Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-06
Duties and Prices.

Appropriation Bill MIR. Payne of Alabama, took
occasion TO sheer at the exhibition of American
fabrics. at the National Fair in Washington APP
paren,ly forgetfu of the circumstance which
mainly induced that triumphant demonstration of
the skill, ingenuity and enterprise of the work
ing men Of our country. A MIR. Homer of Bos-
ION an agent of certain British capitalists and
importers, who very naturally endeavor to break
down their American rivals, in order that by again
obtaining the monopoly of our market, they may
run up the prices of their goods and swell their
profits, had been for weeks exhibiting IN of
the Committee rooms Of the Capiol (by whose au
thority we are not apPrised,) samples of British
fabrics. for the avowed object of producing on the
minds of members Of Congress the false impress
SION that the foreign commodity is of better qua
lily and cheaper than the domestic, and thereby
leading TO the erroneous conclusion that the duty
imposed upon the former augments the price and
operates as a bounty to the American manufac-
turer. When the friends of protective duties saw
the American Capitol desecrated TO this fraudulent
and ant-national purpose, they determined to
counteract the deceptive design; and for this pur.
nose they Immediately invited the American ma
nuiacturer and mechanic, in every department OF
labor to visit Washington, and to bring with them
specimens of their various fabrics. To this invi.
tation the artizans of the country periodically and
promptly responded; and on their arrival at Wash
ington they challenged the British agent to n com.
parison of their respective goods, in order that
both quality and price might be fairly tested
But he very prudenty declined the invitation, be-
cause he saw. what he before well knew, that in
quality, the American fabrics in all cases
fully equal and often superior to the British, and
that they could be furnished TO the consumer at
lower prices The British agent and the advo-
Gates of the British capitalist and laborer were
thus foiled with their own weapons; and the wis
dom of the protective policy has been triumphant.
" vindica,ed by its magnificent fruits, displayed
before the eyes of the representatives of the peo
pie, many of whom alike astonished and
sratified at an exhibition so creditable 10 the skill
and enterprise of their cOuntrymen.
Mr.. Payne, however, who may be regarded as
the type Of class of politicians who, having
learned certain theory by rOte in their college
text books, will believe fact which conflicts
with it, even though it come before them in this
tangible form. still affirms that the idea that an
increase of duties can produce decrease in pri.
ces involves a paradox. and therefore cannot be
believed 'How was 1t possible Che asked) for
any man to believe that the manufacturers would
advocate a policy the effect OF which was to re.
duce their own prIces" This with the anti. pro-
tcctIonists, IS the drgumeHtnm ad homiRem, upon
which they comPlacenty fall back whenever pre-
scented with array Of facts, the truth Of which
they cannot deny, and the force Of which they
cannot evade. Yet it is easily answered. as il has
been answered hundred times. Mr.. Collamer
Of Vermont, in reply to Mr.. Payne, solves the rid
die which so Perplexes the opponents Of ProIec-
tive tariff by process Of reasoning as conclusive
as it is simple. Abiding to several members by
whom similar argument had been used, Mr.. Col.
lamer said
IAN these gentlemen seemed to have made up their
mind that this conclusive argument, because pur-
sued the method called by ogcians the redueo ad aJrur
dunn or showing that position false because it led
an absurd conclusion. Tins not the forcible
mode OF reasoning, although mad certainly great force at
But the difficulty with these gentlemen was tina they
could be brought submit have their logic check
ed and tested by JGefs They would submit the
nductye principle They could not believe that in
Of duties could possibly lead reduction Of prces
because appeared them TO be absurdy. To their
minds there might be apPsren absurdty in the position
but facts proved that 1t The broad stubborn
fact that wherever high discriminating duty had been
lad and persisted IN for Of years. the article
which il laid mad been reduced in price; and
Mr.. c. dehed these gentlemen produce single
i'en to the contrary. Mr.. c. would give the gen
tariff lie asserted that 1t in every sin
Gle instance. He did confne his Temsrk alone TO
nails, glass, cotton goods, but regard
every article Of eyoy which such duties had been
imposed. The gentleman from Alabama had not proved
attempted prove that the fact otherwise. He had
brought any evidence referred single case to
the contrary; but he could believe that such was
he effect Of the tariff because him appeared absurd-
". This not very triumphant mode Of arguing against
feet.
But the true answer tho genlemsn's argument was,
alter ALL something than this appeal 10 facts
Che whole proposition lay in nut shell, perfectly
D., aud level 20 tho comprehension Of every
fuan. And the gentemsns argument would be answered
o. once by putting 10 him plain case makes shoes,
ir has limited number Of customers, and he sells them
pair q shoes day. each Of which pairs he makes
profit oil twenty cents the then u 10 tho receipt Of
tasny ccnt day from his business But, after while
tho yIsge increases and his multiply; he
s three pairs OF shoes day but these he gets only
PAIR profit lis pnces reduced but are not hi.
profits Increased lie made before twenty cents a day
be- now makes thirty cents dsy-was not the case Miami
could the gentleman that by securing 10 the manu-
cfet extended market his profits might increased
while bic prices would be diminished And % inrred
.b.o that shoemaker who understood the IN gbt
mot only consent 90 such an arrangement but be vey
i.us carry into effect And n laying duty for
shoes you'd haye precisely that effect then would the
fl Boz scung against he own interest advocating such
aufy though he effect reduce the price Of shoes'
THE case was clear the srgument simple, and II could not
D., perverted.
Mr. G. bad selected simple case a. he could pos.
fr PUT that tho principle might be presented with tho
trsbisf ccsruess Now, he put " % the gentleman who
Ihar Boz had not fairly stated hrs Argument snd he prayed
tn 1 on csndot 10 sa whrther he had not clearly shown
tat what sppeacd 10 the gentleman 10 be such per
tsrt pafadOH was 10 reality paradox o. MI.
"lt true that the moment you shut the fore gn
manufactured You brought In eapital into the bus-
and reduce the price, but hst argument for the
only and not for the mskor Yet tor the
Of the mskeT sso beoaute, by Increasing his
ks reduced price would ~ I'D him the ssme snd even
rrcaieT. profits. Such was the fact aud such the
logic"
Al - -
successor u Washington Irving, American Ambss.s-
dos 20 th, CouH Of Spsin. sailed from Boston, in the