Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-05-02

this very interesting and important national gather
ing, rs advancing rapidly to its completion, and
there is no reason to doubt that il will fully answer
every purpose for which it is intended. That pa
trIotie purpose is TO show TO Congress and the
country the progress which has been made in
American art, industry, and ingenuity, under the
fostering oil Protective Tariff, within the last
few years. The exhibition of this progress il esta-
blishes the fact which the circular issued by the
American Institute of New York says can be esta-
blished, that "every article which can be manufac-
: tured at home, and which has received protec-
: tive duty for seven consecutive years, has, by
home competition, and consequent development of
ingenuity alone, been reduced ia price to the con-
sumner beLoso The foreign cost al the time of i'm
posing the duty" will be worth all the arguments
that ever have been made or can be presented upon
the subject. .e
We aye glad TO find, from the public journals,
that The friends to domestic industry and skill are
bestirring themselves, with most praiseworthy
zeal, to render the approaching fair worthy of the
interests which it is intended to represent, and
whose it is designed to advocate and advance.
A most excellent circular has been published at
Boston, addressed " to the manufacturers, mechan-
les, and artisans Of New England" by " the Mas
sachusetts Charitable Mechanics Association" In
this circular, after pointing out the objects Of the
Fair, the mode in which its business is to be
conducted, and calling upon those whom they
address to exert themselves to give effect to the
meeting, we find the following excellent recon-
mendation:
"We would, in conclusion, allude to q common miscon
cepon prevalent among classes of artisans their
productions either rude of sufficient value
form part of public exhibition. Now, earnestly request
all such to consider that the and unpetenng
branches of labor precisely the important being
of luxury, but indispensable the and
comforts of the whole community"
We have ALSO in the New York papers, an extremely well
drawn up circular of the American Institute of that city, in
which the very great importance Of the Fair and the
sy that every excron should be made and every aken
that the woknow about to be done should be ,ceH done
forcby pointed out We hope that every artisan, every
manuface and every friend Of American industry will feel
interest in this truly national exhibition and do every
thing in his power give it effect and render it crcdabe
the country, and evidence Of its prosperity and rapidly adj
vancng progress under the present protective SYSTEM which it
appears to be the suicidal policy Of persons destroy
This circular adds
" In the short period Of thirty years American ingenuity and
skill have accomplished what has required centuries in other
countries and, if the wise policy enoined by Washing
ton and his iustrous steadily pursued will
future prosperity and independence
The progress Of improvement has been rapid that few
in the manufacturing portions Of the country have
adequate idea of its present magnitude. The product
and the high perfection Of those articles which the wisdom Of
legislation has shielded from foreign competition would be
incredible, they not confirmed by careful comparison and
ndsputable statistics From long list Of hundreds shall
select only sxviz manufactures of cotton, WOOL leather,
paper, cabinet wares. and ronal which. from comparatively
small sinnings, yield than hundred and my
lions Of dollars per anun and increasing IN ratio
that has no parallel in the history Of industry.
"This mighty increase far outsps whole foreign
trade with the exception OF the finer cotton goods only
tally benefited by the minimum Duty and the supply Of which
these years protected by duty
aging forty per cent The of their success and
knowedged perfection, protection against the nundang
supplies which foreign countries would otherwise have poured
into markets. Cheap, cheap indeed, in the outset but
dear in the end We might, however, dispense with all
speculation and argument and rest count upon
a single fact
Evcy article which can be manufactured at home and
which has received protective duty for consecutive
years. has, home competition and development
of ingenuity alone been reduced in price the be-
low the foreign cost at the time Of imposing the duty
This fact, believe, is without exception since the
formation of Government. While other articles only par
tally projected such nen fine goods &c, have
maine nearly stationary in their prices for long series
Of years, if their prices have materially declined has
not been at all proportional to the decline the protected
classes OF articles The difference to country, whether
made home abroad, admits Of mistake. In
the money expended in abrcating
try, in the other il is not.
"A momcntous crisis is at hand soon il will be determn-
ed whether foreign competitors shall begue Of
bhrght arrest prosperity, and PROSTATE indepen
dence, The policy Of the proposed tariff to increase
by diminished dutes to present the strongest in
ducements TO importaons break down the pn
cpal barriers against fraudulent entries by repeating all spe
cfc and minimum duties national wealth would be pro-
NOTED by swelling the balance Of trade against
try And, eifectually to accomplish this, the value
which regulates the Duty small is be the imported
article will be determined by the himself II will
prove law 10 transfer TO foreigners your customers who will
be allued by the fatal siren sound Of cheap cheap II is
nothing the purpose that you produce cheap the
foreigner. Modern competition is a Of capital With
money resources the ages victory
infant establishments eventually be inevitable Cost for
will be consideration Lake the steamboat
petition, pursued prices known not to pay he who carries
The longest purse is sure to triumph and then he will raise
The fare his cupdy dictates. Combinations Of foreign iron
afford illustrations not less papable less nsruo
i've We would all fabcatos OF domestic articles
commence preparations once and in due present
mems Of your factories and workshops Spare expense
success will repay you thousand fold"
An excellent address has also been made TO the manufac
urers mechanics and artisans Of PrSssrLvAxA by the
Committee of the National Fair at Philadelphia. The bust
arrangements made by this committee for the forwarding
IF goods to Washington and the promotion Of the objects Of
he Fair are very complete and worthy the practical good
'ense Of Philadelphia. The address thus concludes
"Let the representatives Of the nation have presented TO
hem faithful and honest picture Of the of and
manufactures in the country Furnish them with ample
judging and comparing the products Of your skill and labor
with those from foreign countries Impress upon them the
great TRUTH that to exist Independent nation,
Be able ciofe and defend well feed ourselves and
feel satisfied that under such proofs they win stand by and