The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1844-06-01
COMMUNICATIONS.
FOR TIRE COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT.
A Protective Tariff.

is raised in nation OF a siaie, holding the
right of free discussion, it is the d uty Of ey.
cry man 10 search for ligh, on that question.
A high protective tariff has lately been
made political question in some portions
Of tie United States, snd especially ia the
state of Pennsy ylyonia. In the states OF
Maine. New Hampshire, Vermont, Massa-
chusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New
York. New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Della
ware, Maryland and Virginia, there are per
haps, at the present time between fifteen
hundr1 and two thousand incorporated man
ufacIurlng companies, with ar amount Of
hund eds or thousands Of million capital in
hundred incorporated manufacturing CON.
panies, and Massachusetts has nearly as
many more. Now il is urged by the ad
vocates Of high protective tariff, that the
interests Of the country would be greatly
enlarged by it. They urge that ii would
raise competition, and IN that event manu-
facturers would sell cheaper than they now
DO Blu, this hold 10 be blind philosophy.
For the large incorporate manufacturing
companies would swallow up the smaller
ones end would entirely drive individual
compeilion from the field, and would ena-
Bile large establishments 10 monpolise the
whole manufacturing interest. Besides
a high tariff for protection is not in the pow
er Of Congress TO grant. The constitution
of The United States says nothing that can
be construed into privilege or power Of
granting to monoPolies great favors. All
,ha, Congress has the right or The power 10
do in this matter, is 10 lay and collect i'm.
post duties for revenue TO support the gen.
eral government. They may encourage the
manufacture of such articles as are indls-
tpensably necessary for the defence Of The
country. Arms and ammunition, and such
4s are used TO equip the army and navy.
Bat we will take only single article Of
daily use, that now has a tariff of thirty per
lcent., and one which Thomas Jefferson re-
Icommended TO have admitted free of duty.
| mean the article Of salt. The salt works
IN the state of New York produce nearly
Three millions of bushels annually. This
1.-The manufacturers can afford 10 sell a! their
establishments for twelve and a half cents
san interior if6 81 BBtssfhsaa 81
perhaps a million OF bushels, which cost
; the manufacturer less than ten cents bush
lei. Now if Mr., Jefferson in one thousand
Iegbt hundred and Two thought that this
important article should be admitted free of
duty IN order lha, all classes of society
might share in the blessing, how does it
happen that The Incorporated bodies Of this
day ask for such protection "a protection
OF from thirty to fifty per cent. The farmer
and laborer now have 10 pay one dollar,
aud one dollar and twenty-five cents bush.
ell for their salt. and many Of the merchsnts
complain that they are making nothing by
retailing at that price. How, ask, can
that be, if salt can te had al SaIina for
twelve and half cents bushel ? Can
il be brought from The island of Great Bri.
tain, or any other foreign port for less mo-
'ney And when we consider tha, salt is |
one ol the most powerful manures that can
be applied 10 land, would it not be advaata.
geous 10 The country at large, that salt al
least should be admitted free Of imposl duty |
Suppose that salt could be obtained here a,
40 or so cents a bushes, and tha, bush.
els TO the acre would add as much to the 1
productive qualities of The soil as so bushels
of lime, il would be apparent TO every one,
that salt would then open large CONNER.
e'aI field, il tons where there are now onl,
bushels were carried on our canals and rail p
roads. Would it not bring a revenue TO The :,
state, and il every bushel Of salt applied az
manure, increased the productive properties o
Of The soil, would not The farmer have more Ic
bushels Of grain 10 sell to the merchant, and r
he merchant consequently have more 10
'end to foreign markets. which again would n
ring an increase Of revenue TO the state. q
But the manufacturers OF salt at Salina in Il
New York, upon The passage OF the presen, e
arlf held meeting at which o resolution "
vas nassed hV which il waa npclarfd IN | .