New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-02-24
imports:


IsoO......... 3t2lo3Ml 53,9'957O 1899
ls6l......... .g]j go l,3 .E,Js2 10 200
ls62......... 203l5l,7J3 5000 81
lsG3......-. 9j29lqg2O Gs,Oil,l36 21lO
lsGi...... a30lO9s4O l02.36l52 3QOl
! l-6j......... 2o433%sl0 si,92,,2tO *s.oO
| The figures during he war are for the fiscal year
ending June 30 The mean of greatest revenue
will be found to be between % and 30 per cent upon
the total imports, and near 30 per cent upon those
paying duty.
REVENUE FROM CUSTOMS.
Civilized nations have uniformly levied II tariff
upon foreign commodities as one of the sur,st,
wisest and east onerous means Of raising the ma
tional revenue. Previous to the war the bulk Of
our revenue was received from customs duties
The imposition Of tariff has the advantages that
il involves no. annoying. vexatious and difficult
inquiry into personal incomes and business; It is
collected at less expense than by any other system
II is a curb upon luxury, which, by common con-
sent Of all intelligent persons is the fittest subjec;
for taxation: and has the direct tendency to stimu
late home growth and manufacture wherever il
operates protectivey.
Great Britain. whose commerce far surpasses
that of any other nation, is often cited es GIL e1
ample OF Free Trade, as she is also its loudes
advocate raises three times more revenue from
customs duties than any other nation. The Free
Trade which England practices is that which costs
her nothing, but is all in her favor, it il indis-
pensable to her existence. She imports nothing
free except breadstufis and the raw materials for
her manufactures.
THE EXAMPLE OF ENGLAND.
England which beratcs other nations and particu-
arly our own for high tariffs rcciprocates by plac
| iue upon four articles, three of which are grown
here more than our duties upon the whole Of her
manu- features sent 10 u.s. in 1863 the duties the
comparatively few articles taxed produced f23
| jSS .g32 This amount, being more than one-third
Of the whole public income Of the United Kingdom,
was derived from the following sources: Sugar
c6,7l7 1888; Tobacco, f59S64l7; Tea, E46j2, SO
Wine and Spirits, E4,OO4,IO6; Corn, E79j,jO9;
Coffee, SAP, 332; Fruits GiO6,s2G; Timber
81 s53 Spices, Gle, 535; Cocoa, 81, H. other
articles, f2l2, 500; total, E26, 5Ss ,952 Here are
upwards Of $ll5, 600 600, derived almost entirely
from four articles Of consumption.
On the other hand Of the customs revenues we
derived in 1860 the sum actually protective Of our
own manufactures after deducting those paid on
articles not made here, is $lS,93j $50, about %
Der cent OF the whole. The tariff has been some
what increased during the war in order 10 meet the
extraordinary demands of the Treasury, but even
al this time II y not more than i've per cent higher
than the imports Of England upon dutiable goods
even in time of profound peace The average
rate Of duty on total imports in Great Britain and
the United States for the years 1856, 81 s, 80 il
as follows:
United Kingdom r.s,s,e
Average rate Of duty on total imports .l369 l82l
! .rofao ~ ufx cltlsfys n ~
Average rate Of duty Oh duiiabe imports. .32H 25+
| Showing that our tariff in that time was 10 per
cent less than that Of England.
ENGLASDs so-cALLED FREE TRADE.
The policy Of England has really been protective,
and TO thsshe owes in great measure her greatness
and to the discoveries ofthc seam-engine the power
loom, spnning-jenny and other inventions, which
have multiplied her working-power a hundred-fold.
In these inventions she had star OF all other ma
tions, but now holds them only in common with
others. But her advantages have been eninently-
discriminating and stable tariff protection; her
coal and iron mines her capital and treaties. For
hundreds Of years, she levied a most stringent
tariff upon all foreign fabrics, and it was during
that time she gained such al asccndancy that she
now defies all competition. In 1860 the export of
wool was prohibited, and SO continued till 1895
/ No less than 81 laws were passed for the protec.
ton of wool and wOOlens in az many years. En-.
glish cloths were prescribed to be worn, and ex-
ported TO her colonies She repressed the factories
in Ireland India and America. Whenever foreign
productions encroached upon her own, they were
stopped, so lately the Indian mutiny, when we
clothed her soldiers with Boot Mills denims,
which were afterward excluded by tariff. She has
prohibited the expectation of machinery and never
failed to make favorable treaty for her wares,
when it was possible, the French treaty being the
latest triumph.
RELATIVE ADVANTAGES OF ENGLAND AND AMERICA.
Between 1871 and 1915 a change was inaugurated
in the policy of England. The manufacturing inter
est had grown 10 be the most considerable one in
the island, and agriculture, which TIL then had
been protected by Corn Laws, had 10 give way to
the more important interest Of the mill-owners.
Since then she has been warm advocate Of Free
Trade and has pied every art and Argument fV{ its