As we have been hitherto comparing the Value of the _Exports_ to the
twelve _malcontent_ Provinces of _North-America_, with the Value of the
Exports to _Holland_ and _Germany_; let us in the next Place consider also
the Nature of the _North-American Imports_, if compared with those of
other Countries.
Now all Imports may be divided into two Classes, viz. Raw Materials for
the Employment of our own People, and taxable Objects for the Purposes of
raising a Revenue.
In regard to the first of these,--if we should cast our Eyes on the
Imports from [10] _Russia_ only, will any one be so hardy as to maintain,
that the Imports from _North-America_ are at all on a Par with them, in
any Respect whatever? Timber, for Example, Iron, Hemp, Flax and
Flax-Seed, Linen-Yarn, Skins and Furrs, Ashes, Tallow, Hair, Bristles, &c.
&c.;--Can it be pretended, with any Appearance of Truth, that the Imports
of these Articles (taking one with another) from _North-America_, will
bear any Comparison with those from _Russia_? And yet, to the Shame and
Disgrace of an enlightened commercial State, several of these raw
Materials are taxed, if imported from _Russia_, in order to create a
Monopoly to _North-America_: And others, when imported from _America_, are
not only allowed to be entered Duty-free, which is just enough; but also
have enjoyed for many Years the Benefit of large and munificent Bounties
given by the Parliament of _Great-Britain_.--Given? To whom? To our
non-represented Colonies: For it seems they will condescend to receive
Bounties from us, tho' not represented, notwithstanding they make this
very Circumstance a Plea or Pretence against bearing any Share in our
Burdens. However, all this is not sufficient to create that Monopoly in
their Favour, which they, and their Adherents have long had in
Contemplation. For the Imports of Raw-Materials from _Russia_, which are
every Day encreasing, exceed those from _North-America_ in Goodness, in
Quantity, in Value, and in every Respect, to a very great Degree.
But I forget: "Pitch and Tar, and Indigo are also Raw-Materials of very
great Consequence: And they are imported from _North-America_, but not
from _Russia_." True: Pitch and Tar, if imported from _Russia_, would have
paid an high Duty; but when brought from _America_, they receive a very
large Bounty. And as to Indigo, had it not been for the many Hundred
Thousands of Pounds Sterling, which _Great-Britain_ has granted in
Bounties and Premiums to promote the Culture of this Article in the
_Carolinas_ and _Virginia_, [a tenth Part of which Sum would have served
for the Cultivation of a better Sort on the Coast of _Africa_] I say, had
it not been for this continual Fostering, and expensive Nursing, probably
not an Ounce of it would have been raised in _North-America_. And even as
it is, the Indigo of _Carolina_, &c. is, generally speaking, of a Quality
much inferior to that, which comes from other Countries. So much therefore
as to Raw-Materials,--and let this suffice in respect to the grateful
Returns of our Colonies towards us, for making so many impolitic
restraining Laws against ourselves, and for granting them so many
Monopolies, and such extensive Bounties.
The next Head of Enquiry is, what _taxable Objects_ do we receive from
_North-America_, if compared with the Taxables of other Countries? Mr.
BURKE asserts Page 97, 2d Edit. "That if _America_ gives us _taxable
Objects_, on which we lay our Duties here, and gives us at the same Time,
a Surplus by a foreign Sale of her Commodities to pay the Duties on these
Objects which we tax at Home, _she has performed her Part to the_ British
_Revenue_."
Well then, according to this Doctrine, we are first to suppose, that
_North-America_ supplies us with great Quantities of taxable Objects;--and
secondly that by so doing, she hath performed her Part to the _British_
Revenue; and therefore ought not to be obliged to contribute any further.
Now I am so unhappy as to differ from the patriotic Orator in both these
respects; that is, I first deny his Premises;--and then 2dly, granting
even his Premises, I cannot admit of his Conclusion. First, then I do
maintain, that _North-America_ doth not supply _Great-Britain_ with great
Quantities of taxable Objects: For perhaps hardly any civilized Country in
the World, of equal Extent, and under the same Parallels of Latitude, is
so barren in that Respect, as _North-America_.--At present, I can
recollect but two taxable Objects among all her Stores, viz. Rice and
Tobacco. In respect to Rice, I do allow that it hath been customary to tax
it; but as it is a Raw-Material, and an Article of Food, it ought never to
have been taxed. And the Legislature hath done wisely at present in
repealing that Tax, which heretofore was laid on the home Consumption of
it. The Fact is, that when Corn is dear, Rice becomes a good Succedaneum;
but when the former is cheap, the latter will not be used in any
Quantities here in _England_: For _English_ Stomachs will never prefer
Rice to Wheat. In respect to that Rice, which is carried to the rest of
_Europe_, it ought to be remembered, that it pays no Duty at all, if
exported South of Cape _Finisterre_. And as to the Duty which is retained
on the Re-exportation of Rice to the Northward of Cape _Finistere_, it is
so very trifling and inconsiderable, that it doth not deserve to be
mentioned in a general and national View.
In regard to Tobacco; I admit it to be a very proper Object of Taxation.
But here again, that which is re-exported pays but little Duty, if any at
all. And with respect to that which is used and consumed at Home, when the
many Frauds attending it, together with the Expence of collecting are
taken into the Account, the clear Balance will not be in any Degree, so
great as is vulgarly imagined.
But granting, that this Branch of the Revenue is considerable, nay that it
is _very_ considerable; yet there are a few unlucky Questions to be asked
on this Head, which it will puzzle Mr. BURKE and all his Adherents to
answer in such a Manner, as would do any Credit, or Service to their
Cause. For Example; has the _English_ Legislature done any Thing towards
favouring this _American_ Tobacco-Trade, and raising it up to its present
Height? Yes, it has; _England_ has granted a Monopoly to the _Americans_
against herself, by severely prohibiting, in several Acts of Parliament,
the Cultivation of Tobacco in _England_: So that at the worst, we have one
Remedy still in reserve, viz. the taking off this Prohibition, should the
_Americans_ be so wrathfully-minded as to resolve never to sell us any
more Tobacco. On this Ground therefore I still proceed; and as the Friends
of Mr. BURKE (if not he himself) are so very forward in exclaiming against
the Restraints and Hardships, under which they pretend, that _America_ has
so long groaned;--I ask, why are they so totally silent concerning the
many Restraints and Discouragements, which _England_ also hath long and
patiently suffered in order to enrich _America_? And where is the Candor,
or Impartiality of such a Conduct? Again,--if we have granted the
_Americans_ this Monopoly, in order to encrease their Trade, and so cause
their Provinces to flourish; what Effects hath it produced, in regard to
the Sum Total of our own Revenue? And what is the Amount of the whole Duty
on Tobacco? Is it equal to the Duties paid on the simple Article of
Tea,--or of Wines and Brandies;--or in short of mere Fruit for our
Mince-Pies, and Plumb-Puddings, for our Tables and Deserts? No, by no
Means, it is not equal to any one of these _general_ Articles: For the
Duty paid on the Importation of Fruit alone greatly surpasses it. And yet
we have granted no Monopolies, no Premiums, and no Bounties either to
_China_, or to _France_, to _Spain_, _Portugal_, _Italy_, &c. &c. nor are
these Countries, to which we have so vast a Trade, and from which we draw
so great a Revenue, ENGLISH COLONIES.
But nevertheless, I will now suppose, contrary to all Proof and Matters of
Fact, that the Revenue of the taxable Objects imported from
_North-America_, was the greatest of all others;--what Inference is to be
drawn from this Concession? And doth it at all follow from such Premises,
that the _North-Americans_ must, or ought to enjoy all the Privileges of
_Englishmen_, without contributing any Thing towards the general Support,
merely because we carry on an advantageous Trade with them, or have raised
a Tax on their Commodities? Surely no: For by the same Rule, we must unite
and incorporate with, we must protect and defend, the _Chinese_, the
_French_, the _Spaniards_, _Portuguese_, _Italians_, &c. &c. for the same
Reasons, and on the same Account. A Proposition this, which is too big
with Nonsense and Absurdity, to be seriously maintained.
I will therefore dismiss the present Remark, with putting my Reader again
in Mind, that let the Trade to _North-America_ be what it may, of little
Importance, or otherwise; it is a mere begging the Question, and a most
_disingenuous Artifice_ to insinuate (as all the Advocates for _America_
now do) that this Trade will be lost, if a Separation from the Colonies
should ensue. On the contrary, it is much more probable, that, when all
Parties shall be left at full Liberty to do as they please, our
_North-American_ Trade will rather be encreased, than diminished by such a
Measure. Because it is Freedom, and not Confinement, or Monopoly, which
encreases Trade. And sure I am that, on this Subject, History and past
Experience, as well as Reason and Argument, are clearly on my Side.