Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1840-03-26

How rapid the rise just as the weights
are removed! The increase, since the
great reduction 10 1888, has nearly doub-
led the average exports. compared with
the average of the seven tariff years pre-
ceeding 1881, and would have quite dou-
bled them, had not the expanded and de-
ranged condition Of the currency, and the
consequent embarrassment of commerce,
prevented it.
But what will appear still more extra
ordinary TO those who have not reflected
on the operation of the protective system,
is the great increase of the exports Of our
domestic manufactures, as the duties 60 of,
following, in that respect, the same law
that regulates the exports of The great ag-
ricultural staples. 1t is a precious fact,
that speaks volumes, aud which demands
the serious consideration of the manufac-
turing portion of The Union. well re-
member the sanguine expectations Of the
friends OF the system, Of The great increase
of the exports of domestic manufactures
which they believed would follow the tariff
Of 1928. Well, we now have the result Of
experience, under that act, and also under
that Of Q partial approach 10 free trade,
and the result is exactly the reverse Of
the anticipations of the friends and advo-
Gates ofprolection. Sn fa- from increasing,
under the tariff Of 1928. the exports of
manufactured articles actually diminished,
while they have rapidly increased just as
they have gone off.
But the table Of exports shall speak for
itself. During the four years, under the
tariff Of "a. that is from that year to '29,
when the tariff of '2s went irto operation,
the exports of domestic manufactures grad
ually declined from S5,729,797, in the
year '25, to S5,54e,354 in the year %.
From that time it steadily declined, under
the tariff of '2S, each succeeding year
showing falling off compared with the
preceding, till '33, declining, throughout,
the period, from S5,412,320 in '29. 10 SIS,
$50, 633 in '32, and showing an aggregate
falling of, during the whole tariff regime
of eight years, from '25 to '32, of nearly
S700,O00. At this point, we enter on The
relaxation of the system, and there has
been an onward move, with but little vibra-
lion, throughout the whole period, till the
present time. The last year we have is
'36, when the exports exceeded any pre-
,cediug year. They amounted TO S.,
397,07S, being an increase, during the six
years Of the reduction of duties, Of So, ,346,
445, against falling off, in the preceding
eight years of protection, Of 500, ,000-an
increase of 65 per cent, in six years, aud
this in the midst Of all the embarrassment
of commerce, and expansion and derauee-
ment Of the currency, aud, let me add,
what has been so much dreaded by the
friend ofmanufactures, OF the mighty increase
ofthc exports ofour great agricultural sta
piles, during the same period; clare proof
that, under :hc free trade system, the one
does moi interfere with the other. Let no
friend of manufactures suppose that this
interesting result is accidental. 1t is The
operation ofixed laws, steady, and immu-
table in their course, as | shall hereafter
show.
Now, sir, feel myself, with these facts,
warranted in asserting that if the deranged
stale of the currency had not inter(ered,
the great manufacturing interest would
have gone on iu flourishing condition
during the whole period Of The reduction
under The compromise act, proving there
by, TO The satisfaction of all, the falIacy of
the protective system. Any supposed loss,
from the reduction of duties, would h ave
been much more than made up by the in
creased ability Of the South and West to
consume, and the rapidly growing impor-
tance Of the foreign market.
But I have not yet done with the system.
It has additional and heavy sins to answer
for. The Tariff of 1928 is The source in
which has originated that very derange.
n1ent Of the CURRENCY, which has so greatly