Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-03-01


revenue than any changes in duties though tie reduc
ton OF them in England has tended to increase both
consumption ard revenue There had been very stri
KING Illustrations IN the case of teas ono spirits, OF an
increase OF revenue n the aggregate alter reduction
IN the rate OF duties (See several instances in por
ters FIew) | will deta,n the Senate by specify
IN but one. in the case of coffee which, in England
duty of fifty per cent less in ls40 than ic 1924
had become SO much more imported and CONSUMED, Us
TO yield more than double the amount of The
rise IN revenue supposed to have taken place here 10
series OF years, after the increased rate OF dates in
1916, and in consequence of it. is another into
which The Senator from Maine has fallen, ] Fresume
Inadvertently for the truth is just the reverse and is
strong proof that Protective Tariff like ors, tends
often 10 reduce the aggregate.
Thus, The net revenue from customs in 1917, was
about iwentyS,x millions and quarter, which tho
cred sy.ten tnrn in force had accrued chef on the
Impost', and Tariff in force, IN 1916 Now. 81 lar
from rising above that sum- under tie higher duties
OF lci6, ar the still higher 0 1894 OF lc5, II
had, in lss fallen to about seventeen millions; and
had never again equaed tweniysx mil ons TIL lc32
and then had become larger, by Of more
tural business, aud OF higher duties, but By much lar
ger Imports art cny swollen, to bring home The pro-
ceeds of State loans abroad
Messrs Evans aud Huntington asked from what
Mr.. w derived his data to the duties,
the documents appended the last report of the Sec
rotary of The Treasury dId not give like amount.
published 1912. page 2I2; and if the two differ in
some details, they both agree in the general results
have stated. And as TO the increase of imports, and
consequently revenue by means Of the STATE debts,
Mr.. Gal!atn and Others had computed thai, during
eight ten years, after add no and halt MI.
hons annually for profits freahts &c, on the exports
the aggregate of imports, an! above that, had
been hundred and thirty Millions the estl.
mated amount Of State loans effected abroad within
that period II we looked TO naked figures, without
examining into causes, and extending research
veral years, we were likely TO be constantly msled
hut looking to causes all became consistent and recon
cileable with sound principles.
For th"se reasons, without specifying others, the
present Tariff is exceedingly defective its character
ms revenue measure, and ought II be amended But
there other and particular against It's
operations on The COMMUNICATE neither regarded az d.
recy protective or fScal-whch require lis whole form
and Substance to be modified, and !os hch II con
FedsemIng qualities sufficient 10 reconcile 10 rs
continuance
1t IS so framed as, in fact, to impose heavy bur
den large classes and sections of the country, and
thus to operate in favor Of small classes and sections
ra'er than for the treasury or the whole people, as
whole.
Let look to the evidence of this lis average rate
of duties DO per cent, that, for convent
ence in computat on that rate might be used. Now,
SIR, calculating that under it import and consume
only thirty millions of foreign merchandise, similar to
what IS manufactured mere, the TAX on thal would
twelve millions Of dollars; whereas revenue duty OH
OF 90 per cent for the benefit of the treasury, would
TO only six millions; and the other ak paid
the benefit and protection Of the domestic rival ma
nuiac,ures.
In the mex, place. rs the tax of forty per cent. usually
enhances the price OF the articles TO that extent these
similar domestic manufactures raised also in price
in like proportion. This must be the case, high
er Tariff would be of the makers OF those
tlcles. Now, those similar domestic manufactures
made and consumed in this country equal in value
nually about two hundred millions Of dollars. Forty
per cent on that is eighty Millions but as hall OF 1t
would be gained by incidental and necessary, equal
nd proper protection from 30 per cent reyeune XIV
tia aha ffl6 disGtimnh,ons, is forty understanding
with the other six about forysix millions pad yearly
to the benefit of the manufacturing classes AS those
classes constitute only oneelevenh OF our whole popu
laon ten-eeyenths Of the paid by other classes
tor the benefit Of merely that one-eevenh Thlsls a
monstrous burden imposed the others, higher than
all their other taxes both TO the State and General Co.
vernments, without computing prohts on 1t by whole
sale dealers and retailers. II this money carried
out Of the country yearly, that circumstance would
much lmpoverIsh it: but being only tribute on some
here for the benefit of others here the money remains
within limits hut still It is deliberately feeced from
some and transferred to others.
If those others, in such favore occupations, do not
thereby grow wealthy and powerful as some suppose
is for the want of protect enough, but as will
he reafler b. explained from he fluctuations IN their
businf S. caused by these high prof and ths
equen: changes in machinery, and the losses by abor
tive experiments, The want OF skill IN the manage
me MT by same persons and i'll some places, compare
.ige!y ineX perlenced
Now, could such system, unequal and anti-Re-
publican this and oppressive TO ten-eievenhs oil
the people stand single hour if the facts accu-
rately understood No, sir, no. But the faacy is
widely circulated that the increased duty, rather than
enhancing the price of articles reduces III and when
that paradox does not gam full faith IRON It's contraoc-
lions perence and common sense, as well as lheo
etca reason, it urged that the apparent oenehc'ars
Of the tax alone aggrandzed by IT. but the whole
country made more prosperous and better aole TO pay
enhanced duties and prices.
Let US scrutnize this delusion little mat hlghef
duties make prices lower is IN the philosopiv oil tht
Amercan system, the elephant on which stands tne'f
whole globe. 1t is entirely discovery, not u say m
reniion GIFTS supporters Abroad the idea is deemed pre-
onstprous IL Is matter oi in general prInci-
ples; and Adam Smith, Ricardo, Hnskisson, AicCul-
och 1ooke and many others, make Their cni 'nlat on
that an enhance duty augnens the pfice just as m
turay that higher rents or wages, or interest
nd 10 make article cost more just as naturally a.
more fue added increases the re-moe ram raises the
streams.
franklin, in this country, as we have already seen
saws that high duties the importation enables Inc
manufacturer TO tax the home consumer by greater
nrices He could draw lightning from the clouds, bu'
other CONCLUSION than this from high duties. II may
be sometimes true an exception, mat IN gin' o.
the market the importer may not be abb 10 sell al az
enhanced price and must then sell at loss, u at all
Every one can src how ever, that tins IS only temp"
rary and occasional For a high duty, which, a.
the Senator from Maine srpposes, may at hrst fast
orces and thus check sales will, # they afterwards
fall from the market beng oveistnckeo, bring then
at once up again the supply is less ana .e
manufacture less as usual, after such gln ms
brief fall in price, too whenever It happens, WIZ lo'
like reason, corresponding iali IN tne price
of the agricultural production l. be exchanged Ior the
manufactures and in that case 1t will require no pro-
phet Ia oresee that such fall Injuries, in lis consequent
ces rather than benefits the producer Inc acton OF
eyery body in daily life contradcts the mole posi-
lion on the other side, that, general prhc'pie
prices are permanently reduced by higher dut'es;-
or why do persons, after high duties snnege:-
II they make the prices here lower, 'he SNUG
cling would be the other way. Why, aso are our
tables loaded with memorials asking tor :fa"oachs
or TO remit duties on railroad iron, II they make 'ts
price lower: Way do nations ever rtiaii'te aga'ns
others by imposing higher duties, If 1t MAKES 'hef ar
,,ces lower. and hence more demand Tor consump'
ton. Indeed, why do the manufacturers themselves
ask for higher duties on the manufactured articles, u
the price is not thereby increased And WY ask io
low duties or entire freedom on the raw material, II y
be not thereby made lower; {See table no - And
whv oppose reduction now, If that reduc ION Wouid
not tend to reduce prces' What, sir have we no
the resolution of the high tariff Lsglsiaureo vermont
NJ