Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-09-03

Quees III Niio fhticuoc VI ttiI PRIV "
American sugar is a tax, what is The PEN
ally for failing to pay III Us
Ans. The same penalty thai is paid for
falling to pay the government tax In
either case, il you refuse 10 pay the tax.
YOU will 20 without the sugar. slS N
CUES. You have spoken only Of sugar.
Is The effect Of the taxing law similar up
on all The protected articles Of American
manufactures A,..,, .Is M,
b Ans. Exactly the same. The amount
Of the Tax differs on The different colnmo-
dilies, but the principle is the same in all.
Cues. What is the whole amount OF
taxes which are thus collected from the
whole mass Of consumers, for the bene-
I'll Of the sugar-planters and the manu-
iacturersi
Ans. The amount is rapidly on the in
crease; II may be safely set down, for the
present, al fifty millions OF dollars. Its
probably much more, but it is exceedingly
difficult perhaps impossible, to explain the
exact amount.
Cues. Why is the precise amount Of
this tax unknown, whilst that paid TO 60
yernmeni IS known2
Ans. have no means Of ascertaining
the amount which is paid to any protected
class except the sugar planters. Every
manufacturer is his own custom house Of
6cer and his own clerk. He collects his
own tax, and being accountable for it to
no one, he renders no accounts.
Cues. But do not those who pay know
how much they pay to eitherl
Ans. Many imported articles are not
taxed at all; some are taxed specifically
that is, by the pound, Or the piece, or the
yard; other by per centage on 10 the
cost; and others, again, by an ingenious
device called a minimum. So that the
whole affair is so intricate and so compi.
Gated, that it is almost impossible for any
one 10 seperate the tax on any article
which he purchases, from the cost and
charges. Indeed, he does not know the
first cost, nor The charges, nor tho profit;
and of course he cannot probably know
the amount Of the tax. Ii is added TO the
rest; they all make the price; that he learns
and pays, and can know no more.
CUES. What is the amount which the
sugar-planter taxes the CONSUMERS Of SUI
gar, yearly, under the present law2
Ans. Five millions of dollars; but this
tax, and all others collected by the protect.
: ed classes from the consumers, is rapidly
on the increase.
Cues. How do you ascertain that the
sugar-planlers tax the consumers FIVE mil.
lions of dollars year?
Ans. Because we know that the Anne
rican sugar crop amounts to two hundred
thousand hogseads year; and we have
seen that, on each hogsbead, there is .
taxof twenty five dollars; which makes, or
the whole amount, FIVE millions, as said
Dues, Why do you say his tax of the
sugar planter, as well as all manufacturers
is on the increased
Ans. Because they increase their pro
duction.
Cues. Does the amount of the ia,
which is paid to the protected classes in
crease as their productions increased
Ans. Certainly; every new sugar,houst
and every new factory is new custom
house with power not TO divide the old la.
but TO lay on new tax for lis own pro
duction.
Cues. Can you illustrate this statement
Ans. The sugar planters, collectively
now make two hundred thousand hogs
head, (as we have stated and on this a
mount derive a revenue from the con
sumersb by the tax Of FIVE millions year
Presently they will make three hundre
thousand hogsheads; then this revenue wi
be seven million FIVE hundred thousand
and, before very long they will make fou
hundred thousand, with a revenue Of te
millions.
CUES. How do you establish that III
whole amount which the sugar-planter an
the manufacturer tax the consumers is fit
millions Of dollars2
Ans. II is known that there is NOR
than twice the amount Of protected art
cles Of home production consumed a
there is imported. and the rate Of tax W
have seen is the same on both. So tina
whilst the imports produce twenty-five mi
lions tor The government, the home-raise
articles produce fifty millions Of dollar
ior the favored classes. The consumes
pay twenty-five millions Of dollars for III
support Of both. =
Our next conversation was upon hon
consumption and home market; whic
wo will publish before long, il this is Il
sorably received. A