The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-08-19
Read! Read!
NO " SEE WHO ARE THE FRiE.NDi
or TIE FARMER AND THE
POOR mn ".
THE Tariff Bill,

committee OF the WhO.e, TIE question pchuliS hH-
ing on Mr. BENToN's amendment to strike out the
word seren, and insert fire, in the OH line Of the
first section; which will be understood from the
following extract of that part of the first section III
which the word seven occurs:
son course wool manufactured, the value
whereof, al the last port or place whence exported
10 the United States, shall be seCen cents, or I'M
der, per pound there shall be levied duty Of five
per cenum ad valorem.
Mr. BENTON sud that on this motion, rs on all
others to be made either by hmsclf or others, he
intended TO be brief, limiting himself to the explain
atory statements which were necessary TO make
his object known. lie wished TO have his share In
the legislation of the session, and for that purpose
to offer the amendments which he deemed ncccssa-
ry to improve the character Of the hill; but he did
not wish TO delay the action Of the body, and pro-
org session already to- long. The bill before IN"
Senate was an Important one-a lax blIl OF 81
paces--and il was his rgh, and his duty to attempt
ia improve 1t. lie could not reconcile ii 10 any
srnse of duty 10 permit 81 pages of taxes to $"
Through the Senate without examination and WIN
out attending to details, and the duties on items,
in which al! practical legislation depended, The
present motion was TO reduce the minimum on WOO
from cents TO 8 cents, BY the bill, wool was
divided into two classes: above cents cost, it is 10
pay heavy duty, TO wit: 3 cents per pound, and
80 per ccn,um on the value; costing less than
cents, it is to pay but per ccnlun, which Is the
game as free.
Now the object Of the bill is revenue, aud these
rates defeat revenue: one is too high, the other tro
low. All the wool that is imported, will be 50
managed as to bring it under the I cents cost
This is proved by experience The same c'sS'll-
cation OF imported wool has been heretofore made
S cents being given in place of 7--and what was
the consequence: Why, that nine millions Of
49, ,ra;,,n ,vnnl u,nS iInnnrtul M n
value under cents, to wit, at ii cents; and
only mIIa million pounds weight above the value
of cents Thus. there was no revenue from
wool and thus it will be again. for although els.
is substituted for 8, yet the universal reduction Of
prices is greater than in that proportion; and the
result viii be the same under the minimum Of
ms offs. No revenue will be had from wool, and
I'M injury will be done TO agriculture. Wool san
agricultural product All parts Of our country
produce it, and produce all quiics Of it, and III
any quantity that the manufacturers can consume.
The argument on ihe other side is, that no wool
of this low priced kind is grown in the United
States. To which the answer might be, that Tins
bill intends there shall be none such; and for that
purpose, will take care TO keep down the home
product, by encouraging The foreign importation.
l&cn if all should be fair, and no wool actually
inported bNt that which cost less than cents stlI
there would be an interference with our domestic
wool for this item differing from the rule establish
cd for other importaions --the home valuation
takes the foreign cost for the asccr,ainmcnl Of the
value; and we know that on the coasts of Asia
Minor and in South America, the sheep Is worth
almost nothing; and the wool Is, consequently pur-
chased for mere triic If all was fair there Womb
still I've n dangerous interference with Homegrown
wool; but ali would not be fair! Good wool will
be mixed up with coarse Lew prices in foreign
ports--in Asia and South Amcrica-will be pow
ed and wool worth much more than cents the
pound will be imported at per centnnl--lnt is
10 say, free Of duly-will be imported as costing
less. This has been the case under the cents
limit, and will be under The 4; and Thus, I'M injury
will be worked both TO the revenue and Ia the AZ
ricuural interest of The country. Mr. u, shaved
that the bill contained provisions 10 countcrac
these frauds, which admitted their existence; while
the law was important 10 prevent them. The true
remedy was, TO make the limit SO low, That 1t
woud only cover the really coarse WOODS; and he
proposed J as she limit, which would effect that
object. Mr. r. said it was evidently 10 favor mnnu-
i,ctures tina, this classification of woods was made,
and nine millions of pounds admitted fee Of duty.
Now, Mr. Il said )tllc manufacturers which work.
ed up 4 domestic material stood on n very differ
ent footing from those which worked up foreign
materials The furmc. encouraged our agrcul-
,uzs; the latter discouraged it. And Of this cIarac-
Ir was the manufacture of This foreign wool. 1t
was the manufacture of foreign article; and if Ia
,' nrIa,, ~ ,,,sh ;,s.c,rc,r, nil r,oc ,o nrccsr
w. u I;o,n ;n,redc,,s cco IN dyc i,',Leu
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' 'ni W.. ", ;n,on;n,rr 'rhcrc ,ynnll ho ,n,;no
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