The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-08-04

receipts from customs for series of
years; l therefore adopt an estimate
made by another, from which find that
these receipts for the last ten years, in
the free States, amount to about $780,
900, 600; in the slave States. to less than
$50. .OOo,O 900.
am aware that the amount of the re-
ceipts at the custom house may not be
conclusive Of the relative consumption
in each section Of the confederacy; and
as this tax levied on foreign goods landed
on our shores, although collected from
the importing merchant, in the first in
stance. is supposed to be ultimately paid
by those who consume them, it is not
conclusive of the relative amount paid
into the Treasury by each. But the trans
portation by water being much lower than
by land, it is fair to conclude that, all
things else being equal, goods paying
duties will land at the port of entry near
est their final destination. 1t is there-
fore an important element to be consid-
cred IN the investigation. and becomes
conclusive in the absence Of manifest
reasons to the contrary. And when We
are reminded that the harbors of Charles
ton, S. O., Norfolk, Va, Baltimore and
Annapolis, MI, not to mention those on
the Gulf coast. are equal if not superior
to those farther north !: that by New Or
leans there is uninterrupted water COM
munication through the great States of
the Southwest into the very heart Of the
!swarming population of the Northwest
that all these principal ports of entry on
the Gulf and Atlantic and on both banks
OF the Mississippi and Ohio rivers are
connected by long lines of railroads with
the interior. it is difficult to imagine why
goods destined for consumption in Della
ware, Maryland. Virginia, the Carolinas.
Georgia. Florida, Alabama, Louisiana
and Texas-all on the coast. should not
land at their own ports, as well as goods
intended for consumption in the interior
slave States Of Kentucky, Tennessee.
Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri: or
if landed at northern port in the first
instance. for any reason whaiar~r'"n
they would not 90 n-h~nd to the near
ost port of entry, and thus save the in
terest 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 confederacy bears
Soma -.l~.:--- .,---i-.-
amount Of importations in each. is forti-
fed by the relative number and what is
known of the habits and modes Of life of
the people.
In 1850 the entire population of the
Tree states was s-.- l3 .434 ,99
VI the slave States. y ,664, $50
White population Of the free States l3, $50
VI slave States, {, ,222 AIS
Slave population, --.. ,2O4 ,3l2
The slaves being more than one-third
Of the inhabitants of the inhabitants of
the slave States, consume the plainest
food and the coarsest homespun the free
colored population in these States is said
to be still more degraded. OF the white
population, less than onethird is in any
way beneicially connected with slavery.
A very large majority of the residue are
constantly described by their Senator'S
and Representatives in Congress, as pos
sessing fewer substantial comforts. as
more dependent and helpless than the
slaves. Hence but small part Of the
aggregate population of the slave States
can consume imported goods in consid-
erable quantities /; and. therefore. pay
buta small part of the revenue received
from imports.
In the free States. the mass Of the Ia
boring people are Independent outside
of the great cities very few are really
poor. In our own State. in 1856. but
800. in population Of $4,000. were
returned as paupers. In relation to food
and raiment, there is but little substantial
difference between the employer and the
employed. Nearly all consume foreign
goods in considerable quantities. and
consequently pay in the same proportion
indirect taxes for the support Of the gov
ernment. Also manufacturing districts.
which exist principally in the North. pay
large sums Of money from year to year.
as duty on raw materials imported.
which afterwards. as fabrics, are sold in
foreign markets The duty thus paid
becomes an absolute tax on the industry
Of the North. foi 90 .l7dI
CONCLUDED NEXT WEEK.