The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-24
From the Hartford Daily Times.
THE TARIFF OF 1876.

| From the Hartford Daily Times.
THE TARIFF OF 1876.
We notice that some of the wing papers are rails
ing the cry Of "repeal" in reference to the new tariff
bill, and threaten serious things concerning 1t In the
next Congress. They may be little too fast, pos
| sbly The present Congress continues I'LL the 4th
Of March next, and the elections for tie new Con-
gress which will continue two years from that time,
so far as they have been held do not indicate that
| the wings will have the power to repeal the tariff
during the next Congress. If they should not, and
most probably they will not they must wait patient
till December, l949, before they can do anything,
for the people may not be any more disposed to Ia
yor them at that time than the present. They GER
tainy do nothing in the Senate till 1850, and
probably will be worse off in that body than they
are now. Ii will be admitted that the tariff cannot
be easily altered during President Polks adminstra,
| ton. II may, by common consent, be amended ana
improved in Of its details, but IN It's great prin'
cple Of evying the main rates at from rs TO 80 per
il will not be disturbed The exorbitant duties
Of the bill Of l942 will be buried forever on the day
the bill goes into operation. It's So and gu, and
80, and even $50 per cent. duties will be known no
| more, some few special articles.
There Is aversion in the public mind against
high tariff. Medium, stable rates desiredi they
are demanded, not from desire to in ure the manu-
fscturers but with the knowledge that they pros
per under such rates, and with view TO promote
and commerce should not be stTangled in hot zeal
make special laws for the benefit Of the manuiac-
turers. This is not called for, and should not De
| Commerce enlightens, expands, enIiches. II
builds your vast cities Of wealth, and here ag-
rculture finds market. IL would not become
| our people, who bring wealth from the remotest
seas, TO build Chinese walls around our borders
| and shut themselves up upon their own resources.
IL would not make them great nor happy peo-
pie. Already the more liberal policy Of England Ia
felt by agriculturists. The beef, pork, cheese,
iard wool, and butter trade with England is becom-
| ing important, though yet in It's infancy. If we
should in coming years import something more
than formerly, we shall assuredly export great
| deal more. We should not allow ourselves TO fall
back behind the tide of the age, and paddle on in
the wake Of those who reap riches in our front
But as country with great and growing interests
| and interests newly developed, we shall act the
wiser part by casting about and taking advantage OF
/ the improvements and the spirit OF the age. We
cannot, with proprety, shut ourselves up within
one interest, and look TO that alone, but must
government regard with favor all the great inter-
| ests Of the country.
But aside from the general interests of the coun-
ITy-looking at the matter as connected alone with
the business Of manufacturing-we deem high
| tariff injurious rather than beneficial. IL certainly
leads 10 undue home competition, and II raises, In
various sections, fierce prejudices and opposition
which which disturb the confidence that should rest
| upon stable basis, and which is needed by the
| manufacturers. An able political writer says, in
speaking Of this subiect
"Where the protective system places the manu-,
| featuring interests Of any country on an artificial
oasis, wholly Incompatible with the general laws Of
| trade, there be little doubt Of It's being ele-
ment OF instability, and Of the of rinols
| fluctuations. The manufacturing interest in such
country rests not only on an artificial but on a
row foundation, and being in constant conflict with
the general laws Of trade, is exposed TO variations
n I'D eha and yh,,k
general commercial principles correct, in
| sequence Of the restrictive laws.
| "When from high protective tariff general
standard Of artificial prices is occasoned this tends
produce corresponding increase in the currency,
| even when the currency is metallic, and still more
when IL is paper, and Of local value only, the Law
governing the relations between currency and price
| has its reaction as well as its action. A redundant
currency produces correspondent advance OF
prices and when prices are elevated to an artificial
| standard by restrictive system, controlling the
general laws Of trade this occasions corresponding
| increase in the currency.
eft reasoning ia correct, and IT is believed to
be fully established by the experience Of the United
States, high protective tariff must have tendency
| to promote the expansion and contraction of the
| currency, and those fluctuations which have been
| so injurious to the manufacturing interests .
What the manufacturing interests want is stability
Ito be free from disastrous fluctuations"
Governor Toucey said, in his liable message
| 9TH ..o,I. oe ,L;, .o,n,... 1900, .
ne " .li. oeu'y nus nus pay m1es "
| nually for the support Of government That amount
must be paid into the national treasury and il mns
be paid, in some form bv the people, II is not a
question of policy or political science whether these
yes shall he maid bnt matter of nnavo;dabIe NO
cessi.y; ana IL they are wanted, as doubtless they
are Tor the economical administration OF the govern
ment, the people are willing to bear them, great as
the sacfihce may be. by universal consent, these
taxes are levied upon foreign imports; and If they
are levied by strictly revenue tariff upon foreign
articles which come IN competition with those OF
our own growth and manufacture, then our home
interests have an incidental protection or advantage
to the extent OF twenty-five millions of dollars an
| nually. This protection or advantage is, beyond
all doubt amply sufficient for all the great interests
of the country, in any manner dependent upon
tariff Of duties. Here is solid ground to rest upon.
Here is permanent basis for permanent legislation,
at least for permanent course Of policy which will
insure much stability to this branch of legislation
4 ~ e al ID,