The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-01-12

luIk Island. The prime cost Ol this
salt is about eight cents; yet it is now
quoted in the New Orleans market at IS
Now, how is this sum of 35 cents made
up! 1t is done thus The duty of ten
cents is added, and that makes it eigh-
teen the regrater then puts an hundred
per cent. on the eighteen cents which he
pays, and that brings it to 3d. and at that
rate he sells it to the merchant who car
res it TO the country for retail, and who
has profit of so per cent on the whole.
Thus, TO enable the government TO get ten
cents, the consumer of the article pays
double that amount in New Orleans, and
near the double of it again at the place of
retail. In other words, the tax makes the
article cost the consumer near forty cents
more than ii otherwise would Of which
! forty cents growing out of the tax the
government gets ten, and the sellers of the
salt get thirty! Thus this tax. is iniQu-
tous in itself, and fundamentally wrong,
works out iniquitously and becomes the
most oppressive of any one known in the
American tariff
| have said heretofore, that if salt was
free Of duty, il would be brouge; to the
central parts Of the valley OF the Mississ-
| lppi for % cents bushei. OF course,
that was laughed at, like the gold humbug.
But will now 60 farther, and say that
when this duty is oil. (as of it will be be-
fore the democracy has done with iD the
salt Of the Yves. Indies, and of The Medi-
terancan, (the best in the world will be
sold anywhere in the valley of the MisSiS.
sippi TO which the New Orleans boats
run. At about the one half Of hcentyJiUe
cents. This is what now say: and the
datG for the assertion Of this. The cost
Of the article in New Orleans, taken from
the importing vessel will be eight cents
and less ; the freight will be nominal, or
nothing. the boat wanting it for under car
90 to keep herself in trim. The freight
on salt this year has been as low as the
tenth Of cent a pound. and that as far as
the New Orleans boats went This
would give salt at present, IN all the cen.
tral parts of the valley of the Mississippi
a, lille more than half twenty-five cents
10 ali those who purchased for themselves
out OF tie importing vessels, if the duty
was OFF.
This odious and impious tax ought to
be repealed; and the Resolutions Of the
General Assembly of your State, of which
you enclose me copy, show that Illinois
is moving iE the great and benevolent
work.
In Great Britain, the most heavily tax
ed country in the void, the duty on salt
has been abolished for more than twenty
years; and the people of that country
now have that article of prime necessity
free from tax, which the people of the
United States are paying from 100 to 200
per cent. upon it TO the Government, and
a profit of 100 or 200 per cent. more up
on that tax to the regra!ers and salt deal
ers.
Two causes have contributed to keep
up this odious tax in the United States,
namely protection to the domestic manu-
features, and the fishing bouniies and al
lowances, but it is time Tor those causes
To cease operating in favor of such an in
furious and inlquitous tax. The manu-
features have had protection for more than
fifty years, and in all this time they have
never supplied the country, and we are
now importing more than ever; and still
the country is stn,ed as well as taxed in
this necessary of life. The fishing boun-
ties and allowances are founded on the
salt tax and the fishing interest of the
northeast is in favor of the tax, because
it gives them about $350,0OO per annum
out of the public treasury to one half Of
which they have no pretext of righilui
claim, because the tax has been reduced
one half since that rate Of bounty and al
lowance is fixed and TO a large par; of
the remaining half they also have no right,
because they use much domestic sal,
which has paid no duty. These two in.
,erests must surrender their unjust advan.
ages in favor Of the general good of the
whole Union. The repeal Of the tax will
save these $780, annually 10 the treas
ury.
The part which have acted in endeav-
oring to procure the repeal Of this unjust
and odious tax. has doubtless procured me
the honor Of being named in the tesoIu.
tons of the General Assembly of Illinois,
and Of being favored with a copy Of their
resolves. For this honor have to make
my most greatful Acknowledgements to
the General Assembly, as also TO your
ExceIlency for the kind terms in which
you have communicated their &C, To me
and to say that my zeal is no, aba,ed by