Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-05-27

first, by laying duty the import OF the foreign COM
modify, for the purpose OF revenue, say 10 or ~
per cent dd ralorem In this case obvious that the
importer, previously he had sold the article at the low
rate he could afford must TO save himself from loss,
add that Is 90 per cent. TO his price, and the imme-
date effect of this addition Isl that tie domestic pro-
Queer adds that amount to has price, and the purchaser
pays the addition. Here The revenue duty affords that
much protection incidentally to the domestic manufac-
tuer; not with view TO project h, but 10 raise re-
venue But suppose, such case, The domestic manu-
acurer is content but demands greater protec-
ton, and the Government consents and adds III per
cent. TO the duty; here, again. the importer IS
forced to add that l0 per cent TO his price, and the
domestic article is also advanced in like manner, and
on until the duty raised so high that the domestic
producer undersc the importer oil the !oegu art-
cle and still make large rrots which last case, the
domestic producer gets of the whole market,
and the foreign excluded altogether In this last
case, it is obvious that The purchaser IS now at the
mercy Of Tie domestic producer, and must either pay
the price he chooses to impose, or 90 without the ar
cle; the tme the revenue from the article Is
altogether lost, and the domestic producer has got all
the benefit The foreign competition now at an end;
but then commences new competition. Tile enor
nous profits invite addona! investments Of ca piinl in
the domestic manufacture; and, alter the capital thus
invested is large tha, The whole demand is supplied,
the contest for the marSet then commences between
The domestic manufacturers themselves, and prices be-
gin again to fall. But here the Government cannot
interfere by further taxing The consumer, except by
gran;in. bounty the eXport-an exped'ent resorted
to IN many in Eng land and in some few instances
we believe, in our own country. Now, 1t is obvious
that this contest may be carried as tar between The DO
mest.c competitors as II was between them, when al
he'd by common interest," and lie foreign, and thai It
must ultimately terminate the result The weak
er party must be driven ou OF the home MARKET Snc as,
by of the cheaper production Abroad ne cannot go
INTO any foreign marhe, without loss, he must give up
the business and be ruined Bu suppose, the midst OF
this last contest the 'cheaper foreign capitat comes
in, as do, or legislation can prevent that) 1t
must of course If brnugh here to sufficient amount
and invested in manufacture, drive the whole domestic
capital out of the market and our own domestic MA
nuiacturers are oil ruined The very high protec-
ton which excluded the article when manufactured
abroad, is the very inducement to this introduction
of foreign capital and the only difference -, that
the English capitalists will send their money, and
their agents. and worknen, here, and make the article
free of duty and and eypent the profits at home
to the injury of foreign exchange aud total deslruc
ton of revenue instead Of making the article there and
sending here, paying by the ways good per ceniage
into our Treasury This is not imaginary ope
ration /. has commenced already, and Will be encou
raced and increased in extent by the rery high duty
which is intended to exclude competition During oil
the contests have described The poor consumer Is
paving more for the article than he would If there was
M duIv whether the price be increasing diminishing
and when the prices falling, very sensible and ho
nest men are persuaded that the fall in the price IS the
result of high projections and former high prices are
no;nted to as the proof And it, percance the duty be
the fact is instantly called in proof OF the same po
si,ion when in truth such rise, fit does occur, The
effect of the increased demand created in the foreign
market by the market winch IS opened mere, ana
lasts only until increased demand can be supplied;
or il s the result Of the increased price OF the raw ma
eral caused by the increased demand for the manu-
faclure in the European market. In support oil the
posi,jon we have taken, make an extract from the
late mort of the select committee of the British House
of Commons of which Mr.. Hume was chairman:
IA ,ro,ectiye duties imnose the
tax coual 10 the amount Of the duties levied on The
foreign article whilst they also increase the price OF
all the competing home produced articles to The same
amount as the duty But that increase price goes not
a. rho Trcasuru but to the protected manufacturer
Il is cbrious that high protective duties check 'mpor-
taon and are consequently, unproductve 10 the re-
venue and erpe1icRcc shoes tint The pr 10 the trader,
The benefit to the consumer, and Me fsc"t 'neres'S
the eountry all sacrificed rhen HAIRY impost duties
impede the interchange Of commodities 'eiA o'neT "d
ttonS -
a hill based upon this conviction, is now in progress
in Parliament, reducing the duties on imports, at .he
yery moment that are passing bl TO raise dul,es
10 an extent almost prohbitory and the benefits Of the
system in England are pointed TO- the evidence OF the
wisdom Of our course
Having endeavored 10 show the effect Of high pro-
tectve duties revenue, and lis unequal action upon
different portions OF the Union let devote few mo-
ments to the effects of the system upon the shipping
interests of the u S., and consequently upon our Ma
,v. By reference TO the printed statements annexed
to the port OF the majority OF the COMMITTEE, IL WIZ
appear that the difference III the costsg suit OF
sails of the best English duck, for snip of seven
hundred tons in Liverpool and New York, IS SbJU
of which eighty dollars only is the cost OF labor.
Wha, woud be the difference o, the cost OF building
the Ship and in filling her for sea, IN Anchors CABLES
and nil The iron used in her construction, have no
data by which to determine But, from the difference
we have shown in the price of iron in Liverpool ana
in New York the cost Of the iron in New OK must
exceed that in Liverpool by at least one half; and by
\ ,da half or erclbOu.S
duty being 25 dollars per ton on bar IRON roller,
and II dollars per on bar iron hammered, on mails
cents per b. spikes cents, on IRON caoles ana
chains cents, and anchors2 cents per pnund; "hc
is on all equal least TO - per cent and on several
of the articles exceeding that rate This then is me
difference Of the cost OF the iron in the two places Hnt
this not ALL Tire duty hrp fixed by me OH
$40 per ton :rred cordase cents per pound aho on
un,arred cents BY the statements ANNEXED 70 me
reuort of the majority Of the committee II will be seen
that the cost Of clean hemp, imported from Russia, az
Ter paying duty Of 20 per cent 100 cents per pnurc
or S3 81; The duty, BY the proposed bill, IS SAY per
ton b. reference Ia the sane statements, II VIII ap.
pear that arred cordagr, under Ike duty Of ~ per
cent. would sell al Clio cents per pound The duty,
nv the proposed BILL must then he nearly or quite oo
rcr cent on The original cost. This difference III the
cost of building the ship and IN rigging must De 50
treat rs to force the shipowner to require bgher
freisls-and the consequence is, that orr ships are
unable to compete in the foreign carrying trade, ana
have almost disappeared in The North Sea- is We are
informed, before the cheaper f'eigh,s o: the bremen
Sims and are being superseded even IN our own
direct ade now greatly reduced by reduction of i'm
ports in pro portion he number Of ships, in conse'
nuence of the high duties. The effect, too o! wages
on land being kept up BY prot Give duties is to keep
from Tie sea service many who would Otherwise go
into it and thus our supply of native seamen IS d.
minished, and difficulty found in procuring SUN.
cheney of such seamen for The small number OF
our vessels Of war.
Here we close our re- view the various mecbievous
effects of high protective duties; aud now u may De
s,d admitting we right in our conclusions, would
we destroy our manufactures. BY means. lnce-
psnden,ly Of the employment and support they gveo
thousands, We as Americans feel proud OF the vaioa-
BE as well as beautiful results ohe ingenuity, science,
skill and enterprise, Of our countrymen But we ieei
Lhats nxnnIn