The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-19
ion: WASHINGTON, SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 49, 1852

ing tonnage duties II could lay the whole country. wes
and northwest, under contribution The feighs, wheth-
up down, arrive there yansil and whatever bur
dens LAID upon them must be paid by the western
farmer, either in the character OF producer
upon principles already fully explained IL that city were
TO raise 100000 To repair or complete its harbor be-
eve NOT one-twenteth part OF 1t would be paid by the
city, and The residue would fall with crushing effect
the western country.
But improvements by single States. or by several
States through the fundamentally OF compacts, must
prove equally oppressive and unjus Suppose the States
OF Missouri and Illinois enter into compact TO improve
the Mississippi river They might, under the eheme oil
the senator, lay vast burden agricultural products
coming down the river to ST. Louis Tor rket, OF
crossing the ferry, and yet lay out every doi on the
river below the city.
So much for the products OF the West, Northwest and
Southwest, going u market How is 1t with freghis
the other way' Who will pay the dulles oil tonnage on
the salt, iron. cotton, and wooen goods, and len thou
sand other articles which 20 from the Atlantic cites into
the Northwest for consumption there ! say, unhesa-
tngy the consumers will have 10 pay them III makes
difference whether il be article OF domestic or Tor
egn prod ueton both the and the other is purchased
in New York by the northwestern merchant at given
price Now he will add all charges to that price, and
will charge profit the aggregate-frequently large
profit TO the no small oppression OF The labonng classes
in that section No merchant can pursue his business
proftaby without adding charges; and believe il is the
universal practice to exact profit on the charges well
on The original price.
But perhaps some may be disposed 10 inquire why the
rule OF charges on goods reighted way ope-
rates differently from goods freghted the other The
reason is obvious We have already said that Illinois
wheat when il arrives in the New York market has to
compete with wheat not subject to charges but foreign
aud domestic iron, wooens, cotions and other fabrics
meet with competitors in the Northwest and therefore
the is different Let Illinois manufacture for herself
extent her iron, wooen, and cotton goods then
when the people OF England, Of New Eng land,
appear there with similar products, they will be obliged
sustain the charges, some part Of them, themselves
1t will not be in their power TO add them as they do
10 The original cost or price.
II thus appears that the duties of tonnage on freghts
down are TO be paid q e., by reduction of price, by the
producers OF the Northwest and the duty feighs up
TO be paid by the class OF persons in the char
acter of consumers The scheme OF the will visit
the farmers, the pre- emploners, and log cabin with
two-iold oppression. The tax-gatheer is to make a
The other be up Whether the son of toll will
not be little eslye under such operation remains
be seen.
But what is very extraordinary while the senator
wond enable the city OF Chicago to levy tonnage duties
for the Improvement OF its harbor by far the larger pro-
portion of which will be paid by the agricuturists of the
adjoining country, the character either of producers or
consumers he proposes to leave these agricultu-
rIststhe eemptioners and log cabin boyslIable 10
taxation for harbor and river improvements in other
parts OF the country; least such will be the effect of
this measure, whether SO intended not. Even the
very money which the pre-emptoners pay into the
ury for their respective quarter sections and what they
contribute by the consumption Of du'abe articles may
go to Improve the Hudson river construct the Della
ware break waterand that too, after they have done all
that should be required of them by contributing TO the
habor of Chicago of ST. Louis. II the sitizens of
Chicago sustained the entire BURDEN they would be vol
uneers, and would not complain OF double taxation
but il is not so. as have already abundany shown.
To authorize city to improve its habor by Ievying a
tax on all the farmers who compelled to seek
ket TO their products through the and then TO leave
those farmers liable TO taxation Tor improv else
where, in the form usually adopted by Congress, is a
piece of monstrous injustice. The truth system of
harbor and river improvements by local authorities
not subsis Coordinate with system of improvements by
the general government, and the adoption OF the former
necessarily involves the overthrow OF The latter.
TTo nc Continued