Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-09-05

Gentlemen had better be cautious how
they use the word Pittsburg, as name
of reproach; it may be like the term
whig, one of pride and not Of disgrace,
l tell the house frankly, that have not
lost sight Of the interest of Pittsburg,
and would never perjure myself if
had but the charges shall be met plain
ly, and if you are not convinced that the
interests of that place are identified with
the nation, that cut glass can be defend
ed on national grounds, then l agree,
that Piltsburg, its representative, its
favorite manufacture, and the tariff, may
so together. | will rest the whole bill
on this item, and freely admit that the
increase Of duty on glass, plain, not cat,
is among the greatest proposed. In Sc
lecting articles worthy of national pro-
lection, none are more eninently de-
serving of it than those the Jaw materials
ofwhich are of no value for expectation
the conversion of which, into articl les
for use, produces something out of no.
thing-turns into manufactures of the
greatest value and beauty, the worthless
produce of the earth-furnishes a mar
ket for the productions of the farmer,
gives employment not only 10 laboring
msn, but boys who would otherwise con-
tract habits of idleness and vice. The
foreign material bears to the manufac-
tured article the proportion of twenty
live cents TO one hundred dollars; the
rest is the product Of our own SOIL
Small quantities of ashes, and lead the
principal material, sand which is fit for
no other purpose, not even TO make
morar-stone coal, the machinery. In
the days Of our prosperity we have made
10 the amount of quarter of million
of dollars worth in year; it was so
much money extracted from the bowels
OF the earth by the labor of hundreds,
adding to the wealth and comfort of all
within the sphere Gifts action. Now we
make, | may say, none. Will gentle
men tell me, who has prohted by the
change-The farmer, the laborer, our
country, or the foreign manufacturer !?
Plain glass now pays an impost duty of
twenty per cent. it is proposed to raise
it and make it specific, ten cents pound
In England, the impost duty amounts to
prohibltion--made there, it pays for
home consumption, an excise of Ii 18S.
sterling on the 100 weight--on eXporta-
ton, there is drawback,of the excise,
and cN&tom bounty Of one pound five
shillings sterling, making in all l6 SIS.
equal 10 twenty-eisht cents : pound be-
tween the price to the consumer in Eng
land and here. Thecustom house boun-
ty alone amounts to near six cents a
pound; and from this document, taken
from the custom house in Boston, it ap-
pears that, III an invoice amounting to
1929 in value, the British bounty amounts
10 40 dollars, our import duty of 30
per cent. TO ia, leaving a clear profit Of
six dollars. With the addition of the
excise drawback ON an invoice of $50
pounds sterling, the importer, after pay
ing all export duties, freight, insurance,
commission and all charges, makes
clear profit of 5li--I1as not this article
peculiar claims on US for protection !?
The present duty is mere tax on the
consumer; it operates as no discrimi-
nation between ours and the industry of
other nations; but leaves it to struggle
against the effects oi positive premi-
UNI on importation. The proposed in
crease will not, as a protecting duty,
to more than twenty per cent.
ad valorem--on cut glass it is only pro-
posed to add FIVE per cent; the duty is
now thirty. | am aware OF objections TO
lhe duty on plain glass, and am sorry to
find them come from manufacturers,
glass cutters, net makers, but importers
Of plain glass, who are not satisfied wi.h
thirty-hve on cut glass, and represent
plain as raw material which ought to
be duty free. In Pittsburg, it is both
made and cut, and the house will Judge
who is most actuated by national princi-
pies, which plan adds most 10 the sum
wealth, industry and resources.
Gentlemen are mistaken in surprising
mine an iron making-it is an iron buy
ing, iron consuming district. The time
has been when 5000 tons were purchased
not one of which was made in
the district: but to the state of Pennsyl-
vania it is of the utmost importance--it
is her staple manufacture to the nation
the all essential article for private con-
and public defence. 1t ought
to be less interesting to us whether it re-
quires protection, whether the establish
ments for its manufacture are declining
or prosperous-7ve can and mast auh-
FLY ourselves. Every part of the union
abounds with the raw material, it is per-
e L. Il. 49,