Neil,
Quote:
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Originally Posted by unionblue Now why do you suppose none who lean to the idea that the Morril Tariff was that all-increasing tariff that brought on the Civil War if none of the facts support that contention? |
CAUTION: The following post will put you to sleep!
Well, not
all of the facts are in, which is why I'd like to see more examples of normal prices in US dollars for goods in 1860. The more we can compare, the better we can become familiar with the actual act and the less ground there will be for those who want to stand on myth, one way or the other.
In FY 1860, the following seven articles brought in 75% of tariff revenues:
sugar/molasses.................16.14%
manufactures wool.............15.11%
manufactures cotton..........13.19%
manufacturessilk...............12.03%
manufactures iron/steel.......8.96%
wines/spirits......................6.15%
cigars/tobacco...................3.23%
Total revenues collected......$ 53,979,570
If we consider the importance of tariffs according to the money they raised, then the above list should be our starting point. I have already covered sugar, the largest single origin of revenues, and certainly an item bought by all Americans. The 1861 tariff act actually lowered the rate of tax slightly on it. No foul here, except to Lousiana.
Wool manufactures were taxed at 24%, 19% and 15%nder the 1857 act, and according to Senator Gwin (CA) 2/3 of imports were at the 24% level [manufactures of wool] and most of the remainder at the 19% level [yarn]. In order to compare these with the 1861 act, we not only need to know 1860 prices for wool manufactures, but how much they weighed too. Some examples:
item......................1846 duty.........1857 duty..............1861 duty
Cloths, shawls...........30%..................24%......... ......$.12/lb + 25%
Flannel < $.30/yd2.....25%..................24%.................. ...25%
Flannel > $.30/yd2.....25%..................24%.................. ...30%
Yarn $.50 - $1.00/lb...25%..................19%...............$.12/lb + 15%
Yarn > $1.00/lb..........25%..................19%.............. $.12/lb + 25%
Clothing....................30%..................2 4%..............$.12/lb + 25%
Oil Cloths..................30%..................24%.. ....................30%
Delanies....................30%..................2 4%......................25%
Buntings....................30%.................24 %......................30%
Raw wool:
...." @$.15/lb............$.045...............free............ ........free
...." @ $.18/lb...........$.054...............free............. .......$.03
...." @$.24/lb............$.072...............$.058........... .......$.03
...." @ $.30/lb...........$.09.................$.072........... .......$.09
...." @ $.40/lb...........$.12.................$.096........... .......$.09
The Historical Statistics of the US lists "Ohio, Fine Fleeced, Scoured" wool at the Boston market as $1.025/lb. If this were used in comparing duties, it would have brought $.31/lb in duties under the 1846 act, $.25/lb under the 1857, and still only $.09/lb under the 1861 act. However, since I cannot compare "Ohio, Fine Fleeced, Scoured" with any particular imported wool, I have to consider it inapplicable. Furthermore, reciprocity agreements with Canada make much of the tariff on imported wool seem rather irrelevant.
Taussig does say that the "most important changes made by the act of 1861 were in the increased duties on iron and wool, by which it was hoped to attach to the Republican party Pennsylvania and some of the Western states." (He then wrote "Most of the manufacturing states at this time still stood aloof from the movement toward higher rates.") This would indicate a higher incidence of protection for wool growers. But further reading shows a wool industry that is using domestic wool for the vast bulk of its manufacturing, so the real importance of wool tariffs again appears questionable.
As an issue with the South though, I fail to see how either wool manufactures, yarn, carpet, or raw wool would have been any more significant to them as compared to any other region, and in fact it would seem much less important. I surely hope the South didn't secede over wool delanies and buntings.
Cedarstripper
"After having enjoyed protection to the extent of from 15 to 200 per cent. upon their entire business for above thirty years, the act of 1846 was passed. It avoided sudden change, but the principle was settled, and free trade, low duties, and economy in public expenditures was the verdict of the American people." Georgia Declaration of Causes
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