The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-04

VoI lluecu Itnuefeu necessary
The House finally disposed of the supplemental
war bill. Details will be found in another column.
The residue of the day was given up to the con-
sideration of bills relating to the Territories.
Mr.. Gordon, after brief visit home, resumed his
seat in the House to-day.
We observe that several Of the wing papers
are commenting, at considerable length, upon the
views which We have recently submitted as to
that system Of protection" under which the country
is at present laboring, We do not intend Just now
to continue this discussion, though we may have
a great deal more to say upon the question when it
shall come up in Congress We are induced now
to refer to the subject by the following communica-
lion which correspondent has sent to US, as show
ing the consistency Of OF the leading organs of
the protectionists We shall be glad If the lntell-
gencer will bestow little Of It's valuable time and
attention upon this Renaissance
Supposing that journal to be quite sincere when ii
asserted, in 1923, "hat the manufacturing Interest is at
Ibis moment better protected than any other interest Of
the country" we shall be glad to learn from the same
authority whether 1t regards the protection given to
the manufacturing interest by the tariff Of 1912,
being only Just and equal measure Of protection.
1.-THE Intslligencer was right in thinking that man
uacturers were more favored than any other class OF
citizens in 1923, we hope 1t will now explain its
views as to the relative advantages which they en-.
Joy at present But the whole case is put very
clear by our correspondent, and we let him speak
for himself.
old DOCUMENTS ARE DANGEROUS THINGS"
Mr.. EDIroE | am no politician, but being
young man ! read for information, that | may the
more correctly form my political opinions. Hav-
ing often heard 1t said that the National lntellI-
gencer was once considered republican or demo-
cratic paper | have endcavored TO ascertain what
were then the views Of Messrs. Gales & Seaton on
the great subject Of the tar-and in that paper, of
that date, find the following;
From the National ntelgsncer OF 18th of March Is2s
"SURvEILLAEcE.-We observe that one Of our
journalists has discovered that letter has lately been
written by senator in Congress- on paper of Brit
ish manufacture, which friend Niles denounces If
it were one Of the seven deadly sins. Now, with
great Difference To the opinions Of Others we are
far from considering 1t any sin TO use English pa
per, that If 1t were more agreeable or economical TO
US to write print upon il, should certainly
it, Just we wear English fabrics, when they
are better or cheaper than American. This, how
ever, is a question about which people may and do
differ; there are, we know, some very worthy PEG.
pie, who think it their duty, at whatever inconve-
nience to conhne their consumption TO the product
Of our own forests, fields and waters. 1t is another
question, however, whether this surveillance of the
press the private actions Of men is decorous,
or consistent with that freedom of opinion and ac-
ton which we ourselves require.
ave conceive that editors Of newspapers have
the same right to control the consumption of food
nd aa fheu hav IN Mt nE ma
per-and that by the same rule as they prohibit
particular paper they may prescribe form OF dress,
or a code Of culinary regulations. Nay further, the
use OF paper Of foreign manufacture being consid-
cred offence in the court Of conscience, as il
seems to be- editors who speculate upon this sub
ject may, with just as much propriety, inquire what
church frequents; or even forbid his frequent
ing any church, because all our systems Of theolo-
gy are imported from Europe. We shall presently
be forbidden the study of Locke and Newton, the
assertion of the doctrines of the and the belief
in the principal Of the other, because they not
Of domestic manufacture.
"For ourselves, we claim credit for purely ma
tional feeling, which we have been even reproved
for carrying too far. 1t does not, however trans
port into such an ecstacy of patriotism to in
spire us with mortal hatred Of everything that is
foreign Whether man drinks whiskey or wine
at his meals we shall never inquire and 1t we knew,
we should not care-it being a matter Of taste and
convenience. Some people drink rye, whilst others
prefer the genuine grain. Would our friend at Bal
timore make law to force the former down our
throats' or would he put in print to produce the
SAME effecti Maryland is fertile in tobacco Of the
best qualities; would Mr.. N. therefore prohibit the
consumption of the products Of HavanaI
"The truth is, these are matters which best regu-
late themselves. When American fabrics bet.
ter, or, other things being equal are cheaper, than
those Of Europe, they will certainly be consumed in
preference Until they are, il is unreasonable 10 insist
IL ~,nl.,
ish paper to write print upon, because we see
reason for it; but we have used both Italian and
German paper, and 80, no doubt, has Mr.. Niles
II must be the merit and value of manufactures
after all which insures their consumption; and were
competition taken away, we should soon find their
quality deterlorate."
have given you this long extract, Mr.. Editor
that might not be suspected of disappearing the
Intelligencer by "garbIed extracts it is with the
exception of the italiczed) verbatim published in
that paper of that date. But, to remove all doubt
to the views of the lntcgencer at that time, here is
another extract Gan editoral) published ten days
later:
From the Intelligencer of March n, 1929.
The manufacturing interest "is al this moment BET
ter protected than amy other interest Of The country"
Manufactures are besides already the only prosper
GUS interest of the country-they are fomiShing at
the expense Of epery other"
believe the flcts then sustained these assertions
of the IntelIigencer, though (be it rcmemberod) it
was previous to the high and protective tariffs Of
1924 and 1923, and the still more protective ono Of
ls42. Then it requires no argument to prove that
what was then asserted by these consistent editors is
true nou; for, in the aggregate, all change in ma
chnery legislation since that day has operated in
favor of the manufacturing interests. But if we
wanted proof upon this subject abundant testimony
has been furnished in the National Fair" now ex-
hibiting in this city, that the manufacturing interest
"is at this moment better protected than any other inter
est Of the country" that they "are The only prosperous
interest Of the country" while the depressed state of
our agricultural and commercial interests show that
arc aollr shing nf Lhe frpknf of enfru oLhern