Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-12
For Tie Enquirer.


Messrs. Editors: In she Wing oil the first Of
January, the Editor has edited us with CHAP
ter on Salt" He says that since the new la
riff has gone into operation, salt has risen IN
value. believe that the Wing will agree that
prices are chiefly regulated by demand and sup
ply, rather than by The duty which may happen
10 be levied; for, whether the duty oil AZ or 10 De
regarded both are too trivial 10 affect The price Of
The article materially; and so If there be an IN
crease of the price, it must be attributed Ia'hei 10
almos, any other cause than the one referred 10 by
The learned yet obstinate Editor. Does ne mol
know that the foreign article is always cheap,
and that The price varies not so mucn win
slioht change OF duty as with The state OF com
nerce1 When commerce is laDguid, salt is nigh;
but when any thing transpires 10 stimuiate coui-
merce, and render it prosperous, salt VIII DC sure
10 rise in value; for il is one oil The most nnprohl-
able articles OF merchandise that our merchants
would think of dealing in as return load; hence
the rise in price, owing exclusively oihe impetus
that has been given 10 trade, showing profitable
interchange of other commodities. Let COM
merc. again be dull, so that salt would be brought
as ballast from foreign countries, and down Inc
nr;ce would 90, whether The Tariff OF az or that
Of ,46 was in operation. We all know II is para
doxical % contend that high rate oil duty would
diminish the price; il so, car manufactures wno
certainly know Their own interests, would not al
wavs be clamorous tor increased duties why
should they be so anxious for The adoption OF po
lcy which they contend is so detrimental 10 mems
II The argument OF the Editor in his chapter on
Salt" be universally or even generally True, lha'
h;ab dulies make cheap goods, then in contend
ing for that policy, if he could bring his conVic-
lions TO bear, he would infict direiu injury
unon The friends he is SO Jealous to serve. Bul
although they contend for the absurdily, the In
consistency Of their conduct shows plainly mat
whenever The paradox occurs, other ana pro-
bably various causes combine TO produce a result
al war with common sense and The plainest dc
,a,es of our understanding. Why did this saga,
cious Editor sound The locsin OF alarm IN regard
10 the probability that Folks Administrator
would be driven TO the necessity Oh imposing
lax on tea and coffee, il by so doing we coua DE-
rive the double advantage OF revenue ana low
nrices7 Aow easy it is 10 convict sagacious Edl-
Tor either of Inconsistency or insincerlty! does ne
think that one hundred "Chaplers on Sal" would
establish a theory, the bare incomPatioillly ol
which carries It's own Iefula,ion 10 the Simplest
minds3 Will he tell US whether the nisn du'y
imposed by The English Government on American
,abacco makes the price low 10 Inc consumer
The tduty certainly enhances the price; ana II 10
high duty there be added Increased dednu dnu i',,
adequate supply and other CO operating causes all
tending to the same result, then the price VIII oe
exorbiant If The duty alone operates with lar
demand and regular supply, we should see some
thing like stability in prices. But supply some
times being exorbitanl and o0enlimes inadequate,
The price fucluates aecordiusly-rate OF duty and
other causes at the same time having their CON-
narrative tendency eitherto aggravale or control
in some way the price of commodities. II high
rate OF duty should cause over production and
there should be superintendent supply, or what
we call glul in the market, then the Wing para
dox will apply that high duties make low goods.
But suppose in such contingency there was no
duty, is it no. obvious that the goods would SUI,
be lowel7 Surely, surely; then why should
the Editors OF the Wing attempt an imposition
ON common sensel 81 have lived, have seen,
know" and in my youth | read
TELEMACHUS.