The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-01-04

for special interests, and for particular sections;
and this he regarded as their great merit.
TREASURY REPoRT.-We publish that part
OF the Secretary's report which relates to the
Tariff. 1t is true American document, and
EXHIBITS the arguments in favor of protection
IN clear and convincing manner. lie de-
cares plainly and independently his conyic-
ZION That The compromise act of 1898 is near.
~ imPractlcable, from the impossibilitv Of 90.
tabllshing uniform home valuation D..
even if this difficulty were removed bo o.
siders uniform 20 per cent advalorem dut;o.
as permanent system, as unwise and absurd
IN the extreme. Although he discards the
idea of imposing duties for the purpose of pro-
lection merely, yet in raising revenue dis
examinations should be made for the encour-
agement OF home industry, which he urges as
principle recognized from the com,,onoo.
ment OF the government, As the object of the
compromise bill was conservative to the ;n,er
ests OF every section of the Union, the Sec.
rotary would not change it. Still the altered
circumstances of the country since its adop-
non might induce change in the measures
required to carry out its principles. The sec.
rotary discards the pretence of Southern poi
iticians, that the augmentation of duties aug.
ments IN an equal degree the cost of the arti-
Gle to the consumer, and even asserts that !.
often dmInishes the price in our market, so
that the burden Of reduction often falls wholly
upon the manufacturers. As this pretenco
that an addition TO duty is at the expensc IF
the consumer, Is an old saw Of locofocoism,
we will venture few remarks of our own I'D
on the subject. Such result might be OK.
Perienced for a short time; but the stimulus Of
Protection to the home manufacture, & the in
creased facilities which would soon be deyeI.
oPed, would fill the market, and consequently
reduce the price even far below what it was
when foreigners had the sole possession of it.
This proved most undeniably to be the fact in
relation TO cotton goods, with which the Brit
ism entirely supplied us previous to the tariff
ct 1916. They are now more than as cheap
again, and Of better quality than they were
previous to that period. The same may be
said in relation to woollens, TO a great extent.
a multitude of facts evincing the correctness
of our views ON this subject, may be drawn
from the writings of Hezekiah Niles in his
Register, and the speeches Of members Of
{ or A.,
truth of our remarks, let us suppose all the
cotton and WOODEN manufac. uros OF the couu>
try were at once annihilated, and we were
again to depend upon Britain fer our supplies.
Would not the price be doubled instantly, and
ever after remain greatly enhanced! And
What, under such circumstances would be the
price Of agricultural products, deprived as thew
would be Of home market, and prohibited
from every oiherl
Bat we viii, for tie sake Of the argument,
admit that the duty operates as addition TO
the price of the article to the consumer. If
the farmer in consequence Of better home
market, gets much better price fer his flour
and wool, the mechanic for his wares, tho
working man for his wages, all classes in COM
munity are at once placed in a more prosper
Gus condition. If the farmer can obtain coat
for ten bushels Of wheat, which before cost
him twenty, he can well afford the small al.
vance on the price Of the home manufacture,
which in consequence Of increasing skill and
newly invented facilities, will soon be cheap
encd, and eventually afforded at a less price
than the original cost of the imported fabrick.
This experience has already taught US.
EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT.
But it is highly proper to look at the circum-
stances which led 10 the passage of the act OF
1888, and TO regard the motives in which it ap-
pears to have had its origin. |, was the result
of compromise and Cancellation at time when
considerable agitation existed and much diver
siiy of opinion prevailed. Ifevents shall aP-
pear to make it necessary to reconsider or re-
adjust the provisions ofthat laval proceedings
towards that end should be conducted under
the influence of the same spirit. The under
signed is most deeply impressed with the force
of these convictions, while offering suggestions
TO Congress on the subject. He is cOnstran-
ed to admit that it has appeared to him that
the interestso of the country required some mod
ification of the act of 1888. In support of his
opinion, he would first mention the great, If
not insurmountable difficulties of establishing
a home valuation at our various ports, without
mourning the risk of producing such diversity
in the estimates Of value as should not only
lead to great practical Inconvenience, but, in
terfere also, in effect, with the constitutional
provision, that duties on imports shall be equal
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