Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-09-19
iP OIL 7 N Z O A u o
A PROTECTIVE TARIFF,
ITS EFFECT UPON THE PRICES OF PROTECTED
ARTICLES.
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We took occasion some days ago to con-
slider the Tariff i'll connection with the Agri-
cultural interest, for the purpose of inquiring
how it affected the farmer; and the result OF
The investigation went TO establish, beyond
all controversy, that inasmuch as the opera
ton of the Tariff was TO increase the ropuIa-
ton of consumers and TO Withdraw labou
! and capital from the cultivation of the soil.
the market for agricultural produce must be
enlarged and The farmers chances for good
prices improved.
The other branch Of the subject relates TO
the effects Of the Tariff upon the prices of
| imported articles. Upon this point there has
been much discussion; and the theories adj
vanced by different dispu,ans have been va
rlous and in some respects contradictory.
1t Is commended in some quarters that the "a
mount Of the protective duty on any article
adds SO much TO the price. On the other
hand there are abundant facts TO show that in
some cases the prices of protected articles are
actually reduced by reason Of the duties.
Here is wide difference between theories
and results.
1t will not do to lay down general alb
stract principle as of invariable application
on either side. At first view it seems pausi-
bic enough that the price of an imported ar
tc!e must be enhanced by the duty; and so
| it is if there be no means of home supply.
Thus if coffee can be imported, duty free, a,
seven cents per pound, The imposition of a
duty Of three cents would probably increase
the price. Yet It does not follow that coffee
would rise 10 ten cents for the producer is
affected by the duty as well as the consumer
Nay, 1T might happen that the price would not
rise at all. An abundant crop of coffee might
even cause fall of prices, notwithstanding
the duty or new Improvements in the cul-
ture o! coffee, with greater economy on the
part OF the planters, might keep prices as low
as ever.
But suppose the duty is laid upon all ar,i.
Gle which we can produce at home~-what is
The result then, Let us look at the opera.
ton III view Of its permanent consequences
Ii is upon this class of articles that the chic
stress is laid by the aDti-ariT men, when the,
bring their charges Of monopoly and Of une
quail taxation. And 10 show how they carry
on their warfare we may refer to a New
York anti-rarIff paper, The Evening Post
which, i'll an article on the 3rd inst. quolet
an ISOLATED paragraph from one of Mr.. Clay,
speeches in which ii is said tina. "in general /
may be taken as a rule, Mok tie duiy upon a,
article forms portion Of lis price.' II
what particular connection this proposition
was advanced--how it may have beer quail
fed by what went before or bv what came
after, the Post does not inform us, and tht
speech in question is not indicated with stiff
cent dlslinctness 10 enable us to find il in IN,
collection Of Mr.. Clay's speeches. 1'he Pos
takes the passage we have quoted. and glvins
it an unqualified application as an abstrac
positive principle, says, "Let us take this raj,
OF Mr. Clay's along with US and try Mr.
Clay's moderate and reasonable tariff by its
II proceeds TO specify number of articles
we quote few Of its specifications with tht
accompanying and concluding remarks:
"Fustians, the most durable Of all cottor
fabrics, pay duty of more than their orlgina
cost. According TO Mr.. Clay, Of every dolla
which the laborer expends for pair OF fusiar
pantaloons, he pays at least fifty cents to Mr.
Schenck, Of Maueawau.