Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-07-04
Froa ~ Warrington Republie.
The Tariff Of s46-Ad Valorem
Duties.

| Duties.
In . recent article, We adverted to the tariff o
.46 and to the nature and tendency Of I'D Udio
rem duties-the leading feature Of our Presen
system ofrevenue.
In conclusion we declared our full belief tha
the present system of imposss would, sooner Of
later, overthrow the prosperity Of the country.
How and when this il likely to happen, VI
shall now consider.
The effect of tariff Of low duties, especially
when arranged on the ad ralorem principle, Is
temporarily, to augment the importation Of the
country-to increase the activity of commerce
and enhance the business and the prosperity o
large cities
The law Of 46 requires that the duty be levi.
ed on the foreign cost of the article, except
where such actual cost is less than the market
value in the foreign country at the time of ship.
ment, in which case the duty slevied upon the
latter.
Nov, in the first place, as we have said, most
or very many of the importers are foreigners
mere agents or partners of the manufacturers
over sea, who consign to them their own proper
~, invoiced by themselves at tie best possible
rates for their own advantage, which are the
lowest rates. These importers not only have the
advantage over the American of the possession
of vast capital, but also of what is almost tanta
mount 10 pauper labor. If they be honest they,
being manufacturers, can get their goods cheap
er than the American importers possibly can
and, consequently, they can not only undersell
them here, but make profit on the duty they
pay. These goods are often an accumulated
stock after seasons business and the owners
are glad to realize anything on them. They
will, Consequently throw them into any market
where interest prompts; and they can ship them
- 4.
try, under our present tariff They can not only
introduce them at lower rate, but they can ul-
tinlatelr crush our own industry beyond the ca
pabiliiY ~ competition, and vampire like, sap
the coursry of its life-blood, by abstracting our
capital. Having accomplished this, they can
raise their prices here, and lower ours there,
whenever il is for their interest
Under the al Uoiorens system, in the sane as
vel. as different ports, the same articles pay
different rates of duty. Different parcels, of the
same commodity and value, have been shipped
to different ports Of the United States, and a
wide difference in the appraised value was the
result; while in others, in the game state, a
difference Of so per cent. appeared between in
voices from the same place OF shipment
Any person can see at glance what opportu-
mites there are for fraud, and how mucl, uncer-
tainty there must be, not only as regards the
udtouoi iuSouiC, put 10 ic Jul o"h iS1uS-
try; and by this, we mean all those great sour
ces of industry which, under enlightened and
equitable legislation, require and reward capital
manufactures. agriculture and commerce.
The manufacturer, under this system, knows
)twhat 10 expect from month TO month"; He NAV
be apprized, by the next steamer, of such de-
cline In his description of products, as to indi-
cate, as Ia previous instances, a combination, of
those engaged 10 the same branch in England,
to cripple or knock il down in this country, and
of course rival one. He may hear that they
are working double time, that shipments are
large, at low quotations. Ere long the markets
are flooded, and sales forced at merely nominal
prices, while the money market is not easy. He
cannot sell at such rates. and concludes to hold
them over, if he is able TO; but most generally,
has to let them go for what they will bring,
which is something below cost.
If there be whatsoever fuctuation in Europe,
he is bound to feel it, while his wealthy foreign
antagonist can easily dispense with any profits
for year or two, defy the worst, or do his best,
when he has our ports open 10 him as he now
has.
The same course has been pursued with our
great usn interest, which, under proper protec-
lion, would be hardly second to any. With this
likewise, is intimately connected that of cod
Sugar is exposed to the same evil influences
aud TOO often has felt them; but probably there
could be selected no article Of American indus
try more germane to the present subject in all
its bearings than iron.
The I'D vaiorem principle cannot, with any de-
gree OF exactness or Certainty be applied to this
article.
As with sugar, so with iron. Both most pros
per, in the long run, when the duties are speci-
fc; not SO under the I'D raiorem system, where,
rl,<r, st,r,.r
but the foreign commodities Of the same kind
have it. and to their injury But when prices
arc high, the protection they do not want is Of
fered to them.
Both these interests have suffered greatly IN.
der the present system The furnaces are COM
PEELED to stop, and are seized by the sheriff,
while, instead Of making our railroad iron, we
are buying II of foreigners in large quantities.
by pledging in Europe the stock Of the sescral
companies.
Other. yes all, branches of American produc
ton suffer. We are but parts OF the same body,
and what hurts part must be felt by the whole |
Cotton and irooien factories are compelled to
slacken their speed, and diminish their expenses
IN every way. Ltbor is not worth so much, and
cannot be SO well paid, as under tariff OF spec,-
fic duties.
The workman Of the United States is forced
" "Sfo ~ AZ" oAu uCShuiik SesCSy WuuS ul8
employer struggles on to the POINT where en-
ploymsnt must stop; and he is then compelled
10 seek some other occupation, most generally
OF tiler Of the soil. Instead Of being a con-
su,ner, he becomes a producer Of the necessa-
saries of life.
Supply and demand are the measure of each
other. The farmer can get q higher price for |
his produce when manufactures are prosperous.
there being mure consumers and less producers
and has, what is more, the best af al markets,
home market. We do not mean merely neigh |
boring market, which has been such source of |
prosperity to the farmers in the immediate vicin-
lty of manufacturing places, but an American
market for the grower OF wheat and provisions Of
all sorts.
The high price of grain aud provisions now
and then, since '46 are but exceptions to the
rule, and owing to fortuitous circumstances, fam
inc and war.
To the article Of ,rooi which is 60 closely
identified with our manufactures, it il only nee
essary. in passing, to ailude.
II appears from recent statistics, that, so great
has become the consumption of cotton in this
country, the competition of the home with the
foreign manufacturer tends greatly to the ad-
vantage OF the planter.
II Is also known that the business of manu.
.rrl IL Il