Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-03-05
The Tarifr.--Important Document.

The Tariff---ImpOrtant Document.
The following extract from letter, written BY Hon
ABBoTT LAwRENcE Of Boston, to Hon. william C.
RwEs Of Virginia, graphically poItrays the results
which will follow from the policy of the adminislrs
tion il il shall be adj 'pted. II is an able production
and from the powerful influence which ii at least ought
to have upon the public aud the publc's servants, at
Washington, do not hesitate TO call il one Of the
most important documents which has been produced
during this extraordinary OF exciting public
questions-
BosroN, Jan. 10Th, 1916
My DEAR SIR II stated in my letter Of the 9TH,
that should write 10 you again, upon the subject
Of the entire change proposed by the President Of
the United States and the Secretary of the Treas.
ury, in our Revenue Laws. Ii is no other than the
adoption Of ad yalorem for specific duties aud
reduction Of the whole to 30 per cent this being
the maximum at which the Secretary supposes the
largest revenue can be obtained shall not
discuss the rates Of duty that will produce the great
est amount Of Revenue | will leave the Secretary
to settle the question but shall endeavor to show
what the effects will be upon the country, if his
recommendation should be adopted by Congress.
deem the scheme proposed to Congress, in the
main, currency question, and one, II carried out,
that will reach in its operation the occupation and
business Of every man in the United States be-
agree that thirty millions Of dollars will be required
annually, to carry on this Government for the next
five years, and that this estimate does not include
large sums that may be wanted to settle affairs
with Mexico, Texas, &c. &c. and that this sum
is to be raised from Foreign ImPe'tatiOus anu the
Public Lands. The goods, subectto duty import
ed the last year. amounted, in round numbers, to
80 millions of dollars and the goods free Of duty,
10 about 25 millions. | have not the returns at
hand and may not be exactly correct as TO amounts;
but they near enough to illustrate my argu-
ments the former paid an average duty Of about
81 per cent, creating revenue, say of p millions
IL the revenue derived from importation OF 80
millions, gave % millions Of dollars, what amount
must be imported, to produce the same sum al 20
per cent ad yaloreml
The answer is 40 millions add to this, the free
goods, about % millions, and we have an importa-
lion Of 1866 millions OF dollars Our exports have
not exceeded nor are they likely at present TO in
crease above 100 millions we then have deficit
o(i45 millions to provide for and how is this bal.
ance to be paid State Stocks are no longer cur
rent in Europe. Even the Stocks of the United
States cannot be negotiated on favorable terms
We, who are merchants, can answer this ques-
tion having often been obliged TO make our remit
tances in coin, when our imports have exceeded
our exports.
IL we are obliged to import l4O millions Of goods
subject to duty, to meet the wants Of the govern
ment, it is quite certain that the coin must be ex.
ported to meet the deficiency If the importations
fall short OF I40 millions, we then have an empty
Treasury In one case the country will be made
bankrupt TO fill the Treasury; and in the other the
Treasury will be bankrupt, and resort to Congress
for Treasury Notes and Loans. II may be said
that our exports will increase with our imports
this supposition think fallacious. The policy Of
Great Britain, and that of all Europe, has been,
and is likely TO continue. 10 protect every thing pro-
duced either at home or in their colonies. In Great
Britain the article of Cotton is now admitted free,
the duty having been repealed the very last year.
This owing TO repeated representations of the
Manchester spinners to Parliament to the neces-
sty of such a measure, in consequence OF the COM
petition from foreign countries in the coarse fabrics
manufactured from cotton produced in, and shipped
from the United States. The argument presented
in the House Of Commons was, that the Americans
had taken possession of every market, where they
were admitted on the same terms, with their coarse
goods. This is true representation and appre-
bend the repeal Of the duty Cotton will not ena
Bile the British manufacturer to again obtain posses
sion Of those markets, for the heavy description Of
Cotton fabrics.
What other article Of importance does the Gov.
eminent Of Great Britain admit free Of duty
know of none Cotton is admitted free Of duty
from necessity. How is it with Tobaccol A du
ty is paid of 1900 per cent. Wheat is prohibited
by the "Sdng Scale" and in of total repea
Of the Corn Laws very little wheat would be ship
ped from this country, inasmuch as it can be laid
down, in ordinary years Of harvest, much cheaper
from the Baltic. Beef and Pork are burdened will
heavy duty. The duty and charges of barrel o
American Pork laid down in Liverpool, with the
commission for sales, amount to 5,75; so that III,
quantity of this article shipped to England must BIZ
inconsderable, unless the prices here should be Sc
low as to be runous TO the farmer. cannot find il
the catalogue of our strictly agricultural products
single article that is not burthened with higl
duty, in England, or other parts of Europe, if i
comes in competition with their own products no
can discover that there is disposition on the par
Of single European Nation to relax their strngen
system Of duties on imports from this country. |
is possible that Great Britain may abate her Corr
Laws, so far as to admit Indian Corn at nomina
duty. If it should be done, have little faith in on
being able to ship it to advantage, state the fac
then that exports will not increase in consequence
of reduction, even a total repeal, of the Presen
Tariff. The duty in Great Britain, on all the prod
Of the United States, received in that kingdom