Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-09-25
ing articles
2,772,0OO
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Il will thus be seen that about eighteen enormously high
taxed articles pay about 80 per cent. OF the Revenue OF
Great Britain. or f2O,72s,O 900; and that eight of these arti-
cles pay fl9,000, 600. So that English hberality extends
only TO about ten per cent. Of the goods which pay duty.
When the British Parliament abolished slavery in the
West India islands, the act was heralded TO the world as a
proud monument Of her Philanthropy when, in truth, as
Mr.. Calhoun has very lucidly shown, in his celebrated letter
10 Mr.. King, our Minister at Paris, its real motive was far
less lofty and disinterested. The advisers and authors Of
that measure have unquestionsbly been sadly disappointed
IN is resHlts. Actuated less by compassion for the slave
than by a desire to check our growth, they intended to
strike a blow at slave labor, particularly in the United
States, by that extraordinary movement; but, as the recent
repeal Of the discriminating duty in favor Of free-grown su-
gar proves, that blow failed TO reach those for whom il was
intended, and has recoiled upon themselves. In like man
neT, they now claim great credit for their efforts to liberaie
commerce from the shackles by which il has been alu,vs
feuered, and pretend to have been suddenly converted 10
the dogmss OF the free trade school; while the fact is OBJ
Vious, by reference as well TO the articles upon which thew
continue to levy the most ~exorbitant duties, as 10 ,boss
upon which they have abolished or repealed altogether the
duties formerly e1Aeted, that their real design is to cherish
and project her Manufacturing system, the source Of her
wealth and power, against n foreign rival, who is success
fully competing with some OF her most important fabrics in
the markets OF the world, including our own, Of which she
had so long enjoyed the monopoly. Hence, a few wears
age, she determined TO admit cotton duty free, in order the
better 10 enable her manufacturers Of cotton fabrics to 81.
persede our own. But the high price OF bread compelled
the manufacturers to pay their laborers higher wages-and
US labor is an important; element OF price, the repeal of the
corn laws followed, not as a tribute to the Esprit Of the
age" which we are told demands the abolition of all imne-
diments To commercial freedom, but for the purpose ofcheap.
ening labor, and thereby giving IN additional advantage 10
the manufacturers, who, through their instrument Golden.
Bright, Sc. put the ball in motion, not because thew were
enamored Of free trade, but because they desired 10 restore
large profits by the re-establshment OF their broken.down
,,,,oy,lv This aaaumntion IL fartber
the fact, that while, on the one hand, the American Con-
gress, by imposing duties, ranging from 5 to 80 Der cen,
upon raw materials used by the manufacturers, and the
most OF which have been heretofore admitted into our
ports free Of duty, as an important branch Of the protec.
tive policy, has done as much TO break them down As bv
the reduction Of the duty upon the foreign rival fabrics.
the British Parliament, on the other, keeping steadily in
view the great object Of re-estabishing their m,nut,e m
nng supremacy, has repealed all the duties upon the r,x
msterial, in order still farther 10 cheaper the cost OF D,,-
duchon, and thereby 10 give 10 that class Of her p3puIa-
ton a decided advantage over the manufacturer Of The
United States. In one word, the reduction Of duties +,
Great Britain is in every instance dictated BY On intention
10 PROTECT her manufacturers; while the changes in the
American Tarf, as well in the articles upon which duti..
have been reduced, as in those upon which they have been
increased, or upon which duties are now for the frst i'm.
imposed, evinee a determination TO DEsTKoY, a. far a. team
be done by legislation, that important and growing branch
Of our national industry. To show that this u IN.
leading feature Of the new British policy, II snv
one, in the face Of the foregoing facts can doub,
u, II Is only necessary to refer TO ono other cireum.
stance which the New York Tribune collects from the
able article in Fishers Magazine, to which We have Al.
ready referred. "Tho annual reduction Of duties ,msde D.,
the British Parliament on raB material for manpfaefa,,,
amounted to E53O,356, and on articles partially mapuse.
Iuted 10 EiOO,335 making the annual boon 10 the manu-.
fscturers 81, 23O,J94-equal to 5000, 55l-whil the r..
dueuon Of duties on manufactured articles imported was
only fl5,ll4, and on al other articles the reduction was
only fl24,l55." This single fact furnishes O key 10 the
new policy Of the British government, which, % much
lsuded 70. 10 hberaiy, Is In truth the very essence and
embodiment Of sclhshnes. Her commercial lberality, in
deed. u on a par with hor negro philanthropy. Both are
"untoal mockeros" She pretends 10 have fallen violently
II Move with "free trade" now, beesuse her interests prompt
her to that course, JuSt o. she affected On unconrollsbls
TT Of philanthropy, when she thought, hath smaneipstnv
the West lndia slaves, she might undermine slavery In the
u. States. We may be disposed to give her credit for Gin.
oenty in her desire 10 encourage freedom in trade when
she ceases 70 draw from tho single article Of Tobacco o re-.
venue nearly o. large in amount as our own government
derives from he entire lst Of duusblo aruoles.