The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-19

warmed into strength by the acts Of the democracy
On the one side Offices and honors were TO be the
marriage gin; and to the other 10 be bestowed
the dover of lasting plumber upon the people. Sir
the farmers Of this country are tainted as having
been dupes and fools for ever having tolerated the
protective tariff policy, il il is not important con-
inue II IN all future time Sir, the farming inter-
est tolerated il in the first instance from motives
Of purest patriotism. They did il as a means To heal
certain Of the wounds, which were the consequences
Of war. From the same motives which induced
them TO allow Of iIs adoption, they now require its
abandonment, and for still another reason, that Of
stopping the conupting influences which that policy
Is infusng through all our institutions Fools and
dupcs, indeed Strong language TO be used against
class of men, that | know possess intelligence and
ability TO redress themselves when aggueyed
Where, SIR were ever found greater exhibitions Of
Judgment and love Of liberty, than have been found
among the agrculturiss Of a country What class
OF men have been ready to assert, or more pO-
tent Ia maintaining III Rome, as a republic, attain
ed her greatness when the generals that led her
mics were taken from among the eutiystsrs Of the
soil IL was The Peasantry Of Italy, that bore her
cohquerng eagles 10 the parts of the earth
Had II not been for the peasants of the Grampian
hills, King John would never have signed the mag
| ma charta IL was the peaSantry Of England, that
shook of the tyranny that the Tudors had transmit
ted 10 the Stuarts. And, SIR need not assert TO this
House that the agricultural interest certainly did its
share Ia procuring our liberties in the war Of the
revolution. Sir, have associated with farmers IN
their tolls in the Of winter, and in the heats Of
| summer. ! know their patent industry, and the
| strict economy necessary sustain them in their
business. know their ardent love OF liberty their
intelligence and their ability TO apply the remedy,
when made conscious that their rights invaded.
And LET tell gentlemen that unless the expressions
Of the present restrictive laws be removed that
edy will be applied. Sir, will now consider some
Of the most prominent arguments Rdduced in favor
Of the restrictive policy First then, distinctions
attempted 10 be drawn between the interests Of the
people Of the North, and those Of the South, the
\ East, and those of the West, IN this Union. The
statesmen the institutions, the whole interests Of the
South, held up as objects Of sxeeratoni and gem
tlemen here, in making statistical calculations upon
the productions Of the country, have openly ayowed
that those Of the South ought not to be taken into
the account have with regret that the poison
Of these influences have taken too deep hold upon
| the prejudlces Of members here. Let gentlemen
consider, that the fathers Of the South and North
were brother pioneers in settling the Wildemesses
Of this country that their brave hearts beat side by
side achieving liberties; that their statesmen,
with equal TALENT equal patriotism, and as few weak
nesses, united IN forming our present institutions,
| and stand ready TO maintain them. But, sir If pa
triotism, love Of country, love for the Union, and
"reminiscences Of the past, sufficient 10 deter
gentlemen from this unwlse policy, let appeal 10
their interests am ready TO admit that the exports
Of the South exceed those Of the North. But SIR
the commercial men Of the North do most OF this
export business. In return, they send to the South
portion Of the goods taken in exchange, by which,
together with such products Of the North as are re-
quIred in the South, this Of exports is equal
lied, and frequently, If not all times, the balance
Of trade is IN favor Of the people Of the North. |
will ask Of gentlemen TO point out single year
when N this exchange the balance has been against
the North In my examinations have never dis
covered such year. Sir, the people Of the North
enjoy the profits Of exchanging southern exports
with foreign countries. They also enjoy the profits
Of paying for these exports by selling 10 the South
the goods and productions Of the North, with all the
attendant benefits of the exchange. Let II not be
said that these reciprocal advantages to the people
OF our common country should be embarrassed or
destroyed upon the, shrine Of personal cupidity,
party maleyolence, OF sectional prejudice. Sir,
argument is addueed by the friends Of the present
tariff, that protection manufactures gives employ
ment TO industry, and creates consumers for home
} productions By the census Of 1910, 80 900 men
were employed in producing 500, 600, 900 worth Of
cotton and woolen goods. By the report upon our
commerce and navigation in l54l, commerce en-
ployed Ill., 900 men, and our imports in American
ships Sll3 100000.
From these facts it will be understood, that for
every man who gains employment in manufactures
through the aid of protection, two, at least, lose
employment IN commercial pursuits. For every
consumer Of home productions, created by manu-
factures, two, at least are lost to by the dimin-
ished commerce OF the country. Mr.. Webster
serted this fact in his Faneun Hall speech and
records show 1t to be true. II is asserted, that
less manufactures protected against the influence
Of commerce. their business viii be pros.rdted, and
they will be broken down.
By the census Of lSl0 S21 900 600 worth Of wool
len goods were manufactured in this country, and
six millions Of dollars worth were imported. To
project that 20 1000 900 against this 5000, 600 is
wha, gentlemen claim. BY further examination,
gentlemen will find that they have mistaken their
enemy. Their camp had been invaded from another
quarter, and their citadel stormed These invaders
are no less than the American women. By look
Ing at that same census page 409 it will be
that over S29 600 900 worth of goods manufac-
tured In our families. Pulling the thread with the
myers, treading the loom with the feet and throw
ing the shuttle with the hand our noble women
peted with both commerce and the iennies and pow
er-looms OF the manufacturers, and exceeded both.
Their fabrics are now to be found in many parts Of
onr country, and, taking into consideration their
quality, are afforded at cheap rate those
produced by the manufacturers. These noble
women ask no protection other than that love and
affection to which their virtues SO eminentIy entte
them. And will gentlemen urge here that their
families ought to be taxed for the benefit of manu-
facturers! Let such doctrine be abandoned, and
save us the necessity of blushing for country.
1t Is SAID sir, that by extending legislative aid to
manufactures, men will abandon agriculture to en-
gage IN manufacturing, and thereby diminish pro-
ducers and increase consumers. 1t certainly ap-
pears extraordinary to urge the passage of laws to
divert men from their natural pursuits, and impel
| them to such as require protection to exist But
since is suggested, let inquire how it is be
/ done Gentlemen ought not to recommend meas
ure unless they know how it is to be accomplished.
Is 1t intended to Cypress agriculture, so to drive
men from its pursuit. Or are manufactures to be
placed, in point Of privileges so far above them as
TO allure them to III Let gentlemen answer and in
the mean time we must conclude that both these
cases are aimed at, in order produce the effect
suggested 1t requires capital, skill and experience
IN order to engage in manufactures, and not one
IN ten thousand Of our agicul,ursts possess the
tastes or qualifications for embarking in them. This
very argument then, shows that such laws are d.
rectly Intended to be lasting ruinous, and tyran
meal oppression upon the agriculurists Of the coun
| Try. The honorable gentleman from Pennsylvania,
Mr.. STEWART in his late speech upon the har-
Dor bill, stated that in importing 100000, worth
of woolIen goods las wool was one-haf Of the cost
OF the material y We imported s5,000,0 900 worth Of
foreign agricultural productions. lie, me examine