Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-04-23
TO THE EDITORS OF TIE EMO UrREE

TO THE EDITORS OF THE ENQUIRER.
Gentlemen One OF your correspondents from rs
SEX in the paper of this morning has made so sngu-
lar mistake, in stating passage between Mr.. Scott
and myself at Tappahaunock, that must ask the favor
of space enough your columns to correct it, The true
history of that passage is this Mr. Scott, in the course
Of his address the people, "a very able as well as
animated one rung the changes merrily upon the sup
posed Wing maxim, that "hgh duties produce low
prices and called me 10 say whether intended 10
maintain it, which replied, that did not intend 10
make so absurd an issue, rs that high duties would
under all circumstances, produce low prices But that
should maintain and invited HIM TO meet ME upon
that ground, that high duties did no, ARRAYS produce
high prices, but did sometimes produce ioiC prices as
the effect Of the duty depended upon the article upon
which the duty was imposed. If The duty was imposed
upon article grown in abundance, and manufactured
in this country, the ultimate effect OF high duty
would be low PRICE But u the article was not
grown, or readily manufactured IN ths country, then
The high duty would produce high price.
To illustrate these positions, | referred 10 cotton
ron and tobacco, enc side, and cofee on the DINER
Cotton, ron and tobacco grow, and are manufactured
in great abundance in this country, and the high du
ties upon the two first, poduce low prices, while upon
the las, it produced no effect. because when by The
high duty upon manufactured cotton, and ifon the To-
reign manufacture excluded, our natural advantages
IN growth and manufacture display themselves, and
increased regular competition, furnished supply ade-
ouate to the demand While, upon the same principle,
duty aUSOuleiy uPo" laoaeeo "o"'h nv
crease the price to the consumer here, because we
grow more tobacco than we have demand for.
But the reverse would be the effect Of high duty on
coffee because we gov coffee in this country. II
we drink it, therefore, must procure it from abroad
and as there can be no competition, must drink il
the duty with the coice-that is pay the duty N add
ton TO tho price, until the seller finds, from the dminu
ton of his rates. that he had better sell much att FIN
profit, than lille at high proft-and then the price
would be diminished, that the seller would lose a
portion of the duty, as well as the consumer; and !
might be- if he supply in the country in which the cot
fee is grown was superabundan thai line seller woui'
lose the whole Of the duty.
IT. then, The free trade doctrine of the Democratic
party be true, viz that the discrimination oil duty
should not he IN favor of American manufactures, tb
consequence would be, that while under hgh farm
il would be possible 10 obtain manufactured goods
low prices from foreign manufacturers, 1t would D.
possible to get coffee and tea and other ARTICLES
ign growth except at high prices AS mat doc'fn
is, las maintained by many, if not alp not only 'ba
The duty shall not be laid in favor OF American manu-
factures but that high duties necessarily produce ng
prices. The mistake of your correspondent arose,
have no doubt from misapprehensIon OF what passed
Very respectfully,
Your obdt serv't,
Anrl %. 1s44 JAMES LYONS.