We have- rceived aletter of remonstrance on the opinions which
we have expressed on the proposed increase of duties on whisky. Our correspondent "feels quite assured that we canffot, consistently with the principles which we have uniformly promulgated, em an approxinaor, in the rate of duty on rum and whisky obl:, mable, when the pianter may justly contend for an equality ;-" ai ic con- cludes by calling our attentinn- to the disadvantages under which the West India interest labours, as these are unfolded in a pamphlet on the Distillery Question,* and in the West India Reporter for March.
Now, we beg to inform our correspondent, that he errs widely; if he supposes that in our remarks we have taken part against the West Indians. Quite the reverse. We have always said that no right could be stronger than the right of that class to relief from various most oppressive imposts. But these imposts affect them as producers of sugar; and any relief which they can hope to obtain by an extended sale of their rum, must in its nature he trifling, while the measure which shall secure for them a paltry advantage, may prove ruinous to the home distillers. It is at all times impolitic, without some over- ruling necessity, to tamper with the security of capital ; and we think it inexpedient, besides, to bring into hostile collision interests between which naturally there is little room for rivalry. We think that the proposed approximation to equality in the duties on home and colonial spirits ought to be resisted, because the measure will yield no adequate relief to the West Indians, and will expose the British distiller to disad- vantages by which the public is not to profit. Give the West Indians the relief to which they are most justly entitled—lessen the grinding duty on their staple product, sugar ; but let us not convert their right to have their grievances removed, into a pretext for injuring the British, producer of spirits. By doing so, we should commit a fresh error without remedying the first.
* A Letter to the Right Hon. Henry Goulburn, M.P. Chancellor of the Exchequer% from John limes, Esq. on the Claims of the West India Distiller to an Equalization or the Duties on Rum and British Spirits.
