Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-04-24
TIE TARIFF QUESTION.


briefly as may consist with pe1s2'eu'ty.
1, answering tho sb1ve question IN tn
,o,.t;ys-and 80 denying the jnSt,ce Of Tariff
-vc confess thst tho burden OF proof lie
upon us; 70. it has been tho habit OF man
Notwithstanding our former selves--to rel,
uuoo this as tie principal source Of revenue
AS ,he majority of mankind, however, still
deny that the world turns round, it is yer!
clear that mankind may be mistaken A
the action Of the governing class may DO IL
se-ested-and so contrary to jus:'cc~-sho n
it may be venal, and so the secrecy Of IN
operation of a tariff advantageous; ana o.
Tariffs may benef. ore section at tie expense
of another. or one class at the expense c
other classes, 10 tho policy may be IN aintalne'
uoon false considerations. The burden G
proof, therefore, is not very difficult TO HIT
while The burden of argument is almost ex
ciusivcy CT one side.
IL will be necessary, in the first place
briefly to trace the ops: alton OF Tariff, II
order that wo ay spply the tests Of jus
taxation.
The list effect of 8 duty upon imports II
to raise prices in certain LEGALITY, WhicI
we shall oil No. !.
2. This checks consumption i'll tts: local
ty-No. /.
3. rhe 6imini she'd consumption cheeks
rrpduct:ar in locality No Q. where the az,
ticlo as made.
4. Tns dire.ts production in No. = 10 Other
Objects, the market for :hs particular object
being obstructsd.
5. Tho siso in price introduces production
into No. l.
G. Bt, this production doea not ncoeSse-
rly chespen prices in No. |, not being affect
cd By TIE competition Of No. =.
:. The natural channels Of Industry arc
ohsagsd in both countries.
The Government ge:s only part Of The
lew. thu producer getting part. It may often
ba shat he Government gets none.
@ Tue consumer psys most Of ;hs duty,
tho pon;ib rium has been fully restored, after
the tlu2!ustinns accustomed by interference,
tho consnmcr pays al, CT nesriy all unless:
H. In somo cases home production ia cheap,
e, than foreign, ard hen tho tariff is re.!ly
:rorerA:iva.
Thn normsi course Of consequences msy
DO varied By particular circumstances. We
are considering, at present, tha economical ef
fec.s Of tariff The:e may be other euds to
be served aside from rcycauc, and aside from
q uat distribution Of public burdens. Per
haps, however, many even Of those ends could
be better served by other mhans than tariffs
The system has been vinoicsted because G.
tho rc:oss;ty Of ii: dependence OF other te"-
pie in certain articles needful for self del .nco
This is not en- economic reason, Though q
prujeutisl ard proper one. Again, i! has
becl defended as neces.ary to simulate man
ufaciut;ns or othor Industry in its infaacy.--
This rs another ground for temporary action
which 70 shall seq may best DO STAINED by
othse means Again, one of the most plausi.
bic def noes il OF resalistory tariffs, in whic!
they .ro justified upon political grounds -
Tt, main reliaucca Of tho advocates OF The
ta:if, then are thslo three: !. Precaation
to DO prepared with means Of defence, q sort
Of insurance. >. Stimulus to infant. en-
.srp-ises 8. Retaliation sgainst to-eisn ts-
riff. Theao limits are very elastic in their
ns.u.o, AID let i'll almost every thing con.
csivable. In many instances i. would be bet
ter tor Government simply to supply ttsetJ
lQrqeIy viii. the means CT deience- keeping $
stock Oh hand. Tpe infancy Of many enter
pr:srs is permanent; they enjoy perpetaa
youth, aud can never BIO w,aaed from the ma
rionsl breast. The necessity Of realisation
especslly, is a nevcr-iailing resource unit
all mankind take more corrccs views Of .hoir
own interests.
II tho burden OF tariff falls upon cen
sumption, IS We contend, than tarift for re
taii..ion furnishes no relief. 1t only ssryct
to add second evil to the lrst.
The objections to a tsriff, even strictly fol-
revenue, are overwhelming. Ii eYualHy, tht
pole star in adjusting taxation, be- attained BY
tariff, it is simply .hs result Of accident. It
il conceivable, but not probable. Tare i:
nothing IN the mode which looks at equality
or tends towards it. Not only il it unequal
but bearing, as i. doas. most atronglJ on con
sumptiou, it places tho burden upon the weak
est shoulders--1s tho poor are relatively
larger consumers than the rich. Take tn
case Of q tariff on tea and cofIec---pu-e rove
nus tarif-as there ia no competition ~ thi
country in raising these articles-spd The, g
fore no class kere who virtually divide tb
law with the Government. This lax is pal
i, proportion to consumption, AID not in pro
portion to wealth. The poor man pays s
pnoh as the rich-indeed, If the old slsgs b
true, as to tho poor mans children, he pay
more. Tho oversseF, in many cafes, cor
tributes mo-c to the support Of the Cover
msnt than his employer-.he clerk ss muc
IS the merchant-sld 30 on in all the grades
wealth.
Yet this is the most favorable case of
pure revenue tariff. When incidental prote'
ton is added, the difference is that the poe
man pays upon his calico Is much ss the tic
but part of tho price goes not into the HAND
Of the government, but Of tho manufacture
Whsn the tariff is absolutely protective.
p-ohibitory--nono Of the price gees to Il
government, but rich and poor arc tax
alike, instead Of in proportion to wealth, 81
tho profits, as raised by tho tariff, 80 exc!
sively to the manufacturer. just insofar
q tariff is protective, just 20 far is it Il
productive to Government as to this extent
prevents importation. The proportion is 1
I IEaa,,