The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1850-03-02

againsf the governmental policy of what is known
IN hisscountry ''whig protective tariff or
tax on III articles brought from foreign countries.
The winter was formerly Of the United States,
but nof an English merchant.
From Wilmer ( Smiths Times.
PROfECTIONISM IN THE UNITED
STATES.
TO tie Secretary of the Treasury Of the
United States.
SIn.-I can assure you it gave me sim
cere pleasure when saw Great Britain and
the United States repeal those restrictions
in their commercial codes, which impeded
a more extended intercourse between the
two great families Of the Saxon race, for
such a course l:believe to be dictated by
sound and enlightened policy, and by the
true interests Of both. 1t was, therefore.
with 5resret and surprise that I read the
PRESIDENTS message and your report to
Congress, recommending restrictive pol
icy. l cannot reconcile your argument,
when you almost in one and the same
breath admit that no laws should be pass
ed but for the good Of the whole; and yet
reco,nmend policy that will protect a
class at the expense Of the nation. feel
too much interested in your prosperity, as
adding to the prosperity Of all other nations
with whom you trade, particularly to that
of Great Britain. not to endeavor to
| show the fallacy Of your reasoning; 1t
is lust such as l should look for from that
class who seek for advantages at the ex-
pense of others, but not for gentleman
holding the distinguished position Of Sec
retary of the Treasury TO great and en-
iishtened people. After giving US some
details Of your revenue and expenditure,
you 20 OH to quote acts Of Congress, show
ing the power to levy taxes on imports,
and give your reasons for recommending
higher tariff. No one doubts the power of
Congress to levy tax on imports; it was.
therefore, not necessary, for you to estab-
lish that fact. You omit, however, to re-
mind US that Congress has no power to i'm
pose an export duty. The enlightened
wisdom and forethought of those great men
VIII" framed your constitution, enabled
them to see that any burthens laid on ex-
heavy would stop them altogether, and
thus decrease the means of getting protita-
bie exchanges from other countries Of such
articles as could be produced there cheap
er than at home. Although they felt them
selves compelled to ,aise the necessary
revenne from import duties, they made
them as light as possible. being we'll aware,
Of what experience has proved to be true,
that there is point beyond which 1t you
increase your duties you decrease your rev.
enue. We have felt the truth of that fact
here; and now better understanding our
true interest, we have abolished altoge ther
the duties formerly collected ON your flour,
your cotton, aud many other articles, and
put within the reach Of the consumers a
greatly increased quantity of the necessaries
and luxuries Of lille at much less cost; or
in other words, as all commerce is barter,
we have to part with less OF our industry
to procure more Of that of other countries
under low tariff than nigh one. Let
me give you simple illustration Of this.
Suppose you can buy bale of French
silks for 500 dollars, but to protect your
manufacturing interest you place OH 1t an
import duty of 100 per cent, making the
cost to the consumer 1000 dollars. Now
if this 100 per cent. duty did not exist,
100 barrels of -four, at dollars per barrel.
would have paid for the silks; but by this
extra duty you either put it out Of the far
mer's or consumers power to buy. or he
must pay 200 barrels Of flour. or 1000 dol
lars for it. do not go into the question
of higher duties requiring more capital md
more profit to the importers by making the
silks more costly to the consummer. |
merely want to show the effect Of high
duties in decreasing the comforts OF the
people, and compelling them to pay high
prices to the protected interest, whether
that OF the ir"I,-mastcrs, cotton sp'nners,
or any other protected class. During my
residence in the United States think the
duties were about l 5 per cent, SO that
ll5 barrels Of -four would pay for the bale
OF silk. For every l per cent. the duties
are or may hereafter be, above this
rate; the farmer to make the same Pur-
chase must sacrifice another barrel OF his
flour, or its equivalent in COTTON. Indian
corn, pork, rice, tobacco, or cheese, &c,
&c. 1t ought not to be lost sight of that
the manufacturers price at home Is Kept
down by the import price. Consumers
are not sufficiently aware how much they
suffer indirectly from high tariffs; although
they are not compelled to buy dutiable
articles. yet many of them are Eecessaries
life which they cannot do without. II
the other nations of the earth, trading witt
you, impose restrictive or prohlbltory du-
ties, on both sides you carry on war o
commercial injuries.
You seem altose ether to forget that you
must buy to be able to sell, and the more
property you can possess yourself OF a
home, or import from abroad-at the least
expenditure Of your capital or labour-the
sooner you becone rich. l presume this
will not be denied. 1t Is true, as you
state, that every producer, in any brancf
ol useful industry, is consumer o! tne
products Of other industries; 1t follows
that the more prosperous other countries