The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-06
WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1886.
To The Editor of the Union:


To The Editor Of the Union:
Sin: The enclosed article is the production of a
man whose profe ision is that of oeaper. He is
now in his ed year. He was born in England, but
has for the last nineteen years been resident of
this country. He has worked at Amesbury, Massa-
chusetts, at Paterson, New Jersey in Philadelphia,
and various other places. ! send you the article
just | received it. Your readers, knowing its
source, will perhaps esteem it as much as even
speech from member Of Congress.
Very respectfully, yours.
A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A MANUFACTURER AND
A DEMOCRAT RESPECTING THE TARIFF.
Wing. Good morning, sir. hope you are in
good health this fine morning. perceive you are
disposed, like myself, to take journey.
Democrat. l am in good bodily health, thank
you, and am disposed to walk a few miles this
morning. if | can. As to being happy | cannot say
am as much so as could wish; there are many
things which initiate against human happiness;
and the evil Of partial and unjust legislation is not
one Of the least.
Wing. Sir, what do you mean by partial and
unjust legislation Do you mean protecting tariff
Dem. That is my meaning, sir. This is great
national evil. and one which initiates against the
real interests Of full nnetcen-twentieths of the
munty. That pernicious and destructive measure
is calculated ut to enrich the few at the expense
Of the many.
Wing. | view protecting tariff in different
light. See what large revenue it brings to the
government. IL is q spring from which issues oil
the supplies which fill our national treasury. All
our taxes proceed from this source and paid by
foreigners.
Dem. II you toke an impartial view ofthc SUBJ
ject, you win perceive that neither foreigners, nor
importing merchants, pay one cent of the taxes
which support our government. This mode Of
reasoning may appear strange TO you but it is con-
elusive and self-eydent. All taxes paid by foreign
ers and importing merchants, are added to the val
ue Of the articles imported by the merchants who
import them; and all purchasers Of imported goods
pay every cent Of our taxes through the medium Of
enhanced prices. For instance: piece Of muslin
Is imported, the tax Of which is six per yard
The tax is paid by the importing INGREDIENT, who
receives it back again through the enhancement Of
price paid by the merchant who purchases it Of the
importing merchant; and, finally, it is really paid
by the person or persons who buy il for his their
consumption. The same mode Of reasoning will
apply to all other articles Of consumption, and that
Of muslin rs well any other articles that be
named 1.-THE evil rested here, it would be compar-
atively light; but this is not the case When six
cents yer yard is added to the value Of imported
muslin, the domestic manufacturer takes advantage
Of the enhanced price caused by taxation, and i'm
mediately increases his price TO the same amount
By this MEANS all the purchasers OF domestic mus
lin pay as much indirect taxes as those who buy
the imported. The taxes on the former support
the government and those on the latter pocket
ed by the manufacturers. On supposition, there
fire, tina, one-fourth part Of the muslin consumed
the United States is imported, and three-iourths
manufactured here, il follows that the government
has but one-fourth part Of the taxes paid muslin,
and the manufacturers the other three!