Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1844-07-24
From the Southern Patriot.
HIGH DUTIES MAKE Low PR1cE


HIGH DUTIES MAKE Low Prices.
There are some propositions in polli.
cal and moral science so obviously true,
that their mere ennunciation commands
immediate assent, as in conformity with
universal experience. OF This character
is that which affirms of taxation, that its
increase ausmens the price of the thing
taxed, whatever may be The form of taxa
ton, to the extent Of the tax, all other
things being the same as before its imposi.
lion. But The new philosophy Of protec.
tion teaches other lessons. The converse
Of this proposition is now the fashionable
doctriue taught in the schools that reject
lhel gihts Of European Science. The u
States possess class who are too men,
tally independent TO be sbackled by Eu-
ropean maxiTns OF taxation, and who take
patriotic pride in reversing established
truths. Thus the leading protection dog
mas of our day is moi that high duties
make high prices, but low prices. So poor
sophism might be left to its own intrin-
sic falsily and absurdity, but we have seen
i, 80 often repeated in speeches and essays
tha, we have though, it worth while TO dis
cover, il possible, where the sophislry
turks. The propounders of this notable
fallacy have assumed the truth of their
premises, and thence conducted their rea-
soning too triumphant conclusion. Let
US state it in the form of a syllogism, thus |:
I. High duties increase competition.
2. Competition lowers prices. Ergo
8. High duties make low prices.
Now the lallacy here is in the major
proposition. High duties do not increase
compelion. 1t is the end and purpose Of
high duties to lessen competition. lfthe
competition Of the manufacturers of Leeds
aud Manchester with those of Lowell and
Patterson was not prevented or lessened.
high duties would fail Of their effect. II is
to Shut out or limit The rivalry of the for.
eisn with The domestic manufacturer that
duties which will advance The imported ar
ticle 10 higher than its natural price, are
imposed, and as that price falls below The
price of the domestic product, those duties
are enhanced. Thus, at intervals, after
the ruduction in the cost Of producing
goods in England which came into compe-
iition with similar goods produced in the
United States, the price in our markets
was ar,ifcially raised. by high duties. 10
counteract this reduction. There would
not have been common sense or even ra
lionality 10 have augmented duties unless
to limit competition, aud consequently, TO
raise prices. The premises being in this
manner assumed, and advantage being
adroi,ly taken of an unqueslioued and un.
questionable truth, that competition redu-
ces prices, the corollary is most conclusive,
on this logical process, that high duties
make lo1D prices.
But, seeing that low prices have been
the accompaniment of high duties. it may
be asked, If high duties are not The causes
of low prices, what is their origin ? This
question is easily solved. II those who so
impertectly analyze the origin ofa fall of
prices had noticed how generally, we had
almost said universally, the expenses Of
production have been within the last 90
years reduced-lhe various sources of this
reduction with their aggregate effecl-the
fall in the real as we'll as money price of
labor-in the price Of transportation, both
by land and water, and the increase Of
machinery-f these circumstances had
not been strangely overlooked the conclu
sion must have been, not that high duties
were the caaees Of loao prices, hut that
prices were low in spite Of high duties.
If this is not sufficient 10 overthrow this
notable price OF protection logic, we might
refer to all The analogies of commercial
history and the lights Of modern expert
euce. The dulles in England on manu-
lactured articles generally have not varied
for long period, while on silks they have
been greatly reduced; yet accompanying
these stationary and lessened duties, En-
gisb goods of all kinds have fallen in
money value, in even a greater ratio than
American goods, which have had The ben
eft Of high and constantly augmentins
duties. Is there one law of taxation for
the old world and another aud different
law for The new? If Sir Robert Peel,
listening TO the clamors Of the English silk
weavers, had gone down to the House of
Commons with tariff project, proposing
10 restore the silk duties, which were redu.
ced by the influence of Mr.. Huskisson,
consoling the weavers Of silk dresses That
these high duties would lower prices, we
can imagine the storm Of ridicule with
which he would have been overwhelmed.
Church DiGculty.-The New; York
Republic states that difficulty has arisen
between Bishop Hughes, Of that city, and