The North Carolinian

Mr. Bayne:—

My reply to the Editorial remarks of the "Fayetteville Observer" of the 12th of July, was prepared in a hurried manner, and was not as full as I could have wished; since which time, however, I have examined the "documents" and propose to take up the subject of which in my table of comparisons are charged as paying a tax of $1 25 per pair, they cost $2 50 or $3 per pair—that is, the duty is what is styled in mercantile parlance, specific.

I propose to argue the case dispassionately, and must request the Editor of the "Fayetteville Observer" to keep his temper, for "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit greater than he that taketh a city." He has an undisputed right to publish his sentiments and opinions, provided he conforms to truth and decency, but in his reply to my first article headed "Comparisons are odious" he violates both. He writes with a proposed design of exposing the "rankest falsehoods and "deliberate fraud " which he charges are so frequent in that communication, and I think before I am done with the "Editor" his friends will acknowledge that "the boot is on the other leg."

The friends of free trade and of a revenue tariff have no objection to the minutest disquisition; contradiction and disputation like the collision of flint and steel often strike out new light; this is what the people want, which I intend they shall have, and propose to present it in a way they will easily comprehend.

The Tariff act of 1842 has the following title:—"Public No. 69. An act to provide revenue from imports and to change and modify existing laws imposing duties on imports and for other purposes."

The 5th section is in these words:

"And be it further enacted, That from and after the passage of this act, there shall be levied, collected, and paid, on the importation of the articles hereinafter mentioned, the following duties: that is to say:"

In the 6th article of the above section I find, "On men's boots and bootees of leather, wholly, or partially manufactured, one dollar and twenty-five cents per pair."

Here is the authority taken from the law of Congress itself, imposing the duty. But the "Fayetteville Observer" sneeringly asks in allusion to the table of "Comparisons" which appears so "odious" to him, "does not the poor man know this to be false, from the fact, that if he was to find the leather, he could not get a pair of common boots made for $1 25? and yet he is told that boots which are sold to him for $2 50 have paid a tax of $1 25, leaving only $1 25 to pay for leather, making, profit of merchant, &c. &c. The thing is so preposterous that surely even the log cabin man cannot swallow that." I here take occasion to say, before I proceed any further, that the charge was made as distinctly as it was possible for language to do it, that the boots cost $2 50 and $3 per pair, on which the duty of $1 25 per pair is paid, and the context will prove it. And what is the fact?—Log cabin men, I address you, I am a plain democrat, and any assertion that I have made I will prove. I beg your attention for a short time, while I examine an "official" statement. (House of Representatives, document No. 273, July 20, 1842, page 110.)

It is a "general statement of goods, wares, and merchandise of the growth, produce, and manufactures of foreign countries imported into the United States; commencing on the 1st October, 1840, and ending on the 1st of September, 1841."

BOOTS AND BOOTEES.

7799 [$24,707]

Here is presented, at a single glance, the important fact, that in one year there were imported into the United States 7799 pair of "boots and bootees," the aggregate value of which was $24,707. The average price per pair is $3 16.

But what is the value at the place "whence imported"?

Hanse towns and other ports

The lowest price then, at the place "whence imported," viz: The Hanse towns and other ports of Germany is only $1 24, (one dollar and twenty-four cents) per pair!!!

"Facts are stubborn things," "figures can't lie," and "comparisons are odious."

Now, if the sapient and erudite editor of the "Fayetteville Observer" can get over this document, he will have to do what "figures can't" do. He asserts that you, "the Carolinian tells the poor man that he pays $1 25 tax on a pair of coarse boots worth only $2 50 a pair.

Does not the poor man know this to be false, from the fact, that if he were to find the leather, he could not get a pair of common boots made for $1 25?

+This document I have left at the Office of the Carolinian, open to the inspection of any person, and I court an investigation, it presents many facts, astounding facts."

Whenc Imported,	No. pair.	Value.
Danish West Indies,	4	10
Hanse towns & other ports of
Germany,	819	1020
Holland,	111	324
England,	412	1185
Scotland,	36	60
British West Indies,	18	34
France on the Atlantic,	6370	2203
Do	12	49
Italy,	5	07
Trieste and other Austrian
Adriatic ports,	3	09

of Germany,	$1 24 per pair
Italy,	1 40 do
Scotland,	1 66 do
British West Indies,	1 SS do
Danish West Indies,	2 50 do
England,	2 87 do
Holland,	2 91 do
Trieste and other Austrian ad-i-

atic ports,	3	00	do
France on the Atlantic,	3	28	do
Do. “” Mediterranean, 4	0	0	do

the leather, he could not get a pair of coarse boots made for $1 25? and yet he is told that boots which are sold to him for $2 50 have paid a tax of $1 25, leaving only $1 25 to pay for leather, making, profit of merchant, &c." Had you ever made this assertion it is strictly true, but your correspondent deemed it most prudent to take a medium price, and selected $2 50 as the cost of low priced boots in England, Holland, and France, and which are imported largely into the United States; fortunately, he is well acquainted with the twistings, turnings and tergiversations of a federal whig, and this knowledge operated upon him in selecting $2 50 and not $1 25 per pair. He was well aware of their strong propensity to grasp at a shadow and was determined to leave them no loop to hang on: like drowning men, they catch at straws, and would have sworn lustily that it was the "bootees" and not the "boots" which cost $1 25 per pair. They can take either horn of the dilemma "boots or bootees."

Here I close the case, having submitted my testimony which is documentary. I think I may safely ask a verdict. The opponents of free trade; through their organs, among whom the "Fayetteville Observer" stands conspicuous, (and with a very good reason, but not with a very good grace--for

"If self, the wavering balance shake,
It's rarely right adjusted,")

tell you they are in favor of a tariff: a revenue tariff!! indeed a tariff for protection!!! and no republican can dare raise his voice in favor of "equal rights and equal laws" without being assailed by the whole pack, "Tray, Blanche, and Sweetheart, little dogs and all."

No republican must dare touch the tariff act of 1842, and present it in such a shape that the people can understand it; no republican can present its great injustice by comparisons of the operation of specific duties on articles used by the rich and the poor, the high and the low, without drawing on his head a tirade of abuse. But this shall not deter me from exposing Federal whiggery, it urges me on, and where blows fall thickest there will I be found contending for truth and justice.

"Lay on Macduff; and damned be he who first cries hold, enough."

JUSTICE.