The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-17
ARTIFICIAL oPINIoN-oR, THE COTTON
SPINNERS' PANIC.

SPINNERS' PANIC.
We took occasion to say on Wednesday evening,
that we thought artificial panic in rapid pro-
cess of manufacture here at Washington to be sent
out the country, and thence TO be returned in
increased volume-like a word re-eehoed through
whispering gallery view to fright demo.
cratic members Of Congress from their "proprety''
and their principles, and so procrastinste for few
months the sure downfall of the thrice-condemned
tariff Of 1912 The Intelligeneer fnds our article to
be two columns of "hard writing" and has replied
to it in one column of very hard reading In sllu-
sion to our view of the tactics of the wing battle
against the tariff bill, the Integencer pathetically
exclaims
"Their tactics What tactics What strategic
art TO follow the figure before us) has been display
ed in the plan Of the campagn' What description
Of force has been put in requisition' What battery
has been unmasked against this odious and desolat-
ing measure which the House Of Representatives has
the Senate at almost the latest day Of the
sion %
These questions touch the heart of the matter.
They seek an answer, and such answer as we can
give them, they shall have!
1t has so happened that the democratic party in
this country has, almost from the commencement OF
our government, found itself struggling with priyi-
legged interests and classes, which have always en-
joyed one immense advantage in the contest-a COM
plete Orgar.iE rendering simultaneous
and cooperating effort upon the public mind in any
direction natural and easy. These class interests
find their centres OF operation in large cities.
They gather in bank parlors. They swarm in the
countng-rooms Of great corporations. And not UNI
frequently they come together to watch the huctua-
tons of stocks staple fancy in the rotunda Of the
Exchange Everywhere among them there is con-
slant cooperation, communication, mutual ntelli-
gence Is the public mind to be acted onl Is Con-
gress to be influenced These interests can shout
at a moment with voice. and strike on the in
slant as with one arm. Out Of this state of things
has grown a system Of "taeies." We have seen a
great deal Of them in past times, and when we see
the beginning Of the same thing noc, we recognise
its origin and character in a moment.
Not a single important, measure Of reform has
the democratic party brought forward within
assaed by precisely the same weapons. From the
centres Of Incorporated wealth, the cry has gone
forth to raise storm throughout the land. De-
rangement, CONFUSION, bankruptcy, ruin have been
the watchword and reply. The whole business in
terests of the land have been falsely represented as
rallying the rescue, and camor has been raised
loud enough indeed to represent their united voice.
Every man can remember manifold instances of
this When General Jackson avowed his objections
to a recharter of the national bank, the bank cap
itasts in mass, and, rushing to Washington,
ii
drawn and varied howl Of complaint.
When the same fearless statesman determin-
ed to rescue the public moneys from the
gracp Of a corrupt and corrupting banking insu-
ton, who does not remember the ''tactcs' of that
partyi Proclamation went forth from the temples of
the money changers that we were in revolution, and
that there was "no Sabbath in revolutionary times"
The tables of Congress groansd with petition and re-
monstrance. The streets of our city, and even the
measure so heinous as not to be thought of in the
madness of the moment; and the bank newspapers
threw out dark hints, that if need be, armed men
should march to Washington, and save the great
business interests of the country And yet all this
outcry was the short-lved buzz of clique The
country was sound. The masses Of men looked on
upon the agitation in astonishment and silence,
and went forth TO their peaceful labors of the seed
time or harvest quite unconscious that the country
was going to ruin. Nay, Mr.. Webster has himself
told US that within ten years from the time when
Washington was thus swept by an artificial bank
panic as by a tornado, the national bank interest
which could get up such an exhibition became
absolutely an 'obsolete idea" Dead-buried-
forgotten-a within ten years after it had So con-
vused Congress and the country! But the bank
knew the "tactics," and had even unusual facilities
to ply them fully. What piles of petitions it could
pour in upon Congress in a single day! What
bales of remembrance What presses it could sub
sidze, and what eloquence did the vast variety and
expansion of its interests enable il to rally to its de-
fence! And yet the hand of death was upon it all
the while The people did not want it, and would
have none of it, and all predictions to the contrary
Notwithstanding, they have not found themselves
ruined, now that it has passed away.
Even when under General Jackson's auspices. in
1867, that wise and humane measure of removing
the Indians beyond the Mississippi, and securing
them country Of their own was recommended,
panic was got up by misguided fanatics. Meetings
Weio observation-disclosures were auOpteu-the tables
of Congress groaned under the petitions and COM
plants Of poitico paryorators blew their
blasts in Congress-but all in vain The panic van
ished. The removal was accomplishment scarce
a man now lives to deprecate or disapprove the
measure
few months will demonstrate that the tariff of
"A branch Of the same general system of privilege
nd claua lafIn H.
as the "obsolete" Bank of the United States.
But first, we must endure some of the old "actics.
Indeed, these same "tactics" are by no means new
to the subject of the tariff. They were shown in
full muster field, for instance, in opposition to the
modified tariff plan of Mr.. Verplanck in 1899
Then, as now, the workshops of the country were
to be closed-tho water-wheels were to stop--tbe
fire to go out in the FORGE and the trip hammer to
fall asleep on the anvil But them as now, all this
was talk. IL had its day. II partially served he