The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-02-10
MIR. LAWRENCE TO MR.. RIvES,
ON TIE TARIFF.
Boston. january 10Th. 1916,

my DCui oiT,-l staten III my letter Ol Inc
7th thai Should write TO you gain, upon the
subject OF the entire change proposed by the
President OF the United States, and the Sec
rotary ofthe Treasury, in our Revenue Laws
II Is no other Than the adoption of ad valo-
rem Tor specific duties, and reduction Of the
whole 10 ~ per cent; this being the maxi
mum at which the Secretary suppeses the
largest revenue can be obtained. ! shall
not now discuss the rates of duty that will
produce the greatest amount of revenue
viii leave the Secretary to settle that cues
Ton, hut shall endeavor to show what the eff
iect VIII be upon the country, if his recon-
mendatIon should be adopted by Congress.
deem the scheme proposed 10 Congress, in
Inc man, a currency question, and one, if
carried out that will reach, in its operation,
the occupation and business of every man in
the United States. believe the most ocon-
omical member Of Congress will agree that
thirty million OF dollars will be required, an
nually, 10 carry on this government for the
next five years, and that tins estimate does
not include large sums that may be wanted
10 settle our affairs with Mexico, Texas, &c,
&c; and that his sum is 10 be raised from
foreign imPerta'ions and the public lands.
Tie goods, subject 10 duty, imported the
last year amounted. in round numbers 10
ninety millions of dollars, and the goods free
OF duty 10 about twenty millions. | have
not the returns at hand, and may not be ex-
| acily correct as to amounts; hut they are
near enough TO illustrate my arguments: the
former paid an average duty Ot about 81 per
cent creating n revenue. say oftwenly eight
millions. If the revenue derived hnm an
importation OF ninety millions gave twenty
eight millions Of dollars, what amount must
be imported, TO produce the same sum al 20
per cent ad valcrem?
! The answer is, 40 Millions; add 10
this, The free goods. about twenty-five
millions, and we have an imperialism of 1G !
millions of dollars. Our exports have not
exceeded. nor are they likely at present 10
increase above l20 millions we then have
ii deficit OF forty five millions 10 provide for;
and how is this balance TO he paid; Stale
stocks are no longer current in Europe
Even The stocks of the United States cannot
be negotiated on favorable terms.
We, who are merchants, can answer this
question, having often been obliged to make
| our remita"ces in coin, when our imports
have exceeded our exports.
II we are obliged TO import 40 millions Of
goods subject to duty 10 meet the wants Of
the government il Is quite certain that the
coin must be exported, IN meet the deficiency
II the importation fall short Of 40 Millions,
we have then an empty treasury. In one
case, the country will be made bankrupt 10
fill the treasury; and in the other, the treas
ury will he bankrupted, and resort 10 Cpn-
gress Tor treasury notes and loans. Ii may
be said thai our experts will increase with
our imports; this superstition think fall-
ciOus. The policy ofGrcat Britain, and that
OF all Europe has been. and is likely 10 con-
tinue, TO protect every thing produced rirher
at home CT in their colonies. In Great Brit
ain, the article Of cotton is now admitted FIRE.
the duty having been repealed the very last
year. This was owing 10 repeated repre-
sensations Of the Manchester spiGners TO Par
Lament, as 10 the necessity of such Il meas
ure, in consequence of the competition from
foreign countries in coarse labricks manu-
iag.urrd from cotton produced in and ship
ped 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 Il true representation. and ! apprC-
bend the repeal of the duty on cotton will
not enable the British manufacturer to again
obtain possession Of those markeis, for the
heavy descriptions of cotton fabrics.
What other article of importance does The
government Of Great Britain admit free Of
duty? | know OF none. Cotton admitted
free Of duty from necessity. How is il with
tobacco? duty is paid of 100 per cent.
Wheat is prohibited by The sliding scale"
and III case of The total repeal of The corn
laws, very lille wheat would be shipped
from this country. inaSmurh as il can be laid
down, in ordinary years from the Baltic
Beef aid Pork are burdened with a heavy
duty. The duty and charges on barrel Il
American pork, laid down in Liverpool. with
the commissions for sales amounted To So
10. so that The quantity Of this article shipped
To England must be inconsderable. unless
the prices here should be So low as 10 be ruin
Gus TO the farmer | cannot find in the GAIA
logue of our strictly agricultural products
single article that is Eoi hardened with Il
high duty IN Eng land, or other parts of Eu--
rope, liH comes IN competition with their OWN
products; nor can discover that there is
disposition on the part ola single European
nation 10 relax their stringent system Of du-
lies Oh imports from this country. IL is pos
'Ible that Great Britain may abaie her corn
avs, so much rs to admit Indian corn a.
nominal duty. If il should be done, have
itle faith in our being able TO ship it TO adj
| stale the fact, ,hen. that exports
will not increase in consequence Of reduc-
ion, or even total repeal Of the present tar
II. The duty in Great Britain, of all pro-
lucts oil the United States, received in that
iingdom. including cotton, is no less than
per cent and exclusive of cotton,
100 per cent; and this, too, on raw produce
where the charge OF freight con-
iiIuIes from one. tenth 10 one-quarter OF the
ost here; and this is free trade!
hope you, Of Virginia. will examine his
natter, and ask yourselves where the best
usIomers are TO be found for your agricul-.
nral products. | will Just state 10 you here,
hat Massachusetts takes more flour, Indian
orn pork, and many other articles, annual
Y, the productions of the West, as well as Of
'irginia. than all Europe.
The question then arises, what will be our
oEdilion after the proposed plan Of low du-
es goes into operation? In twenty days
lier the bill becomes a law, it will have
cached every country in Europe with which
re have trade; the manufactures are all SIT
\ motion for the supply of the American
market; the merchandise is shipped on ar
cunt Of foreigners, in many cases with
Ouhla iOvoiceS ono eel fo the cuSfofn houSs