The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-15

Their goods as cheap they do abroad. Well, We
propose now TO relieve them from this dilemma
For cheap goods must result IN loo wages. Thus
they have, according TO their confessions, forced
upon the country policy that has degraded our la
Dor by destroying ITS reward.
The cost OF labor and the interest on capital con-
stitule Of the leading elements entering into the
price OF manufactures. Then, II the low rate of in
ierest in Europe, combined with low wages Of la
Dor, enabled foreigners TO manufacture goods and
sell them for loo prices certainly, IL zoe, in this eeua-
ny, (~here the rate Of interest and wages Of labor
are both hiyhsr,) manufacture similar goods at the
same prices either our capitalists who own the
ufacluiing establishments are greatly injured, IL not
ruined, or our free American labor must DO degraded
and placed on level with the "pauper labor OF
Europe" II the first alternative is true, the pro-
teeive policy has been suicidal and Improbable To
the capitalist But il the second alternative 10 the
correct ons then, Ear from protecting against low
wages, II has ha tened their advent and doomed the
operatives 10 great suffering, Should the first con-
tingeney be true, IL 10 folly for the lords Of the
loom 70 adhere 70 80 runous policy; but II the
latter is correct then IL Is imposition upon the
efedulous TO call that policy protective, which prac-
ticslly reduces the wages Of the manufacturing
operatives But, notwithstanding the sophisms
and subterfuges gentlemen resort TO in order TO
sustain their policy of high protective duties,
nothing can be more certain Than that the object and
design OF high duties is 10 sustain enhance The price
Of the protected article. Ia either event, the
sumers have 10 pay more than they otherwise
would. But having, on a former occasion, ehsi-
enged gentlemen 10 refute the able and conclusive
argument OF the honorable member from Massa-
ehusetts, Mr.. ADAMS, which demonstrates that
high duties enhance the value OF Me goods on which
they imposed, and finding no one heretofore
either able or willing on that side Of the House TO
Join issue with ham on that point, will conclude
this branch Of the subject by citing again one or
two extracts from his report, No. 4sl, 10, session
Of the 22d Congress; ..-
The doctrine that duties Of iupost sksapH s pTies Of
the ariei,s upon which they are levied seems TO eSn
with the first dictates Of common ssHss.
III is esraay contrary to the natural Of thing,
a an addition 20 iAe cost sAosd BE- radiation Of the price
But the duty upon the articles imported from abroad
Enabled the domestic produeerto enter Into competition with
the duty operates bounty or premium TO the doasse
manufacturer But BY whom Is Il paidf Certainly by the
pan chaser Of the article whether OF foreign OF doesc
manufacture The d4y constitutes part OF the price Of
the SAOis Of the srticle In the market sb'an
italy paid upon the article OF domestic manufacture az well
upon that OF foreign production Upon one bounty
upon the others tu d and the repeal Of the tax must OPP
eae as an sguisa,ai reduction Of the Pe. Of the article
"Th~ general and permanent effect be the
price the article the OF the additional duty and
II is then paid by the II sol II the
general effect OF adding to duty TO make the price Of
the articles upon which II Is levied less, the converse OF the
proposition would also be trus and the operation for In.
cresing the price Of the domestic article would be TO
peal the duty upon the same article mported-an 1Pe
dssiroas Of making"
If the bill now before us is not in all respects
perfect yet proposes greatly TO reduce the existing
high duties and therefore, pro igrao should be sup
ported by every democrat The passage OF this
bill will be great movement in behalf Of free trade.
The wings had foo objects in view in passing the
tariff law Of ls42 They were for protective and
not simply revenue tariff II they were for reve-
nue. alone they should vote for the bill before
us. So far as have heard, no one has attempted
to prove, by fact or argument, that the bill now
would no, raise an adequate revenue.
Same fmsy defamation, savoring of dread lest
they may lose protection than any just apprehension
Of rot raising sufficient revenue, has been induged
in; but we can prove that heretofore, several
casions, when the duties were mod, rate, imports
greatly increased. From these facts we war
ronied in assuming that reduction Of existing dn-
ties will also be followed by great increase IN our
imports. From the data we have, we think 1t fair
to assume that the imports will he increased by re-
m psing these extravagant duties Of 1912 in vastly
greater ratio than we shall lower the duties great
that reduction is proposed by this bill TO be. For
these reasons, we think reduction of duties, fol-
lowed by greatly increased import trade, Gas the
past history Of the country proves tn have been the
attendant Of reduction of duties,) will result not
only in augmenting the prosperity OF the country,
but al o be the means Of placing ample revenue IN
the treasury. But while entertain these opln-
IONS we do not intend to urge that our system will
compIish all these vast results with unerring GER
tainty in few months yet we feel confident of its
exerting ultimately all the salutary influences which
we anticipate and that full and fair trial Of it will
be signazed by far greater prosperity in all parts
of the country than resulted from the passage Of the
tariff of l642. Besides, in financial matters, affect
ing the great vital interests Of the country, scarcely
anything is Of more Importance than stability; and
we hope now to lust the tariff on SO just and wise
a basis as to insure that desderatum.
We propose by passing this BILL to remove ma
nv Of the barriers that now impede our commerce,
and thereby greatly add 10 the prosperity OF the
country A fourishing commerce, like the healthy
circulation ofthe blood, is equally conducive to, as
well as demonstratve Of the thrifty condition OF the
body polite. Invariably commerce is enlarged
or diminished, do we find our agricultural products
rising or falling in value. This shall establish
fully in the subsequent part OF my remarks. 90,
therefore, we have ample reasons in passing this bll
to anticipate greatly increased commerce, and that
we are sure will impart greatly increased value to
all Of our agricultural productions. This opening
Of the springs of commerce will are confident, re-
WITTY many interests now suffering from the want
Of good and steady markets. In facilitating an ex-
change accommodates, we expect TO increase the
wages of labor, the profits Of commerce, the value
of our staple productions; and in doing this, we are
sure means will be created sufficient to warrant the
enterprising in employing The industry of the coun-
try, fully and probably. These mighty results we
propose 10 aItaln Dy uos Justicc W al, anu i"Poo
ino burdens on no one. We are for reducing the
enormously high duties imposed by the bill of 1912,
not only because they are oppressive to agncui-
ture, commerce, and the consumers generally, but
because the manufacturers do not need more protec-
ton than bill framed solely with view to repetm
would afford them Thisis no assertion made at
random. The history Of several States of this
Union abounds in facts illustrative of its truth.
will not irespass further on the attention OF the COM
ittee than cite two examples. the culture OF SUI
gar in Louisiana, and the amount Of manufactures
in Massachusetts. The other day listened to- The
rrmarks made by the member from Louisiana, Mr..
HARMANsoN,1 with pleasure and admiration, grow.
ing out Of the fact, that he had both the head ana
heart, though himself engaged in planting, and STU
ated in the midst Of the sugar plancrs--a large and
wealthy class in his State, and constituting the only
agricultural interest in the South which derives any
substantial benefit from protection at the hands OF
this government,-yet that, under such clrcumstan-
ces he should manfully advocate the revenue tariff,
as proposed by the democracy as the only fair and
wise policy for this government to pursue.
II is universally admitted that the sugar planters
Of Louisiana are, and have been, under the foster
;,c & 10 LARGER nrof.