Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-05-04


is added to the price; this is the theory. |
Now, sir, how is the fact; what says ex.
periencel All experience proves that this
objection has no existence, save in the i'm
aginations Of those who make il. ,
Now, sir, / lay il down as general
proposition, that there never was high
protective duty imposed upon any article,
from the foundation of this Government TO
the present day, the price of which has
not been in the end reduced--greatly re-
duced--in many instances to one-half, one
third, and one-fourth Of what it had been
before these protective duties were i'm
posed. This, sir, may seem to gentlemen
on the other side to be strong declara-
ton; but, sir, l make Il deliberately, with
a full conviction of its truth, and chaf-
lenge gentlemen, TO disprove i'll defy
them to point out single instance to the
contrary. Let them examine, and they
will find invariably that, wherever the du-
Ties have been highest. the prices have
ultimately come down the lowest, and for
a very obvious reason--high duties pro-
mote competition, and competition never
fails to bring down prices. This effect is
invariabe and universal; but unfortunately
the duties always run up as the prices run
down; hence the frightful lists of duties
exhibited by the Committee of Ways and
Means, amounting to 200, 800, and 400 per
cent. When first imposed these duties
were but 80 or 40 per cent; but now,
owing to the reduction of prices, they have
run up TO 900 or 800 per cent. BY way
of illustration take the article of glass, on
which duty of "a a box was imposed al
xr,ho ola q. tbov,
duty of SO per cent, but now when
home competition, induced by this protec-
tive duty, has brought down the price to 90
box, the duty, owing TO this reduction of
price, is 200 per cent. instead of 33; the
same is true of many other articles on
which the duty, when imposed, did not ex-
coed 30 or 80 per cent, but now, owing to
reduction of price produced by home COM
potion, they amount to 2 or 300 per cent.
When four cents per pound duty was put
on cut nails, the price was twelve cents
per pound, and this duty, of course, was
SO per cent; but now, when the effect of
this protective duty has been TO reduce the
price of nails from twelve to three cents
per pound, the duty is increased to 100 per
cent; this is equally true of spikes, rods,
wood screws, &c. Again: eight cents q
yard duty was imposed on coarse cottons
when imported at 90 cents, being duty
of 40 per cent, but now, when the price
has come down to FIVE cents per yard, the
duty goes up to l60 per cent.
Sir, could 60 on and enumerate more
than twenty such instances where the du-
ties, though moderate when imposed, now
actually exceed the price of the article;
xtyaa fol hot in oil tI,o Int
is added to the price, and paid by the con-
sumner! That is, that the consumer pays "a
a box duty on glass that he buys for 50;
cents pound on nails that he buys for B.;
and 8 cents yard on coarse cotton goods
that he buys for 5. Such are the absurdi-
ties into which these stale anti-tariff theo-
ries involve their votaries; but suppose
what they allege were true in point of fact,
and that the duty is really added TO the
price, the cost of cotton goods being 90
cents when the duty of cents was i'm
posed, add the duty, the price would be,
of course, % cents yard, and the duty
only % per cent. instead Of 16o as stated
by the committee; hence, if you raise the
price Ave fold, then the duty is quite rea-
sonable, and there will be no objection
whatever 10 its payment. Let the manu-
facturer, then, run up his price from TO
25 cents yard, and he at once siences all
the objections of the Committee of Ways
and Means, as this would fix the duty al
80 per cent, just what they want it. But
suppose the manufacturer were 10 reduce
, his price to one cent yard, then the duty
being cents, would be 500 per cent
. Horrid oppression! who would submit to
pay duty of 800 per cent? Who could
then refuse to 60 with the Committee Of
Ways and Means for reducing such enor.
nous duties! g.. ,........
: .t Absurdities Of the Report.
But the Committee of Ways and Mean
say that the object of this bills to increase
the revenue by reducing the duties; yet
: in the very same paragraph, they say, tina
: should the revenue be found redundant, e
: avoid the horrid evils Of deposites or dis
s tribution among the States, the duties
y should be instantly reduced, SO as to reduc'
/: the revenue to the wants of the Govern
i meni; at this time, the committee say, Their
4 is not revenue enough, and they propos
! to increase il by reducing the duties; blu
l. should il turn out that there is too much
IS then they say reduce il by reducing the du
II ties. Thus reduction of duties is alik
;, efectual with the committee for reduc
n ton or for an increase of revenue. Ell
6 cellent disciples of DR.. Sangrado, who ha
e but one remedy for all diseases, "bleedin
and warm water" How such palpabl
J. Icnntradiction Ia IN he reconciled or ey