Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-03-28
WOODSTOCK, VIRGINIA: MARCH %, 1914

4 'icles, and yet, by giving larger and
steadIer market to the producer of those
articles, benefit the manufacturer
The anecdote Of the coal merchant,
who said he lost on every 5ushel of coal
which he sola.' but made up his losses By
selling very great quantity, is precise
ly in point, and not whit more absurd
A small number of American mannfac.
/ turers sell their goods at IA high price
before a protective Tariff is laisl--but
/ they complain that the market is toe
| small, the English manufacturer sharing
it with them, and not permitting them to
sell enough goods to rake the business
profitable. They ask for high duties.
which shall exclude some of the English
competition. Our government lays the
duties-English competition is partly
excluded-but new competition arises at
hoinc-other individuals engage in the
business-and the small number of Am
erlcan manufacturers, who existed before
the new Tariff, find that the competition
begotten by: the Tariff, according to Nr.
Clay, IS greater tfan the competition be-
tore the Tariff Instead oil. an increased
market, they have 20 market at all at
former prices. They reduce their prices.
but sell us more goods-because altho'
England sends fewer, the new manufac-
turers at home more than supply the de-
flcency. If the supply we're less, the
demand would have increased, and pri
ces would have risen. But prices have
tallen--hence, the supply must have in
creased, and the demand have diminish
ed. Now, | have demonstrated. that if
the manufacturer at home gets a less
price after the tariff, it must be because
there IS a smaller market. 1t matters
not with our manufacturer. whether the
competition and excessive supply comes
from abroad or from home. The Tariff
INJURIES him, if it begets greater com
petition thar it destroys. and the more
he sells at the the new and reduced pri
ces, the greater will be his losses. Be-
tore the Tariff. he sold together with the
English manufactures at high prices. =
Mr. Clay does not even propose to ex-8
clude the English manufacturer by his
iariif-for this would destroy revenue:
but still to admit him. and raise IN new
competition at hume. Thus, after the
Tariff, the manufacturer who souoht ~
enactment, finds his old competitors fet-
tered, but still in the field, and new
ones arlsen.and is obliged TO sell at low.
er prices, or not sell at all. Now. II
such were in truth the effects of the Tar
1T. would not those who sought its on.
actment be the first to pray for lis re-
peal
In conclusion, find the following alb.
surdlties contained in Mr. Clay's letter:
|. 1t is absurd to say, that protec-
tive Tariff, intended to exclude or dimi.
n'sh competition from abroad, can in
crease competition. Because part can
not be greater than the whole.
9. 1t is absurd to say, that the English
would continue to raise the prices of
their goods. if we had no Tariff; for con-
petition among themselves must prevent
such combination, and compel them to
sell as cheap as they can oford.
s. 1t is absurd to say, that We can buy
English goods as cheap after laying en-
them an additional duty Of 10 or 90 per
cent. as we did before; because the Eng.
gllsh manufacturer could not take off
that amount from his profits and still
carry on his Business !: his profits being
low before the duty.
4. 1t is absurd to say, that the mann
lecturers will be benefited by Tariff
which compels the them to sell at cheap
er rates.
5. 1t is absurd TO say, that domestic
competition. which reduces the prices of
what you sell, improves your market,
whist foreign competition, which ena-
b'es you you to sell higher, DESTROYS your
market WI
IN the whole compass Of the English
language, am very sure no crave ami
serious production can be found embro.
eng ~ SO small a space, so many abSrr
fa,'ies as are Contained in this letter of
MIR. Clay 'N''s' "
Its doctrines are not only in direct
conflict with the axioms Of comnnn
sense used by us all in the ordinary CON
duct OF life, with the science believed
and taught by the wise and learned
throughout the world; but they are
wholly lrreconcilabIe with other theories
m constant use by the Wings and Mr.
- LAY mmself. on this same subject Of The
lariif. have chosen to convict Mr.
Clay o. absurdities by appealing to the.
admissions aud theories Of his own
trends; and now. would ask. # AZ
Clay believes in his own thaor;a, :,
not very weak man e If he sees their
aDsurdl''es, and only employs them to
deceive, IS he not very corrupt manp
JOHN TAYLOR of Caroline.