The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-03
From ths New fork Journal OF COmmerce


.FEsI Il ) = lyifiA ENAPt f3Nrff .s ri
| We have already yshevp thq oppressive bearing
upon articles NOT Of uniform yslue. by compelling
the poor, and men IN moderate circumstances, to
pay much higher dates ", prqpPrtion 10 the value
OF the articles they consume than are paid by the
rich. By the usual modes OF taxation, all pay IN
proportion to their psoperty John Jacob Aston, say
$50 900 per annpm, and the poor man nothing, for
he has 20 properly But because the poor man has
| STOMACH a. we'll ~ Mr. Astor, and like hun must
he clad, and like him must provide for his family
! and because he is obliged TO content himself with
an inferior quality Of goods, the mnimums and sPe-
crhc duties uax him just as much on that inferior
quality as they do M. Astor on the best IL is
doubleday true, that many man not worth 81 700
IN the world, pays moro for the support OF the ma
tional government, than Mr.. Astor with his $685.
900. But this not the worst Of the case If
the poor man only paid taxes to the government,
even though out OF all proportion compared with
the rich man. his patriotism might render il toerable
But what il he were obliged 70 pay large part oft
10 the nch!-to the manufacturers, who out of his
hard earnings, and those Of others like him, have
made their fortunes IN year, and are living IN
splendid palaces while he pines in howell What
would human nature say to this Yet II II
exactly what il passing before our eyes every day
and moment BY subjecting foreign articles to ex-
rasagant duties, they arc either excluded entirely,
or greatly enhanced in price. Both these things to-
gether constitute what's called protection" By
Of the domestic article with which in comper-
ton Is also enhanced; and thus, while consumers are
paying one dollar 10 the government they paying
another dollar, or II may be two, three, or five dol
lars 10 The manufacturers or producers Of the COM
peting article. h is not pretended that the prizes Of
the domestic article is enhanced in precisely the
amount OF the duty on the foreign article,
for such is not commonly the fact. Various
collateral circumstances come 10, To modify the
suit. Ii Is sufficient for our present purpose to say
that afer elaborate Investigation, with all the
helps which his ofcia station gives him, the Secre-
tsry Of the Treasury, Mr.. Walker clear-headed,
intelligent, and candid man-staies that sixteen
articles, which he specfes--vk; iron and the manu-
features thereof the manufactures Of tobacco, cot
ton, wool, aud leather coal. salt, sugar, moasses,
hats bonnets and braid, and earthen- ware-the an
nusi production Of which in the United States Is
1891 1873 1853 in yalue--the enhanced price to con-
sumers in consequence Of the tariff Of 1872 II equal
TO the duty 90 the foreign ARTICLES with which these
compete, ,oO,.ld be O,59s; and is in fact
cordng TO the best light he Gao obtain, SIS 1884 405.
This enormous sum, according TO Secretary Walk
er's calculations, 10 paid 70 he manufacturers and
producers Of the said sixteen articles, by their fell
ow-citizrns the consumers, in raising nett revenue
for the government lafer dsducting ,304 1863 ex-
penses Of oollectionl OF DOLLY al, 032 269. The
process by which the secretary arrives at these as
founding results, and many OF the details Of that pro-
cess are contained in his recent report to the Senate
made in complisnce with resolution Of that body,
and the accompanying tables. The report itself we
published on Monday last. One Of the principal
tables will be found on our first page. The actual
iddton the price Of the domestic articles, says
Mr. Walker, sis based upon prices current and
Sales and upon the actual difference in price of the
foreign and domestic article in our own markets.
arising from the tariff This 10 founded upon
tual sales at homo and abroad, a comparison OF the
foreign and domestic prices current, including the
charges and transpoItaon OF ARTICLES, together with
numerous invoices based upon actual imporations
apd sales, and furnished heretofore by merchants Of
the highest character, Whenever any difference
was presented IN compsring these data, the lowest
sum has invariably been taken.n oar.
Admitting that the secretary calculations are cor
rect, anything Like icorrectJ anybody wonder
at the prosperity Of the manufacturers and ironmen,
or at the comparative depression OF other interests,
especially that greatest Of all interests, the agrcu-
turaR Taking human nature asst is, and not as il
ought to be- anybody wonder that the classes first
mentioned should be reluctant to part with any por
ton Of their SIS, 900 bounty per annum, Tor
$50 0O0, 900 If this amount is preferred and cry
ruin, ruin, FIRE, blood, and murder, if the deed
should he contaminated in
Nov bear in mind that large part of this $751;
DOC, 600, or sc, 900 O00 10 paid by in moder-
ate circumstances, who are scarcely able TO make
the ends Of the year meet, and paid to Tin nu-
merous cases) Of splendid fortunes, derived from
this long continued, but halE.concealed oppression
a~~~Sf> A.-'S 49, - t'~s~''N' 'S'S' ~
our own minds. -,
Is no., men, a law when removes me GRIND ing
inequai'es Oh tne 'ann o. 1872, oy epohsning min
lmums ana specinc duties, ana which dm.mishes
the excessive burdens oorne oy the nassIs for the
oenent 0, a comparaaVey smsl portion CT the peo-
pie, Puphc o'esssngs Ana oaght II noe to be vel
coined by every man, whetheI manufacturer or
not, who loves justice niove than wealth drawn
from the pockets of their fellow-citIens without an
equ'Vaieht surely ought, or our moral percep-
hons are strangely oewlldeIed;
company mas oeen maae that dye-stuts are raw
materials usea IN manufacturing are subjected to
euty ahaer tne new AIih; On examination, we
ma that almost the whole class OF dye-stuffs,
except inGgo' are assessed az hve per cent on their
value, ana no more. indigo, the most important of
an 'ne Eyes pays zen per cent DUTY, while under
me arln OF io4x IN paid SIX cents pound. Five
per cent. GUY ~ niue more than nominal; yet
we shoud DC quito Wiling that 1t were wholly dis
pensed with IN reference to dye-stufs. 1t will not
amount altogether to as, 600 ysar; yet it enables
the manufacturers TO cry persecution, as If they