Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-03-07
Export Duty ON Cotton

The Montgomery Advertiser prints the following
able and interesting communication on the policy
of the confederate States laying an export duty on
cotton
As Gotten States, almost all we produce is con-
.urned by others, and almost we consume is pro-
iuced by others. What we produce, the world can
bUv only from us; what consume hundred
councillors are eager 20 sell to us. In raising a
revenue then which Is our true policy; to tax what
we sell and what otheFs compelled to buy, or TO
tax what we find it convenient TO buy from others!
In other words is il the policy Of States situated az
we are, 10 pay duties upon exports or upon I'M
psrts?
II a ODE of the most universally recognized prn-
cSnles of political economy that the the consumer
pays not merely the cost OF production but the ac-
tuaI market valre Of the article he consumes. The
only executions in practice are where the sup
oiy of the article largely exceeds the demand,
or where the demand is wholly dependent
mon the cheapness of the article. Suppose an eX-
mort duty of a half cent pound on cotton. IN
less that half cent will enable other nations TO IN
5ersell us or unless that same half cent amounting
90 about quarter cent on cotton shirt, dminishes
te se of cotton as an article Of clothing II is plan
therefore that the half cent is paid by the con
sumner. and not out Of orr pockets Indeed, hat
half cent would never appesr IN the m2rkeE price
N cotton. because Ike freight it is paid only by
tbe foreign purchaser. We have only one branch
of manufacturing industry which Is OF any consider
able Importance or which II is worth our WINE 10
foster and encoarage-tbe manufacture OF hea'y
cotton and plantation goods 10 the NOME manu- "a,
facturer of these goods the half cent would De 3
protective bonus Of two dollars ana nIy Genus
bale. a., e.. e
Contrast now the financial and political erect OF
the export and import duty The former, az MAJ
cent will produce twelve millions yearah az. ..
reVeuue for the Federal Government OF inc e3i h'
cation States; the cheapest and easiest COLLECTION;
because Il will not require the services OF oae-thre
of the present force of custOm-house oilcials sne
the most solid basis tor freight and domesuc
credit because the most upyarying Snd reiiaose
rpvenua that any country possesses. On tne
,,bor hand the revenue derived from an imPoFl
dnty is subject to sudden huctuation, now Geluging
the Golfers of the Government, now leaving them
emntv and dry. For this reason, ard because IL IA
difficult and expensive OF coheeuOn, tHe Ln i"1.
must be higher than an export duty TO producs
,be came average revenue Without natural bound
aries ON the land side, and with an immense iron
tier nierced bV railroads at right angles cOru0L
of custom houses and an army OF omeiSls "ouiO
not suffice 10 prevent its being discriminating tai
in fsvo- Of Ysnkee products. By an export duty
enabling ue to throw our products anu paIAeu
omen TO the world we hold on an irreslsnDie Temp
tation to the nations of Europe we throw sIe our
den of frontier custom houses on INC NOf tIietl
Confederacy and we make our PeG ;Pr,adiste ran
full TO the new Government for an lllIeulAoe, 1Au
gible, and practical benefit in sudden cneApness y
everything they consume, which, WIN lew eA0eP
tons, all comes from abroad,
Admit, Tor the sake of argument .he aDs w ~
position that the planter viii, in the emu pay lh
export duty. Even those who entertain so confused
q notion of. political economy, can be cOnVlncS'
that the export duty is the cheaper. Inc ioWes
estimate of revenue is ten per cent ad casorein
the export duty of cent per pound IS about equiv
aleut 10 five per cent al UGIOrem. Buying ABROAD
all we consume, and selling abroad all we produce
which is cheaper TO pay ten per cent on our con
sumptions, or five per cent our pToductionsy AnC
applying the rule to the individual as well as tn
nation not the largest producer always correspond
ingly the largest consumer!