The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1861-01-17
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That Letter.

Al SAlFitl lIHln H. ietscT written DNSH
gentleman who is 4 land holder in this
county and resident Of. Des Mdincs.
noW however on Il visit to the land of
his nativity, the place ut which the COM
m%unication bears date. The political
~ro,hidcxion otihis letter is Of such a
dec! hue, that no reader, be he never
50 careless, will fail t observe the
strong sympathy, prejudice, aud We
believe we may add, bigotry OF the
writer.
Passing over his conclusions and
charges that the North, and especially
Republicans, are directly responsible
for thc acts Of southern traitors and
rcbcls-a ridiculous fabrication, worn
thread Dare, by its frequent passage
through the polluted lips Of defeated
pariiSans, who use it rs 4 balm upon
their sore 'leads-we propose to notice
the equal. fallacious charge, that,
"Ihe South by her products and ex-
ports pays for near two-tiirds OF all
the imports Of ON nation, while the
North consuming at least two-thirds OF
such imports pays by her exported pro-
ducts tor only one-tlird. The South
too while paying in tue first instance
for this two thirds Of all imports, nearly
and in truth pays two thirds Of the
tariff or duties Of our Nation, while
her population is only a little over one
third OF that Of the nation"
Now the principle and only ar:i lie
Of export, worth mentioning, OF the
South is cotton. How is it with this :
Not III Planter III fifty exports his
own cotton. Not one in five hundred
exports his cotton ana then invests the
money accraing from the same. in for
oi-i1 merchandise 10 be imported into
this country. And even If he does 50,
it is with the full knowledge OF the
tariff he would be obliged to pay, and
with the calculation to make 4 nice
profit. above the first cost and tariff.
BY fnT the largest part Of the very few
planters who export the cotton Of their
own raising, send it away i'll vessels,
they remaining at home, and receive by
return mai! a check or draft upon some
responsible foreign banking house,
which is cashed upon presentation at
most any OF our banks. The great
bulk Of the planters however sell their
cotton at their respective home markets
and receive the cash for the same.
These purchasers then after supplying.
the Northern market, export the re-
maindcrto Europe, where they receive
the gold forit, which is generally invest
ed III manufactured goods for tho pur-
pose Of importing them into this coun-
try at 4 profit, and thus realize 4 gain
upon their money invested, both on
the outgoing AMI incoming trips.
Some perhaps exchange their cotton
directly for manufactured goods. But
this amounts to the same as If they had
sold for cash, and then invested it in
goods for importation. But perhaps
our friend would say, ''Ihis is Just
what We have said: That the planters
cotton pays for II imported goods
and thus pays the greater part Of the
revenue" Notify %anvsslneans, we say.
For the moment tie planter sells his cot
ton. that moment he has nc. farther in
terest in it. lie has received m equiv
ntfor il, and this equivalent and not the
cotton is his. lie has never paid one
penny Of impost or tax upon his cotton
or the equivalent received to create
our revenue or for the support of the
general government. But with his
money in hand he goes home and in
vests it i'll lands, slaves or whatever he
chooses. This is true also with every.
other alticlc exported.
"Who then does pay the TARIFF per-
haps he would ask.
We answcr the manufacturer pays
a small part, but the consumer the
greater. This has long since been
conceded by nearly all Of our political
economists, and especially has it been
urged by the Democratic party, when
ever the policy Of q protective tariff
has been mootcd. Even the South ac-
knowledges this fact that the consumer
Of imported articles pays the greater
part Of the tariff upon them, and be-
cause she manufactures but little. this
is the reason she urges free trade.
When she advocates free trade. she
say she purchases more than her propo
ton Of imported goods, and consequent
y pays more than her proportion Of the