The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-10

and upon all manufactures of iron, cotton, and WOOL
is unjust discrimination IN favor OF one branch OF
domestic industry, and against another. The true
point of equality and justice, as have always MAIN
tanned, would be to impose the rate Of duty on
the homemade that we impose on the imported man
ufacture. The exemption, therefore, of our home
made manufactures from the duties imposed on those
we import, is most liberal concession, grahuitousy
made by the people to the manufacturers and that
they are not satisfied with this discrimination, is
proof how feeble is the of gratitude and justice
among masses Of men, when their interests in
question. But our system is as burdensome as il is
unequal. II may be safely stated, that it imposes
apecuniary burden on the people, three times as
great as the amount of revenue IL yields 10 the
treasury. The duty on imported cotton manufao-
lures, for example, may be assumed to average 40
per cent, and the amount imported set down at ten
millions. This will yield revenue of four
millions. But the cotton manufactures annually
produced in the United States, and equally enhanced
in price with the foreign, by the duty imposed on
the latter, amount to thirty millions OF dollars
Forty per cent on this, gives us twelve millions as
the additional burden imposed on the people by
the duty on cotton manufactures; SO that the peo-
pie are subjected to burden of sixteen mil
lions, to obtain a revenue of four--paying to the
cotton manufacturers, who are now realizing
from 90 to 40 per cent. on their capital three dol
lars for every one they pay to the government Now
let us compare this duty on cotton manufactures
with like duty on tea and coffee, which the manu-
acturers artully prevailed upon Congress to exempt
from duty altogether by the act of 1882. Let us
assume that we annually import tea and coffee to
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 cotton manu-
factures and will impose only one-fourth of the bur-
den on the people. The money collected at the Gus
tom-house would be the full measure of the popular
burden. And yet it is one of the schemes Of the
Ia
ty, in order to create 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 burden
to the people; and that burden is equally distributed
among the consumers. Butthe manufacturers, who
carry their manufactures to China to exchange them
for tea and Brazil and Cuba to exchange them for
coffee, understand perfectly well the benefit of free
trade, if it be only confined to themselves They
are like Sir Robert Peel's fisherman, who said to
that minister, am free-trade man, sir, but you
must not touch the duty on fish," l have no doubt,
therefore, that powerful effort will be made by the
manufacturers to induce Congress to violate the true
principles of a revenue system, and the solemn
pledge contained in the compromise act of 1888, by
leaving tea and coffee, with the long list of foreign
imports used by them in manufacturing, free of du-
ty. But this scheme, am sure, can receive no
couhtenance from the administration. They will
recommend no determinations, as we have been
semi-offically informed, but with view to revenue;
and upon every sound revenue principle, the high
rate of duty should be laid upon such articles as
are not made in the United States. If this class
were sufficiently extensive, the whole of the federal
revenue should be drawn from it. We should thus
have no wealthy and influential class, drawing
princey incomes from the extorted contributions of
the people, and stimulating the government to all
sorts of extravagant expenditures, with view to
kee mn aysfe nf hOh and eli drttao
In any scheme which the administration NAV
present for adjusting the tariff, feel confident that
the leading feature will be the total abolition Of min
imum and specific duties. These are fraudulent
contrvances, that other purposes but to de-
ceive the people and disguise oppression. Let us
have ad valorem duties that everybody can under
stand Let the people see the full extent of their
burdens; and, if they must be oppressed, let il be
$50 nominated in the bond.n As these duties now
stand lowpriced articles consumed by the poor pay
the highest rates Of duty, while those of the high
est price, consumed by the wealthy, pay the lowest
rate. This is fatal objection to all specific duties.
A yard OF calico, for example, which costs 6 cents
in Manchester, pays cents duty, which is $50 per
cent. its cost; while yard of the finest colored
muslin, which costs 30 cents, pays only 8 cents,
equal TO 30 per cent on its cost. These revolving
deformites must be removed and feel assured that
Mr.. Polk will cordially cooperate in the patriotic
labor h
10 ePPoAoHt uhat lbc uuys vi iHUuupuly
commercial restriction numbered in all the civil
lied nations of the earth. Even in Great Britain
80 long held up to US by our monopolsts as an
example for imitational parties now concur in the
principles of free trade, and differ only as to the
time and manner of reforming ancient restrictions
and abuses And permit me to say, that the day
that shall witness the downfall of commercial re-
srictions and the establishment Of free trade among
the nations of the earth, will be the greatest and
most glorious era that ever marked the progress Of
Improvement in the temporal affairs of man. 1t
should be the ambition of our statesmen to take the
lead in this great reform, which is destined, as
firmly believe, to contribute moro to the liberty,
prosperity and peace Of the natons than any event
since the advent of our Saviour. In this view of
the subject, few men ever occupied more respon-
sible position than Mr. Polk; and have every rea-
son to believe he fully realizes that responsibility,
and will so far elevate his views above the miserable
schemes of mercenary monoposts and factionists
contendng for Office to be equal to the occasion,
and fulfil the expectations of his country.
Yours, &C.,
GEO. McDUFFIE.