Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1845-07-31
THE PRICE OF WOOL AND IRON
TARIFF AGITATION.

1t is well known, (says the Albany Ar
gus of the l4lh inst.) that wool has fallen
some seven cents on the pound, since last
year AS the wing papers are hard run TO
find something upon which to raise a
clamor against the administration, they
are trumpeting forth this decline as aeon
sequence Of the election of a democratic
President. They are passing round this
fable with so mnch earnestness and gravity,
that perhaps some Of them begin to believe
it, but little reason will soon scatter these
msts.
There is common sense law of de-
mamd and supply, which must exert an
influence upon prices. If there is more
wool clipped than manufactured, it is GER
tain the prices must fall to the level of the
demand. The pricet of last year have
caused an extraordinary increase of pro-
duction of wool, particularly in the west
ern states. The consequence is, that pri-
ces have come down.
We are we'll aware that last year, wool
went up; but there were then political OBJ
jects to subserve by that rise, which in
duced the New England manufacturers to
give higher price for the article than the
then demand actually authorized. A CO.
temporary pertinenty remarks: "The
rise in the price of wool the last season
was wholly for political effect, The con-
sumption OF the country did not warrant
the price which was paid for it. Blu the
manufacturers, knowing that the fate of
The tariff was staked upon the presidential
election, eAerted their influence to the ut
most to have it permanently fastened upon
the country. Hence they got up tenn
porary speculation in the article, which
caused temporary rise in its price, but
which fell the moment speculation
ceased"
/! is we'll known to the people of this
state that during the heat of the Fresiden-
tial canvass, the agents Of the New Eng
land manufacturers while buying wool,
acted as electioneering agents saying to
almost every farmer, Of whom they bought
wool, This is practical demonstration
Of the effects oflhe tariff of AZ in your ia
vor We are paying you high price for
your WOOL in consequence of that tariff
Now are you not in favor Of standing by
that tariff" These insiduous appeals un-
doubleday exerted considerable influence
in behalf of the wing candidate. But in
spite of these efforts, President Polk was
elected Wool has fallen, and now the
wing papers insist, from fear that the la
riff will be destroyed. There are other
articles protected by that tariff and if the
wing logic will apply to wool, it will to the
others, particularly those which are most
highly protected. Iron is one Of these
Yet it is undeniabe that iron is at least
TEN dollars per ton higher now than it
was in November last. If the apprehen-
sion Of having the tariff reduced, should
so seriously affect wool, why should not
the same result fall upon iron? 1t is more
protected than wool, and Of course, pro.
ceeding upon wing logic, should feel The
contemplated change more senstively,
and yet the iron manufacturers the Unit
ed States, were never I'M more prosper
Gus condition The great law of supply
and demand has influenced that trade as
ii has that ofwool.
We may now carry this war home
Since the whig papers have insisted that,
to the tariff of 40 every rise in price may
be attributed, why is it that the wooden
manufacturers should be reaping a rich
harvest, while wool is so low? 1t was pertin-
aciously insisted by wing demagogues,
during the presidential canvass, that
though the tariff of AZ did largely benef,
the manufacturer, he was certain to pay a
round price for the raw material. Now
it is undeniable that wooden manu-
facturers are hourishng, but wool is
very low. This is manifestly at war with
the whig prophecy, and shows that the
great law of supply and demand over-rides