Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-02-12
THE TARIFF-IMPoRTANT DOCUMENT.

against the Tariff will be commenced, under the
lead of the Secretary of the Treasury -Ex-Sena-
tor Walker Of Mississippi. The following extract
from letter, written by Hon. Abbott Lawrence of
Boston to Hon. VIM c. Rives of Virginia. graph
tcay portrays the results which will follow from
the policy of the administration, if it shall be adop-
ted 1t is an able production, and from the power
full influence which it at least ought to have upon
the public and the publics servants at Washington,
we do not hesitate 10 call it one of the most i'm
portant documents which has been produced dur
ing this extraordinary season of exciting public
questions.
BosToN, Jan. 10th, 1916.
My DEAR ST. IL stated in my letter ofthe 9Th
that should write to you again, upon the subject
OF the entire change proposed by the President Of
the United States, and the Secretary of the Treas
ury, in our Revenue Laws 1t is no other than the
adoption of ad vaorem for specific duties, and
reduction of the whole TO 20 per cent. this being
the maximum at which the Secretary supposes the
largest revenue be obtained. shall not now dis
cuss the rates Of duty that will produce the great
est amount of Revenue. | will leave TIE Secreta-
ny to settle that question; but shall endeavor TO
show what the effects will be upon the country if
his recommendation should be adopted by Con-
gress. | deem the scheme proposed to Congress,
in the main, currency question, and one, il car
lied out, that will reach in its operation the occu-
patton and business of every man in the United
States | believe the most economical member of
Congress will agree that thirty millions of dollars
will be required annually, TO carry on this Govern
mcnt, for the next five years, and that this estimate
does not include large sums that may be wanted to
settle our affairs with Mexico, Texas &c. &c. and
that this sum is to be raised from Foreign lmporta-
tons and the Public Lands. The goods, subject to
duty, imported the last year, amounted, in round
numbers, TO 80 millions of dollars, and the goods
free of duty, 10 about 25 millions. have not the
returns at hand and may not be exactly correct as
to amounts but they are near enough 10 illustrate
my arguments: the former paid an average duty OF
about 80 per cent, creating revenue, say Of 20
millions. If the revenue derived from an lmporta-
tlon of 80 millions, gave % millions Of dollars,
what amount must be imported, TO produce the same
sum at 20 per cent ad valorem?
The answer is l40 millions; add to this, the free
goods, about 20 millions, and we have an importa-
lion Of 165 millions of dollars. Our exports have
not exceeded, nor are they likely present to in
crease above 100 millions: we then have deficit
of 45 millions to provide for; and how is this bal
ance 10 be paid State Stocks are no longer cur
rent in Europe. Even the Stocks of the United
States cannot be negotiated ON favorable terms.
We, who are merchants, can answer this ques-
ton, having often been obliged TO make cur remit
tanccs in coin, when our imports have exceeded
our exports,
II we are obliged to import l40 millions Of goods
subject to duty, TO meet the wants Of the Govern
ment, 1t is quite certain, that the coin must be eX
ported to meet the deficiency. If the importations
TALL short Of 40 millions, we then have an empty
treasury. In one case the country will be made
bankrupt 10 fiji the Treasury ard in the other the
Treasury will be bankrupt, and resort to Congress
for Treasury Notes and Loans 1t may be said
that our exports will increase with our imports;
this superstition think taacious. The policy of
Great Britain, and that OF all Europe, has been,
and Is likely TO continue, to protect every thing pro-
duced either at home, or in their colonies. In Great
Britain, the article Of Cotton is admitted free,
the duty having been repealed the very last year.
This was owing TO repeated representations OF the
Manchester spinners 10 Parliament to the neces-
slty of such measure, ia consequence ofthe COM
petition from foreign countries IN the coarse fabrics
manufactured from cotton produced in, and shipped
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 true representation, and apple
bend the repeal Of the duty on Cotton will not en-
able the British manufacturer 10 again obtain
possession Of those markets. for the heavy descrip-
tons Of Cotton fabrics.
What other article of Importance does the Gov
eminent of Great Britain admit free of duty?
know of none Cotton is admitted free Of duty
from necessity. How is it with Tobacco; A du-
~ Is paid OF 1900 per cent. Wheat is prohibited
by the Sliding Scale" and in case Of total re-
peal OF the Corn Laws very little wheat would be
shipped from this country, inasmuch as it can be
laid down, in ordinary years ofharvest much cheap
or from the Baltic. Beef and Pork are burdened
with heavy duty. The duty and charges on
barrel of American Pork laid down in liverpool,
with the commission for sales, amount to S. 70;
go that the quantity Of this article shipped to Eng
land must be inconsderable unless the prices here
should be so low as TO be ruinous TO the farmer.
cannot find in the catalogue of our strictly agrcul-
1ural products single article that is not burdened
with high duty, in England Or other parts of Eu.
rope, 1t 1t comes in competition with their own pro-
ducts; nor can discover that there is disposition
on the part of single European Nation to relax
their stringent system Of duties on imports from
this country. 1t is possible that Great Britain may
nbate her Corn Laws, far as to admit Indian Corn
at nominal duty. Ii it should be done, have lit
tie faith in our being able to ship it advantage
state the fact then, that exports will not increase
in consequence Of 4 reduction, or even total re-
peal, of the present Tariff. The duty in Great
Britain, on all the products Of the United States,
received IN that kingdom, including cotton, is not
less than AZ per cent, and exclusive of cotton 300
per cent. and this too, on raw produce generally,
where the charge of freight constitutes from one
tenth to one-quarter Of the cost here and this is
Free Trade
| hope you, of Virginia, will examine this mat
ter, and ask yourselves where the best customers
are TO be found for your agricultural products. !
will just state TO you here that Massachusetts takes
more Flour, Indian Corn, Pork, and many other ar
tcles, annually, the productions of the West, as
well as Of Virginia, than all Europe.
The question then arises what will be our con-
diton after the proposed plan of low duties goes in
TO operation? In 20 days after the bill becomes a
law, it will have reached every country in Europe
with which we have trade the manufactures are
all set in motion for the supply of the American
market; the merchandise is shipped on account of
foreigners, in many with double invoices, one
set for the Custom House, and another for the sales
SO that, instead Of the duty amounting 10 20 per
cent, it will not, probably, exceed 10 per cent
This has been the experience of the American In
porters in New York, who, previous TO the passage
of tue Tariff of 1912, had (most Of them abandon
ed the business, not being able to compete success
fully with fraudulent foreigners. will not say
all IOrelnnnrs tho