Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1842-12-03
/. TARIFF FALLACIES EXPOSED


an editorial OF more than ordinary length,
which purports TO be review Of and re-
ply 10 our remarks Of last week in rela
,ion 10 the views entertained by the greu
body OF Tie democracy Of the country il
regard TO the policy Of protecting partic.
u'ar branches Of home enterprizc end in.
dus.ry from foreign competition by The
imposition Of high prohibitory duties up
on imports from abroad. But Tor tho pal
pnkc ialsehood with which the write.
sfls out in saying that we assume s',hai
I'll who advocate tho cause Of American
Skill aud industry in preference 10 Euro.
rean skill and industry arc FOOLS" &c
we are not certain that we should have
deemed any notice Of his article neccs
snry; made ur, as it is. oicxp;oded theo
ries, false assumptions, unwarrantadle
deductions end nonscnsical comment
That our remarks will bear no such con.
struc!ion as the Hawkcye unlairly puts
upon then, we feel certain all who under
stand the first principle of the construc-
ton Of language will admit; and we now
say, in terms that will tolerate no mis-
contraction, that none but a TOOL would
impute to them such meaning. So much
by way Of setting ourselves right before
such as have not given to the article in
question a pcrusa!; by those tina: have
it will he held to be unnecessary.
How great must be the sagaci.y that
cannot comprehend how high rate Of
duties can operate 10 the injury Of the
revenue; and yet the tlawkeyc, in 50
many words, acknowledges such to be
its situation! Hear its language: Gle
[,he Gazette] complains that the present
tariff is too high, and gel it Is no! high e.
nough, by ten millions, 10 support the gao
ernmeni." What wisdom is hero exhib-
i.ed!-what acute perception THAT in.
,ellectual acumen! The higher the rae
Of duties, says the lIawkeyc, in effect.
the greater, as a matter OF course, will
be the yield Of customs; and any other
doctrine .sinvolves an absurdity which is
by no mems satisfactorily explained by
the Gazette Tho proposition adyanc-
cd by US, TO which the Hawkcye disscnts.
is SO selr.eyident that perhaps on no tor
incr occasion has its truth ever been dis.
puted. We will not pay such an il! com
pliment to the understanding Of any of
our readers as 10 suppose that Illustration
or explanation would iurihe. eniighten
them on the subject; and the task Of con
vincing mini SO obuse and ml'dy as
that Of the editor Of the ilawkeyc, would,
we very much apprehend, be OF no easy
execution. Meanwhile, wo ndvisc him
10 ponder the subjsc, over in lis mind.
and possibly in the cn he may master
tho problem. We submit, with due def
crcncc, the following TO the mathematical
mind Of the editor: II the present tariff
operates SO as to lessen the amount OF,
foreign importations, how much more
rercnMe would be yielded under law Gu
tire1y wohibitory in its character, from
the high rates Of duties imposed?
We were going on seriously 10 notice
several Of tho falIacics contained in the
IIawkeyc's remarks, when the proceed
ings OF u large democratic. meeting at
Buckingham Court House, in Virginia,
fell under our eye. From the address
(Which is q very able one) we take the
following, than which nothing could pos
sibly be more appropriate to the subject
under discussion. As it covers the whole
ground, and dissects, with an ability to
which we make no pretsnsion, the empty
promises by which the great agricultural
Interests Of the country have for years
been bamboozled, we adopt it us our own,
aud feel that further remark would be
out Of place. The doctrines here set
forth are those Of the democrats oe the
Union.
awe utterly deny the right Of the FEEDER
al Government, TO legislatc, for the mere
heneG, of any cla.s Of laborer., and, il the
power had been granted, we would oppose
i,s exercise, because OF its tendency 10
ntu.e and mischief. The labor employed
in manufacturing, is only one elemen. of
home industry, and VIC have ,cs 10 learn
WHY Il is thni labor. thus applied. should
be encouraged by legislation, in preference
10 labor employed in agriculture. and other
pursuits. The number Of persons in the
u ni.ed States, engaged in manufac.ur-
ing, n. compared with the number EN-
ployca in agriculture, is TO ID; and not
wi,k..anding this great disparity in num-
here, The mannfac, urcrs have, by their aetiv-
i.y, combination and other expedien.s, sue.
eceded in Obtaining the ascendency. and
nre now enjoying The benefits Of law
which, under she disguise Of revenue, offers
insult, while i. inhic,s injury upon the other
classes. Why should the rights and inter
es,s Of the vast majority be sacrificed upon
the altar Of the manufacturer? Why should
fourteen tobacco planters Of Virginia. cx.
ei.c the patriotic solicitude Of Congress,