The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-06-08
For the Dispatch.l
.. The Tariff

This seems to he the absorbing topic Of
speculation in Congress mt this time. 1t is
of importance that our southern represent
atives should act grardedly and intelli-
gently upon this subject. Ii was the legis-
latiOn on this subject in 1882 that drove
South Carolina into attempted secession
from the Union. There can be no doubt
that in every new country possessing
all the materials necessary for success
full manufactures sufficient protection
should be afforded to give manu-
featuring enterprises a fair start and
place them upon footing that will enable
them 10 compete successfully with like in
terests fully developed in foreign countries.
The past history OF manufactures in the
/ United States has fully manifested the Wis
dom OF THIS protective legislation in de
yeOping the manufacturing resources OF
this country and insuring them successful
| operation. Under the protective system
/ immense capital has been invested i'll man
ufactures, and in many instances, especially
/ in the cheaper cottOnS in Georgia, we can
and have competed successfully with the
world. The only question 20 he consid-
cred now is, What amount OF protection,
| il any, is necessary 10 insure the further
and full development OF the manufacturing
resources Of the country? And this ques.
ton is Of mOmcntOus importance TO The
South. Virginia is interested in the iron
and woOllcn manufacture. II is q notorious
fact that the ores OF Virginia are mined
and transported with considerable cost
to the North to he manufactured.
! Why is this 7. How is il that the North
can afford TO come down here and mine
| Nirginia's ores and transport them to their
factories in the North and put the manu-
featured article upon the market at price
cheaper than the English article can be
/ bought! The answer is found in the im-
menSc import tax upon such articles. This
tax is paid by the consumer. and goes to
the northern manufacturers TO enable them
to pay for mining and transporting our
ores to their factories. Take away their
protection, and what will be the re-
sults The northern capitalist, unless his
profits will enable him to continue the pur-
chase and transportation of ours, must TO
save this expense remove his capital or
factory 10 Virginia. or retire from the field
OF competition. This theory has been
practically demonstrated in the manufac-
lures OF cotton. To save the costs OF trans
porting the cotton (some twelve or thirteen
dollars on the bale) to the North, the capi-
talists OF the North are studding the
south with cotton-factories, costing mil
lions OF dollars in the aggregate.
The proper policy for Congress to adopt,
l think, is this There should be a tax
upon sliding scale. Take iron or steel as
an illustration. In the first place, ascertain
what 1t costs to produce the manufactured
article by the ton in England, the country,
presume, from which the American man.
ufacturcr has most reason TO apprehend
successful competition, then rate the i'm.
port tax upon that basis. Fix the tax at
such rate as TO give the American
manufacturer reasonable advantage.
III the cost Of production in Eng
land from any cause grows less, slide the
tax rate up in proportion; il ii is greater,
slide it down in Ike proportion. This
scale can be applied equally Us well to every
other article OF manufacture In which the
American people are engaged.
Tho question for the southern re-
representatives. TO guard against is TO see
that the standard rate Of taxation is
proper one. The consumer should
moi be compelled by legislation to
pay the manufacturer the cost Of Transport
tatlon upon the raw material when it is not
absolutely necessary. Virginia by nature
j. essentially fitted for great manufactu.
ring empire. Her future depends upon the
successful development OF her mineral re-
sources. IL this development can be ac-
compllshcd, Vlrginia's debt would be a
trhc, not worth that consideration which