New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-03-18
THE SUGAR DUTY AND THE NEW
TARIFF.
To tie Editor u TAs N. y. Tv,osns.

SIR: As your repeated criticisms on my proposition
for repeal of the sugar duty are calculated to leave
the on the minds OF yoar extensive circle of
readers that have been grossly unaithfu therein to
principles you had the right TO expect me to support
trust YOU will allow me the necessary space 10 your
columns, not for reply nor tack, but simply that
NAV define MY position before those who have read
Your comments upon it. And can assure you that
would not have aeked this if you had not IN your
editorial of the 4th nst the changes mace by the
Lew tariff devoted third of tie length to renewed
condemnation of that proposition which was certainly
Lot embodied among it's provisions. While ackp"sl-
edeing. Therefore, the kindly manner IN Which yo7
sDude to me personally let me say i: advance that. in
making toe proposition wbioa you oppose, bat which
an overwhelming majority Of the people of my district
and State approve irrespective of party, vas certain
that had not violated any principle OF the Republican
party nor any pledge of my past lie. My opposition
to the duty on sugar, and my conviction that as
necessary Of life and of the few comforts Of the
poor mans table, it should be. equally with tea and
coffee free from oil government tax, is as old as the
Tariff Of 1916. While do not claim perfection in my
political csurse can this subject clam consist
ENJOY o.st and whom you RENE nber thatdut'g the
Pact week preferred TO stand in a sm,I minority in
the House Of Representatives, with the certainty OF
rnsccpstruction ard Misrepresentation by enemies,
rather than violate the copst.dtiOra principle as re-
gard it, that accused persOu should be convicted or
punished by any buns until be had had an opportu-
uy to col fort lis face TO face at pablo,
oren trial think that should be relieved from even
the suspicion Of seeking temporary popularity IN the
oiscbarge of any duty devolving upon me here
When Congress net, It found a treisury full 70 re-
pleticn and tariff producing far too much revenue
h nN- rFnaD Mt
Every Member had to ask hmself, "On wuat articles
"tbal reduction, or entire remission, O. duty Do
"msde and determined to look carefully over the
whole let and fa' the abolition OF duties on those
items rk,ch bereft the greater and injure tie smaller
Number If citi:ena 1t was not s'raege, therefore,
when found that over - CO0C00 bad been collected
in year in duties on sugsr and molases lone
of the whole revenue Of the Government; t5at the
constantly decreasing product Of Louisiana f1r several
years past had reached low an ebb in 1876 that even
New. Orleans itself was compelled to import aud pay
duties on sugar from abroad and that the home prod
net had little modifying effect on prices that the
New -York quotations have been every month exactly
the Havana rates with the 30 per cent. duty nSu-
rance end freight addedit not strange, say, IN
view Of these facts that advocated the repeal OF
tax which was found 10 be needless to the treasury,
oppressive to the people, and which had 80 signally
failed in simulatir home production. Nay, more:
stated to fellow Members at the first session thi
intended when the ar came up at the recent session.
to propose reduction abolition Of the Sugar duty;
but, as ny reelection was pending, and wished to
have il tun on the naked issue OF my opposition to
the extension Of Slavery should make no formal an
nuncaton Of that intention in Congress- nor on the
stump whickfnight have been construed into bid for
temporary popularity, but should postpone until the
Tamil reduction bill actually utdef consider alton
1t cannot certainly be denied that twenty five mil
lions of our people Gre consumers Of sugar, and thai
every one who uses has been paying 80 per Cent. OF
IFS cost INTO treasury that did not need it, to pro
tect exactly 100 planters. We are consuming nos
about 600 eco 900 pounds of cane sugar yearly. Last
year. about oneeghth of this amour. produced on
our oxn coil, and the other seven-eignths imported
from abroad, bu;oeped with tax must because
ne. cless and which il seems TO e, only be jas
titled by the hope that through the crec. aid of the
Government 10 furnishipg fresh euuogs, the produc
iion which high prices, and psequent higher and
CHER protection, have led 10 increase may thereby
t.. stimulated. When see that tue home crop, IL
the face If protection which has Increased tue
price has been gong up Of lae years has beea quite
ss regularly falling of SO that it il - insufficient to
supply the wants OF the people in the Mississippi Val
e, slore; and when 1t be proven by reliable fig
that tts dus paid last year on imported sugars
w,u.d have bougot at HsvsnA ercry punt Of cane
sugar that raistd sotl, think II was at
east time TO consider the question whether sugar
should not be scd-c the .ree LIST with tea AMI coffee.
As article Of focd il bas higher claims than they;
and, if il argued that the climate OF single stup OF
territory some,imes cobceni4l 10 It's culture,
4 at tea, also has been grown al the South,
sId perisps would be stemp.sd again if similar ~
Pei cent cuty sh luid be neeol,ss, reimposed.
But trough Tx TRIBUNE avows it, inability to re
conee nv arguments ,hi- question eth those gem
eral views Of ua.io1sl policy wtica il had hitherto
oetutd common 70 both. I. nix Gao cite al Al.
nty that II vii regard entitled 10 weigh Pr
rising inst The Ger o. C,m2nfuui If lSj9 prepared
by De Bow CT Lyui,iaHq stes the average yield Ot
sugar IL lis Sate (afitr 100 ye - tissuon and 10
Ntss proecoul at bu: zee pounda pr sore, snd 10
kAr's e. but 80 ~tie Cuba L l. VIII known 70 be
a. leas; four tine greater and reminding you II the
HBetri,d fact stated in the receat petcu Of the
chants Ct your city for Free Sugar TIA, "uOre labor
Il Necessary to produce given quantity Of Sugar IL