Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-10-29

lfulI extent of that duty. N
Now when we recellcct that all foreign
imports are as truly the productions of do
nestle industry as their home made rivals
and that the industry which acquires the
foreign article is as much entitled 10 be
exempted from taxation as that which
makes the domestic article; il will be
seen that the very lowest rate of reve-
nue. duties upon sugar and iron, and upon
oil manufactures of iron, cotton and wool,
is an Unjust discrimination in favor of one
branch of domestic industry and against
another. The true point of equality and
justice, as | have always maintained,
would be 10 impose the same rate of duty
on the home made, that we impose on the
imported manufacture. The exemption,
therefore, of our home made manufactures,
from the duties imposed on those we i'm
port, is most liberal concession, gratuit-
ously made by the people TO the manuiac-
turers; and that they are not satisfied with
this discrimination is proof how feeble is
the sense of gratitude and justice among the
masses OF men, when their interestsis are
in question. But our system is as burthen-
some as it is unequal. 1t may be safely
stated that it imposes pecuniary burthen
on the people three times as great as the
amount of revenue it yields to the Trea
sury. The duty on imported cotton man
ufactures, for example, may be assumed to
average 40 per cent. and The amount inn
/ ported set down at ten millions. But the
cotton manufactures annually produced in
the United States and equally enhanced in
price with the foreign, by the duty impos-
ed on the latter, amount 10 thirty millions
of dollars. Forty per cent. on this gives us
twelve millions as the additional burthen
Imposed on the people, by the duty on cot
ton manufactures; SO that the people are
subjected to burthen of sixteen millions
to obtain revenue of four, paying to the
cotton manufactures, who are now reaiiz-
ing from 70 "a. 40 per cent. on their cap
ltal, three dollars for every one they pay
to the Government Now let us compare
this duty on cotton manufactures, with a
like duty on tea and coffee, which the
manufacturers arlfully prevailed upon
Congress 10. exempt from duty altogether
by the act of 1912. Let us assume that
we annually import tea and coffee 10 the
amount of ten millions OF dollars under
duty of 40 per cent. This will YIELD
revenue precisely equal TO that derived
! from the duty on cotton manufactures, and
will impose only one fourth of The burthen
on the people. The money collected at
the custom house would be the full mea-
sure OF the popular burthen. And vet it
Is one of the schemes of manufacturers TO
let tea and coffee remain free of duty, in
order 10 create a necessity for increasing
The duties on sugar, iron, and the various
manufactures embraced in the protective
] system. of all foreign imports, tea and
coffee are among the most proper subjects
of revenue duty, inasmuch as they yield
the largest amount of revenue with the
least burthen to the people, and that
burthen is equally distributed among the
consumers. But the manufacturers, who
carry their manufactures to China to ex-
change them for tea, and to Brazil and
Cuba to exchange them for coffee, under
stand perfectly we'll the benefit of free
| trade; if it be only confined to themselves
They are like Sir Robert PEEPS fisherman,
who said to that minister, {" am free
trade man. sir, but you must not touch the
duty on fish," have no doubt, therefore,
that powerful effort will be made by the
manufacturers to induce Congress to VIC.
late the true principles of revenue sys-
tenn, and the solemn pledge contained IN
the compromise act of 1893, by leaving
tea and coffee with the long list of foreign
imports used by them in manufacturing
free of duty. But this scheme, am sure,
can receive no countenance from the ad.
ministratiOn. They will recommend no
Determinations, as we have been semi Of
ficially Informed, but with a view 10 reve.
nue.; and upon every sound revenue prin-
ciple the highest rate OF duty should be
laid upon such articles as are not made in
the United States. If this class were suf
ficientiy extensive, the whole of the feder-
al revenue should be drawn from it. We
: should thus have no wealthy and infnen-
tlal class, drawing princely incomes from
| the extorted contributions of the people,
and stimulating the government to all sorts
of extravagant expenditures with view to
keep up system of high and oppressive
, duties.
In any scheme which The administra-
ton may present for adjusting the tariff,
/ Il feel confident that the leading feature
will be the total abolition of minimum and
specific duties. These are fraudulent
contrivances that serve no other purposes
but to deceive the people and disguise OPP
preston. Let US have ad UaIorem duties
that every body can understand Let the
people see the full extent of their burthens,
and if they must be oppressed let it be so