Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-08-03
THE TARIFF.
ITS OPERATION AND ErrEcTs-THE OPINION
OF A MERCHANT

OF A MERCHANT
70 the Editors Of the Tribune:
Two valued correspondents have recently asked
ny opinion upon the subject Of the tarff--is opo-
and - one Of them expresses wish to publish
the vicws Of resident of tho city, / have con-
cuded, with your permission, to reply through
yourcolumns.
Twenty years ago, through the influence of
Gov. Clinton, and the late Benz. Knower, Of Al
oany, 4 became convert to a protective tariff. |
Frequent conversations with those gentlemen
upon the subject, convinced me that no country |
upon earth possessed the resources within itself
OF becoming 30 substantially prosperous and in |
dependent az our own,-that in its length and |
breadth 1t embraced every element Of prosperity;
and when that prosperity was once secured by |
permanent legislation for the protection Of our
own interests, none could be more favoraby situ-
ated to prosecute profitable foreign commerce.
Commerce is but the agent Of home interests;
and, when they are sound and prosperous, it twice
blesses the agent and employer.
Reflection had strengthened these opinions; but
1t was reserved for the present year (lSi3) to de-
mcnstrate their soundness.
The last Congress, after mature deiberation,
adopted tariff Of duties which, while il brinos
ample revenue for the treasury, fosters, to liber-
al extent, American labor.
Under the influence Of this tariff, every interest
Of the country is raising FROM state of unparal-
leed depression quite as rapidly could be de-
sired and what will greatly disappoint the oppo-
nents OF the measure, the iinposis upon foreign
goods the present year will be somewhat beyond
the wants OF the country, producing a revenue
from customs of some or millions more than
the estimate of the last committee of ways and
means.
This is not mere conjecture good fall trade
IS anticipated, and the orders that have gone for
ward for goods to arrive in July and August will
be found to be quite large enough. The opinion
n am aware has obtained, to considerable extent,
that because this city is strictly commercial, its
citizens are generally opposed to tariff. Such is
not the fact. So far as my information extends, a
large proportion of our well informed American
snerchants are the friends of protective tariff.
A few, who are exclusively in the importing 'bus-
ness, the foreign interest, which is large, and ue-
morally respectable as regards character, and Il
portion OF the shipping interest, are the advocates
oil what is termed free trade.
Several of the most intelligent of the latter
class, however, have said to me, that they had no
expectation that we could preserve sound and
well regulated currency without tariff.
Talk to them Of free trade i'm ships, and they
will tell you that they could not live without dis
elimination.
Nor have the south much reason TO complain
OF the present state of things. No section ot the
country is recovering more rapidly from the terri
BILE revolution of 1886 and Y. than the states of
the south and southwest. Cotton, at the present
price, pays the planter better than the agricultural
products OF the northern and western states remu-
In Alabama and Mississippi, it is estimated that
good negro will grow six bags Of cotton Al
hse cents per pound this would amount TO I4O or
$50 dollars. 10 feed and clothe the negro from
GO to 65 dollars, leaving clear profit from his
labor Of about so dollars.
The present value of the negro is from $50 to
400 dollars, and cotton lands which in 1886
brought 90 to 30 dollars per acre, now sell from
to IL. The natural increase of stock, CT mean
human flesh and blood,) it is always estimated
WILL pay the interest on the investment.
The consumption of cotton in this country the
present year, will not probably vary much from
four hundred thousand bales, and thus far it has
been taken by our manufacturers at prices tina,
nave PAID the planter IL or Is per cent more than
that shipped to Liverpool or Havre.
And SO of bread stuffs. For wears past the
safest and best market for western -four has been
the district Of our country in New England devo-
ted to manufactures; and although our merchants
haze occaslenAffhhssa fffabIy shown that the home
market IS more to be relied upon thanthe foreign.
Under tho present system it is fairao estimate
that inc domestic market for the great staple OF
The south Will increase some 10 per cent. per an
nun ior Twelve or fourteen years to come and
0eiore that period arrives, Virginia, North Caro-.
lima, Georgia, Tennessee, and perhaps Alabama
VIII have become tariff states, each with its Low
ell and Paterson within its borders.
During my experience in traGe--and it extends
back more than twenty-five years-all our COM
merciai reVulsons have had their origin in excess
iIouI IL Is vain TO say
Inc country will take no goods than il actu-
ally requires. Nine times out of ten, all the
goods brought here will be sold. If the importer
hnds there is large surplus in the first hands he
VIII otter to the ,iobber inducements, either in
price or time, or both, TO take them off from his
hands and when the jobber finds he has accu-
INFLATED stock beyond the demands from his re.
gular customers, he will be sure TO place portion
OF that stock where he ought not, by taking up
men OF doubtful credt-and SO of the retailer in
the country. Preserve the present rate of duties,
and all these evils will be avoided
The present tariff excludes from our market
Manchester prints-an article, the importation of
which has heretofore taken large amount of spe-
Gle out oil the country-and what has been The
consequence !-Why within the last eight months
there have been improvements in tiiis country in
the machinery connected with this branch of bu-
siness, lprlnting,) such as were never made in
England during the same number of years and
the consumer is now furnished with domestic ca
i'coes. at 3 to Is cents per yard, superior to the
imported goods, for which he used to paw from
IL TO ~. And this will be the case with nume-
rous other articles.
Wherever foreign competition is excluded there
VIII always be such an'applcation of capital and
skill as will favor the consumer.
Who, past middle life, has forgotten the LARGE
amounts of specie formerly sent from this country
every year for the purchase Of East India cottons
goods Familiarity known at that day as Hum
Hnnis|' The tariff of 1916 imposed duties upon
those goods that amounted TO prohibition.-
Within two years thereafter their place was sup
pied by domestic article superor i'm texture