Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-10-23
The Tariff and Treasury Circular

Hc ANfRA dHO AfeasuFy CIfcutaf.
The good People of The United States and
especially the Mechanics, Manufacturers, and
Farmers, are requested to be,tow their whole
attention on The following article, for as long a
time a, least as il will take TO read it--Nalon-
al lneligencer.
UNIoNTowN, Pa, Sept. 30, ls45.
Hon, ROBERT J. WALKER,
Secretary Of the Treasury of the U. S.
SIR: have seen your circular containing
forty questions addressed 10 certain manufac-
turers of the United States, from which it ap-
pears that the present Administration have de-
lernlned to reduce the present tariff Gf they
can,) 10 uniform standard of twelve and half
per cent. fe
This being an important official paper, the
foundation Of hostile moyemen, against the
protective policy, il has doubtless been The Join,
production Of The President and his Cabinet, or
(lf draugh'ed by yourself) has been submitted
for their consideration aud approval.
Regarding il in this light, Deg leave to call
your attention and that Of the public, 10 some
portions OF this important circular
The 29h, 3Olh. and 3lst inesrogatories, |
consider the most important, as indicating the
precise standard To which The President and his
Cabinet have determined TO reduce the tariff of
1912, viz: 10 twelve and half per cent. h0ri-
z0ntat that is, twelve and half per cent. upon
every thing alike.
That The public may judge for lhemselres
copy these interrogalories word for word from
The circular itself:
Question "29ih. If the duty upon The for
eign manufacture Of The kind Of goods which
you make were reduced TO twelve aud half
per CEN, with cores spending reduction upon
all the imports, would you continue 10 nanufac.
lure al reduced prices Z"
"30h. III, would cause you to abandon your
business, in wha. way would you employ your
capital :"
"3lst Is there any pursuit in which you
could engage from which you could derive
greater profits, even after reduction OF the i'm
port duties 10 twelve and a half per cent, ?''
Twelve and half per cent. on all Imports
seems, then, 10 be "the revenue standard" 10
which you, as The organ of This Administration,
propose 10 reduce the present tariff. Now, sir,
having indicated your revenue Standard" viz:
twelve and half per cent, have only to re-
gret 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 tweniy-four millions of dollars year; the
Treasury estimates make ii nearly iwenly-sey-
en- millions.
Now, sir, permit me in turn 10 PROFOUND
few questions, which hoPe will be answered
for public satisfaction through The official organ
of the Government, The Union," editoriaIIy or
otherwise.
lst. Would twelve and a half per cent. as
sessed upon all the imports of the present year.
including tea, cofee and the free list, be sufi-
cient TO pay one half of The amount of revenue
required at your revenue standard of twelve and
half per cent!
1t would not, and you know it. Our whole
imports for consumption amount to less than one
hundred millions of dollars a year; for The last
four years the, average is less than ninety mil
lions. Twelve and half per cent. upon one
hundred millions would give twelve and half
millions Of gross revenue, and deduc.ing from
this three millions for expenses Of collection,
drawbacks, bounlies, &c, and you have left
but nine millions and a half nett revenue, in
stead of lwenty-four or twenty-five millions
the amount required. .a tsg.sj
3D. What increase Of foreign imports would
be required 10 supply this deficiency Of resen-
ue, say fifteen millions?
Answer. One hundred and tweniy five mil
lions The whole Of the specie in the United
States is estimated at about seventy-fve or
eighty millions of dollars. So that all The spe-
Gle in The Uniled States would not pay, by for.
ly-fve millions of'dollars, for the increased i'm.
ports required TO supply one years revenue a,
twelve and half per cent, the standard" pro
! A 4 Il