The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-13


ton of pig iron in this country than in Wales, but
the cost of transportation, commissions, &c, are
about three times the amount of the difference in
the cost of production, which gives the American
manufacturer advantage in the home market of
at least IS per cent. Who will say, then, that he
ought not to be contened with the additional pro-
lection of 80 per cent. ad valorem, which the bill
under consideration proposes to furnish him'
Again, Mr. Chairman, the manufactures Of silk,
by another kind Of legislative deception, are made
to pay duty of - so per pound without regard
to quality or value. Who, sir, does not see the in
equality and injustice of this artificial mode of as
sessng the revenue, by which there is an obvious
discrimination against the poor and in favor of the
richl
The coarse and more substantial Silks which are
generally worn by our wives and daughters in the
country, costing from so to 100 cents per yard will
weigh at least twice as much as the fine brockays
and French silks, costing from 80 to. 80 per yard
and which worn only by the rich. So that
whilst the lady of wealth and fashion pays say but
% so duty upon dress costing from sos 10 $40,
our country women are compelled to pay duty of
S. upon dress costing but $40 to 49, and this in
great majority of cases, is earned by the sweat
and toll Of our laboring country women at the week
" wages Of rs to 100 cents. And this to a greater
or less extent is but fair sample of the unequal
and unjust operation of all specific duties
Although, sir, the amount paid under this unjust
discrimination in favor of the rich against the poor
amount thus paid in such obvious dsprsportion by
the poor the rich is truly startling, and causes
the cheek to redden and the blood to circulate little
more freely through the veins of the patriot and
philanthropist when brought to his consideration.
The Secretary of the Treasury, in his annual re-
port, says:
when we consider that 69i "A of the revenue last
year collected by minimum duties and Sl3 81 OS5 40
by specific duties the discrimination against the cheaper
article amount by estimates founded the doc.
umens to tax of 50, Os42l exaced by mnimums aud
specific duties annually from the poorer classes by raising
thus the duties the cheaper articles above what they
would be If the duty assessed upon the actual value
If direct taxes made specific they would be inolera.
Bile. Thus IL annual tax Of thirty dollars assessed
all houses thout respect to their actual value making
the Of the humble tenement cabin pay Of 30
dollars and the of the costly mansion tax OF hut
thirty dollars their respective houses would differ only
in degree, but not In principle from the unyaryng
specific duty cheap fine articles II any discfim
nation should be made should be the Of the spe.
cc duty and Of the minimum principle by establishing
finer article should be higher and below which they
be lower on the cheaper article"
The manner, sir, in which the duty is IMPOSED
under this act upon manufactured wool is If pos
BILE, more Objectionable stll--evidenhy intended
for the benefit Of the manufacturer at the expense
Of the farmer and wool-grower. BY q legislative
Device designed "a promise to the ear, TO lie brok-
en- to the hope, whilst duty Of 80 per cent ad valo-
rem and three cents per pound, is professed to be inn
posed upon wool yet upon the coarser qualities cost
ing at the place from whence exported not exceeding
seven cents per pound duy ot nVe Genus per pound
| only is imported. IL this, sir, were intended
| protection to tina wool grower as well as the man.
ufscurer, the order should have been reversed, and
the high duty imposed upon the wool, instead
Of the fine; for it is the wool only that be
to any great extent protected by import duties. By
the operation ofthis contrivsnce the wool grower
protected upon his wool, which can be affected
/ by sduty Of per cent. only; whilst the manufac
turer ~ protected upon his predictions manufac
tured from wool Of a similar quality by duty Of
40 per cent Where is the justice, would ask