Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-12-30

protection, and argues and maintains the
ground, that protective tariffs injure and d-
mnish the revenues of government, injure
the people a, large,and benefit NONE except
the few manufacturers who are protected.
We make an extract:
An appeal has been made TO the poor by
the friends of protec.ion,on the ground that
it au9nenis the wages of labor. In reply.
it is contended that the wages ofl ,bor have
not augmented since the tariff of IL IL. and
that in some cases they have diminished.
Where the number of manufactures is
not great, the power of the system to regu-
late the wages of labor is inconsiderable;
but as the profit of capital invested in man
uiacures is augmented by the protective
tariff, there is a corresponding increase of
power, until the control Of such capital over
the wages of labor becomes irresistible
As this power is exercised from time TO
time, we find it resisted by combinations a.
mong the working classes-by turning out
for higher wages, or for shorter time; by
trades-union; and in some countries, unfor.
tunately, by violence and bloodshed. But
the government, by protective duties, ar
rays itself on the side of the manufacturing
system, and, by thus augmenting IFS wealth
and power, soon terminates in its fitor the
Struggle between man and money between
capital and labor. When the tariff of l 342
was enacted, the maximum duty was 20
per cent. By that act, the average of du-
| ties on the protected articles was more than
doubled. Bat the wages of labor did not
increase in corresponding ratio, or ia any
ratio whatever. On the contrary, whilst wa
ges in some cases have diminished, tie
prices of many articles used by the working
classes have greatly deprecated.
A protective tariff is question regarding
the enhancement Of the profits Of capital
That is lis object, and not TO augment the
wages flabor, which would reduce those
profits. 1t is ques' ion of per centage, and
is 10 decide whether money vested in our
manufactures shall by special legislation,
yield profit of ten, TWEEN y, or thirty per
cent, or whether it shall remain satisfied
with dividend equal to that accruing from
the same capital, when invested in agricul-
ture, commerce, or navigation.
we make another extract 10 show the beau
tilul workings of this system of indirect tax
alton, the peculiar pet of whiggery:
AT least two thirds Of the taxes imposed
by the present tariff are paid, not into the
treasury, but TO the projected classes
The revenue from imports last year ex-
cceded twentv-seven millions Of dollars
This, in itself, is heavy tax, but the whole
tax imposed upon the people by the present
tariff is not less than eightyone millions OF
dolIars-of which twenty. seven millions
are paid TO the government upon the imports
and fifty -four millions to the protected clas-
ses, in enhanced prices of similar domes
tic articles.
Thus the total expenditures of govern
ment were during the past year 30 millions
and TO raise that an indirect tax Of 81 mill
ions has been levied and collected. Can a.
ny reasonable man shut his eyes to the fact
that this surplus 80 millions has gone into
the hands Of the manufacturer, and whilst i,
has centered in him thus much Of the cap.
tai of the country, has given him increased
power and advantage over labor and the la
borer. How long would it take at this rate
to center the whole capital Of the country
in his hands, and as it has done in England
give him absolute control ofthe labor and
laborer of she country. Can laboring men
be deluded into the support Of such sys.
tenn. We will give further extractcs here
after.