The Nevada journal., 1856-07-04

for the protection of home manufactures.
that they shall be supported by duties on
y until they are able to stand by them
selves. docs not seem to apply to the
growth and manufacture of Sugar. 1t is
not claimed that the sugar plantations of
the South, even if the cultivation be ex.
tended to Texas and Florida, can, for very
many years, supply the wants of the Uni
ON. The great probability is, that they
can never do SO. Neither is it urged, at
least at the North, that the manufacture
affords an extensive home market to the
neighboring producers; inasmuch as the
plantations are worked by some l25, 900
slaves, who, except in clothing and few
necessaries, live quite Independent of the
outside world. There is no claim that
prices are cheapened by the duties, at
least from those who reflect on the sub
ject. The average price per hogshead
was greater in 1854 than it was in 1889.
though the quantity produced has incrca-
sed more than three-fold times and great
er than in III and '42, and Al, AS; '49,
and '5l. 1t is probably greater now
Probably the two great motives which
support this legislature are, first: the feel
ing that what has been granted to the
North, should be also granted to the
South, namely, protection to home manu-
features. And, secondly, the old desire
which lies at the basis of all protective
systems-to make ones own country in
dependent of all other countries.
To throw some light on this subject, we
call the attention of our readers to a few
plain statistics which every business man
will appreciate.
There were in 1854. 1887 estates at
the South on which sugar was grown; or
in other words there were 1887 sugar.
planters and manufactures. They produ.
ced about 449,000,O00 lbs. in that year.
There were imported during '53 and 81
about 100000 lbs, little more than
was produced here-the greater part com
ing from Cuba. In like manner, our plan
ters manufactured nearly 27,00O,0OO GAL
Ions Of molasses in '53, while the imports
from foreign countries were over 2S, ,OCO,-
600. We leave out in these statistics the
yield of maple molasses and sugar, as the
consumption of these would probably not
vary with or without duties on foreign su-
gars. They have already become luxuries
by themselves. The crop in 1850 amount
ed to 34,000,o00 lbs. 1t will be seen.
then, that this Union consumes about 449.-
OoO,O00 lbs. of sugar more than it pro-
duces, or nearly as much again and also
in the same or greater proportion of mo-
lasses that is, twenty eight and half
million gallons imported against 81, ,OOO,-
600 produced.
Let us now see what we pay on these
AS, 100000 lbs. to the 1887 planters of
Louisiana, in protective duties. The val
ue of this import in 1858 was about sl4,-
9sO,00O. A duty of 80 per cent. upon
this would be 4,494,0 900.
In addition, the ATS, ,o0O,o 900 lbs. produ-
ced are sold at least at 80 per cent. high
er price than we should pay for the same
amount imported. Were the duty taken
off, our home sugars would of course fall
at once 30 per cent. or be replaced by for
eign sugars. This additional price, esti-
mating the value of this sugar in market
at 4 cents per ID, would be s5,3S9, 900.
For molssses, We paid on the S3,6S4,-
SS8 worth imported in 1858, 81 ,093, ,466
as duty and on the home manufacture for
that year, valuing it by the rate of 20
cents per gallon, at s5,302,Ooo. We paid
in the additional 80 per cent. value, 81
617. 900, which we should not have been
obliged to pay with free sugar.
1t appears, then, that the people of this
Union pay the l437 planters of Louisiana,
as protective duty or bounty on their
manufacture and growth of sugar and mo-
lasses, about Sl2,693, 900 per annum; or
about S9,s82,oOO for sugar, and s2,7lI,,
O66 for molasses. That is, we the North
South, East and West, pay to each of
those gentlemen now occupied in raising
the sugar cane, the sum of IS, 1853 per an
mum, as bounty for his benevolent labors
IN the sugar manufacture.
1t is not alone present from our
wealthy gentlemen. Ever ono navs i