Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1847-05-27

!" VIZ Jou9'ieht anu common sense OF the
country. Let me ask, was the same amount
OF brandy imported into this country at
duty OF one dollar gallon as would be at
twenty-five cents? Would the same amount
OF wines be imported and consumed, under
duties ranging from fifty cents to dollar
gallon, or from one hundred to five hundred
per cent. al Oazorem, as is imported and con-
sumed under the present tariff Of duties p
Would the same quantity of silks be i'm
ported and worn, if they paid duties Of from
lOO to $40 per cent. al ualorem2 No,
they would be Injuries, and would be be-
yond the reach of any but the opulent and
luxurious. But the consumption of neces-
sarles and comforts, of foreign growth and
manufacture, also diminish under high duties,
unless prevented by other causes. Coffee
is now necessary, and enters into univer-
sal consumption, because it is cheap. 1t
pays no duty. Would as much be import
ed, if it paid duty of ten cents a pound, or
would it be used in such quantities and by
all classes of our population, as it now is !?
No, sir, the effect of onerous duties upon
this necessary of life would be to diminish
the consumption by enhancing the cost of
the article to the consumer; and yet "To-
bacco Planter" seems to think that a DIFF
ferent result "logically followsn in the a.
mount of the expectation and consumption
Of tobacco. recollect, and have no doubt
"Tobacco Planter" does, when we bought
herrings at dollar the thousand-we now
have to pay five dollars. Do we buy and
consume as many at five as we did at one
dollar? High prices convert necessaries in
to luXures, and have had this effect upon
fish. The price has diminished the con-
sumption among us, and yet the demand is
equal to the supply. beg pardon for re-
futing proposition so at variance with uni
versal experience.
tobacco Planter'' says Kit is cruel to add
to the load of falling interest, and bad e.
economy to light candle at both ends''-
What does he mean? There can be no
other than this, that it is right for Europe
to live by the light of our candle and wrong
For US to use the light of theirs or to say.
unless your candle is lit, ours shall not burn
for your benefit, My doctrine is, that both
should burn alike. But" says this polili-
cal economist, ''this process of countervail-
ing duties may be placed alongside of a
National Bank, in Mr.. Webster's category
of 'obsolele ideas;' that it stands as much
opposed to the true theory of national
wealth, and the enlightened experience OF
the age, as it does to the benevolent spirit OF
Christianity" How long has it been among
the "obsolete ideas 20 Without knowing
or desiring to know who '.Tobacco Planter;
| is, presume that he is among those who
have some respect for MIR. Jefferson's OPT
Mons as a statesman, and if obsolete, have
become SO since his opinions were regarded
as sound. 1t would occupy more time than
have at command and larger space in
your columns than could ask, to trace the
rise and progress of the present system Of
commercial intercourse between this coun-
try and the other nations of TIE commercial
world. But take leave to refer to the
celebrated and able report made by MIR
Jefferson, when Secretary Of State, to Con
gress, under resolution with instructions
TO report 1.-THE nature and extent of the pri-
vileges and restrictions of the commercial
intercourse of the United States with foreign
nations, and the measures which he should
think proper to be adopted for the improve.
ment of the commerce and navigation of the
same" That report, for its ability, is I'm.
surpassed by any American State paper ]
is the foundation Of many of our commercial
treaties, and the basis of the system now ir
operation. 4 few extracts from that repor
will suffice. After stating the restrictions
on the commerce and navigation of the u
niled States, he says, ''the question is, il
! what way they may best be removed, modi
| fed or counteracled:" GAS to commerce
two methods occur: l. By friendly arrange
ments with the several nations, with whom
! these restrictions exist; or, 2. By the sepa
rate act of our own Legislatures for coun
tervailing their effects" ''Would even
single nation begin with the United State:
! this system of free commerce, it would be al
/ vsabe to begin it with that nation, since j
is one by one only, that it can be extended
to all. When the circumstances of eilhe
party render it expedient to levy revenue
by way of imposls on commerce, its free
dom might be modified, in that particular
| by mutual and eguivO7eM measures, preserv
ing it entire in all Others" Here is the prin
cipal of the system which recommend. |
! is to operate against those nations imposing
restrictions on our commerce, and is to be
relaxed in favor of each nation that may
modify or repeal its restrictions upon GU,
commerce, "by mutual and equivalent mea.
sures." "But," says Mr.. Jeferson's report
''should any nation, contrary to our wishes
suppose it may better find its advantage by
continuing its system of prohibitions, duties
and exactlons, it behooves us to protec! oul
citizens, their commerce and navigation, by
counter prohibitions, duties and regulations
also. Free commerce and navigation are
not to be given in exchange for restrictions
and exactions, nor are they likely to produce
r Il