Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-06-24
NUMBER Ia.
.Thn Doctor I,used ),

The Enquirer is not at all pleased with the
results OF IT'S own thcory---noi, we assure il,
I ours. That paper is convinced that although
10 'fceTIain extenfv the scarcity OF pruyi-
sions in Europe may have augmented the ey
! ports Of bread. sintls frern the United States.
\ yet that that augmentation is 10 much great
er extent attributable to the "heautf0l work
/ ings" Of the Tariff OF 1876. O,a.opinion on
the contrary, is that the increased demand
abroad is s.rclaeirefy the consequences Of the
desiitution prevailing in Great Britain. France
| and Germany. and that the tariff Of 1916 OK.
erts no more influence upon that demand than
II does upon the changes Of The moon. We
therefore. do not mean TO hold iheiarid Of 1876.
as the Eoquirer seems 10 suppose, respon-
sbe for the high p,ices OF provisions, which
bear so heavily upon the non producing and
consuming classes IN this country; but we
do mean TO say thatit the Enquirer claims thet
high prices are the result o. its favorite tariff
and persuades the producers and sellers that
their lnterestconsequently requires them to sus-
tam II, because II pets money into the purses,
that paper must encounter the other horn of
the dilemma, TO wit--ihat it operates as a Sc
we're tax upon those very numerous classes en-
gagged IN other occupations, and who are COM
/ PEELED TO buy At these enhanced prices. 1.-THE
producers and spectators make money by the
beautifully workings Of the free trade tariff,
/ Il is not less evident that the consumers lose
just as much by the operation; and q man
who consumes to the amount Of ten barrels of
flour annually, (and few families can do with
less, in the shape either of -four or meal the
ordinary price Of which is S.. and the enhan-
ced price $40, can, by very simple arlhmet-
zeal process ascertain to what extent be is tax
ed. for single article Of BREAD, which be-
yond all other articles, ii is the most essential
should be cheap. Whether they be in fact
compensated, for this heavy tax, as the En-
! qulrer supposes, by the reduction of the price
o. cotton cloth and other like commodities, we
are not prepared 10 say; but. so far ascuf own
limited dealings enable us to Judge, we have
| yet to learn that we have gained any thing in
ttat respect
We repeat, we have not said nor do we
mean now TO say, that the high price of pro.
visions is attributable to- the tariff of 1916. We
could not say so without admitting what we
deny, that the augmented exports from this
county IS consequence o. that measure.
which, on the contrary, we believe, exerts, If
any, a wholly imperceptlble influence upon
that branch of commerce. But II the Enqui-
/ rer's hypothesis be sound, that to its tavorile
free trade policy is the augmented demand and
high prices principally to be ascrbed, then the
inference is irresistible, that, however benefi
cial II may be 10 the wealthy portion OF the
agricultural community and to the spectators.
II is cruelty oppressive upon the small farmer
and TO the poorer classes, IN town and country,
who are buyers OF bread, and who, beyond all
others. are eastable 10 bear this heavy bnrthen.
In one word, we mean to say, that if the En-
qurer claims the benefit of iis assumption, it
has no right to shrink from its disadvantages.
Rich Whig