Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-02-25

houses, and resort to free trade and direct taxa
lioa tell them that my constituents are pre-
pared to meet them. Therefore | suggest to
him, that until he comes forward boldly with
his proposition, it i'll becomes him to charge
that the chairman of The Committee of Ways
and Means lacks independence and spirit Oh this
question.
Mr.. BCYCE. am delighted at tie remarks
of The gentleman from Ohio. Nothing would
give ME more pleasure than to make the modl-
firalon in my amendment he has suggested. |
must confess that did not expect to meet with
such concession at his hands. inferred from
the report of the Committee of Ways and
Means that The getleman was opposed to me on
this question imagined that he and those
who act with him would think any proposition
looking to free trade was sort of madness
4 clu,cHing al the stars, and making love to the
moon" therefore presented no such PROPOSE
tion Of perfect free trade; but the proposition
| have made is Il step in that direction.
But to return to the argument. To illustrate
the protective policy, let us suppose that the
people of Vermont came here and asked for pre-
lection in raising tropical fruits. Would they
not at once be put down ms madmen! Whyf
Because every one would say, =" 1t is absurd to
raise tropical fruits in Vermont when they can
be got five hundred per cent. cheaper from the
West Indies" There could he no answer to
this reasoning. But what is The difference in
principle between this case and manufacturing
woolens. if they can be got thirty per cent.
cheaper abroad The difference is only in de-
gree, not in principle. Suppose, however, we
had gone int tropical culture in Vermont, doub!-
less some fine villages and hot.houscs would
have grown up, and we might be pointed to
them AZ evidences of The benefit conferred on
The country; but the answer would be obvious,
that these isolated spots oil prosperity had grown
up at the expense of the rest If the country.
So in tie case Of the factories at Lowell, and
other points, they have Aourished at The expense
of the rest of the country.
NV limited lime compels me TO abridge my
argument ON this branch of The subject.
A few words on the proposition submitted
by me to reduce all duties above twenty per
cent to twenty per cent, and to put tea and cof.
fee in the twenty per cent. schedule. By TAX
ing the imports of 1853, which year is within q
of the last six years, the amount of revenue
produced by my project would be S5O,7ll ,306
42, almost the Identical amount demanded by
the Secretary of tile Treasury; as he estimates
that Sl9 100000 or $50,000,O00 will Le sutfl-
cent to carry on the Government and pay of
the public debt. am free 10 confess, however,
that my plan is not peri Ct 1t is u step in the
rght direction; that is all. | Look 10 free trade
and direct taxation as our ultimate and inevita-
bic policy. BY taking tho step propose, and
one approxu>aling step afterwards, we will be
in condition TO attain the great point Of free
trade, without any sudden convulsion.
If could have modified the tariff exactly 10
my ideas, should have put the duties on ari.
cIes of necessity below twenty per cent. at The
lowest possible revehue standard; and luxuries
should have put ut thirty per cent, In this
way would have sought to carry out, as far as
possible, under an indirect system Of taxation,
the idea of relieving The industry of the country
from taxation, and throwing it on property.
But knew it was impossible TO reduce the du-
ties on articles of necessity below twenty per
cent. had, therefore, TO conform to that ne
cessity, and consequently had 10 reduce luxurics
too low for otherwise the revenue would have
been too large.
AS regards ten and coffee, these were put in
the free list in 1882, in The Interest Of the pro.
tectonists, to give the pretext for higher duties
at that time is the key TO this policy. 1t is as
follows:
Resolved, That the existing duties upon ar.
ticles imported from furcigncounries, and not
coming into competition with similar articles
made or produced in the United State ought to
be forthwith abolished except on wines and silks
and that they ought 10 be reduced"
am for taxing these articles for The very pol
icy that put them on the free list. Indeed,
scarcely know any articles more suited for taxa
iiou. They ara rot produced in. this country
therefore there would he no indirect tax. They
are of general consumption. a tax upon them
would bear equally on all sections. They are
in the nature of uxuries. A moderate lax upon
them would facilitate i lower rate Of duty on all
other articles.
There is one further modification | should BE-
willing to make in the tariff, il il were reduced
in good faith strictly to The revenue standard
that is to put wool and other raw material in the
free list The effect OF taxing the raw material
is, that the consumer is compelled TO refund the
tax with interest to the manufacturer who has
advancedit it. Adam Smith says, on this point:
They the regulations eXempIing raw wool.
cotton, &c. from duties are perfectly just and
reasonable, and If consistently with The necessi.
ties of the State that is. revenue they could
be extended to all the other materials Of manu-
facture, the public would certainly he gamer"
| am through; it is for the committee to say
what shall be done. Those representing the
manufacturers would. think, act wisely to con-
sent 10 a reduction of duties; for lse longer re-
dnclion is deferred, the arg,r will be the sur
plus, and the more sweeping the reform Be-
sides revenue duties. with the raw material free,
put manufactures on as good basis as they
yould desire; and This point could, think be
carried. Further, the manufacturers would fluid
an increased demand arising from The general
prosperity of the country following upon low
duties. Besides. too, our manufacturers should
look to the great and valuable markets Of The
world, where gold is 10 be had for the gathering.
would also submit TO this interest, if The pres.
ent .igh rate of duties may not prematurcIY
stimulate rival manufactures in the Northwest,
at the Falls of st. Anthony, and other points.
AS to those representing lht sugar Interest, !
would say, sugar is marked for destruction !;
anti->lavrrv and free trade both concur against
high duties on sugar. Would it not be well,
then, for that interest to join in II general re-
duclion Of all duties to the revenue standard,
and thu. avoid being singled out for special
hostility! To those representing the agricul.
lural interests would ask, what possible mo-
tive can you have 10 maintain Il protective policy
MS your interest clearly demands freedom Of
exchanges, and the markets of tie world! To
those representing commerce, would ask, wha,
is commerce but exchanges? To reduce duties,
and free exchanges, is, therefore, to bid COM
merce Z" live and have its being" You, gentle
men, who represent, the imperial city Of New
York should be clalnorous on this subject. New
York city is cniIlInerce nrrsnni6cd Free ex