The Substitute proposed by its Adversaries. 3 valorem, or three dollars for every ten dollars’ foreign cost of the goods. Other descriptions of carpeting are thirty, per cent, under the present Tariff, and no change on them is proposed. [Tne reader is requested to note the rule by which the duties are levied on Carpeting under the existing Tariff, and judge of the correctness of the assertion that this Tariff taxes ihe inferior articles used by persons in moderate circumstances systematically higher than the more costly luxuries of the Rich. Wretched and insulting to the popular understanding as such assertions are, they are not without effect on the less informed and uninquiring.] Woolen blankets of a prescribed size, not costing over seventy-five cents each, are admitted by the present Tariff at fifteen per cent, and all other Woolen blankets at twenty-five per cent. This is so changed by the new bill that all Woolen blankets costing less than seventy-five cents are to be admitted at ten per cent, on their value. [It is easy to see that, as no restriction of size or shape is here made, nothing given but the name to tell what are ‘ Woolen blankets’ and what are not, here is a hole opened to let in almost any thing Woolen under this extremely low duty.]' Woolen and Worsted yarn now pay thirty per cent. The new bill reduces Woolen to twenty-five and Worsted to twenty per cent. Woolen and Worsted Hosiery—Stockings, Socks, Drawers, Mitts, Caps, Gloves, &c.—now pay thirty per cent, and are to be reduced to twenty per cent. Coach Laces are to be reduced from thirty-five to thirty per cent. Flannels now pay fourteen cents per square yard, which the new bill reduces to thirty per cent. Ready-made Clothing now pays fifty per cent, which is proposed to be reduced to thirty per cent Articles imported in a state to be worn, but not made up by hand, which are now taxed forty per cent, are also to be reduced to thirty per cent. Cotton Laces, &c. &c. not made up into dresses, are to be taxed twenty per cent., laces, galloons, tresses, tassels, knots and stars of gold or silver being considered materials for clothing rather than manufactured articles, are now charged but fifteen percent. While made-up Clothing embroidered with gold or silver is taxed fifty per cent. The former are left unchanged, while the latter is reduced to thirty per cent. III. * Incidental' Protection Illustrated. Such are the provisions of the first or Woolen section of the two rival Tariffs. The present Tariff has two objects, which are consistently pursued; first, to protect efficiently the growing of Wool and the production of Woolen fabrics by our own people; secondly, to admit such Wool or Woolens as do net come in competition with our own at the lowest rates. To this end the cheap, coarse, indifferent Wool procured from the vast flocks of sheep which run at large over the great plains of Buenos Ayres, New-Holland, &c. and may be purchased for less than seven cents a pound, is admitted at the low rate of five per cent, because a duty of a hundred per cent, would not justify our own people in producing an article answering to this, and would only tend to give British manufacturers a great advantageover ours in supplying our own, markets. Corresponding with this, the coarse fabric known as ‘ Woolen blankets,’ costing less (for the prescribed size) than seventy five cents each, and used mainly as clothing and bedding for slaves, is admitted at a duty of fifteen per cent. Here is a very moderate discrimination of ten per cent, in favor of the American manufacturer. But the proposed Tariff actually discriminates the other way. charging the raw material fifteen per cent, and the manufactured fabric ten per cent. This, we must suppose, is what the Free Traders consider ' Incidental Protection !' Of course, it will be utterly impossible lor our manufacturers to go on making tfos description of goods, with a discrimination of five per cent, against them, so that they must pay more duty on the wool (which is all imported) than their foreign rivals in our markets pay on their goods. Is this just? Is it politic ? Can any man imagine a reason why we should give British manufacturers five per cent, ad vantage^ ver our own in the production of a rude, cheap and necessary fabric for our own markets ? This is not a single instance, by any means. The common fulled cloth, kerseys, &c. are charged but twenty per cent, duty, while the raw wool is taxed thirty per cent.—so with every description of Hosiery—Stockings, Socks, Drawers, Shirts, Mits, Caps. &c. which are charged but twenty per cent, while the raw material is taxed thirty, and Yarn twenty-five. Here is a regular gradation of discriminations against American and in favor of British manufactures—the raw material being taxed thirty per cent, the partial manufacture twent.y.five, but if it be wholly made up into plain cloths, or any description of Hosiery, the duty is to be but twenty per cent.! How can this be justified ? What end does it contemplate ? If these States were still British Colonies, and this were an act of the British Parliament regulating the intercourse between the mother Country and the Colonies, we could understand it, for it is precisely like much of the legislation of that Parlia- mentwith regard to us during our Colonial dependence, when Lord Chatham declared it the fixed policy of the British Parliament that not even a hob-nail should be manufactured in America ; but as an act of an American Congress, such legisla’ion is unaccountable. Here are the descriptions of goods mostnecessary and common among us so taxed that our supplies must inevitably be derived from British factories, while our own are closed and dismantled. If the authors of this measure expect to receive eight dollars a day for their services, they ought in common fairness to send in their bill to those whose inter, ests they are promoting, and not tax it on the American People. IV. How the Wool-Growers and Farmers are affected. And here let me expose the fraud which this bill practices upon the Wool-Growers of our Country: Tney are virtually told, ‘ You have thirty per cent.. protection on Wool, and that ought to satisfy yen.’—But what is thirty per cent, on Wool good for, if Woolens are to be let m extensively at ten, twenty, and any kind of Woolen Yarn at twenty-five per cent. ? Surely, our Wool-growers must know that every pound of wool imported pi the shape of woolen cloths or hosiery supplies the place of a pound of Wool grown in this country—-that every yard of Woolens imported interferes with and restricts their
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=