degree runous to all Whoa are
in debt more especially TO those who are so, for landed
property or improvements; It has been very plainly
demonstrated by many recent attempts 1t sales, that
propcriy will in very few at this time, repay more
than oe. third the cost thereof THIS IS believed tn be
true of town property IN general AS WELL therefore,
NAV all those who have been unfortunate in their spe
culatons 20 forward TO Congress for relief as the ma
uuacturers! And what will be the consequence, III
Congress shall be partial TO relieve them, in the
manner they request? Why, the ruin Of commerce
must inevitably follow, together with navigation; and
il will be vain TO afford protection to that noble mann
fcture the manufacture OF ship, you deprive 1t OF
The means of employment! But the ruin Of commerce
and navigation not all To put money the hands
of the manufacturers 10 indemnify them for IMPROVE
dent specuatnns and bad bargains, and to enable them
their losses agrculturas;s and all other cIas
of society are be compelled by the prohibition OF To-
reign goods, 10 purchase their goods enhanced prices
and this too after such protecting duties had already
been laid as the manufacturers had before declared,
would he sufficient for the purposes of protection aud
eucou uent them. Nor IS this all; the revenue,
already much impaired By the distressing state Ct the
times and still by the sacrifices made for the sup
mort of manufactures, will be nearly annha,cd, aud
those who have already been well eeced TO support the
manufacturing interest must anew be made to contribute
by drecttaxes to ell the exhausted treasury, for the
support Of Government and 10 pay the nterestoi The
national debt; which it will be vain TO expect 10 dmin-
sh till more suspicious times arrive as IN fact 1t VIII
require all the economy of Government in these times,
TO pre- vent the increase thereof.
And il il inst or reasonable to anniha'e commerce,
TO destroy the revenue Ia press heavily the arcu!-
ura uerc nd on all classes of society, 10 benefit
small portion Of fellow citizens, and those too VINO
stand in no need of assistance, 10y measures winch
will avail nothing 10 those who stand in need OF II =
For repeat that the manufacturers, IKE al o'efs
who have lost their capital sunk 1t in useless pnT
ch,scs are morally dead and only he restored 10
life and usefulness, by discharge from their debts
Whereas. those who have contained themselves with
in prudent bonnds now carrying on their BUSINESS
under the favorable prospects-though 1t may he
admitted that many of them may have sustained losses
by The sudden depreciation of the value of their goods
but in this way they have only suffered IN COMMON
with all classes of mercantile men.
Will not Europe impose an extra duty on our cotton,
our provs ons and all mos, valuable staples FER.
hans indeed, this State may retain some demand from
abroad for her tohncco China receives our custom
for her teas, which raised no where else lh's ma
ton has advanced with most rapid strides, under oe
raj and enlightened policy, 10 pitch ct greatness,
which has truly astonshed the nations OF the EARN
and shall we nog for a momeniary check IN our pros
perly, (Which equally bears other nai'ons al I'M
time, abandon gh destiny, and adopt Chne.e
policy: Surely, gentlemen, in their zeal 10 p1"m"'l
Independence have forgotten that the great A"hor OF