The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-12-09
WHOLE NO. $50.

This conclusion must be inevitable if it be
certain that the protected articles have adj
vanced and Western produce declined since
the enactment Of the Tariff law--and that
these changes of price have resulted from
that law. Now it is notorious that Iron and
Sugar have risen as is stated. There is
some dispute as TO the relative state Of prices
in Cotlons and Woo!ens--the advocates of
Tariff insisting that prices are as low as ever
and that therefore such duties do not en-.
hance prices at all. But there is one fact
that settles the question. The prices of Cot
ton goods in England, are much lower than
in this country-so much so that some impor-
tations are even yet made and of course
goods too, that many lie sold in our markets
so as TO pay cost and the enormous duties
exacied besides. If then the prices of Cot
ton goods hare not literally advanced, they
have not been reduced here as in Europe
and that is, for the purposes Of cur argument,
the same. The continual Improvements in
machinery, Cotton aud Wooden, which cause
an incessant decline in The price of those
fabrics have, as to that effect, been counter
vailed by our Tariffsystem, and the consumers
in consequence of that system are compelled
10 pay more than without it. 1t will not do
to tell US that Il we had relied on England
for more Of cur supplies than we have, prices
there would be higher--that they have fallen
in consequence Of the loss of our CUSTOM
Such reasoning is fatal 10 the favorite doc
trinc Of the Tariff man that manufacturers
in this country can reduce their prices, if
their market here can De extended by the
exclucion Of the foreign commodity--being
able 10 produce large quantity, at less
rate then small one. For if this PROPOSE
ton were true, Why could not England if
allowed to supply the vorld sell cheaper still
from tie still greater extent of her custo-
mers?
The same causes that have depressed
Agricultural produce and enhanced manu-
featured goods, hare had corresponding
eject on Real Estate. The assessments Of
properly for TAXATION have not in this or the
neighboring States bsen made with much
precision-indeed values have been SO un-
settled in this region, that it has been ims
possible. In Ohio Notwithstanding the great
expenditures in public works lately made,
the value Of all the properly in the Stale
varies but very little from lS4l. Such is
the case with Indiana. In Kentucky tho
total assessment last year was some twelve
millions below previous years. But in the
manufacturing regcn the condition of things
is reversed. We have not before us state
ment of the movement of property in Mas.
sachusetts at large-but on referring to the
returns of taxable property in Boston, the
great emporium ofthe manufacturing interest
we find that it has advanced in value from
S3S, ,,73,600 in le4l, 10 $l35, 1888, 300 in
ls45, an increase in four years of nearly 40
per cent. To prove that this is the effect
Of protection, we need but refer to the neigh
boring city of New York, which although of
course much connected with the mauufactur-
ing interest, is nevertheless the great Com
mercial emporium of the Union, and more
with all its great inter ests than
Boston, The taxable property of New York
instead of advancing from ls4l TO 1914 1--WE
have no returns of le45,) has declined from
$252, ,235,3l5 to 1924, ,960,046. As if to
leave no doubt on this subject, that facts
could remove, 1t appears that the foreign
trade of Boston has in this period experienced
little Or no change-and that change slight
as it is, confirms our conclusion. The ex-
ports of Boston to foreign countries instead
of increasing, have actually declined from
1871 to 1874 from $9,S72,Sl2 to SS,244,-
her imports have advanced from
SIS, ,90S242 to $22, ,7SS, showing in
creased means ofpurchasing luxuries derived
not from exports,-but from the enhanced
prices which the law confers upon her. 1t
was however 10 fourishing manufacturing
region like this that the West was taught to
look for that great additional demand for
produce that was to compensate her for
Tariff burthens. Well, Boston although she
has advanced in wealth nearly 40 per cent.
for the last four years, which is about twice
as much as for the proceeding eight, buys in
1854 but 6S9,20l barrels of Flour instead of
573, ,233 in lS4l, and from the reduction
in prices pays less nor for ,Dhat she consumes
than before! and of what she does buy, only
about 100000 barrels go from New Orleans,
whence the great bulk of -four in this Valley
S sent to our customers by sea. Such is the
evidence of the wholesale plunder of the
vest: proceeding Of such enormity under,
or rather by, government like ours, that
nothing can exceed the impudence with
which it is erpetrated--exccpt the attempts
Of the plunderers 10 convince us that it is for
our good! The tariff of l642 was obtained
IN false p?elences: on the pretence that the
great body Of American manufactures were
in their own market by foreigners,
md that this country had already been brought
o great distress by this triumph of the foreign
over the American operative, and the conse-
luent substitution of foreign fabrics for our
,wn. The reverse Of these misrepresenta-
ions was the fact. To display the condi-