Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-03-28
NUMBER a.


meut which is certain in my judgment 10
place them in a position that will be the
means oil destroying the iair prospects of
thousands who are resting in quiet securi.
ty upon the faith Of what they deem
paternal and wise government. The
question of an important alteration in our
Revenue laws, should be kept in suspense.
The Treasury will feel its effects before
he end Of the present year. The expec
tation Of great reduction Of duties pre-
vents the merchants from going on with
their usual business. Voyages are do
layed, and orders for goods are held back,
until this important question shall be set.
tied. ! say, therefore, if we are to 60
through this fiery ordeal, let it come at
once-we cannot place ourselves in bet
ter condition than we are now, 10 meet the
troubles that await US.
Mr. Walker proposes to substitute ad
valorem for specific duties, in opposition
to our own experience, and that Of almost
every other country. have never yet
found an American merchant who has not
been in favor of specific duties, whenev.
er il can be done with convenience TO the
importer and the government. | confess
1t is bold measure TO propose total and
entire change Of our Revenue system,
which was established with the govern
ment, and has stood the test of expe-
rlence through all the trials of political
parties and administrations, from General
Washington to Mr.. Polk. 1t appears
most extraordinary at this time, as the
country is in high state of prosperity.
The revenue is enough for all the reason
able wants Of the government, and the
people appear 10 be satisfied with their
condition. The resources Of the country
we're never developing more rapidly; the
increase o our population the present
year, will probably equal thai oil the last,
which | estimated at 100000 souls; our
wealth has been wonderfully augmented
by the construction of rail roads; there
has been great increase of our ship
ping, engaged in the domestic commerce
of the country, not only by sea, but upon
our rivers, and great lakes; the manu-
featuring interest has been largely ex'
, tenaed; aud the soil 100, has been made 70
produce vastly more than at any former
period. The whole productive power OF
The country has been greater in three
years Ohat is since the passage OF the
tariff of l842) than during any equal
space OF time in our national history.
There have been three periods Of univer-
sal distress throughout our land since tho
peace Of 1888, and in each case under low
duties. | appeal to those who remember
those periods; and to others | refer to tho
annals Of our country. Those periods
were from 1888 (the conclusion Of the
Revolutionary War; to 1898, 1915 to
1924, 1887 10 l842.
| would respectfully recommend 10 tho
Secretary of the Treasury, who appears
to have received new light upon the sub.
Ject Of national economy, to examine the
history Of The legislation Of Congress at
the above periods. He will find in his
own department Of the Government, an
a bundance of evidence Of the distress that
existed under low duties, and deranged
There is prevalent idea abroad, that
the capital Of the country will suffer ex-
ceedingly bya revulsIon in its business,
aud thatthe tariff Of l842 has operated
in favor Of the capital, and not the labor
Of the country. There can be no doubt
hat capital is generally proftably and
safely employed, and we'll paid The
profits Of capital are low, when wages
are low; but capital has usually had the
power TO take care of itself, and does not
require the aid Of Congress to place it in
any position, but to put the labor in mo-
ion. Congress should logislate for the
abor, and The capital will take care Of it.
self will give you an example OF the
rate Of wages under low duties, and I'M
Ter the tarIff Of 1912. In l84l, and l842,
The depression in all kinds of business be-
came so oppressive, that many Of the
manufacturing establishments in New
England were closed, the operatives dis
missed, the mechanical trades were still,
md every resource for the ldborlng man
seemed dried up.
In the city OF Lowell, where there arc
more than thirty large cotton mills, from
tx to sixteen thousands spindles each, it
vas gravely considered by the proprie-
ors whether the mills should be stopped.
/ was concluded to reduce the wages; this
vas done several times, until the .reduc-
ion brought down the wages from about
Il to 81 so per week, exclusive of the
GARD this operation took place upon be-
ween and 800 females; the mills ran
n no sales were made Of the goods; the
outh and West had neither money nor
redIt, and finally, ii was determined to
old out ill Congress should act upon
he tariff. The bill passed, and Of course
he mills were kept running, which would
ot have been the case, if the act had