St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1859-08-11

cy and as this tax levied on foreign
goods landed on our shores, although
collected from the importing merchant
in the first instance, is supposed to be
ultimately paid by those who consume
them, it is not conclusive of the rela-
tive amount paid into the treasury by
each. But as transportation by water
is much lower than by land, it is fair
to conclude that, all things else being
equal, goods paying duties will land
at their port of entry nearest their
final destination. 1t is therefore an
important element to be considered in
the investigation, and becomes COLI
elusive in the absence of manifest rea-
sons to the contrary. And when we
are reminded that the harbors at
Charleston, S. c., Norfolk, Va, Balti-
more and Annapolis, Md, not to men,
ton those on the Gulf coast, are equal
if not superior to those farther north {:
that by New Orleans there is uninter-
| rnpted water communication through
the great States of the Southwest in
to the very heart of the swarming
population of the Northwest that
all these principal ports of entry on
the Gulf and Atlantic, ond on both
banks of tic Mississippi and Ohio riv
ers are connected by long lines of
railroads with the interior, it is diff
cult to imagine why goods destined
for consumption in Delaware, Mary
land, Virginia, the Carolnas, Georgia,
Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Tex
as--all on the coast, should not land
at their own ports, as well as goods
intended for consumption in the inte-
rior slave states of Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Mis-
souri, or if landed at Northern port
in the first instance, for any reason
whatever, why they would not go in
bond to the nearest port of entry, and
thus save the interest on the amount
of the duty during the transit and
cost Of exchange.
That the duty paid by the people of
the two sections of the confedcracy
bears some intimate relation to the
relative amount of importations in
each, is fortified by the relative
number and what is known of the
habits aud modes of life Of the people.
In 1850 the entire population of
the free States was. as.............1 10. ABA 922
Of the slave States S............. , ,66l 6oO
White population of free States . . .l3, $50, $50
Ot slave States. .................. 6,222, AIS
Slave population. n................. 1904, ,3l3
The slaves, being more than one
third Of the inhabitants Of the slave
States, consume the plainest food and
the coarsest homespun the free col
ored population in these States is said
to be still more degraded. OF the
white population, less than one-third
is in any way benefcially connected
with slavery. A very large majority
Of the residue are constantly describ-
ed by their Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress, as possessing fewer
substantial comforts, as more depend
ent and helpless than the slaves.
Hence but small part Of the aggre-
gate population of the slave states
can consume imported goods in con-
siderable quantities and, therefore,
pay but small part of the revenue
received from imports.
In the free states the mass of the
laboring people are independent out
side of the great cities very few are
really poor. In our own State, in
1856, but 800 in a population of over
$4,000, were returned as paupers
In relation to food and raiment there
is but little substantial difference be-
tween the employer and the employ
ed. Nearly all consume foreign goods
in considerable quantities and consc-
quently pay in the same proportion in
direct taxes for the support of the
government. Also, manufacturing
districts, which exist principally in
the North, pay large sums of money
from year to year, as duty on raw
meterials imported, which, after
wards, as fabrics, are sold in foreign
markets. The duty thus paid becomes
an absolute tax on the industry Of the
North
1t is therefore probable that the en-
terprising and industrious of free peo-
pie swarming in the North and North
west, pay a relative excess of the re-
ceipts at the custom houses, approach
ing in amount the excess Of their inn
portations.
The revenues collected through the
Postoffices in each section of the con-
fcderacy present disparity still more
striking. The people of the six New
England States pay their own post,
Office expenses and surplus into the
treasury = while the six old slave
states, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Georgia, pay less than one-half Of the
cost Of carrying their own mails.
The expenses of the Department in
the nine new free States in the North
west exceed the receipts only $751;
23S,92 !; and in the nine new slave
States $l,9s2, 1851, or more than
two dollars in the slave States to one
in the free States.
After careful review of this sub
ject, no one can be so uncandid as to
deny that the burthens of the National
Government are laid unequally on the
people Of the North by the Democrat
ic party and that this is especially
oppressive to the people of Iowa. 1t
is probably an average State Of those
in the Union, in the consumption of
foreign goods. Its population in June
1856, had reached $4,000; the cen
sus returns, now coming in, indicate
an increase up to this time of 80 per
cent. over that year hence our popu-
lation is now about 100000. The
population of the entire confederacy
is supposed to be about 29,000,000 ;
of which over four millions are slaves
leaving white population Of less
than twenty-five millions hence the
white population of an average State
is less than that of Iowa.
1t can therefore hardly be doubted
that the people of this State pay, in
indirect taxes to the National Govern
ment, 81, 100000, of the $57 100000
of the annual receipts from customs.
This is an enormous sum OF money 70