The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-24

enforce, that II England 'modlfss her own corn
laws according 10 the spirit Of the age il would be
still more shame 10 five did not initiate her noble
appeal which Sir Robert Peel makes, when he
quotes Mr.. Walkers report, in his remarks TO the
House Of Commons. "Let commerce MIR. Walker
says be as free and as dependent as our government
and advises them to open their ports to oil the world
and nation after nation would then follow their ex-
ample "Sir. CONTINUES the British premier,) ]
do no, despair that the example which we arc going
| TO set will be followed by every other country on
the continent, and that they shall quote you an
example for pursuing a-smilar course" It's also
very fair argument for to say, let America
modify her commercial system, and England do the
same; and il will knit the two countries stronger
together by the benefits Of free trade and the ties Of
mutual interest. Il will serve to preserve their
peace, as well as our own honor. II will assist US
essentially in the negotiation for Oregon; for Eng
land will be st more reluctant 10 torn our plough
shares into swords and to convert her best and her
more improved customer into a deadly enemy o.
her commerce. Ii Is also a fair and irresistible
Argument TO address to all tho friends OF liberal prn
cples to units In modifying our tariff and also to
show lhat il viii invite England, by the most
powerful considerations OF interest to follow
footsteps, and open the door wider for our
profuso and numerous productions. We might
pursue this appeal and, pointing to tho revelations
in Sir r. Poe's speech, in which he proposes to
abolish entirely the duties upon bacon, upon aalted
beef upon sailed pork and all other articles of food
the duty upon butter from Il to los por cwt.jupo
cheese from los TO IS. per cwt.i to "repesl totally
and Immediately the whole OF tho duties upon po-
tatoes and other articles enumerated under the head
Of vegetables"-to remove all restrictions upon the
importation of Indian corn and mea-to let buck
wheat in free-to lower the duty at once on
wheat, with promise that on the lst Of Feb
ruary, 1919, lin three years. oats, barley,
and wheat, shall DO subject to a nominal rate
of duty" We might fairly portray the ben
ehts Of these relaxations to all our breth-
ren--or rather ask them to run out in appro-
pirate statistics for themselves the advantages Of
having their beeves and their pork fattened at their
own DOORS and with their own corn, and sold to dro
yers or sailed in barrels for the English Market free
much to their advantage TO have their Indian
corn, OF certain varieties, which sometimes sells a,
10 or IL cents a bushe, at least in some Of the
more remote States, shipped to England free OF
duty' We might appeal to them to know whether
it is not the interest Of all agrculmrsts and Of all
consumers Of goods, both to buy their goods cheap
er whilst they sell their own produce higher; and
whether it is not, OF course decidedly advantageous
to them to promote by the relaxation Of our own
tsrif the principles Of free trade between England
and the United States
All these views arise naturally from the subject Of
the tariff; and whilst it may be strange that any
one except he be votary Of the system from inter-
est prejudice, should oppose relaxatlon-it
is still more strange that any of the wings
should be infatuated enough to charge the
republicans with the design Of sacrificing Its op.
prsssve provisions to England, when the principles
and determination Of our party were well known
before we came into power. But how can we be
surprised at their infatuation, when the mis-
cradle shifts to which their presses reduced,
Was ever anything more audacious than the mis-.
representations which they circulating
against the Secretary of the Treasury His report
was sent to England before it transmitted to
Congress-! This is one of the bumbugs Of the day.
Now what are the facts'
No one had copy of his report until it sent
to Congress. The copies transmitted to them were
hurried through in the handwriting Of many clerks,
because it was only handed to them to be copied the
day before it was sent to Congress. The original
from which these copies were made out, was in the
handwriting of q member Of his family. SO sa-
oredIy was it kept by him from getting out prema-
turely.
That report was sent to Congress on the Sd of
December, being the third day of the session,
and printed at large in the "Union" of that evening,
as well as subsequently in tens Of thousands OF
pamphlets. The motion to print it in England was
made in the House of Lords, we believe on the
Goth Of January, nearly two months thereaf er, or
rather to reprint the printed reports Packets left
New York, taking the report, on the 9th Of De-
cember, and reached England several days before il
was moved to be printed. How miserably false
them is all this story that it sent to England be.
fore it was furnished to Congress!
As regards the bill prepared by. Mr.. Walker, il
was only finished on last Tuesday week, and was
sent to the committee the day finished, and has
not yet reached England. The estimates of the du.
ties that probably will be yielded on each article
were only finished on Saturday, the 2lst of Febru'
airy, and copy sent to the committee in tho course
Of yesterday The estimated net revenue under
the bill Is not twenty-five millions, but nearly TWEEN
ty-four millions; and Mr.. Walker, in sending tn,
estimates to the committee has expressed the opin
ion that there may and ought to be still further
reduction on the payment Of the public debt. Mr.
Walker has always been opposed to the tariff. He
voted and spoke against it in the Senate when hi
represented the largest exporting State in the Union
His views were ,oell kno,on, when he was unani
mou,iy confirmed for his present position by the
Senate in March last; and shortly afterwards his
letter to the editor Of the "Mississippan," which
was published in that paper and throughout thu
| Union, announced his determination, if possible, to
reduce the tariff TO the rtpenue standard. SO far from