The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1845-12-30
You did not go this length, but confined


You did not go this length, but confined
| it to luxuries.
Numerous other misstatements' are
spoken of. Why are they not pointed
out! What are they? Here are my
statements-are any OF them untrue!
re-affirm them, and challenge contradic-
ton. Isaid that the Secretary had pro-
nounced the proteetire policy to be ma-
eonsfi fttional; against the authority OF
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe
and Jackson, who all, over and over again
asserted the power and recommended its
exercise by Congress for the protection OF
American manufactures. Is this mis-
representation?
When the pupular voice shall be heard
in tones of thunder, denouncing this new
and unheard-of doctrine, shall we be then
told that this too "neyer entered into the
conception of the President or Secreta-
ry!"
] ! said that the Secretary had denounced
the tariff of 1912 as s'too unjust and une-
quail, too exorbitant and oppressive, too
clearly in conflict with the fundamental
principles of the Constitution. Is this
misrepresentation? / said the Seereta-
ry had asserted used his own words)
that experience proved that, as a gener-
al rule, fueniy per cent. ad valorem will
yield the largest revenue" Experience
proves this, does it, when the fact is no.
torious that ia 1919 (the only time we
had any experience of a 20 per cent. al
valorem duty) the revenue was not half
what it has since been, and is now under
the protective tariff of 1912? Is this an
.'egregious mistake!" And, if so, who
made it! said that the Message pre-
scribed a ruinons and anti-American rule
in relation to revenue, which, if adopted
by Congress, would not only check all
future investments, but PROSTATE every
branch of mechanical and manufacturing
industry wherever manual labor and not
iabor-snuing machinery was extensive
ly employed. Here is the rule in the
words Of the Message:
Gas long as Congress may generally
increase the rate of duty On given arti-
Gle and the revenue is increased by such
increase of duty, they are within the rev.
enue standard; when they go beyond that
point, and, as they increase the duty, the
revenue is diminished or DESTROYED, the
act ceases to have for its object the raising
of revenue for the support of Govern
ment, but is for protection merely"
In other words, whenever the Ameri-
can mechanic or manufacturer begins to
supply the market, and imports and reve-
nue. are consequently diminished. the du-
ty ought to be reduced so as to pnt down
the American and let in the foreigner-
This is his rule Now, ] said this was
precisely such rale as Sir ROBERT PEE
would recommend for our adoption; it
was rule that would guaranty the A
merican market TO the foreigner forever,
or until American labor was groune down
and degraded to the half-starved and
wrctchnd condition of the scrfs and pau
pers Of Europe; and that the American
masses. thus deprived of the means of
educating their children, would be obliged
TO work, as in Europe, from the cradle TO
the grave, and that their moral and polltl- |
cal condition would in the end be no bet |
ter than theirs.
Such most clearl y must be the practical |
and inevitable operation of this rule, if |
carried ont. And are these the benefits
and blessings this Administration has in
re serve for the "poor man!'' / said they |
were.
Was this a Misrepresentation! | sub
nit the question with confidence to the
good sense of the American people.
said that in your report, for the first
time in an o0fciat form, had promulgated
the doctrine of ''free trade" which IS op-
enly and distinctly avowed; and TO enforce
the argument, reference is made to the
Stree trade" existing among the States;
and it is declared that ''reciprocal free
trade among nations would best promote
the interests of ALL" that ''the manufac-
turing interest opposes reciprocal free
trade with foreign nations;' "and if 1t
desired reciprocal free frade with other
nations, it would have desired very diff
fegent tariff from that Of 1872"
These are your positions, and inferred |
that YOU were in favor of ''FREE-TRADE.
Was this too an ''egreglous mlsrePre-
said that the policy recommended by
this Administration, if carried out, would
be ruinous to Pennsylvania, because her
iron and other manufactures were carried
on mostly by MANUAL LABOR, and not, as
in New England, by labor saving MA
and that therefore, to induce the
investment of capital and the aquisitlon
Of experience, she must be protected a
gainst free competition with the depres-
scd and low priced labor of Europe.
Your report represents the foreign mar
ket as all important to the farmer, whilst