The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1858-06-30
Free Trade.

tions among comm. r.'al and Industrial
inicrcsts that has ever been experienced in
this or any other country revolution
frought with incalculable advantages to the
South by relieving her of the burden Of
furnishing two thirds of the expenses of
the general government, which she does
under the present system of taxation.
Mr.. Boyce's late Report to Congress up
on this subject il the most able and cons
lrvhcnsivc that we have ever read. 1t cx-
h bits in striking light the inequality of
the present system, its tendency to stifle
commerce and oppress agricultural interests
and the narrow minded and selfish policy
Of those who support ard advocate It's rrin-
ciplcs. |, isa plain exposition Of facts, fol-
lowed by the most practical ana logic: de-
ductious, conclusive TO the reader of the
| high power Of thought, study and research,
of which the well maturcd mind Of the au-
| thor is capable.
The ustcnsiblc argument ia favor of the
/ present indirect system Of taxation, is tha!
! It operates rs an encouragement TO home
| industry. Tfnc, certain forms of industry
are built up By it, but at The expense Of
other industrial interests and at the expense
| If the con Surncrs o: the protected fabncs
! Our government revenue is raised by duties
upon imports principally, upon imports Of
! prime necessity and such ns are likewise
produced iu this country. For instance {:
heavy duties are laid upon all species Of
! imported cotton and wooden fabrics; these
articles are manufactured TO large extent
in the United States and what is the effect
Of tariff upon imported articles Of the
same Kind II protects the manufacturing
interests it operates rs II bounty 10 that
class of our people by preventing tho free
competition OF the English and French fab
rics with theirs it, in effect, secures 10 them
a monopoly. And what is the obvious cf.
feet Of this species Of projection upon the
country at large II operates to the pre-
judcc of CONSUMERS, and that in proportion
as free competition is st.!lrl by the pre-
miums laid upon forcigt importation. The
consume! must pay m enhanced price up
on everything he buys of n foreign manu-
iacture in proportion, 10 the duty laid upon
il and not only this: il enables the manu-
facturcr in this country TO maintain his pri-
ccs, and here again the consumer suffers.
The next question is who are the con-
snmer. True they are of every class and
every section of the country. and confined
to this view, the injustice and inequality Of
Il tariff upon imported articles is not SO
striking. But cvrry section Of our country
IS not in tho same proportion 4 manuiac,ur.
ng section. The Southern States, though
people and heEce these derive no Lunriii
from the policy Of protection. They labor
wndr! all the Disadvantages of tho system
and receive none OF its advantages in ;urn.
1t cmrlchcs the North, while it empower
isles the South. Under the present sys-
TEN, the North as a body must always be
IN t"ror of high taxation; il is in effect a
bounty 10 them, and to the extent, that If
all the revcnues collected lay duties upon
Imports were cast into the sea-, ,they would
still be benefited by it. Ii the duties were
confined to imports not produced or manu-
iactured here, the system would not be so
defective, for all sections being consumers
pretty much in equal degree, the burden of
the tariff would rest upon all alike. but
this IS not the object OF the friends OF the
system F; equalization is not sought for md
AS an evidence Of this upon many articles
imported there is no duty ut all. For in
stance, there is none upon Tea and Coffee.
| These articles are of general necessity and
duty upon them would be Eel, in equal
| degree 10y all sections. But the policy is
TO protect the great manufacturing interests
of the country-they are enriched by it,
| These interests are mainly at the North and
hence IL IL that the South pays more than
her just proportion Of the expenses of the
| general government.
The remedy proposed by Mr.. Boyce, and
seconded generally by all persons in the
Southern States, those at least, who have
been aroused 10 the importance Of the sub.
iect, is to abolish all duties upon imports,
establish practically the doctrine Of free
taadc and commercial equality, aud .ct tie
government revenue be raised by direct tax.
alton. Every man would then know what
the maintenance Of his government cost
him and tho tax would ialI upon all sec tons
alike. Each State would collect its own
quota and pay over 10 'he general govern
ment MIR. Boyoe, in lis admirable report,
sustoins bJ able argument the general ncces.
sity for tIi' ehange. Some of its promi-
ncnt advantages we give in his own words:
!. Perfect equality, according to the
provisions of The Constitution, in tie bur.
dens Of taxation The moral Effects of
this perfect constitutional equality could
not well be overestimated No State, no
section could complain of paying an undue