VI
A BILL
To reduce and otherwise alter the du-
ties on in ports.
Be it enacted by the Senate and IIausc
of Representatives of the United States
of America in Congress assemble/I, That
from and nftér the 3d day of l\'lar.:h, in
the year of our Lord one tliousand eight
li\indred and thirty-three, there shall be
levied, collected, and paid on goods,
wares, and inercliantlize, imported into
the United States, in place of the duties
lieretoforc laid by law, the several duties
hereinafter mentioned, for during, am.l
until the several respective period herin-
aftcr specified, that is to say :
Tlst-. On ‘wool inanufactercd, t_l1C "fllllc
whereof, at the place ol’expm"~=\l|0“a 5111'"
exceed eight cents the pound. and 0"
woolen and worsted twist aiidl yams 3
duty at and after the rate of _thii'ty-five
dollars for every hundred dollars value
thereof, until the second clay of March.
in the year 1834, inclusive, and tliereaf-
ter a duty at and after the rate of tweiity-
five dollars, for every hundred dollars
value thereof, until the ‘2d day of Marcli,
1835, inclusive, and thereafter a duty at
and after the rate of fifteen dol-lars for c-
very hundred dollars value thereof.
All -wool manufactured, the value
whereof, at the place of c.\'port~.ition,
shall not exceed eight cents the pound,
shall be free ofduty, from and after the
third day of March, l833,—Providcd,
that wool imported on the skin, shall be
estimated as "to weight and value as otli-
er wool; and provided farther, that
wool mixed with dirt, or other material,
and they reducedin value to eight cents
the pound, or under, shall be appraised
at such price as in the opinion of the ap-
praisers, it w
been so mixed, and a duty thereon shall
be charged in conformity with such ap-
praisment.
2d. On all milled and fulled cloths,
known by the name ofPlains, Kerseys,
or Kendall Cottons, of which wool shall
iron in s‘abs,blooms, or other form l€S‘-‘l
finished than iron in bar.-:. or bolts, and
more advanced than pig iron, except cas-
tings, shall be rated as iron In bars and
bolts, and pay duty flCC0l‘illl|gl)’- All
scraps and old iron shall pay a duty at
and ,,f«_m- the rate of twelve dollars and
fifty cents the ton weight. l\'othiiig
sliiill be deemed old iron that has not
been in actual use, and is fit only to be
remauulhcturccl ; and all pieces of iron
except old, of more than six niches lll
length, or ofsullicieut length to be made
into spikes and holtssliaill be rated as bar,
bolt, rod, or hoop-iron, as the case may
be, and pay duty accordingly ; all man _
ufactures of iron partly finished, shall.
pay the same rates of duty as it.
entirely finished ; all vessels of cast iron,
and all castings of iron, with liamlles,
rings, hoops, or other addition of wrought
iron, shall pay the same rate of duty as
if made entirely ofcast iron. —
8th On iron in pigs, a duty at_and af-
ter the ratc of fifty cents per every liun-
dred and twelve pounds w eight, until the
2d day of March, 1831, inclusive; and
thercaftera duty at and after the rate of
forty cents for every hundred and twelve
pounds weight ; on cast iron vessels and
all otliercastings of iron, a duty at and
a tea‘ the rate of one cent the pound
weight.
Qtll. On steel a duty at and after the
rate ofone dollar and fifty cents for eve»
ry hundred and twelve pounds wciglit,un-
til the 2d day of March, 1834, inclusive,
and thereafter a duty of one dollar fol‘
every hundred and twelve pounds weight.
10. On manufactures of iron and
s.ccl, not herein cnunicrated, there shall
be levied, collected, and paid, the several
rates of duty provided by existing laws
ould have cost had it not until the 2d day oflllarcli, 183-1, inclu-
sive, and thereafter the lowest rate of from places beyond the Cape of Good
duty which have been payable on the
April, 18:26, entitled “an act to regu
late the duties on imports and tonnage”
be the only material, the value whereof July, 1832, entitled “an act to alter and
at the place of exportation shall not ex-
ceed thirty-five cents the square yard,
and on all blankets, the value whereof
at the place of exportatim shall not ex-
ceed seventy-five cents each, a duty at
and after the rate of five dollars for eve-
ry hundred dollars value thereof.
On worsted stuff goods, sliawls,bom-
bazines, poplins, tabinets, and all other
manufactures of silk and worsted, a duty
at and after the rate of ten dollars for
every hundred dollars value thereof.
‘On coach lace, a duty at and after the
rate of twenty-five dollars for every hun-
dred dollars value tliercof.
3d. On blankets, other t_han those
hereinbeforc specified, a duty at and af-
ter the rate of twenty-five dollars for ev-
ery hundred dollars value thereof, until
the 2d. day gt‘ March, 1834, inclusive,
and thereafter a duty at and after the
rate of fifteen dollars value thereof.
4th. On carpets, carpetings, flannels,
bookings, baizes, cloths, kcrscymers,
merino shawls, and all other woollen
manufactures, or ofwhich wool is acom-
ponent part, except as herein otherwise
provided, and on ready made clothing, a
duty at and after the rate of forty dol-
lars for every hundred dollars value tliere-
of until the 2d day of March, 1834, in-
elusive, and thereafter a duty at and af-
ter the rate of thirty dollars for every
hundred dollars value theréof, until the
2d day of March, 1835, inclusive, and
thereafter a duty at and after the rate of
twenty dollars for every hundred dollars
value thereof‘.
5th. On woollen and worsted hoisery,
mits, gloves, stockinnets, and on worsted
bindings, a duty at and after the rate of
twenty dollars value thereof, until the 2d
day of March, 1834, inclusive and there-
after a duty at and after the the rate of
ten dollars for every hundred dollars
value thereof.
6th. On all manufactures of cotton cos-
ting not more than twenty-five cents the
square yard at the place of exportation. a
duty at and after the rateof thirty dollars
for every hundred dollars value thereof,
until the 2d day of March, 1834, inclu-
sive, and thereafter a duty at and after
the rate of twenty dollars for every linu-
dren dollars value thereof.
On all, other manufactures of cotton,
or of cotton and silk, not herein otherwise
epecified§""a duty, at and after the rate of
twenty five dollars for every hundred-
dollars value thereof, until the 2d day of
March, 1834, inclusive, and thereafter a
duty at and after the rate of twenty dol-
lags for every hundred dollars value there-
o .
On nankcens imported direct from
China, a duty at and after the rate of fif-;
teen dollars on every hundred dollars
value thereof.
On cotton hoisery, mits, gloves and
annul the several acts imposing duties
on imports.”
11. On hemp, a duty at and after the
rate of thirty-five dollars the ton weight,
until the 2d day of March, 1834. inclu-
sive, and thereafter a duty at and after
the rate oftliirty dollars the ton weight :
12. On cordage tarred, a duty at and
after the rate of four cents the pound
until the 2d day of march, 1834, inclu-
sive, and thereafter a duty at and after
the rate oftwo cents the pound weight:
()ii cordage untarred, and on yarn,
twine, and pack-tliread, a duty at and
after the rate offive cents the pound un-
til the ‘2d day of March, 1834, inclusive,
and thereafter a duty at and after the
rate of three cents the pound :
13. On cotton bagging a duty at and
after the rate of fifteen dollars. for one
hundred dollars value thereof:
14. On all manufactures of hemp of
flax not herein enumerated, a duty at
and after the rate of fifteen dollars for e-
very hundred dollars value thereof:
15. On spirits from grain a duty at and
aftcrthe following rates, to wit: on first
proof a duty of '20 cents per‘ gallon ; on
second proof, of ‘.23 cents the gallon, of
third proof, of 26 cents the gallon ; of
fourth proof, of30 cents the gallon ; aod
over five proof, of 40 cents the gallon ;
on spirits from all other materials than
grain,a duty at and after the following
rates, to wit: of the first and second
proofof 18 cents the gallon, ofthird proof
of21 cents the gtzllon, of fourth proofof
26 cents the gallon, of fifth proof of 30
cents the gallon, and over fifth proof of
36 cents the gallon.
16. On salt aduty at and after the rate
of eight cents the bushel, of 56 pounds
weight, until the 2d of March, 1834, in-
clusive, and thereafter a duty at and af-
ter the rate, of 5 cents the bushel, of 56
pounds weight.
17. On olive oil in caslcs, a duty at and
after the rate of10 cents the gallon, until
the 2.1 day of l\Iarch, 183 4, inclusive ;
and thereaftcra duty at and after the
rate often cents the gallon. -
18. On brown sugar, and on syrup of
sugar cane in casks, a duty at and af-
ter the ratc of 2.}, cents the pound, until
the 2d day ofMar_ch, 1834, inclusive;
and thereafter a duty at and after the
rate of 9 cents the pound. Onwhite clay-
ed sugar a duty at and after the rate of 3
cents the pound,until the 2d dayofMarch,
1834, inclusive, and thereafter a duty at
and after the rate of 2‘, cents the pound.
On sugar candy and other refined sugar
a duty at and after the rate of 10 cents.‘
thc pound.
I9. OnMolasses a duty at and after the
rate of four cents the gallon.
20. On coffee a duty at and after the
rate of one cent the pound.
21. Oriteas,from and after the second
stockinnets, and on cotton twist, ‘yum day of March, 1834, a duty at and after
and thread, a duty at and after the rate the rates following, to wit: on iinpe;-j.,j
of twenty dollars for every hundred dol-
lars value thereof, until the 2d day of
March, 1834, inclusive, and thereafter a
duty at and after the rate of ten dollars
for every hundred dollars value thereof.
7th. On iron in bars or bolts not man-
ufactured in whole or in part by rolling,
in duty at and after the rate of eighteen
dollars the ton, until the 2d day of march,
1834, inclusive, and thereafter a duty at
and after the rate of fifteen dollars the
tan. .
On bar 9r bolt iron made wholly or in
gllfipowder, and gomee, hyson and young
l'Y_5°ns ten cents the pound. On hyson
ski“ and other green, soucliong and other
black! GXC‘-ept bohea, six cents the pound,
angaon bobea, three cents the pound.
}’f‘'‘ 9“ all mamlfactures of -silk, or of‘.
V nch Slllisllilll be 8 COlnponcnt part,c01n-
ing from, beyond the cape Of Good Hope,
a duty at and after the rate of twenty d,-,1-
lars for every hundred value thereof &
on all other manufactures of silk 0; of
importation, when bound, a duty at and
after the rate of 4 cents the volume.
On all printed books ii_i Latin and Greek ’
if printed less than thirty years before the was actually worth less to us after the
time of their importation, a duty at and
after the rate of twelve and a half cents
the pound weight, when bound ; and when
unbound a duty at and after the rate of
ten cents the pound weight.
On all other printed books,if printed less
than thirty years before the time of their
importation, when bound, a duty at and
after‘ the rate of twenty-live cents the
pound weight; and when unbound, a
duty at and after the rate oftwenty cents
the pound weight. '
Sec. ‘2. And be it further enmcted,
‘Tliat, in addition to the several articles
made free of duty by the act of the 1-’1lll
ol'.luly, 1832; the following articles shall
be admitted free from duty from and after‘
tlic tlii-rd frI:1l'Cll,1833,lll{t[ is to say,co‘.ton,
wool, indigo, and printed books, in what-
ever language, ifprinted thirty years be-
fore the date oftlieir importation.
‘llth. On all articles not herein enu-
-merated, there shall be levied, collected
and paid, the lowest rate of duty, calcu-
lated upon the value ofthe article, which
would ‘have been payable on the same,
either under the act -ofthe 27th. of April,
l8lG, entitled “An act to regulate the
duties on imports and tonnage.” Such
rate of duty being calculated upon the
value of the article at the place whence
imported, estimated accordiog to the pro-
visions of this ‘act.
That so rnuchofthe 5th section of the
act of the 14th of July, 1832, entitled
“An act to alter and amend the several
acts imposing duties on imports,” as re-
peals the existing laws, requiring teas,
when imported in vessels of the U. 8.
Hope, to be weighed, marked, and cirti-
same, either under the act of the 537th of fied, be, and the same is hereby repealed.
And the residue of the said section, and
the whole of the sixth, seventh, ciglitli,
-—or by virtue of the act of the 14th of ninth, tenth eleventh, thirteenth, four
teenth, fifteenth, sixteenth, and seven-
teenth, sections ofthe said act ofthe 14th
ofJuly, 1832. be, and the same are, (lis-
continucd, in the same ln'l!lll€l' as iftliey
had been ir.sei'ted in and re—en:m.ted hy
th‘s act. ‘ 1
Sec. 4. And be it furtlicr cnactcc1.—
That the sever-1l_laws heretofore exsisting
shall extend to and be in force for the
collection and remission of all duties im-
posed by this act, and for the prosecution
and punishment of all officers the recovery
collection, distribution, and remission, of
all fines, penalties, and forfcitures, and
for the allowance ofall drawbacks hereto-
fore and hereby authorized, as fully and
effectually as if every regulation, restric
tion, prohibition, offence, fine, penalty,
forfeiture, allowance, drawback, provision
clause, matter, and thing, power, duty,
and autliority,in the several heretofore ex-
isting laws contained, had been inserted
in re-enacted, and made applicable to
this act.
Sec. 5. And be it further enacted,-
That all acts and parts of acts repug-
nant to, or inconsistent with, the provi-
sions hereof, shall be and the same are
hereby repealed : Provided always, that
all laws heretofore existing shall, never-
theless continue in full force, as far forth
only as the same may be necessary for
the prosecution and punishment of all
offences which have been or shall be
committed contrary thereto, and for the
recovery, collection, distribution, and re-
mission of all fines penalties, and forfeit-
ures which have,been or shall be incurred
under the operation thereof, and for the
allowance of all drawbacks antliorized,
accruing, or hereafter to accrue under,
them, in as full and ample a manner as
if the same ware not hereby repealed.
The following extract from an article pub-
lished in Niles’ Register and copied into the
Advocate and Journal, will be read with inter-
est at this time. It appears probable the bill
of Mr. Verplank's will pass, notivithslantlrlg
the light which has been thrown upon the
subject, and which it remains uncertain, who,
the effect ofits passage will be on South (lar-
olina. But ifsucli should be the casc-iftliosc
who it few months since voted in a spirit of
compromise to reduce the tariff as far as they
thought it consistent wkb the interests of the
whole to have it reduced, should now, before
that act has taken effect, vote for its further
reduction,it seems they will do it with docu-
mentary evidence bcfore‘them,which overturns
all the theories of Messrs. Cambreleng undM‘-
Dullie.
EFFECTS OF THE TARIFF!
VVc earnestly invite the attention of
members of Congress to the document
No. 13, of the present session, laid before
the house of representatives on the 14th
instaiit—for we fear that hardly half a
dozen of them will read and examine it,
as they should. It shews that the effect
of our protecting tariff laws surely was to
reduce the price of commodities l
This mass of testimony shews, to use
the words of Mr. S. D. Bradford, “that
nearly every article on which the duty was
raised on the 80th June [1828] rather
declined than advuncedinprico.” This,
we have oftentimes said was the
fact, as well after the tariffof 1824, as
after that of 1828. Some believed us,‘
and some did not. But .Mr.: Bradford
wlllcll Sllk '5 3 °"'“P°"°“t P31”: 3- duty at says in his statcn‘ients,tliat the“doctrinc of
and afterthe rateoftwclvedollarsandfifty Mr Niles was for once verified that
0 I , , v ’
partbyrolling,adutyzitand afterthe rate of cents for every hundred dolls.vziluc therof. laying a hitrh duty often lowers the price
5‘ K
thirty dollars the ton weight, until the 2d
day of March, l834,inclusive, and there
after a duty at and after the rate oftweu-
23. On all printed books, in other lau-
guages than Latin, Greek, or Euglisli, creases its vamp,”
' whether bound omiiilioiiiicl, ifprinted less
ty four dollars the ton :1 rovided, that ,all- than thirty years before the time of their commercial connexions are e\;tenejv(\ in
. g ' I ( , -4 A. .
Ll _
' my l'°“-99 “"9 l‘“'£-J3 "l’91'“l‘3"Ss and 0111‘ ofsuch goods -,-each because of the rival-
ry of the other, being compelled to acceptjluner in her» cabin, (when in the Levant, .~
Ofan article, and reducing the duty in-
Mr. Branford adds,
say, that nearly every article we imported
30th .lune, than in the previous year,
See. 3. And be it furtlicr c-n.actc(I.—— the notorious fact, that certain kinds of
or by virtue of the said laws, or any of bring back gold and silver, which pay no
-price was, perhaps about equally the loss
Great Britain, Russia and India; and‘
we imported freely in I828, and can truly
1827, under the old duty.” And hav
ing mentioned a heavy loss sustained on
Russian goods, he says-—“VVe may ap-
ply the same remark to broadclotlis,
flusliings plains, kerseys, vestings, sergess
flannels, and nearly every other article
on which the duty was increased." How
supremely redicnlous does this statement
make the “calculations” of Mr. Cain-
breli-.ng, and others, apcar l’
VVc '..-elicve this testimony, not only
because of the respcctabillity of those
who have presented it under oath, but
for the reason that we, also know it is
generally true. “'e said that it would
be so, in the face ofall the frightful fig-
diininislied profits. And so we might
proceed through along list of articles,
resting upon the-same principles. \Vlien
the writer ofthis was asked by a high pub-
lic functionaryn‘ in April last, with an up-
parcnt zeal to preserve the protecting sys-
wants of the government?”
tions. Begin with cotton goods.
south,”1 or words to this effect. We do
urcs of Messrs
l)uffie—-and so it was.
and easily believed that it would happen
again. And we offer this further proph-
ecy—tliut the price of several important
artielcs,tlie duty of which was reduced
by the law of last session, will ad-
vance in price before the end ofthe year
1833, if that law remains unclianged.—-
Such was the operation ofthe principle
of the laws of 1824 and 1828, as herein
stated and conclusively sliewn: yet block-
heads will insist, and fools suppose, that
duties on goods imported must needs be
taxes on consumers—notwitlistanding
cotton are sold for a less sum than the
amount of the duty payable on such goods
imported. "‘ * * f ”“
These are the chief articles named
which “rather declined than improved in
price.” Some of them materially “de-
clined.”
'\Vool, Russia goods, generally,
Broa(lclol.lis, Cotton do do.
Flushiugs, Vvorstcd do do.
liockirigs, Puddings,
Plains, Feariiauglits,
Kerse rs, Baizes,
Vestiifgs, Hosiery,
Scrgcs, Blankets,
Flaunels Molasses.
Hemp.
o
The reduction ofpricc on some of the
articles are spcciailly statcd—take the
following examples. Adrianoplc wool
was worth 14- a 15 cents previous to the
tai'iffof18‘.’.8—-but, with such cassimeres
as cost importers 160 cents per yard,
llIl(l(.l‘lllC tariff of 1824, were sold by
them for 150 a 15-5, after the passage of
the act of 1828.
There does not appear to be any sort
of exaggeration in the numerous state-
ments inade. \Vc have doubt of the 1'c-
ality of the facts generally prescuted.—
We think that the law, (probably without
design, or for the want of carc,) passed
too promtly into opcration—and do be-
the increased duty on some leading artic-
les imported, (witlicmt liaving calculated
the passage ofthe tarifflaw of 18:38) was
really paid to the importers—-not by the
the consumers ofthe goods.
\Vc know that these facts “capsize"
the entire theory of such sagacious and
figure-manufacturing men as Mr. Cam
breleiig-but we cannot help that l The
“honorable gentleman” just named, of-
fieially reported the coasting tonnage of
Great Britain at a greater sum (in fig-
ures) than is the amount of all the ton-
nage in the “whole universal world,” in-
cluding first rate ships of war and Indian
birch canoes ; and Mr. McDufiic has, in
like manner, slicwn, that the producer of
cotton loses 40 bales out of every 100
exported, in dutics—-though he might
o
duty, in exchange for his crop, if be
pleased. But according to this theory,
the planters are so very stupid that they
sacrifice 40 per cent. on the whole value
of their crops, to pamper the pride and
feed the avarice of the northern manufac-
turersl Did it never occur to Mr. Mc-
Duffie that American cotton sells, in
England, for just as mneli money as
Brazilian, East Indian, or even Brittisli
VV est Indian cotton, of the same quality’!
and this loss of 40 per cent might be a-
voided by bringing back untaxed silver,
instead of taxed cloths and calicoes 1-
It is not easyto speak of such gross mis-
representations, or palpable absurdities
in moderate terms. " "' "" ‘ * *
We do‘not teacli—we never have taught,
that increased duties must necessarily re-
duce price -though some have disingenu-
ously, or dislionestly,represented us as do-
ing 59: but this we have said,and proudly
repeat on the authority of the facts just
presented, that increased duty does not
naturally, nor necessarily, increase price
-——which is more regulated by supply
and demand than by the amount of the
impost. VVhen an increased duty incres-
es the domestic supply, or checks the con-
sumption of foreign articles, the price of
that article, may decline or advance-
“according to circumstances!” Thus, the
price of molassses was reduced in 1,828
and subsequent years, because of the ex-
cessive duty imposed in the year just giv-
en." It stopped the distilleries—and the
diminished price was the loss of planters
of Louisiana, or in the West Indles—
chiefly the latter, because that their mo-
lasses, only, we believe, was used in the
great eastern distilleries. OIL the other
hand, the reduced price of cotton goods,
for example, has been chiefly caused by
the domestic supply, and their reduced
of American and British manufactures
U-ambreleng and Me-,
\Vc knew Wlmtlniled States, (acquainted with the sub-
had happened after the tariff of 1824, :ject,) who can doubt the sobcrness of the
lieve that 51 large part, not the whole Of kers sulnnitterl to yet greater 1-educltions
not suppposc there is one man in the U-
1
(conclusion at which we arrived in res-
pect to this matte!‘ ; however extraordin-
lary it may appear to visionary free tra-
ders and warmly excited or juggling pol-
iticians. VVc knew that ourlargest cot-
‘toninanufactnrers had been, perhaps e-
lver since 1816,§ more fearful of the do-
-mestic competition than of a fair one
from abroad. \Vc knew that, for this
reason, these were rather opposed to the
tariff of 182-1, so far as it affected cotton
goods,—-and that more such were
indifferent as to the success of the bill
of 1828, with relation to their manufac-
tures ; and the fact was as they appre-
hcnded—-that sudden and great reduc-
tions iu the price ofeotton goods follow-
ed the enactment of each of these laws,
because ofthe mightily increased domes -
tic competition and supply. VVitli such
‘facts before us, there was no difficulty in
saying, tli-at a duty on cotton manufac-
tures, running into prohibition, would
reduce price. And though the profits.
of proprietors might be thereby reduced,
a much increased employment would be
gained for the working people. And so
it was in rcspcctto the primary manufac-
turers ofiron, one or two particular ar-
ticles excepted. The iron masters, in
the Harrisburg convention of July, 1827,
warmly opposed the asking for an in-
crease of duties, saying that such in-
crease would excite the home production
and reduce price I But the writer of
this resisted them---and said, that such
was the principle and object ofthe “A-
merican System ;” and -That, to preserve
the system, theyshould submit to tlieloss
they anticipated. A reduced price fol-
lowed---such hammered bar iron as had
averaged 102;} dollars per ton, at New-
York, Pliiladelpliia, &.c. in 1825, 1826
and 18:27, fell to 90in 1830, and had an
average of 80, in 1831. The present
price ofsuch iron is $85 dollars per ton.
And the English and Russian iron ma-
inprice--—such English iron as sold for
an average of lll per ton in 1825, in 18-
‘26 and 1827’ fell to Glin 1829, 1830 and
1831 ; and Russia iron [of nearly like
quality as our own] which sold for more
than 13! per ton, [in Russia] in the first
given years, fell to lll in the three last.
Can any man believe that these reduced
prices had no relation to the increased
quantity made in the United States’! And,
are not the facts stated made manifest in
the willingness with which iron makers
and cotton manufacturers submitted to a
large reduction of duty by the tariff of
1832, compared with that of 1828 '! On
bar iron, the duty has been reduced from
$22 40 per ton to $18 ;[| and on cotton
manufactures generally, from an average
of 48 5-8 per cent. to one of 42,--as es-
timated by the secretary of the treasury,
in his “comparative statement” of May
last."""*"""""'
It is then clearly demonstrated, that the
protected industry of the people of the
United States has not increased the
money price of commodities to con-
sumers. VVc care less for the cause of
this result itself. It is so——and no man
can deny it. Some say it is on ac-
count of the appreciated value of money
but this is not true: money was never
cheaper in this country than it was during
the short period of the tariff of 1828. In
the early part of the present year, the
state of Pennsylvania negotiated a heavy
loan, at five per cent, and recieved there-
on a premium of fifteen dollars and nine
cents, per cent. The price of a days la-
bor, and of every commodity, may and
will, vary-“according to circumstances ;”
but the current value of things is deter-
mined by the current uses of them ; and
the general worth of money has been
twenty per cent, less since the_ tariff of
1828, than it was in any four years before
the enactment of our protecfijiig laws. It
is impossible, then that a lessened value
of goods can have been caused by an iii-
creased value of money. Some other
cause must be found out. Vl’e ascribe it
to excited competition, which has led to
improved machinery, and enlisted the
most profound science into the sirvice of
the common arts. The millwright has
become a mathematician, the soap-boiler
is a cliemist,and the brick inakera student
in geology. Mind has been loosened by
the spirit of eompetition—and, it may be
said without a metaphor, that its advan-
ces “are wonderful in our eyes.” Of this
we have a remarkable instance in the
long and earnestly protected and highly
excited navigation of the United States.
The black cook of captain Crowninshields
barge (the famous “Cleopatra" other day)
was called from his employment of pre-
paring fowls for the spit, to calculate a
tem in all its efficiency-—.“But what would,
to the manufacturers, that the iniuimum feetions.
valuation shall be decreased five ceiits governed by ne,w-principles, ratlierinvites‘
per square yard, for ten successive years than fears the gale; and the other with
—and you will reduce the amount of a witcliery of power, steadily ascends the‘
revenue derivable from the imporation ‘finclined places” of our vast rivers, an
of such goods, while materially dimiii- sorni-:iinescoiiqnei's thctorrcnt, —rendci-'-
ishing the cost to consumers, mid secure ing the rapidly decendingwatcr subservi-
a large market for that domestic produc- cut to ascending purposes, by _lier more
tion which is the grand staple of the rapidly operating wheels.
‘or the astonislimcnt of at iargc party of
English naval officers, for whom it was
his duty also to‘ provide a dinner, being
the guests of his worthy and generous
coiiinmiider.” But such has been the pro-
gress of improvement, through competi-
-tion, that the once splendid “Cleopatra”
you do to bring down the revenue to tlieibarge would not excite extruordiiiary at-
Tlie prompt tention in these days ofmaguificent pack-
rcply was, “you must run into prohibi- et-ships and palace-like steam-vessels
Say whose beauty is yet the least of their pet'-
'l‘lie one built and fitted and
Such are the
fruits of a protected navigation. And‘
our vessels of war are the admiration and
the model of the world. .
“’c then say, fearlessly, that the re-'
duced price of manufactured articles, in
general, has been caused by the excited
competition of the United States, France,
lessened profit of English manufactur-
ers and their operatives, who have held'ae
monopoly, as it ware, of all the markets’
ofthe world. Is proof of t'lie riglitfulriess
of this proposition desired? “Te have it.‘
abundantly in the reduced prices paid for
labor in England, and the increased a-
mount of wretched beings cast into her
pauper establishments. ~
And most not cotton be subject also to
the laws of competition? Is quantity to
to liaveits affect on price? this effect cari-
not be nullified! In 1802 we exported
27 millions ofponnds, and perhaps,liard-
ly consumed 3 millions at home. In
l83'?. we shall, probably, export near 800
millions of pounds, and consume 85 or
90 millions at li'oi'ne. The quantity of
cotton grown in the United States has
been about treblcd since 1820, and the
inert-ase may even yet be computed at
100,000 balesja year cominimibus (Innis.
In 1823 the average, price of cotton was
11 ccnts—but in 182-1, a “tariff year” 15
cents : in 18:27, the price was 9 cents-
tnrifflaws then, did not injuriously affect
price. “'0 shall not say that they im-
proved it—tliough that assertion might
be sustained -by suppressing the trutli, so
often practised by our opponents! The
reason was in the greater supply—l73
millions of pounds e:-iportcd in 1823,
produced less money than 148 millions
exportedin 1824; and 294 millions ex-
ported in 1827, ware valued at one cent
per pound less, than 204 millions expor-
ted in I828---aiid298 millions being ex-
ported in 1830, the price was again re-
duced to 9 cents, the same as in 1827.-«
ltis therefore made “as clear as day-
light” that the quantity of cotton pro-
duced rcgulatcs its value in the market!
ls not this a wonderfull discovery '!—--
lf South Carolina could “nullify” the
new and rich cotton fields of Louisiana
and Alabama, no present complaint
would be made conceruinga reduced val-
ue in cotton! And we venture to say,
without the fear of "contradiction-tliat,
if Great Britain “regulated” the import
of cotton, as she regulates the. importa-
tion of flower and other provisions, and
the products of our forests and fisheries,
South Carolina would shout ten times
now shouts for “free trade ;” yet because
Great Britain freely purchases cotton,and
cotton on|y,ofiis; it is dema_ndcd,in words
of “blood and slaughter," that we shall
freely receive all the products of Great,
Britain l ii But, is it not impudent in
the Englishmen, who have taken such a.
leading part in the discussions of our
country concerning the tariff, to talkin-
from Great Britain and her dominions,
the value of $47,956,717, but she receiv-
ed of us only me amount of $35,627,789
---most of our valuable products being
as prohibitcdnby her, while her manufac-
tures are generally received at a moder-
ate duty : though in the year just given,
necessity permitted the reception of about
five millions worth of our bread stuffs!
The general balance in her favor is 10 or
12 millions a year, and yet persons have
the superlative iinpudence, on her behalf,
to rcccommend “free trade” to as i Let
them go “home” and recommend it there.
If they should succeed in inducing G. B.
to open her ports for the liberal reception
of our productions, let them come again
to us, and we ‘will liberally commune
with them. But until then, we must
consider them as being both impertinent
and dishonest men. “This is the plain
English of the matter.” Let them “rc-
,turn’~_froin whence they came”—and there
bring in to practice the doctrines which
they preach. ' " "_ * " ‘
*'l‘hese represent the wholesale prices.
-Hleing invited by that tuiictionary to the
interview and discussion. '
1'I‘licrc is far more American cotton constr-
mcd in the United States, than in any other
country, England excepted.
§Except as to printed gods, and a few other
sort.°,protected by the tariffs of L324 and 1823,
||'l‘his however was considered the lowest
point to which they could go—Wil-ll Safety 0t
their establishments. _
* * We have no proof of this fact—but it,
was so-stated at the time of Capt. C's excur-
tion that we believed it. It is not at all im-,
talents. and ample means of Capt. C‘a. ‘
fivwhen the charter of the English East
India Company shall expire. and the vast and
densly populated regions subject to that com-
pany be’ opened to individual enterprize and
capital-—-than will American cotton be taxed
in Eng. ; or if not so,only because cotton will
be produced at a muoliless money cost for
labor in the East. Indies, than in the-"U. S.
and other countries, and cheifly at the‘
in I828, alsoa tariff year 10 cents. The‘
more loudly, for restricted trade, than she.
bout “free trade 'l” In 1831, we imported. »
probable. considering the peculiar taste and A
Norwalk Chronicler