Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-11-01

ments, and how affected by the present tariff I'VE
have agreat variety Of manufactures in our State of
cotton, WOOL leather, wood, paper. The amount Of
capital invested in them is very large, but not accu-
rately known. Their profits during the last three
years have varied from nothing at all TO fifteen and
in some cases twenty per cent. The change has
been from idleness and depression TO industry and
prosperity. Nothing would tend SO surely to put
an end to this state Of prosperity large impor-
tauon OF the same commodities which we manufac
ure. But Is difficult TO say precisely what changes
in the tariff would produce this result The pro-
ectlve system was established for the benefit Of the
labor OF the country. 1t was opposed by the capi-
talists as such. The result has been great
hancement of the wages of labor. II has doubled
those of females. 1t has converted many working
men into capitalists, so called. The abandonment
of the system will fall heavily on the labor of
the country; for capital will not long carry on
losing business. II Is singular spectacle that the
political party which established the system, and
which claims to represent the working part OF the
community, should be called on to sustain measures
the effect of which will fall directly on the laborng
classes.
Questions Is, disappointing and commerce,
how affected Ship building has always been
amongst the leading interests of the State. It has
suffered somewhat under our reciprocity treaties,
but is, on the whole, in prosperous condition.
Notwithstanding the tariff bears hard upon it in
some particulars, the great extension of the coast
ing trade, under the protective system, has
than counterbalanced these disadvantages. Our
ship-owners are decidedly opposed to any change
of the system which has changed the direction Of
our commerce. but instead of diminishing, has great
ly increased it. 1t has created strong feeling of
| patriotism and national pride in seeing these i'm
provemens in the arts taking root in our country.
! Questions II, lS.-The warehousing system
We are in favor of well-reguated warehousing
system. 1t was defeated in 1912 by the influence
of South Carolina.
! Questions 30, 2l.-Effect Of the minimum -
The cotton minimum of 1915 was introduced by
Mr.. LowNpEs, OF South Carolina and defended by
| Mr.. CALHOUN. Its object was to establish speci-
ic duty on cotton manufactures. 1t has built up
the cotton manufacture in degree which has no
parallel IN the history of commerce. Its first effect
has been to supply the country with the manufac-
lures consumed by the laboring population, by the
| masses, at cheaper rate than they could be fur
nlshed from any oter quarter. Its next effect was
the establishment OF an extensive commerce IN these
manufactures with all parts of the world, so abso-
lutte and universal that the British Government has
been compelled to repeal all duty upon raw cotton
solely upon the ground of enabling British manu-
facturers the better TO compete with us in this trade
In these respects il has ACCOMPLISHED IFS destiny
But 1t has done and is doing much more. II has
carried the manufacture up into the higher branches
II has established the manufacture Of printed cali
Goes to full and cheap supply of the country in
this beautiful and difficult manufacture with the ex-
cepton of small quantity of the more fanciful and
costly styles 1t is building up new establishments
for all the finer branches, and especially for the
beautiful mixtures of cotton and wool, a manu-
iacture introduced within the last four years. So
great is the impulse with which capital is going
Into this manufacture, in all its branches, that it is
believed that every establishment for making machi-
merry, whilst straining its power TO the utmost, is
under contract for eighteen months two years to
come, iull proof that public opinion notwithstand
ing some ominous gvngs ont, has belief that the
/ Government will venture upon such measure as
the abolition of the minimum which has produced
and is producing such results. The minimum is
besides most effectual and sautary, merely as a re-
venue measure, in preventing fraud by under-valua-
ton, and in laying high duty on those fabrics
which may well be considered Injuries The expe-
renee of all nations is in favor of specific duties as
the best security against fraudulent invoices. The
frauds OF foreigners in the silk-trade mpeled the
American importers unitedly to demonstrate in ia
vor OF specific duties their only chance of con-
tnulng the trade. The system of cash duties is not
found, practically, oppressive injurious upon any
class OF our citizens.
Question 22.-What free articles might be made
subject to duty "A duty on tea and coffee would
raise additional revenue without essential nconve-
nence, but would be less favorable to the laborng
classes than the present system, inasmuch as the
poor mans cup of tea coffee would pay an equal
tax with that of the rich man.
Question 23.-Operaton of the Tariff "A pro-
tectve tariff calls into action the whole labor Of the
country, the effect of which is to bring down, by
domestic competition, the profits OF every manufac-
ture to equality with the labor and capital devo-
ted to other employments. A low duty on ma
erals therefore, benefits the consumers rather than
the manufacturers.
Question 24.-Same The manufactures i'm
ported are mostly of the more expensive kinds con-
sumed by the rich, and the high duties levied upon
them wholly favorable TO the industrial classes
Question 25.-Same THE operation of the
tariff has excluded many foreign commodities, by
causing cheaper substitutes to be made at home ;
but many descriptions of foreign commodities would
be imported should the tariff be greatly reduced
In all such cases labor would be thrown out Of EN-
ployment or turned upon agriculture, the relief of
which interest was the moving spring which esta-
blished the system of protection.
! Question 26.-Et1ect of the Tariff upon agricul-
ture Nothing can be clearer than that the present
tariff operates directly for the benefit Of the cotton
planter, by opening new MARKET and increasing
the consumption of American cotton, and by with
drawing slave-labor from the overdone production
of cotton to that of sugar, of the articles
highly protected II has caused the removal Of the
British duty upon cotton. Itbenefts all agriculture
in all the States, by raising up prosperous and in
dustrious of consumers Of produce in the place