Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-03-31

myself by examining briefly the princi-
Plies on which it is based. 1t is assumed,
in the first place, that the duty 10 every
case enters into the price Of the imported
article, and finally, increased by the pro-
fits thereon Of both the importing suo re-
tail merchants, is paid by the consumer
and, in the second place, that the same
effect is produced immediately upon Tue
price Of all articles of domestic growth or
manufacture similar to the foreign article
on which the duty is imposed. From this
cause the gentleman argues, upon data
WHICH he deems reliable, that the practi-
cal operation Of our federal revenue sys-
tenn is to tax the people at the rate Of six
dollars for every one that finds its way
into the Treasury. Ought such system
be permitted to endured What ignorance
has beset our rules7 Ought we not has
ten to abolish it, and resort, by Federal
authority, to direct taxes and excuses,
those cheap and easy mode Of providing
revenue borrowed from the despots Of the
old world1
But is it true that the duty enters into
the price as has been supposed? What
is our own experience Did not prices
fall under the tariffs Of 1924 and 1928,
during the continuance ofthe highest rate
Of duty we have experienced More re-
Gently have we not seen prices dec inc
under increased duties! lf it be true that
duties fall upon the consumer, whence our
great anxiety to obtain modification OF
the revenue laws of the European states !
Whence the interest especially OF the to.
bacco planters to obtain deduction OF the
duty on that staple by the court OF Aus
tria Whence the dissatisfaction Of the
French people at the proposition to raise
the duty on their winesl Does not all
this show that duties fall more heavily on
production, foreign production If the
effect of duties is, at my time, 60 heighten
prices TO the consumer, the ultimate et-
feet is, TO lessen them. When capital be-
comes invested in manufactures, competi-
ton will arise, and sales be made at the
lowest prices. Look at the effect Of our
former tariff upon the manufactures OF
England. They were constrained to les
sen the wages Of their operatives, to cur.
tail their operations, to turn loose upon
society hordes Of poor starving wretches
dependent upon cold charity for subsis-
tence. And yet, IN the face Of all these
facts, VIC are told that duties enter into
prices and are paid by consumers.
have been asked how will the a6vo.
cate Of protective tariff answer the ar.
gument. make this answer, that the ef.
feet of high duties is to lessen importation,
and thereby confer an advantage upon the
home manufacturer and producer. Prices
are regulated according to the relation
between the supply and the demand, and
these mutually act and react upon each
other. The supply cannot do more than
keep pace with the drmand increase
the latter and Immediately the former en-
larges itself to new capacity. Now,
the price Of production depends, in great
degree, upon the extent Of the demand,
ard the quantity for which a market can
he found. For instance, the farmer or
manufacturer who finds market for his
commodities to the amount Of $4,000,
cannot afford to sell as cheap as his neigh
Dor, who finds market for the same pro-
auctions to the amount Of $4,000. A
familiar example of this truth is found in
the difference in profit charge d by whole
sale and retail dealers. When the Eng
glsh manufacturer is admitted to the
United States, he engrosses large share
Of the markets, and the home manufac-
turer shut out to the extent, is compelled
to limit the amount Of his business. 10
protection as his field of operation is nnr.
rowed, his prices must be raised but i'm
pose duties upon the foreign production,
drive the foreign manufacturer and pro.
Queer out Of our market, and leave the
entire demand to be supplied at home, and
the results which have been adverted to
will be experienced.
Ii the duty does to some extent enter
into the price and thus operate tax upon
consumption, is there no equivalent re-
turnedl Whatever produces division Of
labor benefits every class, especially the
Agricultural class, Ii our entire popula-
ton were devoted 10 wheat growing, al
though we might not starve for bread,
there would be no certainty we would
not perish for clothing. The Tariff pro-
duces manuIactures-manu with
draw labor from the tillsge Of the earth,
and change Of employment converts pro-
ducers into consumers. 1.-THE farmer can
get few cents more in the bushel for his
wheat and corn, and few cents more in
the pound for his beef and mutton and his
wool, can he not afford to pay little
higher price for his broad cloth and luxu-
ries? Look for example TO Massachu-
sets, experiencing the rigor Of a Northern
climate and an ungrateful soil, her people
have found more genial employment in
the pursuits Of commerce and manulac-
turing. According to the tables accom-
panying the last census she stands lowest
in the scale of agriculture. The time of
her greatest manufacturing prosperity was
that of her lowest agricultural depression.
Then she imported through the single
port Of Boston, from other parts Of the
United States, not less than s
worth of bread stuffs. But as her manu-
features decline her agriculture advances,
and stimulated by the bounties of propti.
Gus legislation, her hardy race, overcom-
ing the difficulties Of a rigorous climate,
are subduing the sterile soil into life and
fertility. OF those commodities she now
imports less than$ worth. Let the
corn planters Of Eastern Virginia look to