om,
x) THE IMPORTS COMMITIEE. 235

Other. articles paid duty as mmenumerated. In some cases
the duties levied were simple and comprehensive ; in others
they fell into vexations acd embarrassing details. The tariff
often aimed at incompatible ends. A. duty was imposed
both for revenue and protection, and then was pitched so
high for the sake of protection 2s to produce little or nothing
bo tevenue, A great variety of particular interests were
Protected, to the detriment of the public income, as well as
of commercial intercourse with other countries. The same
Preference was extended by means of discriminating duties
fo the produce of the colonies ; great advantages were given
bo the colonia] interests at the expense of the consumers in
the mother country.
It was pointed out that the effect of prohibitory duties
Was to impose on the consumer an indirect tax often equal
to the whole difference of price between the British article
and the foreign article which the duty kept out. On articles
of food alone the amount taken in this way from the con-Sumer
 exceeded the amonat of all the other taxes levied by
the Government. The sacrifices of the community did not
ond here, but were accompanied by injurious effects upon
Wages and capital. The duties diminished greatly the productive
 powers of the country; and they limited our brade.
The action of duties which were not prohibitory, bub only
Protective, was of a similar kind. They imposed upou
the consumer a tax equal to the amount of the duty
levieg on the foreign article; but it was a tax which
Went not, to the public treasury, but to the protected manufacturer,

Bvidence was taken to show that the protective system
a8 not on the whole beneficial to the protected manufactures
theme] veg, The amount of duties levied on the plea of
Protection to British manufactures did not exceed half a
Willion, sterling, Some even of the manufacturers supposed

1842,

Alt, 38. |