Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-12-16

+ necessary for the support of government
Y So far from it, it will be perceived, by al
!. examination of the existing law, that dis
examinations in the rates of duty imposed
within the revenue principle, have been re
l tained in their favor. The incidental ali
t against foreign competition which they
i still enjoy gives them an advantage which
no other pursuits possess; but of this nont
others will complain, because the dutie.
levied are necessary for revenue. These
J revenue duties, including freights anc
charges, which the importer must pay be
fore he can come in competition with The
home manufacturer in our markets, ,amoun
on nearly all our leading branches of man
ufacture, to more than one-thifd of the val
ue of the imported articles and in some
cases to almost one half its value. With
such advantages, it is not doubted that our
domestic manufacturers will continue to
prosper, realizing in well conducted estab-
lishments even greater profits than can be
derived from any other regular business.
Indeed, so far from requiring the protec-
ton of even incidental revenue duties, Our
manufacturers in several leading branches
are extending their business, giving evil
dence of great ingenuity and skill, and of
their ability to compete, with increased
prospect Of success, for the open market of
the world. Domestic manufactures to the
value ofseveral millions of dollars, which
cannot find n market at home, are annually
exported to foreign countries. With such
rates Of duties as those established by the
existing law, the system will probably be
permanent; and capitalists who have made
or shall hereafter make, their investments
in manufactures, will know upon what to
rely.
The country will be satisfied with these rates,
because the advantages which the manufactur.
ers still enjoy result necessarily from the coec.
tion Of revenue for the support Of government,
High protective duties, from their unjust operation
upon the masses of The people, cannot fail to give
rise to extensive dissatisfaction and complaint,
and to constant efforts to change or repeal them,
rendering all investments in manufactures un.
certain and precarieus. Lower and more perma.
nent rates of duty, at the Same lime that they will
yield to the manufacturer fair ard remunerating
profits, will secure him against the danger offre.
quont changes in the system, which cannot fail
to runousIy affect his interests.
| simultaneously with the relaxation of the
restrictive polio. by the United States, Great
Britain, from whose example we dcIved the sys.
tenn, has relaxed hers. She has modified her
corn laws, and reduced many other duties to mod
crate revenue rates. After ages of experience,
the statesmen ofthat country have been constrain'
ed by stern necessity, and by public opinion
having its deep foundation in the sufferings and
wants Of impoverished millions, to abandon {
system the effect of which was TO build up i'm
mense fortunes in the hands of the few, and t.
: reduce the laboring millions to pauperism ant
misery. Nearly in the same ratio that labor wa
depressed, capital was increased and concentrates
f by the British protective policy
Concluded on the fourth page.