The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-10-13

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articles, Is a discrimination against the imported.
and IN favor Of home made manufacture to the full
extent of that duty. -
Now when we recollect that all foreign i'm
Por's' are as truly the productions Of domestic in
ans'ry, as their home made rivals-and tina, the
industry which acquires the foreign articles is as
much entitled to be exempted from taxation as
that which makes the domestic article il will ba
seen that the very lowest rate Of revenue duties
upon sugar and iron, and upon all manufactures
VI ''o"' co''on and wool, ia an unjust discrimina-
'ion 10 favor ct one branch of domestic Industry
ana againt another. The true point of eouality
anu Jusuce' as l have always maintained, would
oe 10 impose the same rate of duty on the home
made, that we impose on the imported m,nnfac-
lure. Inc exemption, therefore, of our home
made manufactures, from The duties unused nm
'hose we import, Is a must liberal concession.
gratuitousiy made by the people to the manufsc-
turers and that they are not satisfied with this
discrimination is a proof how feeble is the sense
OF gratitude and justice among masses of men
when their interests are in question. Bnt our sys-
tenn Is as burthensome as il is uneoual II NAV
be safely stated that it imposes a pecuoiarv buI.
then on the people three times as great as the
amount OF revenue it yields 10 the Treasury. The
DUTY on imported Cotton manufactures. fur ey-
ample may be assumed to average 40 per cent.
and the amount imported set down at ten millions,
nus VIII yield a 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 adj.
u'tonai hnrthen imposed on the people, by the
uu'y on Cotton MANUFACTURES so that the people
are subjected to a burthen of sixteen millions Ia
obtain a revenue Of four, paying to the cotton
manu'actufefs' who are now realizing from 90 to
4o per cent on their capital, three dollars for eve-
l nv nnn Ihn 40 81 ,I.
us compare this duty on the Cation manufactures
with a like duty on tea and coffee, which the
manufacturers arifully prevailed npon Congress- tn
exempt from duty altogether by the act of 1890
Lei us assume that we annually import tea and
coffee 10 The amount Of ten milliuns of dollars un-
der a duty of 40 per cent. This will WELD =
revenue precisely equal 10 that derived from the
au.y on COTTON manufactures. and will impose
only one fourth of the bur,hen on the people.-
The mnney collected at the custom bouse would
be the full measure of the popular burthep. And
YET IL is nne OF the schemes of the manufacturers
10 iet tea and coffee remain tree Of duty. in order
To create a necessity for increasing the duties ON
sugar. iron and the various manufactures emhrac-
ri IN the protective system. Of all foreign i'm
ports Tea and coffee are among the most proper
subjects of a revenue duty, inasmuch as they
! yield the largest amount of revenue with tho
least hnrthen tn the people, and that burihen ia
equally distributed among The consumers: But
'he manufacturers, who carry their manufactures
+" Chlha To exchange them Tor Tea, and to Brazil
and Ouba 10 exchange them for Coffae. under
STAND perfectly we'll the benefit Of free trade. if
q ne ""iy conhned to themselves. They are like
DIT Robert Peels fisherman, who said IN that
minister, =" am a free trade man sir hn, "
must not touch the duty on fish," have mn
dohbt, therefore, that a powerful effort will bs
maoe oy The manufacturers to induce Congress- q,
Violate The true principles of a revenue svs,em
and The solemn pledge contained in the cnmnro,
mise act of 1883. by leaving tea and coffee Win
the long list OF foreign imports used by them in
manufacturing. free of duty. But this scbems
l an, sure, can receive no cnuntenance from the
administration. They will recommend = y dIs
EXAMINATIONS, as we have been semi officially in
formed, but with a view 10 revenue and uro,
every sound revenue principle the highest rate of
DUTY should be laid upon such articles as = mn,
made IN the United States. II this class were
'"h'c'e"'Iy extensive, the while Of the Federal
revenue should be drawn from it. We should thus
nave no wealthy and lnflue0tial class, drawing
P.lncely incomes from The extor!ed contributions
"i The people, and stimulating The government 70
an Sot's OF eXiravagant expenditures, with a vie,u
10 Keep up a system of high and oppressive duties
!" any scheme which the administra ton NAV
present Tor adjusting the tariff, I feel cunfdent tina,
me leading feature will be the total abolitiun of
minimum and specific duties. These are fraudulent
W 'oetVen no other purposes but 10 de-
cei'e me people and disguise oppression. Let ua
nave an no'arem duties that every body can under
STAND. Let the people see the full extent of their
%burIhens. and if they must be oppressed let il bs
So nominated in the bond" As these du,ies
now Stand, low priced articles consumed bv n.
poor pay The highest rates OF duty, while those of
Inc highest price. consumed by the wealthy. nav
me Lowest rate. This is a fatal objection to Il,
SPecihc duties. A yard Of calico, for examnIe
wnlch costs six cents in Manchester, paws 9 cents
Duty which is $50 per cent on its cost wh,le !
yard OF the finest culorrd muslin which costs an
cents pays only 9 cents equal to 80 per cent on
lis COST. These revolving detornities mus, he ro-
moved and feel assured that Mr.. Polk will cor
daily cooperate in the patriotic labor.
u is apparent that the days Of mononolv ,,d
commercial RESTRICTION are numbered in al ,hs
civilized nations Of the earth. Even in Co..
BhtaIn-so long held up TO US by our mononoi;s,s
as an example for imitation-alG parties now con
cur 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 saw.
that the day that shall witness the downfau of
commercial restrictions and the establishment of
Tree trade among the nations Of the earth, will be
me greatest and most glorious era that ever mark
go the progress Of improvement in the temporal
affairs OF man. 1t should be the ambition of our