Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-17
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No-silk goods are manufactured in this
country; or if any. at least but very small
quantity, as compared with the amount i'm
ported Silk fabrics are, there fore, according
to Mr.. Cobb, fit object of taxation for re-
venue and he proposes to assess duty on
them OF 70 per cent. ad valorem.
IT. under this rate of duty. it shall be
found that there is incidental protection sUffi-
Gent TO justify any of orr enferprising citi-
zens, DESTROYS Of finding additional employ
nent for our idle laborers. in introducing the
manufacture into this country. it is probable
that the new competition will bring abont a
reduction in the price of silks in our market.
and thus the consumer will be able to pur-
chase silk goods at less cost than hereto
fore.
But should this he the case, Mr.. Cobb tells
us g the consumer viii then not only pay the
tax upon the imported article. but also on
all the goods manufactured at nome"
Instead, therefore, of its being fit object
of taxation. as now. il will be no longer so.
He will consequently recommend the removal
of the entire duty and the new industry
brought into existence under revenue duty.
must go to the wall, through process of
counter legislation.
The moment howeve, Mr. Cobb shall feel
assured that he has completely annihilafed
the home manufacture of silk, he will be able
TO announce to the public, that he has put an
end to a conspiracy by which-so long as it
existed-''the consumer of silk fabrics "was
made to pay the enhanced value not only on
the quantity imported, but on the quantity
made at home, thereby rendering such duty
not only more hurdensOme. but grossly. I'M
equal; the home producer being benefited at
the expense of the consumer
This important result heing accomplished,
silk fabrics will again become fit object of
taxation. and he will recommend. in his an
nual report to Congress, that the duty of
twenty-five per cent. be rtinstatcd, and that
the monopoly of our marketIbe restored to for
eign manufacturers
This is called ko1ic, and the free trade news
papers are in ecstacies over its all convincing
force. BY such invulnerable logic, it is bold
ly maintained that duty on imported iron
takes money out of the pockets of the con-
sumers of iron, and puts itinto the the pOck-
cts of the manufacturer, making the tax
double what it would be, if there were no
iron made in this county.
Wherefore Mr.. Cobb tells us, in effect that
iron is not fit object of taxation, but that
tea and coffee are.
Such charlatanism in political economy is
Illuminating before the nation. coming from a
department where full share of common
sense should always be found, giving "A prac-
teal direction to affairs of momentous con-
seVinence. Power entrusted in high places to
VIC h'huH vi HuCh IdiSc ItdCneTS' Is more utIl-
gerOus than firebrand in the hands of
blind man, since, whether the Secretary is or
is not conscious of the mischief he does, he
destroys on the largest possible scale.
Our suffering people have been looking
wistfully to the report of the Secretary to
see how he will provide grain for the empty
sacks of the treasury; but, 10! our Cobb.
though long in the ear, hath no corn on him.
and he is unable to bring grist to the public
mill. or to offer anything hut that poorest of
fodder to the furnishing people which the
careful farmer rejects even in famine season
corn cObs.-PhH North AMERICAN