The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-05-03


referring 10 the official reports OF the impor.
tations from Buenos Ayres only, and not
state other countries also, when millions of
these same cheap woods were shipped 10
US the same season. You can obtain the
following from the Registers Office: That
from the report ending Sept. 30th, ls4l, to
the end of the first eleven months, al the
time the present tariff went into operation,
the enormous amount of of 10. 53S, 99S lbs.
came in duty free, and in the mean time
please noie) the tariff was down to 20 per
cr.; all wool paying duty did not amount 10
over 100000 pounds. Now what do we
wan, a tariff fort You say TO prevent this
small amount (about one third The usual
c1antity raised in Addison County, coming
in competition with ours. | say, We want
a tariff on The 10 millions Of wool that now
pays duty of only about 3 mills on the
pound. You also say that there are sever
al provisions in the present tariff of great
account, among which you mention four ef-
fcient checks. And before | take them up
in their order, l give my opinion that they
are but very little more or less in substance
than humbug. Well, what is your first
check "Al wool costing under ceuis is
subject TO duty of 5 per cent. ad valorem."
In answer TO this, it will suffice TO say that
the tariff or duty we pay on the salt mot a
iuxury,) that is used on our bread aud po-
tatoes, amounts TO more than Government
receives on the millions of cheap woods that
are imported and manufactured in one year
in our States. But short time ago mil
lions of these cheap woods went oil in one
sale at less than eight cents per pound. So
much for your first important check. Then
the second great check is that oil fine wool,
without regard 10 price. must pay the high
est rate Of duties. Now, when you give me
the definition o. fine Dool, it will be time
enough TO answer that Where is the d.
viding line between fine trool and coarse
pool? Now | would advise you to call in
Mr.. Slade. He is tariff man he can tell
US. would not have asked this impor-
tani question IT could have found IL in
Websler's mot Daniers) big Dictionary.
Now it is plain il fine oool means this $780,
600 pounds that completes with ours, we
diG not want any better tariff than we had
last wear, for the importation is so small 1t
could not affect US. "Ihird wool impor-
ted of different qualities in the same bag or
package is TO be valued according to the
worth of the first quality therein contained,
and duties charged accordingly" will,
answer this by first requesting you TO get
the facts from the collectors of the ports Of
Boston and New York, respecting the num-
Der of bales they have cut open since this
tariff has been in force, and charge duty
on The whole bale according to the value of
the finest fleece contained therein. l say
not one bale in hundred is opened = and
supposing they did open them. the wing
Members of Congress know, if you and |
don't, that ii is the inroice price that estab-
fishes the duty, not the quality. have H.
formation from the collector. that thev don't
take the wool out Of the bales to ge. at the
finest feeces 10 establish the duty.
"Fourth," and lastly.-'The wool is to
be valued free free from dirt" Well, what
is the law on that subject like the former
surely it is the price not the dirt, that es-
tablishes the duty. The new tariff reads
something like this: If any wool be impor-
ted having any dirt more than naturally be-
longs TO the fleece, it shall be appraised as
though there had been no dirt or impurities
mixed with it. Then, TO commence, allow
me to ask you 10 define the word natural.
see you are somewhat puzzled, therefore
must help you by Illustrating with more
"ifs and provisos."
Then supposing in Brazil the sheep are
naturally inclined TO lay in the sand and
dirt and incorporate their wool to great
extent with it. Then, again, supposing the
sheep should, among other impurities, nat
urdhy accumulate three or four pounds Of
Tag balls on his fleece ; further. supposing
the Brazilian flock master is naturally in
clined to shear them without washing by
this time the fleece naturally weighs double
it would if well cleansed. Then, next, they
naturally put it up in bales Of about 400
pounds. But, mind ye, it would not do for
The flock master or importer to shovel in
any more dirt or dung, and he is very care
full to regard our laws on that subject. for
the very reason that there is no need Of buv-
ing or selling any more dirt; the price Of
the wool is reduced as low as ne cares
bout. And finally if you are not yet con-
WINGED just try the experiment on your own
flock, and after you think you have natural.
ly accumulated one half in weight. Then
could you not as well afford your wool al
Ia cents as you now can at 25, after you
allow for tagging and washing
What pity that the Representatives Of
Vermont has diminished one member, when
we take into consideration the value that
the seven las: years have been 10 US WOO
growers, in establishing such great checks
ia the new tariff!
Your next admission is that those "wools
which essentially compete with ours will
bring up the cost in our markets TO 20 cts
! Ofcourse reduce our wool TO 90 cents, The
very object of the tariff.
In your next paragraph you ask your cor
respondent 10 account for the fact. why, E.
ven now, the domestic article brings from
20 to % cents, and why when for years be-
fore 1s4O This foreign wool was imported
| free of duty, the coarsest American sold at
from 81 to 40 cents upon an averageT
| In the first place, the wool Of our country
| and ~