Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1845-11-21
| NIoNroWtN, tPa.) SEPT. 80, l845


tanning forty questions addressed to certain
manu acturers of the United States, from
which it appears that the present Admin.
istratioa have determined to reduce the
present tariff (f they car) to IL uniform
rtandard OF twelve and half per cent.
This hping an important official paper,
the foundation OF hostile movement a.
gairst the protective policy, it has doubtless
,r,n tne Jorrs produ elton OF the president
and h's Csbinet, or Cf dranghted ly your.
relf) has been submitted for their censid.
Grafton and approval.
Regarding it in this light, 1hrg leave to
call yoIr attention and that Of the public
to some portions Of this important CIRCULAR.
The goth, 3Olh, and 3Isl, nterroga tories
l consider the most important, as indica-
ting !he precise standard to which the
President and his Cabinet have delermin-
ed 10 reduce the tariff of l842, viz: to
twelve and half per cent horizontal: that
is, twelve and half per cent upon every
thing alike.
That'he people may judge forthemseves
leOppy these jntewOgayories word ior word
from the circular itself.
Question "29.h. If the duty upon the
foreign Manufacture Of the kind Of goods
which y0u make were reduced TO twelve
and half per cent. with corresponding
reduction upon all the imports, would you
continue to manufacture at the reduced
price"
"30th. If it would cause you to aban-
don your business, in what way would you
employ your capital"
"3lst. Is there any pursuit in which
you could engage from which you cOuId
derive greater profits, even alter reduc-
ton OF the import duties to twelve and a
half per cent"
"Twelve and half per cent. on all i'm
ports" seems then to be "the revenue
standard" to which you, as the organ oI
the Administration propose to reduce the
present tariff. Now, sir, having indicated
your revenue Standard viz: twelve and
half per cent, have only to regret that
you did not, at the same time indicate the
amount Of revenue required. Allow me,
sir, to supply this omission. You will
want at least twenty-tour millions Of dol
lars year, the Treasury estimates make il
nearly twenly-seven millions.
Now sir permit me in turn to PROFOUND
a few questions, which hope will be an
swerpd Tor public satisfaction through the
official organ of the Government, 'lht
Unioa," editoriaIly or otherwise.
lst. Would twelve and half per cent
assessed upon all the imports Of the pre-
senl year, including tea, coffee, and th'
free list, be sufficient to raise ore half o
the amount OF revenue required at you
ItVtHue SLhHHdiu VI t"ClFF 0hu Hu'
per cent!
III would not, and you know it. On
whole imports for consumption amount tt
less than one hundred millions of dollars I
year; for the last ioUr years the average il
less than ninety millions, would give
twelve and half millions Of gross reve
nue., and deduc,ing from this three nil
lions for expenses, for collection, draw
backs, hountPs, &C., and YOU have left bu
nine millions and half nett revenue, in
stead Of twPnty-four or twenty-five mil
lioas-lhe amount required,]
2d. What increase OF foreign imports
would he required to supply this defcenc!
of revenue, say fifteen millions.
[Answer. One hundred and twenty
five millions. The whole Of the specie ir
the United States is estimated at al ou,
seventy-fvp or eighty millions of dollars
So that all the specie in the United States
would not pay, by forty-fve miIonsof dol
lars, for the increased imports required to
supply one years revenue at twelve and
half per cent, the standard proposed by
the present administration!1
3D.. Reduce to twelve and half pei
cent. and how will you supply the revenue
now scarcely sufficient at all average duty
of thirty-iour and half per cent? VIII
you supply it by direct taxation, exchequeI
bills, borrowing or bankruptcy!
[lhese are hard questions, butthey mus
be answered. The people demand it,
4th. When all the specie in the United
States will not pay by forty.hve mllIons
for the foreign imports required for revenue
the first yearunderyour system, and when
the banks Of course suspend and break