Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1844-09-27


can produce the cheapest will always have the
advantage in the market of the world. A ma
ton that possess the facilities of growing or
making an article cheaper than another, needs
no taxes or prohibitory laws to lessen foreign
competition. A sound, uniform, and unfuc-
tuating currency, light taxes. and as much of
free trade as is consistent with an economical
support of the Government will do more to
protect American industry than all the prohib.
tory tariffs that ever were enacted.
The present high tariff has been in opera
ton two years; ample time has elapsed to test
its effects upon the branch Of business in which
we as class are engaged. And we now APP
peal to you, to the great body Of shoemakers
in this city, and throughout the Union, whe-
Their they have experienced the promised bene-
fits that its friends said would result.
We know your reply felIow-citizens. There
is not an intelligent shoemaker in the United
States who will say that he is benefited by the
tarif-unless he considers low wages for La
Dor and increased taxes upon what he con-
sumes benefit.
Let US take another view Of the injurious
effect Of the present tariff upon the mechanical
industry of the country; and particularly upon
that branch Of mechanical labor in which we
are engaged.
The great and most important interest of
this and all other countries is the agricultural.
This is the primal source of mans happiness.
1t is this interest from which all other branch
es Of industry receive their chief support
When this interest prOspers, all others pros
per. When the farmer receives remunerating
prices for the produce of his labor. the me-
chanic and the artizan prospers. Fourteen
millions of our people are agricultural they
are now oppressed beyond endurance. The
tariff afforGs them no protection. Their wheat,
beef, butter, pork, &c. &c. wants market
If they can sell at fair prices they can increase
their purchases of what we produce. Secure
to them good prices for their labor and you
will secure good prices for our labor.-Re-
lieve them from the burdens of high taxes,
and you relieve Ms. Protect them, and, as
natural and inevitable consequence, you pro-
tect US.
Fellow Mechanics, the age of restrictions
upon the industry of man is fast passing away.
Freedom in all legitimate pursuits is the pre-
vailing sentiment Of the age in which we live.
Protect each and every man in the enjoyment
of all those natural rights guaranteed to him
by the Constitution Of our country; leave him
free to pursue, that business in life for which
he is by nature or education best qualified for.
Remove every unjust restriction upon the ma
TONS industry. Give to intellect and genius
their widest field. Divert not the natural chan
mel in which the labor of our people wonld be
directed when unobstructed.
If we ask protection, it is protectic II from the
present high taxes upon large proportion of
the necessaries of life. We ask that our labor
should not be unnecessarily burdened with
high duties On what we eat and drink. We
Ill CT o(
the burdens Of government; but we ask fair
proportion of its benefits. We desire no mo-
nopoly in our vocation; but we are unwilling
to be taxed for the sole benefit Of the manufac-
turers. Equal protection to all classes is our
motto-give us this, and we are content.
Ofall the falacies of the day we consider
the promised protection to the mechanics of
the United States, under the present tariff, the
greatest. At all events the shoemakers have
had enough oft. We ask that it may no Ion
ger be afforded.
Be 1t therefore Resolued, That the present
tariff is burthensome tax upon the industry
of the country, and particularly upon that
branch of industry in which we are engaged.
ResolUed, That our untiring exertions will
be used to procure modification of the pre-
sent tariff, by which our taxes will be light
ened and our labor better rewarded. We be-
lleve that sound currency and light taxes
upon the necessaries of life, will protect US
infinitely more than the present tax of about
100 per cent, on sugar, cheap cottons, and
f1annels.-Remove this burden upon our in
dustry, and Our wives and children will be
better clothed. fed, and educated.
Resolved, That the effect Of the high tariff
upon the agricultural industry of the country,
has an injurious effect upon the mechanics, by
lessening the demand for what they produce.
The tariff confines the farmer to a'home mar
ket, and having surplus of wheat, beef, and
pork, he is forced to sell at prices that will not
remunerate him for his labor, and thus his a.
bility to purchase the produce Of our labour is
diminished. t...t ...
ResolUed, That as we regard the welfare of
ourselves and those dependent upon us, as
we'll as our brother mechanics throughout the
Union, we deem 1t our sacred duty to do all
in our power to effect the election of James K.
Polk, and thus secure to every branch of in
dustry, agricultural, mechanical, commercial,
and manufacturing equal protection.
RESOLVED, That the great interests of the
country, agricultural, mechanical, and COM
mercial-are as much entitled to protection as
the acknowledgement to agriculture, the
mechanical industry embraces, in its diversi-
fed pursuits, large majority of the working
classes. We demand that this numerous bo-
dy of useful citizens receive their Just share OF
the protection of Government, which can only
be accomplished by modification ofthe present
tariff.
Resolved, That we recommend to the work
ing men of all trades to unite with US in oul
efforts to procure the repeal of the present un'
just tariff, and the enactment of such an one
as will not only protect the mechanic, but the
whole industry of the country.
This report and the resolutions were .adop'
ted without dissenting voice. They speak
the intelligent sentiment of the working clas
ses, and agree tqthe letter with the doctrines
this paper has long promulgated. A shoema