New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-07-23
ATariG Compromise.

Tariff Compromise.
"wAsHISoToS. July Fl, le46.
There is earnest effort making to compromise the
Tariff question here MT Webster and the manufacturers
above thirty per cent in the Tariff Of 1912 TO 80 cent
retaining the specifics wherever they exst in the law OF
1912. Tas Is the main feature In the proposed com.
promise" tcor. Ez1ren.
Y The above paragraph corresponds so entire
ly with our private advices by the same Mail, as
well Is previous in,imatons that we can no longer
hesate to give it credit. We shall be pardoned,
therefore, a few frank observations
Mr.. Clay in 1888 took the lead in compromising
the Tariff Question then pending he was mpel.
led to this, doubt. by the hottest motives
that can sway the heart of Patriot and Phianthro
pis,. He saw that Gen. Jackson was madly bent
on crushing and saughtering The Nullifers for re-
sisting the Protective Tariff, at the same time that
be and his followers overthrow that Tariff. A TIL
umPhant, furious party, was ready 10 do whatever
their idol desired 1t seemed to Mr.. Clay that the
subjugation of South Carolina under such circun,-
stances would involve most wan,on bu,chery and
devastation He therefore stepped between the
parties a mediator. saved what he could of the
Protective System, and prevented the ou.pouring OF
rivers of fraternal blood. Yet both parties have
hated him tho more intensely ever since, and bis en-
beavers to uphold and perpetuae, so far as praciica
ble the spirit of the Compromise Act, after its lii
eral continuance became impossible exposed him
to the grossest obloquy and misrepresentation His
Compromise was used with effect by the BuchanaDs
and McCandlesscs Of Pennsylvania to prove him
recreant from the standard of Protection Hardly
another Of his life has been turned against
him in more different ways, and with more effect,
than that same Compromise.
Mr.. Webster resisted that Compromise
and we thought justly. We could not help feeling
at the time that he farther and that the scope of
his vision embraced more solid, enduring good than
that contemplated by Mr.. Clay. Yet the crisis was
one In which the most far seeing, comprehensive
Statesmen nigh, we'll differ Can we say the same
now1 After one such experience, is not the path
of wisdom and true benefcence manifest
But ii may be said that shall secure oil ne
cessary Protection by the Compromise now pro-
posed. Well, if we can have Tariff truly, ETH
cieutly, permanently Protective, we are quite will
ling Mckay. Walker any body else should
father 1t, and Richie christen it Revenue or any
other name that tickles his fancy. But we cannot
believe such adjustment practicable, or, if ef-
footed that 1t will endure. Its success is calculated
TO dlsband and dispense the friends fthe Protective
Policy leave the next Congress TO our adv ersares
elected on other issues, aud give Polk, Walker
Co. opportunity to cut usup In detail. Shall we
not then rue the day stacked our arms rather
Than bear temporary reverse of fortune?
Win retaining the Specific duties Of the present,
Tariff include preservation of the Minimums or
something corresponding thereto Thirty per
81
nearly estimated and collected, even under Ad Va
loren duties but who knows what thirty per cent.
duty on ship load of Silks or Cacoes amounts
TOT In very truth, the Importers levy the duties
on all such fabrics and pay jus, abou, what they
please. Now If Compromise can be made which
will really equal adequate and fair Protection
to all interests, shall gladly it. But thirty
per cent. on Irsn lie more than fifty per cent Ad
valo,em ON fabrics of Wool, Silk and Printed or
Colored Cottons- Let US have an adjustment that
will satisfy all interests affected and We content.
But let y bill be passed. with our friends standing
by and consenting which shall save some interests
while others are sacrificed and a wound will be In
Hictcd which years may not heal. We beseech our
friends in Congress to realize that there are calami
ties worse than defcat--far worse than the loss Of
dividends. We can bear to be defeated but not &c
be served as Polk has used the s,esdias; champions
Of Sc" 40.
There has been good deal of dissertation upon
the excuses and defects of the Tariff of 1872
Several Senators In voting for il took occasion TO
give their opinion that they could make better or
that = better might be made. Mr.. Evans, in slrug-
Cling for some concession to the Ship building in,
terest (which he obtained) spoke of 1t as bearing
hardly upon that interest. All these casual observa
tions have been hunted up and paraded to show
that the present Tariff Is perfect though nobody
has insisted that it Is We do maintain, however.
thai there is no probability that the present Con.
gress could or would make a better. The very
features Of this Tariff which have been mos, de-
claimed ainst have proved most beneficial Sew.
eral important branches of Industry, new 10 this
Country. have been called Into existence here BY
that act, and thousands of our People have now
stosdy employment and good pay at avoca;ons un.
known here prior TO 1882. And those fabrics like
Glassware Pins, Screws, &c. &c. on which The
high duties levied by this Tariff were a, FIRST The
theme of Free Trade ihyective are now as cheap as
ever before ls4e if not lower There sre very few
protected articles which are not Iron excepted
which has risen in price all over The world and
needed to adjus, the production of The Country ,o
the Suddenly increased eonsumpton-a process
now rapidly going forward. Let the Tariff stand
with the assurance that il IS TO stand and within
wear the price OF ton Of Iron will be as near the
average cos. of producing 1t as the price OF ton
Hay or q hundred bushels OF Corn now is Thi
would have been effected ere this time bat for ap
prehensions OF the overthrow of the present Tariff
Tho real defects Of the Tariff ofls4s are snch asst
enemies have never complained of and manifes' N
dispoaition 10 amend. The Of its trainers Is!
in their neglect to breathe life and vsor into still
more new branches OF Industry. which had eithe
never obtained or bad amos, entirely lost fooho!t
in the downward career Of preceding years. Ga
Silk, and especially the Silk Cultare, should hav.
been shielded BY higher duties Linens and fabrics
of Flax generally, instead Of being taxed a5 pc
cen. I'D valorem, should have been taxed at less