The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-04-26
From The Shield and BGnner.
THE TARIFF.


A farmer in the Loran Republican, thus shows
up the operations OF the present high tariff upon
articles in common daily use by the farmer We
are glad to see that this hard working and intelli-
gent portion of community are beginning to inquire
whether it be in accordance with the doctrine Of
equal rights that they are taxed upon almost sve9
ry thing to enrich the lordly manufacturing monop-
lies of the New England States.
MY EXPERIENCE.
Wishing to illustrate the effects of the late tariff
more fully, have brought up Two or three exam
pies within my own experience. Let the people
read them, and then judge whether the tariff bene
fits us farmers.
/ had the wood work for double wagon which
/ wished 10 use on the farm. Ipurchas0d the iroif
of one of our merchants, and paid in wheat. 1t
took $40 lbs. of iron, which, at 3-4 pence,
amounted to $40, ,00--or 81 l-2 bushels of wheat
After getting home had the curiosity to see how
much had paid by way of prOtecti.n The result
was as follows:
Whole cost as above, $4,000
Tax IA cents per ID. 4,25
Whole cost without tax, $l5,75
My wheat brought 65 cents per bushel, and it
will be seen that it took SIX BUSHELS AND A
HALF to pay the protection upon the iron! Ihad
to work and raise six bushels and half of wheat
to pay for what is called protection! Who is pro-
ected by these heavy taxes: Not |, certainly, for
the system has ground me to the earth. Not the
government, for the heavy duty has prohibited,
importation, and no duty is levied upon iron that
is not imported. Who then receives the money
that is drawn from the people under the name of
protecton' 1t is the capitalists who have invest
ed their funds in iron speculations. Now is there
any justice in protecting these nabobs at the exi
pense of poor, hard working. .men' Arelthey not
as well able to protect themselves as we are?
Save us from such protection, and the labor of
our hands will enable US to support our families in
independence and comfort 1t behooves every
laboring man to look into this .'prote:ton," and
see how much they can bear. Who shall calculate
how much the people of Lorain county pay annu-
ally for protection, which is the same to them as
if it were sunk in the sea- How long win meIi
voluntarily shut their eyes and allow themselves
to be feeced'
I But farther. AT the same time boushtsouae
trace chains log chain, and several other articles,
amounting to about 100 lbs The tariff tax on
such articles is l-2 cents per lb. and in this case
had to pay $4,O7, or over sir bushels more Of
! my wheat for protection ~
Agaln.--I had poor luck in making sugar last
! year, and was compelled to buy. | went to the
store and bought "a pounds, the price of which
was $2,OO,--the duty being 1-2 cents per ib.
had to pay sixty cents this trade for projections
On apiece of cotton cloth which purchased
about the same time paid 81 ,2s for protection! !!
l might go through long Catalogue of such cases,
but it is unnecessary. From careful estimate
am satisfied that my family pays full SIS, 90 year
for the protection of capitalists and companies
that have never be le6tted us farthing. So it is
with every family in the county. Suppose there
are in this county $500 families, and on the ave-
rage they purchase each $75 90 worth of manufac-
tured goods annually This (Which is very low
estimate) would make for the whole, $lS7 500.
The tariff duties on this sum will average at feass
10 per cent amounting in all to $2s ,l25, paid by
Lorain alone for protection! Has this any thing
| to do with our hard times?
Mr.. Editor, it has always been wonder to mo
that the laboring men do not rise up against tins
iniquitous "protection" system, and make their
voices heard. Their pockets are drained, the
fruits of their toll is taken from them, and yet they
tamely slick the hand that's raised to shed theft
blood" Farmers, wake up! wake up.
PIo NEER
STRONG HORsE-A New ENGLAND far,na r