Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-05-09

From these comparisons he was fore
ed to conclude that these duties had had
the influence upon the trade in the arti.
c!es which the excessive rates would in
dictate, and had proved to be prohibitory
much beyond their revenue power.
Mr.. Wright then considered the inAu-
ence upon each of the great interests of
manufactures, commerce. and agricul-
ture, of such prohlbitory, compared with
properly arranged revenue duties.
He contended that even manufactures
would be more benefited by such Incl
dental protection as properly discrimina-
ting revenue duties would afford, than
by such prohibitory duties as would
break up and destroy trade. The for
mer would afford stable protection, be-
cause the wants of the treasury would
always be about the same. It would af-
ford that protection without just ground
of complaint to any interest, because the
treasury must be supplied by taxes Of
some sort, and these would be more ex-
ceptable to the whole country than any
other. On the contrary, pr ohibitory du-
ties taxed all. and did not supply the
treasury. They were destructive of
revenue, and therefore were just matter
Of complaint to all who were not bene-
flied by them; and speaking in refer
ence to the whole country, few in the
comparison could be benefited by any
prohibitory duty, while all were taxed
for the benefit of that few. Hence such
system could never be stable, because
the majority of the country could never
be content underit. The revenue sys-
tenn, and the Incidental protection to be
afforded by it, would be stable, because
the revenue would always be required;
and because the changes in it could new
er be extensive, so as to produce great
fluctuations and changes of interest.
He said it was point of great dispute
who in fact paid the duty imposed upon
an article of foreign manufacture; wheth-
er the foreign producer, or the the do
mestic CONSUMER. 1t was a point he had
never attempted to discuss, nor did lie
then intend to discuss it; but he desired
to present one or two illustrations, and
to make the inquiries suggested by them,
to show his own impressions, and to clio
it information as to their correctness.
from those better acquainted with the
subject than himself.
He would suppose, for the sake Of his
Illustration, that oul trade was last year
perfectly Free, there Being no. duties
whatever upon imports; and that A. B.,
a merchant of New York, imported so,
900 yards of cloths, costing him. in Eng
land, 100000, which he sold out I'M
the New York market; that the sale of
these cloths, below the manufacturing
prices of the country, had induced the
manufacturers of wool in this country to-
come to Congress and ask protection a
'gaihst this English competition; that
Congress had passed law imposing
a duty of 25 per cent. upon all English
cloths, such as the New York mer.
chant imported free of duty; that the
merchant this year returns to Liverpool,
goes to the same manufacturer. and de.
sires TO purchase exactly the same a.
mount and description of cloths, but tells
the manufactures he Garnet nav but
$4,000 for the $4,000 Yards tins wear,
because there is home duty of $4,000.
which he Will BE compelled 10 pay be.