Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-12-21


Ma. MAssER--Sirt--It is not my purpose
10 write upon the hackneyed subject, the
Tariff botmerely 10 reply (if deserving of
its room in your paper 10 an article that APP
pesred in the Trenton True American Free
Trade) which is as follows :,H.4ire es e
"There NAV be question between the foreign
and home valuation, hut to our mind it is ques-
ton of no great importance. The value Of whc-
tber taksn here or in Europe, must fuctoate with
the demand and supply. If duty is assessed
upon the foreign value of iron, when the Europ-
can market is glutted, il must afford but little
protection. If upon the home value, when our
market is overstcckcd, it must produce the same
result, and vice versa"
When we come TO reflect upon The fact
that the European market upon the produc-
tisn of the single article, Iron, exercises
very controlling influence upon our market,
we see al once material difference between
ihe'iwo valuations; and The necessity for a
home valuation, Obvious. For the power
rests with them alone to reduce the value 10
her minimum rate, by Withholding the sup
ply; then as a matter of consequence, as
past experience has proven, the demand a,
OUT market will exceed the supply, and they
will be enabled 10 ship their lrou az low
foreign valuation, and receive very prohla-
bic price here For the sake of perspculy
we will suppose that in a heallhiul and act~e
market, foreign iron is worth $50 per ion,
duty, say Of 40 per cent. wonld make 1t cost
here Sil2, (excluding freight and commls-
sioh,I where again the same iron might be
shipped with iorsign valuation ol $40 per
ton, with a corresponding duty, would make
il cost only $50, lexcluding freight and com
mission which hypothesis is not unrea-
.onable, when we take into consideration lhe
tiucluatlon of demand and supply. Thus we
perceive that from that very cessation oil
business they reap a handsome reward, by
the salu,ary effect flor iheml it has upon cur
market.
We can have limited conception ol that
advantage, by the eXtrayagant price OF iron
under the specific duties OF the AZ tariff,
which was occasoned by the comparative
prohibition Of the importation Of that article.
When, if it had been entirely excluded from
our port, BY refusal on the part of the ship
pers to import, we would only be surprised,
in our amazement at The eIorb,ant price, by
the magnitude of the speculation made BY
The importers, when they would follow up
the advantage of raised and excited market
CAUSED by themselves.
T.. -. al l,,- ,Nlp ca ~
no difference between home and foreign
valuation, that the act OF Withholding snp-
py, would 50 alui their own market, as 10
destroy the business. 1t woulG 10 some de-
gree, have undoubtedly this effect, did they
lack the sagacity to anticipate such result,
and fail 10 meet the present demand before
oversocking their market Which is alto
cpther probable, when the inducements are
sufficiently great, to invite their every effort
10 the accomplishment Of this 'uick ot
arade.'
And thus: when they have 10 wisely and
efIeclualy provided against ibis emergency
the will rests with them to reduce ii, TO the
lowest nominal value, regudless of the selling
price, in order 10 avail themselves Of the low
duly.
And another very considerable gain accrn
ing from this mode Of shipment is the snrpri
siug and almost magical effect, the Reaction
that this vas, and sudden shipment has OF
their own markel, By leaving the suppl!
there insufficient for the demand.
II upon hame valuation they wish t
avail themselves OF the low duty, they do
N, their own expense, because there must b
An actual depression in ,Iade, BY the over
stocking of our market, which seldom, il eve
occurs, and never by the productions Of on
own manufacturers.
Then il follows, that the depression is a,
kributable to the mportaious only, aud tn
manufacturers Of both parties are losing b
il, consequently the party causing il will cul
fail it sufficiently, to allow a reasonable pric
and living profit.
PENSSYLyANIAS.