The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-03

principle is groas fraud upon the country. a.
ing to the real value Of the article, but upon a
false and fictitious value. just SO with the specific
daties--sllk, for example, which pays, not accord
ing 70 the value of the article, but the weight The
costlier silks consumed by the rich, being lighter,
pay much less duty, by the pound, than the coarse
and heavier ones, which are used by the poorer
classes of the community; yet the wings Of Massa-
chasctts now say that the tariff of l642 must not be
touched We repeat again and again, "the tariff must
be reduced to the revenue standard"
For the Union.
THE PROTECTIVE TARIFF.
A democrat in conversation with modern wing
sorely afflicted with equity toe, perceving him
suddenly agitated with choeric sensation, was
about TO apologize, from an apprehension that the
sudden emotion might have been caused by his hav-
ing accidentally touched the sensitive member. He
was told, however, that he might quiet his fears with
regard to his toe but said he, you have awakened
kindred sensations equally painful, by your om-
nous hints, which evidently alude to modification
Of our excellent tariff"
Now, "why will you disturb the tariff of '42l"
exclaim the wings: "LEr US ALoNE," is the cry Of
the northern hive. "The manufacturers are now in
the full tide Of successful experiment. and are con-
ferring ncalculabe blessings upon the country Let
the tariff aloEe, and il wila no distant day become
the happy abode of manufacturing opulence and
national independence"
Charming melody this--exceedngly melliauous to
chorus of 200 or 800 per cent. upon their vested
capital In defence of profits SO enormous, the
soi-disant National Inteligencer chimes in, and
asks, els it not some consolation to know that
these profits 60 into the pockets Of our own
peopies" Undoubtedly, sir, il is consolatory to the
| IL
pockets receive the bounty But those profits do not
exclusively go into the pockets of our own peoples
and, even ii they did, we might, on the same prn-
ciple, defend such injustice and oppression would
not be tolerated for day II cannot be denied that
the manufacturers Of cotton, for instance enjoy
gratuities which they neither asked, nor would
have dared to ask. Why, then, are they not will.
ing to concede something, by way Of restoring. to
the different classes of society equality of rights,
without which it were idle to expect, or even to
hope for, a spirit of national harmonyl
Expanded truth is the only sovereign antidote
against the concentrated poison of legislative in
equality of rights and privileges. In their petitions
to the Congress- Of 1872 the manufacturers repeated
ly and emphatically alleged that they wanted no
protection on cheap cotton fabrics On the con-
trnry, they affirmed that they could be made cheaper
and better in this country than in any other-the
difference in the raw material, with advantage
IN water-power, being more than sufficient to coun-
terbalance the advantages Of greater cheapness in
the price of foreign labor.
Now, we are furnished with incontestible evil
dence that cotton fabrics, equal in quality to those
which our manufacturers cell for six cents per yard
are bought in England for penny yafd-equal
to two cents our money, II follows, therefore,
from their own showing, that they sell their cheap
cottons, which they affirm that they can manufac-
ture cheaper and better in this country than be
made in any other, at profit of 400 per cent !!
Now, if we may rely on the statement Of the manu-.
m thn trufh which thew
pledge their honor and challenge inquiry-their
protection on cheap cotton manufactures, worn
mostly by the aboring classes, amounts to 3l3 per
centum In giving this statement as the amount Of
protection, have estimated the cost Of transporta,
ton, including difference of interest, freight, insu
rance, &c, at 13 per cent-the duty of 6 cents on
the yard, which costs 2 cents, we know to be 200
per cent.
As the duty on cheap cottons now stands, the
manufacturers are limited to 81 cents per yard;
ing foreign competition To this point, hbNeser
they are ascending, and above which they would
rise, if they could (as the wings desre) embark up
on the expanding and contracting tide of bloated
paper currency, The ears of the nation would then
be assailed with the distressing cry Of protection
protection from the pauper labor Of Europe No
one has more clearly illustrated and conclusively
demonstrated the impossbilty Of stable protective
tariff, when exposed to the vicisindes inscparable
from shinpasler currency, than the present Secre-
tary of State.
These pauperu Of Europe, i the, whigss may be
credited, are terrible race Of people. Holding in
their hands the destinies Of odr nation they can,
seems, freeze or ctarve to death at pleasure !
They can PROSTATE, at one fell swoop, the numerous
and costly variety Of our manufacturing establish
Enthusiastically reducing us to state of nudity
visit upon us the plaques of war; pestlence, and FAM
inc-unless, forsooth, we consent to fight them with
corresponding weapons, by embodying, in our own
country, an equal force Of paupers rewardng their
services with 81 cents day and sheep's pluck
instead oftwo dollars day and roast beef
There ARE traits In the character Of the tariff
which, If taken either in moral or logical view, de
serve the severest apprehension. Take for instance
one of its provsocs, viz: Manufactures of cotton
printed stained, dyed exceeding 80 cents the
square yard, shall be valued at 80 cents and pay
duty of 30 per centum ad valorem." Now,
the reader will mark, that the cheapest quality, snb
ject to the operation Of this provso ID paiued at
cents per yard and sold at that price. But apprzed
Of the chcapness of this quality Of manufactures
| abroad, and determined 10 make surety doubly sure
in securing complete monopoly Of that article, the
tariff interest in Congress determined 10 protect it to
the amount Of $50 per cent. But to proceed boldly,
by laying ad yalorem duty--tkat is, duty of
$50 per centum on the actual value, 6 cents, on
which they wanted $40 protection--woud have an
appearance rather queer. They, therefore, press in
TO the service substitute, in the shape Of 80 cents
which they call a minimum, on which they impose
AJAX oI ~ per CENT, Gaining IL al All VdiOIein uuty!
The fraud flor such il undoubtedly is) consists in
the deceptive use Of the words ad raiore instead of
minimum, which has no connexion with the actual
value. A duty, therefore, of 30 per centum laid
upon fictitious, cnigmatcal minimum of 30 cents
FIVE times as great the actual value, estimated
by the sellers--is not an ad valorem duty, (Which
instead of9 cents duty the yard would yield but
cent and mills!) but cloak manufactured for the
concealment of fraud How gross the imposture
Ought not national legislators, men of elevated
standing and moral worth, to blush at such dupli-
city, should like to know on what system of
logical ethics the National lntelgencer would re.
concilc the above proviso with the principles of
truth and consistency Its indiscriminate defence
OF the thrift, and more especially its luminous title
give us a right to expect an explanation.
And now, in conclusion, would invite the
readers attention to another trait in the moral char
acter of the tariff which may have escaped the Ia
boring classes of our community. rich and
poor man call at store of imported goods, asking
the price of printed cottons; the poor man is told
that such article, If free Of duty could be had