Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-18

htatpe which haze h3mosenete popnlsucni and Eaf-
mohiou, pursuits, Institutions aud interests ;They
thsrefore amended this clause Of the old Constitution
NV adding the words: Except by vote oil Two throi
If both Houses !" see g. clause g. Congress- toere
fore has penary power over the whole uu.e
aynort as well as import. The debates on tni
snb;ent have not been published, and therefore
il il impossible to state tho reasons that nhaenced tht
indomsnt of the Convention. But we are bound "a
oresums that they thought occasions might arise,
which it would be- proper to exercise the power tnui
conferred. The contrary superstition would ippeaen
their wisdom and patriotism, by imputDg to them tne
folly of granting power that was never 10 Dc uSeu.
II then. il was contemplated by the francis oil the
Consttuton that an emergency might ari:e, In Whlcn
this great power Of leyyng export duties should Do IN
yoked would ask under what circumstances, can one
arise more urgent than the presently
have heard it suggested that the Representatives,
from the Cotton States will 10 an export
duty ON cotou. Why notS Cottoa constitutes much
the largest article Of export from the Oonfederscy AUD
il would be folly to suppose tsat when the CONVENTION
VIII oh as composed exclusively OF delegates from the
Cot on S.ates conferred tho power in general ierms'
bey expected the great staple OF the South 10 be e1
emit l. Is more rational 70 conclude that the power
ga, given wi special reference TO duty on cotton
II cotton which constitutes three fourths OF our ex
ports was not to be subject 10 this duty it can hardly
be presumed that il was contemplated 10 lay It on ar
ticles of interior value aud importance.
-
of the clause in the OF February 2S, 1851
which poydes for an export duty Oh cotton to eecui
the Teen million loan. But It may be sad that the
effect of the law laying such duty, would De 10 throw
an undue DIT portion Of the buthsn OF taxation on the
Cotton Mes This argument is fouoded on the as
u rpto tha the producer OF the cotto psys the ouy
vii, endeavor presently to show that thus idea is in
correct Bat assuming TO b5 true that the producer
nava the T. let u3 enquire for moment who, In the
accura seDse of the term is the proaucsr super
fetal observer may suppose that toe planter VINO OWLS
and hills the cotton nelde, Is the producer Ia one
sense he l., but in the ind enlarged commeIcbi
sense, he Is not the only producer. Production Is
compound idea, of which macy separate elements are
o,psutueut JattI tax which Affects the combined
product aecs each one Of these elemental While the
planter therefore, pays the tax IN The hrst place. III
mat " distributes itself among all tie Constituents oil
o,oduction To produce copon the planter must have
10 vtrk meat and bread and salt to teed them,
voolen aud cottoi goods TO elothe them, horses and
mules 10 assist in the labor and CON- oats and hay ~
sustain Them He must have farming implements OF
every kind operate WITH barns Cd n use toe cotoD
a ei 10 pick it. an engine 10 wCrk It, aud W. CONS and
carts to haul it to Market tax production 6oud,
therefore, Eject the grain and hay aud mules OF Ken
lucky the slaves and iron and artzans OF Virginia the
corn aud pork ind wood and minerals OF Ist Tonnes
sep and indeed every interest which Ministers In any
degree 20 production. In this view OF tue case think
am warranted in saying that, II itwere even fue mat
q
would not necessarily fall exclusively on the planter
He is the proxmate agent only in production. d. may
nav the duty primarily but ultimately it Families, and
caches back 10 all Interests remotely connected
with that which is the product OF such combination
of agencies aud interests 30 much Tor this Objection,
found on what shall endeavor 70 show, the false
assn ptop that such tax would fall the producer.
Every one who 10 coaversaut With trace, must know
that potca economy is lot one OF the exact sciences
L approx mates nearly to Policy han sPHItoso-
ply while it acknowledges general laws, they are 20
aule TO be varied and modified, by changing crcuni-
stances that any ole who will attempt to regulate his
business by arbitrary and inf xbe rules, will be apt to
cake sbpWreck OF Lis fortune. proposition which
nav De true III one condition of affairs, may be utterly
untrue unaer dferent condition Many OF the grayest
errors in the conduct of tae aiTs OF nations aud ndi
yiduas, have been committed by bhndly following q
sat of distractions without adyertng 70 the change VI
circumstances which render them applicable. De oil
these m schevous dogmas IS that the consumer neees-
sarly pa the Uader certain conditions the pro-
postoa 10 true, whle under Others 1t Is Untrue Tee
pposte proposiioJ that the producer pays it. is sub
iscs 70 the medication oy varying circumstances
the relations of supply and demand must always e1er-
else controlling influence. When the supply OF any
particular commodity Is large, aud the demand small,
he purchasers have The control Of the Market and can
depress prices 10 the injury of the producer. duty
levied under these circumstances must a on the pro.
Queer because he cannot in the face Of active compe-
tt o. add it the price and compel the consumer 70
oay it.. But when the supplyis small and the demand
g.ea the sellers give tone TO the Market aud csn CT
ac. almost any prize they please adding the tax az an
element Of il. This proposition may be illustrated by
an example which the people will, at this part cular
time readily understand Suppose the Virgins Legis-
ure at is receot session, bad laid tax Of two To-
rs barrel on -four, upon whom would the burtben
fslls There can be Ettle doubt the consumer would
have 10 bear it. The farmer would add two dollars per
barrel TO the price of the -four; aud the supply is
small aud the demand great the consumer would have
to pay it. But suppose peace declared on the lat OF
January and our ports opened so tina. Northern Hour
could come into competition with that produced at
honis the burthen would then be transferred TO the
Producer Competition would bring down the price 20
low, that Virginia -four would be banished from the
market farmers could not afford to produce
it and pay the tax The principles which govern this
supposed are equally sppcableto every species OF
taxstion direct ind rect by excise import or eK
port In framing revenue system we must have
special reference TO the SUPP of and demand for each
article OF production.
Ii We we're TO levy heavy export duty on -four we
would cripple our Own commerce aud derive no revenue
from it, btcsuse -four is an article produced in almost
every country and if enter ,he msraets
of tne world encountered by heavy export duty, il
could Lot stand the comp ,dtion with productops OF
otser ands, and would soon cease to be exported.
Blu. We occupy very different position in regard to
cottoo tobacco and naval As to these articse
we occdpy the relation which ths farmer of Virginia
low does to the brcle Of fur No other country can
prodcce the Leoessary suppl es Of the desired quality
We have complete monopoly of the finer varieties OF
cotton, and almost monopoly of inferior grader. To
great extent the is of certain kinds Of to-
blcco and naval stores The world needs these articles
aud rnu hsVe them at any piics 1t has tried pro-
duoe them elsewhere, aud sgnaly failed Heretofore,
there being export duties have been furnishing
cotton to Europe AT 10 and IL cent?. Now shs Is will
ing 70 buy is six eight times those prices. This
proves that we have the control Of the market Nei-
ther India, Egypt nor Africa can successfully campeIe
with US The question, them presentS itse.f-ShS we
avail Ourselves of the natural advantages possess
and make Europe tributary to us, or repeat fol
aud return to condition OF commercial assAage to
hks? Certainly. Ghe has established no very strong
claim to our gratitude favor during the terrible srug
gle in which We are engaged hesitate not to declare
my conviction that can 30 shape, and ought so to
shape our commercial policy, as make Europe and
the Northern STATES bear large portion of the cost Of