The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-03-15

. fNasNf
sei.. lid Wfi,ts Sf6.Asss are compelled L
buy, on to tax what we find il convenient
to buy from others In other words. il
il the policy of States situated rs we are
to pay duties upon exports or imports
1t is one of the most universally recog.
nized principles Of political economy that
the consumer pays not merely the cost OF
/ production, but the actual market value
Of the article he consumes. The only ex-
ceptions IN practice are where the supply
Of the article largely exceeds the demand
or where the demand is wholly dependent
upon the cheapness Of the article. Sup
pose an export duty Of a half cent "a
pound on cotton. Unless that half cent
viii enable other nations to underselI US,
or unless that same half cent, amounting
to about a quarter cent on cotton shirt,
diminishes the use Of cotton as an article
of clothing. it is plain, therefore, that the
half cent is paid by the consumer, and
not out of our pockets, Indeed, that halt
cent would never appear in the market
price of cotton, because, like freight, il is
paid only by the foreign purchaser. We
have only one branch Of manufacturing in
dustry which is Of any considerable inn
portance, or which il is worth our while
TO foster or encourage-the manufacture
of heavy cottons and plantation goods.
the half cent would be protective bonus
of two dollars and fifty cents a bale.
Contrast now the financial and political
effect of the export and import duty.
The former at n half cent, viii produce
twelve millionsa year-an ample revenue
for the Fedral Government of the eight
cotton States the cheapest and easiest OF
collection, because IL will not require the
services of one-third OF the present force
of custom house officials; and the most
solid basis for foreign and domestic credit.
because the most unyarying and reliable
revenue that any country possesses. On
the other hand, the revenue derived from
any import is subject to sudden huctua-
tions, now deluging the Golfers of the Gov
ernment, now leaving them empty and dry.
For this reason, and because it Is difficult
and expensive Of collection, the import
must be higher than an export duty TO pro
duce the same average revenue. Without
natural boundaries on the land side, and
with an immense frontier pierced by rail
roads at right angles, q Gordon of custom.
houses and an army Of officials would not
suffice to prevent its being a discriminating
tax in favor Of Yankee products. BY an ex
port duty, enabling US to throw our ports
and markets open to the world, we hold
out an irresistible temptation to the ma
tions Of Europe we throw the burden Of
frontier custom houses on the Northern
Coufederacy; and we make our people
feel grateful to the new Government for
an immediate, tangible, and practicable
benefit in the sudden cheapness Of every
thing they consume, which, with few ez-
ceptious all comes from abroad.
Admit, for the sake Of argument, the
absurd proposition that the planter will,
in the end, pay the export duty. Even
those who entertain 30 confused q notion
of political economy can be convinced
that the export duty is the cheaper. The
lowest estimate Of a revenue tariff Is ten
per cent. al yaloren the export duty Of a
half cent per pound is about equivalent
to i've per cent. ad gaiorem. Buying abroad
all we consume, and selling abroad al We
produce. which is cheaper: To pay ten per
cent. on our consumptions, on five per
cent. on our productiOns2 And applying
the rule 70 the individual. as well a. the
nation, j. not the largest producer always
spondingly the largest conEumerE
Another view Of the effects Of an cx-
port duty Our obvious policy i TO
strengthen our sea ports. By making the
land export duty on cotton double that
on cotton exported BY sea, we a. the same
time stop that retrograde movement Of
cotton which has already become q sub
fesA DA Gun AlAaAlAAs anu VII AAaAlI give Al4
exclusive monopoly o. the cotton trade
10 the ports Of the COnfederacv. Should
we ever attempt 20 do our own carving
trade. We have the means Of fostering an
infant enterprise By exempting our flag
from the export duty, thus enabling It 10
carry freight q half cent cheaper than
any other flag.
50 far our reasoning has been mostly q
prigrL II was little more than the de-
monstration of the sell-evident PROPOSE
ton that a nation which possesses q mo
nopoly in any article Of agricultural pro
duction or manufacturing skill. may iu-
diciousIv tax that article for the benefit
Of its government. a. the expense OF its
consumers. Now, for a few practical II /
lustrations drawn from the experience Of I
commercial legislation Italy and Spain I
possess antiquities, manuscripts, paintings, ]
and other works Of art, which the world 4
can purchase nowhere else. and which the /
world purchases at fabulous prices. Both 4
these countries levy an export duty Of ten /
per cent. ad rzlorem on all these subjects. 4
Would the world buy one painting more
II that duty were remOvedl The Turks. 4
the most shiftiess and senseless CONNER
cial legislators, have yet one reliable
source Of national revenue; IL Is the ex-
port duty on the drugs and fruits Of Asia
Minor, Of which. nevertheless, thosupply
never exceeds the demand. FcTtugalD Of !