Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-05-04
Speech OF Mr. Stewart, Of Penn.
l.a ,1uoJ o IN DEFENCE OF JHi-r
THE TARIFF AND DISTRIBUTION.
Delivered in the House Of Representative, Of The
s' g U. s., March, Is, 1874.

E1I-- b .lHT.7 tI' n Dor : T7Tr- -. -
Delivered in the House Of Representative, of The
i U. s., March, Is, 1874.
CoNCLUDED.
But, sir, IL more revenue is wanted, why
not increase the duties on Injuries con-
sumed by the rich, rather than thus strike
down the poor mans labor, and take the
bread from the mouth of his children, to
make room for the importation Of fifty
millions of dollars worth of foreign goodsl
Is this, sir, an American measure, can it
receive the support of an American Con-
gress, or the representatives of the Ameri.
can people? call on the authors of this
ruinous measure TO come forth in its de.
fence. l call on them TO assign some rea-
son for its adoption. / can readily dis
cover reasons enough why England should
desire its adoption, but they are the very
reasons why we should reject il; Just so
far as it benefits them it Injuries US; this
is a contest between foreign and American
mechanics, farmers, and manufacturers, for
the American market, and the question is,
which side shall we take? The tariff of
I242 shuts out the foreigner and gives the
Americans the market; this bill proposes
10 repeal the tariff of 1912, and give it to
the foreigner; to open our ports and again
food our country with foreign goods, and
export money by ship-loads to pay for
them; and .why2 l again ask the CON-
mittee upon what principle of national
policy this measure is sustained? IS
The Tariff Democratic--Free Trade
.Ha.svH. 9+ Mondrchical. a
Mr.. Dromgoole replied to enable bare
headed people to buy cheap hats! .
To enable bare-headed people to buy
cheap hats! Sir, let me tell the gentleman
if he carries this measure, the poor people
of this country would not only 60 bare
headed but bare-backed; they would be
doomed, like the paupers Of Europe, to 60
half fed and half clad. The tariff, sir, is
1.-The poor mans laws" it is this and this
alone that gives him employment and
wages. Just as the tariff goes down, the
wages Of labor will go down with it. Re-
peal the tariff-adopt the gentleman's ia
vorite plan of "free.trade," and you will
bring down the labor here, in every de-
partment of industry, to the level Of the
labor of the serfs and paupers of Europe.
This is certain--it is inevitable. As GER
tain as the laws Of gravitation--as inevita-
bic as that the removal of an obstruction
between two unequal bodies of water, will
reduce the one to the level of the other.
Repeal the tariff, and what is there to pre-
vent our country from being instantly in
undated with the productions of the low
priced labor Of Europe. When hatters,
shoemakers, blacksmiths and all must come
down and work as cheap as they do, OF
give up the markell With the present "a
cilities of intercourse by steamships, you
might as well attempt to establish higher
wages and higher prices on one side Of 9
street than on the other, as to establish and
sustain higher prices and wages here than
in Europe, under the delusive and Euto.
plan scheme of "free-trade." But, sir. THU
scheme would bring in its train other and
more fearful consequences. Adopt thi:
scheme, and you will soon bring down anc
degrade the now free and prosperous labor
of this country, not only to the moral, bu
to the political condition of the slaves anc
serfs Of Europe. By reducing their wa
ges, you deprive the poor man of th'
means of educating his children and fitting
them to be free. By thus depressing on
class of your people, you necessarily ele
vate another. You divide society hori
zontally into upper and lower classes
distinctions and titles uperyene--lealousie
and. finally hostilities follow, and libert.
itself is in the end swallowed upin mon
archy. Such are the political and mora
tendencies of every step in the direction o
free trade. The protective policy is there
fore democratic in its character and ten
denotes, il is a policy which promote
equality, not by depressing one class, bu
by elevating abby elevating, sustaining
and protecting the labor Of your ow
country against the ruinous and degradin
effects of too free competition with tn
low priced and depressed labor of Europe
These are views which belong to this sui
iect, and should not be overlooked or disrt
garded by those who represent the fire
labor of this country, and especially b
those who make professions Of democrat
and loue Of the people. Now is the tim
and this is the question, to test their 81
certify. Those who represent SLAVES ma
be excused, but those representing fire
men will be held to strict accountability
The duties added to the price, not true.
The great and leading objection to d
protective policy is, that the duties are q
ded TO the price, and paid by consumer
This objection lies az the foundation Of 4
opposition to this policy; and. If unfounds