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

consequence of this increased demand is
to increase the price of every thing the
farmer has to sell, and, by increasing the
quantity, reduce the price of manufactured
goods. Thus the protective policy enables
the farmers TO sell higher and buy lowers;
while, on the other hand, increased CON-
petition obliges the manufacturer TO sell
lower and buy his supplies at higher rates;
yet it is asserted in this report, and in
every anti-tarif speech, that high protec.
tive duties are imposed for the benefit of
the manufacturer at the expense of the |
farmer. Now submit whether practically
the opposite of this proposition is not the
truth; and whether such is not the neces-
sary and unavoidable result of the great
laws of demand and supply which regulate
and control prices throughout the world.
But agriculture is still further benefited
by the protective policy. By increasing
manufactures, it withdraws portion Of
the capital and hands from agriculture, and
converts them into consumers instead of
producers, into consumers instead Of RI
walls; thus diminishing the quantity and in
creasing the demand for agricultural sup
plies. and at the same time increasing the
supply and reducing the price of the manu-
featured goods which they get in exchange.
Thus, in every point of view in which the
subject can be considered, the farmer is
more benefited than the manufacturer by
the adoption and maintenance of the pro-
tective policy. By way of illustration
suppose in village there is one manufac-
turing establishment Of woollen goods; here
the surrounding farmers sell their wool and
other agricultural supplies; the manufac-
turer, having monopoly, regulates his
own prices, as well as those of the farmers,
he demands what he pleases, and gives
what he will; but suppose high protective
tariff on woollen goods is passed. and in
stead Of one woollen factory there springs
into existence five or six in this village,
the existing monopoly is at once destroyed;
there is six times the demand for wool and
provisions; this increased demand necessa-
rily increases the price of every thing the
farmer has to Jell, and by Cutting the
market with six times the quantity of wool
len goods the price is necessarily reduced.
Such are the plain and obvious benefits of
the protective policy to the farmers yet
politicians would have them believe that
they are oppressed and ruined by this pol.
icy, which can alone render them prosper
Gus.
Mr.. Van Buren's opinions on the Tariff.
And here, sir, it may not be improper to
remark, that Mr.. Van Buren, entirely con-
ours with the Committee of Ways and
Means. In his letter to the Indiana con-
vention he says: "The great body of me-
chanics and laborers in euery branch Of
business, whose welfare should be an object
of unceasing soicitude on the part of every
public man, have been the greatest suffer.
ers by our high protective tariff, and would
continue so to be were that policy per-
sisted in, is to my mind too clear to re-
quire further calculations" but he further
says, what is much nearer the truth, that
high duties are injurious to the manufac-
turers themselves, for whose especial bene-
; fit we are told by the committee these high
duties are imposed. Mr.. Van Buren, says:
Excess of duties, which tempt to an un-
due and ruinous investment of capital in
> their business, is injurious to the manufac-
, turers;" and how--by promoting COMPETE
ton, and reducing prices? but is not this
for the benefit of the consumers!
But this is not all Mr.. Van Buren, says
against the protective polcy--he says, "the
period has passed away when protective
tariff can be kept up in this country" that
the tariff increases the poor mans taxes
, in an inverse ratio to his ability to pay
/, and that direct taxation is a more equal
and Just system Of revenue than duties on
foreign goods. These, sir, are Mr.. Van
. Buren's opinions upon the tariff, as pro.
/, claimed to the world in his Indiana letter.
! But let US look into the details and prac-
6 tical operation Of this bill on the great agri
cultural, manufacturing, and mechanical in.
terests of our country.
In the first place it greatly reduces the
duties on wool and woollens of all kinds;
three-fourths of the duties, and more, are
e taken from coarse cottons and calicoes
/, lead is robbed of more than nine-tenths o.
I its protection. But Pennsylvania seems tc
o be singled out for destruction. Her iron
= her coal, her glass, her paper, her salt, anc
8 leather, are all struck down together, anC
e we are to 60 to England for iron, coal
i glass, &c. Yes, sir, in 1912 we imported
g more than four millions of bushels of coal
e under duty of 81 rs per ton. This bill
Il reduces il to one dollar. Of course you
b, must double, and doubtless you will treble
/. the quantity imported; and for what! II
g increase the revenue A few days ag'
= Pennsylvania passed resolution unani
+. mously instructing US to 60 for protection
ID "without regard 10 revenue" Yes, sill
g these are the words, protection "withou
Ie regard to revenues" and here we are re
IL. r. l. e..