The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-01-15
LIE TAnlrr.-The Prcsiden, hnvinuH

NE IARlfF.-The Prcsiden, having
recommended a sweeping change in the
present tariff, and opened The door fol
Tho discussion of the doctrine. Of Protec!
il"n, We publish (says the Federal
Onion,) "a letter from Mr.. Calhoun
which has recently, for the first time,
appeared in print. 1t is concise, hu,
characteristic, clear and comprehensive:
Fort Hill, Nov. 231, Is42.-Dear
Sir: am too much engaged to answer
regularly and fully The questions you
PROFOUND, 1t would take me into al.
most he whole range Of the Tariff
question. have only time to submit q
feiysuggcstions for your reflection.
nYouassume the difference Of the ex.
pcnsc Of manufacturing in England and
this country 10 be SO l-3 per cent. !
will admit, md ask you in turn, where
is the necessity of protection aver with
that'difTGrcnce against us?
The cost Of importation, oil things
considered, may 10 put down al 10 pei
cent. The manufacturers themselves
III fixed home valuation pu, il much
higher. 10 this must be added, Mt lens,
topper cent for The profit of the whole.
sale dealer. 10 that add 10 per cen,
duty for revenue, and the cos, 10 the re.
tail dealer on the English price, will he
3? per cent. and l l-3 more Than tho
difference in the cost Of manufacturing.
But this is not Nil. Every manufac.
turcr loses by high duties on every ar
tlclc he consumes except tha, on which
he makes. Take n cotton manufac,ur.
cr.' Hr loses in the first place by the
highes, duties On iron and his machinery
lnrgcly,. in proportion TO the extent of
his establishment. If they were duty
free, his machinery would not cost
him more than about half MS much.
This alone would make an immense
difference in the cost Of manufac.
turing. He loses in tho next place
by the high duties on nll other ar
ticlcs: sugar, coffee, tea, wool, &c.
They add 10 tho cos. Of living, both for
himself and his workmen, and those
who furnish his supplies, and must be
made up by higher wages and profit.
And lastly it diminishes his sales by i'm
povcrisl.ing all his customers, who raise
productions for foreign markets, or who
depend for employment, directly, or in
directly, Oh those who do: as explained
in the speech, Of which | sent you n
copy.
TO Ills many other considerations
might be added, but ,uke them. and I
nsk again, afer making allowances for
the effects which they clearly have on
s the cost oi'manufacturing, and the profits
OF tho manufacturer, VIVA, will then be
The difference between the cost in Eng
land and in our country? How much
less than 33 l-3 per cent, would it be?
Now us have shown, that the cost Of
Importation, and the profit Of the whole
sale dealer, with q duty OF ten per cent.
are greater than the existing difference,
ask finally, why, if 10 this we add the
Other considerations, should our manu-.
factlfess Stop with a moderate revenue
,tinty2g Besassnred, that neither the ex.
istence of our manufacturers, nor their
success, depends on high protective du.
tics. AS great a solecism, Us it may
appear, it is nevertheless true, the lower
the duty speak of The general aver.
cage duty--the more they will flourish.
WITH great respect, I am, &C.,
J. C.. CALHOUN.