Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-04-25

with the: interest and profits which both
have charged and made upon it.
The tariff duty is called an indirect tax.
1t is called so because it is taken cut Of
the pockets Of the people by such roun-
dabeut and secretprocess that they are
thrown off their guard, and pay it, OPP
pressve as it often Isl. without even no.
ticlns the fact that they pay any tax at
all. For this reason. have attempt
ed to trace this sly aud slippery tax,
which is everywhere felt, bat nowhere
seen, through its tfrcui.ous passage from
the hands Of the people to the Golfers Of
the government and the merchants.
And now sir, having done this as well
as could-having shown that the far
mer has paid price one-sxth higher for
the coffee than he woulG have paid but
for this tax,-it is important next to
show, fits what is the final aggregate
price he pays; secondly, what is the one
sixth part part of that aggregate; and
thirdly, where that sixth part goes, IN
what proportions it is divided between
the public treasury, the government oil
GERS, and importing and retail mer-
chants.
And first. what is the aggregate cost of
the coffee TO the farmer? That cost is
sixteen hundred ind seventy twO dollars.
and is made up of four items, as follows
First. The original cost of the coffee to
the importer, where purcha-
Seu 5 ,OUU
Second. The tariff duty of TWEEN
per cent. paid on the above, by
the importer to the govern
ment 200
Third. The interest at six per
cent. on the above two sums,
calculate for one year from the
time the duty is paid. and en-
ters into the price Of the cot
fee, until the coffee is sold to
the farmer -
Fourth. The joint profit Of the
importer and retailer, estima-
ted on the $1,000 which the
! coffee cost them at the rate of
( thirty-three and one-third per
/ cent. (which is less than the av-
/ erage profit en- merchandise,
! and which in this instance a.
I moants to 400
These foar Items added together
| show the final aggregate cost
of the coffee to the farmer to
! be as before stated 1882
In the next place, what is the one
sixth part of this aggregs,e--the part
which the farmer pays solely in conse-
quence Of this tariff duty?
The answer 80 $276 TO
And lastly, where does this sixth part
go, and in what proportions to those that
receive it? The answer is, into the pub
lie treasury in part, and in part into the
pockets of goyernment officers, and the
other part into the hands of the mer-
chants. And this it does in the follow
ing proportions: t
First. The public treasury re- y
ceives $3.50 90
Second. The government off,
GERS and agents land here it is
| to be remembered that there
are, of these officers and
agents, no less than between
three and four hundred inland
connected with. the single Gus
tom house at the city of New
York get, for and in the pro-
cess OF collecting this duty, as
is shown by official estimates
hitherto made, upon an average
ten per cent. on the gross sum
of revenue collected, and
which. on this gross sum of
5000 paid, as duty on the
coffee, amounts to 90 &C
Third. The importing and re-
tail merchants reCelye,ln inter-
est and profit, out of the two
hundred and seventy eight dol
lars and slxty-six cents, al!
the balance which is rs sc
The two last named sums receive
ed by the government officers
and the merchants, amount to-
| gether to 70 &C
And thus sir, it is manifest that the
government, in order 10 get s 80 of net
revenue into the treasury, has BY this
tariff duty on the coffee, to impose upor
fthe farmer a tax Of 1878 90. OF whici
s98 sc cents is dead loss 20 him, with
cut an equivalent or an excuse.
If. then il Be true as | have certainly
nroy.n it to be-jF. in order to get $3.50
dollars of nett revenue into the treasury
the government has to impnse. by tariil
duties. tax of two hundred and seven
weight dollars and sixty-six cents upon
the people, what amount Of far 'e'n il
haze each year to impose by tariff duties,
an order to gel into the freesns'y the ire
millions Of aetsrevsnss 10 stsPPly The piaf'
of the three milliors annually d'str'0"
ted
To this important question the answe'
il. four millions siG hundred and forty
four thousand three hundred and h'rty
i three dollars and thirty three cents and
fraction, This IS question OF figures