Mobile register and journal., 1845-08-28

REDUCTION OF THE TARIFF.-Balow will be found series of 40 questions issuing from the Sec retary of the Treasury to manufacturers in relation | to the nature of lheir business and Ihe influence which the Tariff eXerts over it. The answers 10 these questions, embodied in statistical form under the direction of the Bureau of Statistics, would form n | most valuable acquisition To economical nforma | ton. The mass ol evidence from different quarters will be check upon interested statements Of a part of them. The 29th 30th and 3lst questions require information as 10 whether the manufactures could ex st at average duty Of 12a per ce n., and If not in what manner tue capital would he employed better advantage. This will he close question. The answer to 1t will he universally that they cannot st at reduced duty. The truth however will be that trey will do larger and profitable busi- ness at low duty than at high one, and for req. sons that enier but m very small degree inlo the calculations of our manufacturers. The leading mo- live for wishing high duty, is to obtain al the pres ent moment higher price for the article than could otherwise be obtained. This advance m price obevIng the universal law of trade, discourages cons sumption. The demand for goods is further reduced | by the decline in the price of farm produce, conse quent upan the diminished foreign trade Farm pro duce is the by which 35 out of 15 persons ge their living; when that Is depressed in price, the purchasers of goods naturally fYll off, and the price declines upon the hands of the manufacturers; where as, were an extensive foreign trade encouraged, the l price of produce would rise, and double the manu l iactured goods would be consumed at remuneralInG prices. Take the article of flour. Never, in the history of thls country, has II ruled low in the last six months. It has averaged S4 69, and i. now S4 25. In lS42 it averaged S6 03, or Sl 7s | per barrel higher than now. The production in the Union is about 23 .000, 900 barrels consequently the value of the cron is $40 250 900 less this year than ihen or more than one half the whole import of man ufacturea goods. All other articles affected in similar degree. If, now, moderate tariff had al. lowed last year of the import of goods in payment lhere would probably have been 900 900 barrels K ported instead of GOO 900 barrels. The difference 1 of one million barrels would have made more than 30 900 GOO difference in the means derivable from the sale of flour, applicable 10 the purchase of goods
 The want of that foreign sale depressed The price here, SO that few goods could be bought. The for etgn dcnand is now raising the price and will i'm. prove trade IL is the short -ss shted view thai ulacturts fake of their interest, which makes them gree. of present gain. The following are the qu slnns, and from them may be drawn some indication of ihe policy which the Secretary means | 10 recommend.
 TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
 10th July, lS45.
 Sir: send you several copies of questions here tofore propounded bv the Treasury Department with a view to obtain information i'd regard 10 the tariff
 You will please obtain answers to these question: from reliable sources to have the answers here by the lirnl of Oc,ober next.
 Very respectfully, yYour obedent servant, R. J. WALKER, Secretary of Treasury