Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-01-09


Our attention has been called to the following
article, which appeared in the Baltimore Republic
can and Argus, the leading Democratic organ OF
the State of Maryland. We take pleasure in
copying it because while it makes some show OF
opposition to Mr.. CorWin's demonstration of the
necessity of changing the present law in order 10
prevent frauds upon the revenue, and of abolish
ing the present discrimination against the impor-
tstion of raw materials, it makes full confession
of the propriety of raising the present duties on
''many articles" for the purpose of securing add
tional protection to home manufactures. We need
not tell our readers, that as question per Sc,
heartily concur in the policy thus conceded to be
wise by a prominent authority of the party which
IS responsible for the law of 1916 and all its gre-
yous mperfections. But we must repeat that we
cannot be satisfied that while the repeal of the Flu
gitve law is threatened, the South ought to con-
sent to any federal measure whose immediate eff
feet would be to promote Northern more than
Southern interests We believe the system of
protection would, in the end, prove more beneficial
to the South than to the North; but the Northern
manufacturing interest is certainly at present
much larger than the Southern, and therefore the
North is more sedulously demanding protection.
Standing as it does, with apetition in one hand
and threat in the other, it would, we think be
rather short-sighted in US to consider the former
without regard to the latter:
From the Republican and argus of Dec. 81
The TARIFF AND WIG ERRoRs'--We find the fol-
lowing going the rounds of all the Wing papers i'll the
country:
madeira wine imported in 1850 ,303,l25 gallons; in
1872 1891 gallons; in no previous year since 1913
did the quantity exceed III 000 gallons and in 1874 it
was only 10000 gallons In lS43, the average cost
So 20 per gallon in 1880 twas less nan 90 cents.
Sherry wine imported in 1885, 2l2092 gallons, III 9d5
2l5 1885, and previous year since lS43 did ex-
coed II 600 gallons The cost i'll 1913 81 ,39 per
gallon, in 1880 it was So cents
The evident object of this is TO make it appear that
gross frauds are pactised under the ad vaoem system
of duties by invoicing these wines at but one fourth their
re al value If the object be to prove this it unoru
naely proves another thing, viz that there is very
tahess OF officers now attached to the revenue SER
vice. If these wines are now undervalued, with the
view OF detrauding the government why cannot the GO
vernment appraisers ascertain the tact Surely Will
not be said that they not good judges OF the quail
ties OF wiues brandes, and other liquors, when their
looks indicate that they have partaken pretty freely OF
all. They presumed, when appointed, to have a
knowledge OF the value OF all kinds OF merchandise,
and when they are in doubt its value, the law
thorzes them call in merchants who decide the
point for them The Secretary OF the Treasury, and
Determinations of many foreign products, passed
through the custom houses, and the government thus
detrauded OF part OF its revenue With faithful
petent, and vgan appralse rs these things never
occur, because the penalty verv one, and it
it often visited upon those who attempt these fraud
by visant appraisers, they will be very chaiy of making
such fraudulent experiments. If nothing else ar
rest these practices then we say let the duties be
ed upon the home value OF ouch articles.
Whilst touching this subject, we will proceed TO say
that there are doubtless many articles which will bear
hon ,,foof hui
without diminishing the revenue, but the contrary
increasing it. II SO, we improperly in raising
the duties. Iron, its present foreign value will bear
from it, but the home vaue be substituted thirty per
cent. is much it will bear II the foreign valuation
be adhered to- think that the duty iron should be
increased to sixty per cent whilst continues to sell
the present low rates in England with provisions for
decreasing the duty proportion the rise
This sliding scale of ad vaorem duties, think far
preferable specific duties the latter
mon article at the same rate that it does costly and
valuable In increasing the duties certain ar-
ces, with the view of increasing the revenue, instead of
shutting out foreign competition, we no departure
from the Democratic platform.
The Secretary of the Treasury, and the proectonists
generally call for decrease of the duties such for
ei9n imports the manufacturers their business
This decrease hope will never be made because then
entitled to receive what they use free Of
this tax than the farmers and planters have to obtain
iron and cotton and wooen goods free of duty. In
stead OF essenng removing the duty on articles used
by the manufacturers, say let them be increased
where it be done without diminishing their mpor-
taon, to the extent that they the duty in
creased other articles. The exlravagant manner in
which the government is now squandering money!
and Coffee and impose the heaviest duties upon articles
which manufactured in this country; if hope
to avoid the perpeXes and burdens of national tax
law. WHEN WHIGGERY RULES, THE PEOPLES MONEY