Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-10-08
THE TARIFF OF 40 AND '46.

The Vermont Patriot does not scruple to copy
from the Manchester Democrat Ia paper we do not
see) an article headed The Editor of the Tribune
Falsifer" on the subject Of the comparative du-
ties levied by the Tariff of 1912 and 1916 respec-
lively. The main item on which we are charged
not only with lying but with "unbounded impu-
dence" Is Madeira Wine, which, the Union had
asserted, is charged but fire per cent. duty by the
farm OF 1872, whereas stated that the duty
actually charged by that Tariff is siriy cents Der
gallon, equivalent to 40 or 80 Per cent. Now the
Manchester Democrat parades statement that the
duty actually paid on the Madeira Wine imported
last year was but seven and half cents per gallon
little over fUG per cent. All this has been fully
and repeatedly stated and explained in our columns
The Wing Congress enacted duty of sixty cents
per gallon ON Madeira Wine; Locofoco Secreta-
ry of the Treasury nufed this express provision
of law (which any body may see by looking at a
capy Of the Tariff of 1912 and decreed that Ma.
deira Wine, Costing abroad 81 to 50 per gailon,)
must be admitted at the same rate of duty as the
cheap red Wines of France and Italy, costing ten
to thirty cents per gallon! For this subversion of
the Tariff, the reason officially given is that the pro-
auctions of Portugal are by subsistlng treaty TO
be admitted by us on favorable terms those of
any other nation-thereiore Madeira Wine costing
81 per gallon must pay no more duty on entering
our ports than the cheapest Wines Of The same color
costing ten TO thirty cents per gallon! And for
this monslrous if not vlllainous overthrow of an
important provision of the Tariff, The WhgS and the
Tariff Of '42 are held responsible by our opponents !!
What can be thought of the men who persist in
such representations? Suppose Secretary Bibb's
construction should be persisted in, aud Madeira
Wine allowed to come in at the same duty per gal
lon with Malaga and Sicily under Tor rather in de-
tiance of the new Tarf-wlll it then be fair to
charge the trainers of that Tariff with shaping their
bill SO to admit Madeira at five per cent duty
Yet this is Just what the Democrat does and the
j IN rIgt al. fl,..g a.,h
Jus. as wrong, but we hope not so wfully so, is
the Democrats attempt to make out that 60 cents
per square yard on Wilton Carpets is only % per
cent, because the aggregate OF duty collected on
all the Wilton carpetlng imported last year amount
ed to but % per cent. its valuation. Surely, all
practical men understand that duty of 65 cents
specific on Wilton Carpets tends powerfully to keep
out all but the finest and most costly fabrics, and
of course raising the average value of what is i'm
ported. Thus, we find that only ~ $40 yards OF
Wilton were imported last year. valued at $75,575,
or almost SO per yard. Now see if more Wilton
Competing is not imported next year under 80 per
cent ad vaorem duty, than under SPECIFIC duty
which the Democrat says is but % per cent See
TOO if the average Custom House valuation of the
Wilton Carpets Imported under the new duty is not
nearer So than So per yard. We endeavor to I'M
dersand the matters whereof we speak, and if those
who are so ready TO excaim IGNORANCE" s. False
hood" &C., on their own understanding of Custom
House statistics, will but obtain and endeavor TO
comprehend aud honestly present all the facts, we
think they cannot descent materially from our state
ments-.N Y. Tribune.