Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-04


| age-feedng the hungry and clothing the naked =
With regard TO Tobacco, am disposed TO believe 'hal
whatever may be our e1ertions 10 OBTAIN reduction O.
duty upon H. abandonment of 'ile monopoly IN
by the dferen. Governments Of the Old World, as
they present administered they will be utterly
unavailing successful TO very limited extent Mos
OF the powers OF Europe are reality too P'or TO con-
cede any thing on the import Of article so exceed
ngly convenient to raise revenue upon II the duty
on Tobacco were removed IN Great Britain, her public
obligations would forthwith be dishonored-and, until
her expenditures are lessened, an event which is alto
gelher Improbable il is idle suppose that she wall
terrain seriously the idea of modifying her Tariff in
this respect II is believed, that from Tobacco alone,
the receipts al her custom houses this year will fall but
little below $4,000, 900 The rates of daty may TO,
be generally known to your reades-l therefore, will
give them:
On manufactured Tobacco and Cigars, per pound,
nine shiiiings;
| On ufaetured Tobacco produced in Foreign
countries, three Shahags per pound;
! On administered Tobacco, produced on and ilG-
ported from any British possession in America, tioO
Shuttngs and nine psnce per pound;
| On Snuff, of every description, siz shilhngS per
pound
If the enormous duty on raw Tobacco were reduced
to shilling per pound the consumption even al this
high ra.e would probably be trehed but il is supposed
that hy establishing it at fno shiingS, the Of the
arcl. would be but slightly augmented. because il
would still be placed beyond the reach Of those who
snbsist by their industry while persons in easy cir
cumstlnces indulge their fondness for it, regard
less OF the price which il commands. Hence il
contributes largely, under existing arrangements, TO The
wants Of an extavagant Government while it has the
advantage of being article OF small mport-thus
taining the money in the Kingdom, which, under Il
liberal policy would be expended in lis purchase
In I795, Ireland when the duty eight pence per
pound, the consumption OF Tobacco extended 10 S000,
900 pouads Now 100000 pounds is ali that can be
disposed of annually there, when the population is
than double what il at the former period II
is, consequently perfectly apparent that, with Tariff
in England, moderate as the recent one in China,
upon Tobacco, our exports 10 the United Kingdom
would be quintupe as large they are al this time
But Great Britain can never submit to u of
this kind, until she finds other means, equally
convenient for keeping her Treasury from bankrupt
cy; and then she would yield to it reluctantly
The gnid pro quo princpe-ss she would fear utter
mpoverishment of her subjects, and drainage of the
PRECIOUS METALS The duty raw Cotton, as | have
remarked heretofore, she is compelled to abolish, in
der 10 sustain her Manufactures, and this will cripple
her EIchequer to such extent to rvet tight
iy than the duty Tobacco. The growth Of this
latter article il mus; be recoeced entirely prohi-
bitad in Ireland, from no other motive than to make
It the pecunary prop of the nation, by bringing from
America, under duty SIX seven times large lis
orgnel cost AS early as 1862 IN act passed for
bidding the cultivation OF Tobacco in England, which
confirmed at The restoration, whereby 1t order
ed that all plantations upon which it reared should
be destroyed. The soil and climate of each island is
we'll adapted to the growing Of the plant bat lis pro-
ducton is not tolerated, for other than that
erery pound made would be equivalent TO robbing the
revenue of three skiags IL the Tariff of The United
STATES is unequtabe and oppressive, let IL be modified
act OF justice to our citizens; but not with eye
to any advantages to be secured from Great Britain by
such measure She cannot she disposed until
there thorough revolution in her system of govern.
ment offer any thing in return for the avos she may ask
Indeed she has nothing that she give IL she admits
-four pork beef and lard at less rate Of duty than
she does now, the German Customs Union will meet
her with heavy thrift on iron and cotton twist The
Colonial Duty Act Ct the last session of Parliament,
WILL it believed occasion this result in degree
at any rate. There is much murmuring and dssats
faction in the States in The North of Germany with this
Legislation of Great Britain, which they term ''whppng
the Devil round the stump" on account Of lis admit
ting the grain of the United States into her ports SIN
directly" at lower duties than that shipped from the
Baltic and North SEAS and in violation of the spirit Of
existing treaties
The stock of Tobacco in England the 3lst of De-
tober, was estimated at IS, 1913 hhds against 27,O05
hhds. in lS42, and 90 400 hhds. in 1871.
The imports to the same period were 26s00 hhds
against 10 900 in 1G42, and 80, so7 in lS4l
The exports and to Ireland, TO the period, were
II 600 hhds, against $500 in 1912, and l., 500 in
lS4l
The Home consumption TO the same PERIOD was
$500 hhds against $500 in 1872 and 1855 10 1871.
The stock is unprecedentedy large, having uccumu-
lated II 1913 hhds., within the last twelve months
while during that time the consumption has only been
increased 500 notwithstanding The prosperity of the
country and the impetus given otrade generally by the
settlement Of the China question
If there is one interest more tl,n another in The
United States that requires "protaton, it is the TO.
bacco interest. The cotton interest can take care of
itself The poor, ex.avagant Governments Of the old
world dare not rely upon cotton for revenue. If they
to lay heavy imposts upon its imporation they
would unset themselves by the occasIoned
among their operatives. But tobacco, necessary and
rational luxury such enjoy il, is made the pap
with which noursh feeble and exhausted treasures,
in disregard of that reciprocity of trade which should
characterize the intercourse between enlightened
States If the article was taxed on account OF lis de-
morazing tendency, planters would have no cause
of omplaint-but when /, is done avowedly for the
purpose of supporting Government-every where made
"a sort of commercial "seape-goat"-it is wonderful
that they passive with regard to their interests
Yours, truly, AGRlCoLA.