Litchfield enquirer., 1844-02-15
SPEECH OF MIR. HUNTINGTON, bs hhe U. s. Senate, JMayck 21st 1s42.
ExTKACTs.-coNCLUDED.

ExTRACTs.-coNCLUDED.
 l First. This protection is demanded, because ouu
 labor is our chief capital and the only reliable foun dation of our national prosperity. Take away the
 ncentiveto industry by withdrawing from it's just reward, and it ceases to be exerted to any consid erable extent-only sufficient to supply the imme- 1 diate and pressing wants of animal nature. With relaxation of industry, there ceases to be an accu mutation of property, and all the evils flowing from ! an impoverished population will follow. To pre- vent such results is paramount duty of every free Government.
 Second. By afEording this protection all classes of our citizens are benefited. The price of labor, it is we'll known, materially governs the price of the products of agriculture and in proportion to tho reward which labor receives is the ability of the laboier of class, to purchase the products of the labor of another class, increased or diminish ed. This is we'll illustrated in the case of manu- featuring and agricultural labor If manufactures products is lessened because the ability to purchase is lessened. Ifthey are in fouTishing condition, these products command higher price, and more ready market. The one is dependent upon the other and this mutual dependence requires mutual aid and protection, which, if suitably af- forded. operates most benefcialy upon all classes by increasing both the amount and value of the labor ofall. Indeed, the capitalist is dependent upon this very protection to labor, to enable him to prosecute his business with success, or to receive just compensation for the use of his capital. Re- duced rents, suspension of business and unemploy. ed capital sure to follow in the train of unpro tected labor and reduced wages
 Third. This protection will enable consumers of articles, and especially those whose principal val ue consists in labor and skill, to obtain them at lower prices than il the monopoly of the American market were given to the foreigner, as 1t would be, if our labor were left to compete with the pauper labor and overgrown capital of other countries.- A If ho ofthis position. A few will however, suffice and use the language of others in stating them !" Previous to lsl2, large amount of cotton goods was imported to this country from the East Indies. At the conclusion of the war, when a revision of duties took place, the cotton planters urged upon Congress that sufficient duty should be retrnin. ed upon cotton manufactures, east of the Cape of Good Hope, to favor the growers of American cot ton. This was done, and the effect was, in some degree, to stimulate our own manufactures of the coarser descriptions of cotton, although the great benefit of the measure was felt by Great Britain But it was followed by so great fall in price, that we have become exporters to the East Indies, in. stead of importers of this important article" This is but single instance of the effect produced in lowering the price of the articles to the consumer by the protection of our domestic industry. What would have been the price of manufactured cotton goods to the citizens of the United States, had they remained dependent upon foreigners for supply And the amount which has been saved to them, by the substitution of similar goods of our own manufacture, is great-almost beyond computa- tion. . .. .......s
 Cut nails, in 1892, were sold at sa0 l-2 cents per lb. The range of price for American cut nails, during 1880, 1sl0, and lsll, has been from l-2 to ! l.2 cents per lb.
 "Thc American cut nail being superior in quality and workmanship to the foreign nail"
 7" Wrought spskss Gar ship and boat builders, in 1922, sold et 70 3 t2 cents 1889, lslO, and lsll, has been from 6 too cents per b." to the English spike" ..
 . The different grades of iron have undergone the same change; and taking the whole range of iron, that in lS32 was quoted from SSllO to $9Oo per ton the price now ranges from $S5 to sl43 per ion while it is conceded that the best quality ot American iron, cast wrought, is superior to the best qualities of foreign iron of all grades except ing only perhaps Russian sable." " The price of American hemlock sole-leather, in 1929, was about 25 to 30 cents per lb"
 "The price of inspected, good, in lsl0 and ls4l' was about IS 3-1 cents per lb" :. The price of American waxed calf skins, in 1922, was about $1 to $1 l5 per lb." | " The range of prices for the same article' m 1899, ls4O, and lsll was about 50 90 cents per lb." ...,., ,......
 |" And the average price of domestic skins was 10 uer cent less before the graded reduction of du- ties commenced than they have averaged since, while the foreign skin is now imported, Of an in- feror quality to those then imported, and sold at | prices equally as high as then"
 The same causes have reduced the prices of a great variety of other articles of prime necessity and general use. will not, however, enlarge up. on this topic Nothing has been more clearly de- mostrated by excrience than the fact that Protcc' tion has lessened the price of commodities, partic. uary those valuable, principally on account ofthe
 labor and skill bestowed in their production to all | who consume them. Surely, then, the duty IS ob- yous to give protection, which, while 1t promotes
 industry and thus enables the laborer to receive an adeauafe remuneration for his work, at the same time gives to the customer an article equally good, and oltentimes, indeed generally. much better than | the imported one at reduced price. ... Fourth. This protection places us beyond the reach of dependence upon foreign nations for all articles of necessity. It needs no argument to l prove that such dependence is both unsafe and impoverishiDg. It is impossible for any nation to prosper, which looks to other nations for supply of the manufactured articles which she uses me me situation of Turkey, at the present time, mas been referred to by late writer as aOrdiDg strl- king illustration of the position have just stated She is free.trade nation and the consequence oi | the imports of British goods has been to stop her | looms and cause a constant drain of coin 10 pay the debt thus contracted which has gone to ll the | coffers of British capitalists. Mr. McCulIochs great advocate of free trade, says that, by reason
 of this extraordinary importation of British goods -og6OO looms for mnslins busily employed in Scu- tari, in Isl2, only 40 remain in 1881 and of ?'- 600 weaving establishments in Touronovo, at the former epoch, there were only POO at the latter ;: The millions thus paid annually by Turkey, for for. ejgn labor, has had the precise effect which might have been expected. "It has destroyed her cur rency and impoverished her people," Let other nations beware of following her example, by adop. ting similar course Of policy, lest they also par