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

strong.minded and unlearned farmer. III
said ID wished me, II ! could, to explain Ii
him, In plain language, all about tho tarifi
and taxes. He remarked thai he hid read
the newspapers, and had listened 10 many
speeches on this subject; but that they
abounded in terms which were not saHi.
GENTLY explained, so that be derived bM
little information from them. He further
Observed that il would permit him d
ask questions in his own way, and would
confne my answers 10 his questions, ii
would be most satisfactory. assented ID
his proposal; and the result Of our CONVEX
saions, at various times, was so satsfacio.
ry 10 him, that at his earnest request Of
fer them 10 the public, under hope that
they may be agreeable and useful to others
who are similarly situated. His questions
and my answers, as nearly as | can recol-
lect them, were as follows:
Question: the first place, desire 10
know the meaning Of the term julies.n
| Answer.--it is the name Of tax which
government places upon imported goods,
Ques.--What is the object Of this taxi
Ans.--It istwo.f fold: first, to produce
revenue; that is, to raise a sum Of money
for the support of our general government;
and secondly, to raise sum Of money for
American sugar planters, and for Ameri.
can manufacturers, sufficient in amount to
enable men to carry on their respective
operations proftaby.
Ques.--Is an equal tax laid upon all
imported goods?
Ans.--By no means. On dye-stufs
and many minerals which are principally
used by manufacturers, there is no tax al
all. On very fine clothes, on very fine
elk, gold chains, precious stones, and other
articles Of taste and luxury, the TAX, at
present, is very light. But heavy taxes
are laid upon sugar, iron, salt, coarse cot
ton, woollen goods, hats, blankets, and on
all other articles which are absolutely ne.
cessary TO the enjoyment Of civilized life.
ent kinds and qualities Of goods, is called
tariff.
Cues What is the whole amount Of
tax collected on imported goods annually
Ans.--It depends upon the amount
which is imported. We may at present
set it down, in round numbers, at twenty 4
FIVE millions.
Cues. Is The whole revenue of the 60
vernment derived from this tax on goodsi
Ans. Principally. There are few
millions drawn from the sale Of the public
lands, and olher sources, but not to any
amount which can be important 10 our pre-
sent investigation.
Cues. How is the tax on imported goods
collected
Ans. The tax is laid as soon as the goods
arrive and the importer has 10 pay it, be-
fore the goods can be taken on shore.
Cues. Do the importers, then, contribute
twenty-five millions year TO the support
Of our government
Ans. No, nor any part Of il: they could
not afford il. For instance, an importer
of sugar purchases a hogshead, weighing
one thousand pounds, for twenty-five dol
lars in the island Of Cuba. When he ar
rives at an American port, he is compelled
to pay tax Of twenty-five dollars. or
course If he had to lose this tax, he would
lose all his capital; for il would take all
his sugar to pay the tax.
Cues. How does the importer get back
the money which he pays as tax
Ans. 10 the same way that be gets back
the money which he paid for the sugar in
the island and for freight; he adds all these
items and the tax together, and calls tho
sum Of them cost. lie then lays reason
bic profit, and all together he calls his
price. So that, when he sells the sugar,
he (under The name Of price) gets back
the tax, with cost and other charges.
Cues. Do you, then, really think that
high tax raises the price OF goods2
Ans. A high tax has just the same Of
feet upon the price that high first cost
has. IL hogshead Of sugar costs nothing
in the island Of Cuba, and is taxed twenty
five dollars, i will sell for the same price
in our market as hogshead which cost
twenty-five in Cuba, and pays no tax.
Cues. Does all the money which is pro-
duced BY this tax on imported goods 60 IN
to the public treasury
Ans. Yes.
Cues. How, then, does this ax-Iaw raise
sum Of money for the sugar planters and
the manufacturers
ASH. If there were no tax, sugar, which
is produced in Cuba at twenty five dollars
per hogshead, would, with freight and
charges, sell at (say) thirty dollars in our
market; and, by the laws OF trade and
competition, tho American sugar-plantcr
would have to sell at the same price; but
when tax oftwcnty- dollars is laid up
on the Cuba hogshead. that necessarily
raises the price Of Il, az we have seen,Io
ffly.fve dollars. The same laws Of trade
and competitor enable The American ST.
garplanier 10 rase to The same price,