Independent Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1842-1844, 1843-12-02

their operation, step by step, from the
more simple modes of taxation, to the
complicated system Of protective duties
When the proposition is once eStabliI hed,
that duties, imposts, excuses, etc. though
differing in the mode of collection, are
identical in their nature i. e.) are only
different systems of taxation, there would
appear little difficulty in arriving at le-
climate conclusion, in regard to the force
and effect of protective duties. Without
assuming this as true, we will en- eavour
TO trace the influence of revenue duties,
without any reference to protection, in d.
minishing or increasing the consumption,
by enhancing or reducing the price of the
commodity upon which the impost is laid.
But first we introduce the unqualified opin-
ion of a gentleman distinguished for his
writings in Political Economy.
"To make sure that The price of corn,
or of any Thing else, will he fixed at the
lowest limit, at which the required supply
NAV be obtained, all that is necessary, is,
10 abolish all restrictions, whether on I'M
portation or exportarion."- Brande'S Ency,
Art. Corn Lars, by j. X. McCuIlOch.
Such is the conclusion from this SUBJ
iuct, of this eminent writer, the following
are among the facts, from which it was
deduced:
"The history of the Coffee trade a
bounds with similar and even more strik-
ing examples of the superior productive
ness oflow duties In 1907 the duty was
Is. Sd. a pound, and the quantity entered
for home consumption amounted to l.
10, l64 lbs yielding revenue of Gl6l,-
255 lis. i'd. In 1908 the duty was re-
duced from Is. Sd. to Id, and in 1909
there were no fewer than 9,25l,747 lbs.
entered tor home consumption, yielding
notw ilhstanding the reduction of duty
revenue of E245,s56 2s. 4d. The duty
having been raised in 1919 from I'd to Is.
a pound, the quantity entered for home
consumption in 1924 was l0,7G6,ll2 lbs.
yielding revenue of G207 ,544 Is. 3D.
In 1924 however, the duty being again
reduced from Is TO Cd. the quantity en-
tered for home consumption in 1925 was
lO,76G,ll2 lbs. and in 1881 it had in.
creased to 22,740, 627 lbs. yielding
nett revenue of 5,e37,5lG."-McCullock
Com. Die. Art. Coffee.
We have referred to but one article in
a work Astounding in statistics similarly in
structive. Perhaps a better selection
might have been made. If the consump-
ton of Tobacco in England under the OPP
pressive duties its importation has been
subject TO in that country, had been in
troduced, the facts nigh have been more
decisive, as they are more familiar. The
above extract will however prove sufi-
cient to establish the position, that tariff,
for revenue produce high prices, and
thereby diminish consumption. Indeed
the only question which can be raised up
on this branch Of the subject is, as The
revenue is derived from one of two sour
ces whether the loss is upon the foreigner
who furnishes the supply, or those who
import and consume it. Ii cannot lie up
on the first, for no one has ever advanced
a proposition So absurd as that the reve-
nue. of this country or England, derived
from imposts, is paid by foreigners, other
notions, and not by the people of these
two countries.
So far we have had reference to tariffs
upon articles, the supply of which is alto
gether furnished by foreign countries.--
Let US now notice the effect OF duties up
on articles derived both from foreign and
domestic sources. We must say in the
beginning, that the advocates of free trade
do not contend that the prices Of goods are
always enhanced to the full amount of the
duties. They are doubles, ultimately
much modified by the immediate effect The
tariff produces upon the different branch.
es of industry. This effect, is to divert
the natural channels OF trade to the pro-
duction of those articles, thus protected,
AID, with the aid of partial or absolute
monopoly at the expense OF the rest of the
community, to hasten into existence those
est bishments, which time, the natural
increase ofpopuiation, and the accumula-
ton of capital would secure TO US eaven.
tuallv, without the aid ofparial legislation
to bolster them up. This is the mmedI-
ate effect of protective tarifls--but it is
law of production, invariable in It's appi-
cation, that when any one branch OF in
dustry becomes more profitable than the
rest, it is rendered attractive 10 enter
prise, and the CONSCIENCE IS, that compe.
iition soon reduces the profit which pro-
lection secured to the first Adventures.
Taking with us then the conclusion as
above, that the revenue derived from i'm
posts enhances the price Of the artic es
upon which they are laid, or IN other
words, that it is paid by the consumer, the
connexion may be easily traced between
this and the conc!uSion we are now to