Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-09-27

advantage Of not ouly reduction of S3j
per ton in the price, but also $40 so in the
duty"
We have said that the system of adj vao-
rems is the distinguishing feature of the
present tariff, and it is that which makes it
so very unlavorablc to the domestic indus
try of the country. 1t is a most anomalous
system. 1t takes from the law whatever
pretence its words gave to it of being stable
1t makes the amount of duty upon an arti-
Gle to depend solely upon the foreign value
For instance, say that railroad iron is worth
in England today 500 per ton, at 30 per
cent. the duty would be thirty dollars If
the price of iron in England should recede
to fifty dollars per ton, the duty would be
only fifteen dollars. SO that it operates in
every way against American manufacturers
For when the price OF the foreign article is
the lowest, then the duty is at the lowest
point.
We also understand that the committee
which met at Newport, in their report will
be able to disclose to the country most i'll
famous system of frauds under the present
tariff The ad valorem system is the best
devised scheme ever invented to encourage
| fraud. 1t offers direct inducement TO i'm
porters and foreign shippers to undcrrate
the value of their goods in their invoices,
for the lower the invoice the less the duty
they have to pay. Aud this is the chief
cause why American merchants are driven
from the d,-they cannot compete with
the foreign shipper, who has an agent-one
OF his own irm-in New York, or other
American ports, to act as his consgnee-
There have been many facts collected to H.
lnstrate this point We understand that it
can be shown that broadclolhs six quarters
vide, have been entered at American Gus
tom Houses, at the MUOice price IF ScCcntV-
foc cents per y0'W; champagne wine at
81 10 and 81 per dozen. The duty ON
Nova Scotia coal averages less than one
cent per bushel Now, will any defender
OF the present tariff, and of ad valoremdu-
ties, for moment pretend that such things
can be, without the practice of gross frauds
upon our revenue, and without ruinous re-
suits to the fair dealer! DO not facts like
these explain the cause why the foreign tra-
der is uprooling the American merchant in
the foreign trade, and that even now, the
full harvest of the business is placed in his
hands, and the American is fast becoming
mere cleaner OF the stubble Do not
these facts explain the reason Of the stop
page OF our looms, and give the cause of
the depression of manufacturing stocks
We have much more that we would like
to say on this subject, and we will recur to
it again soon. Before, however, we close
our article at this time, we would ask who
are the gamers by this system? Who is it
that put money in their purses! Is it the
American merchant, the farmer, the mill
owner, the operative, the mass Of our peo-
pie, who depend upon their labor FOR the
support Of themselves and families! We
should like to have those who support this
revenue system, prove that either of these
classes Is benefited by it. On the other
hand, we assert that they are directly iniur-
ed by the system. Why should we 90 to
Europe for our iron aud coal, when we have
them here? We require only that the Ma
tlona Government shall square its legisIa-
ton, that we may have our own markets
wherein to sell our own goods. Why should
we go to Europe to purchase our broadcloths
and callcos, when we can manufacture them
ourselves, and thus keep our means at home
to employ the labor of our own citizens
Now they have to compete with the poorer
paid labor of the old world, while our CAPT.
talistS, small aud insignificant compared
with the vast wealth Of European capitalists,
have to contend with the immense concen-
trated wealth of manufacturers abroad
Money here is worth, Oh an average, more
than it is in England There, money can
be had at les than three per cent, while in
this country it is difficult to be obtained for
thrice that interest. We are a new coun-
try, Europe is an old. We have to build
up our country, and develope its natural re-
sources Europe is made. 1t has the start
OF US. When we catch up with it, we can
match it in manufacturing Until then, we
require the aid of protection by the Govern
ment not high and eXorbltant protection,
but sufficient to place us on the same plat
form with our European competitors This
is what we call free tracic. Trade, to be
free, must be EQUAL; and where, from the
nature of the case, equality does not exist,
it is the duty of the Government so to ad.
just lis laws as TO bring it about. If this
is not done, the strong will prevail over the
weak, and break down the weak, and then
the strong will have an open field, without
competitor; and thus, what is now called
Tree trade will terminate in MONOPOLY. If
the other policy be pursued, an equilibrium
is produced and gradually the weaker gains
strength, until it is able to compete with its
adyersares without governmental aid.
One of The blessings which the country
will derive from the election of General
Taylor will be, the passage of revenue
law, which will develope the resources and
encourage the labor Of the country, aud, in
the language of Mr.. Choale--
GIVE TO THE LADoR or AMERICA THE
MARKET OF AMERICA"