The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-23

but, says uic hithDcf VI tue .@on SOHEfcSS
'ths protective policy was adopted" and ''eopiia,
went with il freely and confidently" This is re-
mArkable, since capital, il had been affirmed, had no
proeliyiy in that direction. The manufacture Of
cotton and the reduction Of the prices Of fabrics OF
that description, is enlarged upon as furnishing
pseial proof Of the beneficial effects of protective
tariff. HrI r.r r.. ...
The reviewer tells us Of the fall of prices in cotton
fabrics; and instead of ascrbng that result TO the
effects Of machinery, the increase Of the raw NATE
rial, and altered amount of the currency, as pro-
ducing it he cings to the paradox, that high duties
make low prices
The next proposition of the Secretary Of the
Treasury commented upon is, "that experience
proves that, as general rule, duty Of 20 per cent
ad valorem will yield the largest revenue" Ii is
curious to observe the way adopted by the "member
Of the 9th Congress" to disprove this proposition
He cites number Of articles in the British tariff, at
much higher rate OF duty than 20 per cent, but il
happens that not one Of them is protected article
The duties in the cases mentioned arc all revenue
duties, and totally irevelant to the point in de-
bate. a .. sr
Tojustify the tariff of ls42 the writer in the In
tslgeneer says, that Il "was modelled upon the Ia
riff of 1881" Well, and il so, what of taat' What
tariff forced the compromise, and prevented civil
war; What il Mr.. Polk and Mr.. Cave johnson
voted for that Of 1882 The question in that case is,
did they, by so doing, get rid ola higher ons'
The argument against ad-yslorem duties, aud in
favor OF minimum and specific duties, as being ia
yorable to the poorer classes, is ridiculous. A few
days since, we extracted from the Journal of Com
meree article illustrating, in the Of ealicoes,
the dearest proof Of the oppressive operation OF
these specific ord minimum duties.
With respect to the occurrence OF frauds under
an AL .yslorem system, there ID eheciual way to
prevent them. There should be penalties severe
enough TO prevent their preparation.
We refer, however, to the essays OF "Bundel-
cund," which have just appeared in pamphlet
form, for a complete refuration Of all the sophisms
of "a member Of the 9th Congress-"
In connection with this discussion, we introduce
the following articles from the last New York Eve
ming Post and the New York Journal OF Commerce.
They give light on some of the popular errors Of
the friends OF the tariff, we'll as on the propriey
Of its reduction:
From the n. Y. Evening Post, Jan. 81.
INTRODUCTION OF MANUFACTURES AT
THE SOUTH.
Mr.. Abbott Lawrence, Of Boston, is writing let
ters to Mr. Vim. G. Rives, Of Virginia, in which he
dwells upon the necessity Of introducing manufac-
lures into that State, specifying, among Others
those Of iron, wool, and cotton. He sets out with
the following statements
"When the constitution OF the United States was
adopted, Virginia contained double the population
OF New York, and now, New York contains dou-
bic the number Of people In Virginia.
"The truth is, and not to be denied, that nature
has been profuse in her gts in behalf Of your peo-
pie, and you have done but little for yourselves
The settlement and development Of the resources of
the western country have brought into existence an
active and efectual competition with your people in
the great staples Of your agricultural products viz
wheat, Indian corn, and tobacco. Maryland and
North Carolins, like yourselves, essentially az
fected by competition from the same quarter-from
Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Mich
igan, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
"Thc Great West is now supplying largely the
New England and other States, which are consum-
ers Of these agricultural staples in quantity and
value to greater extent than all The foreign world
besides. The internal improvements of the coun-
try already finished have brought Boston, by steam,
within the distance Of four days travel Of Ciucinna-
Il, by way Of Buffalo; and contemplated railroad
from Burlington, Vermont, to Ogdensburg, New
York, will bring US practically ye. nearer TO those
fertile regions Of the West. The expense of trans.
portauon is essentially reduced wherever railroads
canals have been constructed, and even the Mis-
sissippi herself bears down upon her bosom the
products of the West at less than half the freight
that was charged a few years ago.
"Thirty years since, few small schooners were
sufficient to carry on, the commerce between this
city and New Orleans now, within the last year,
have had one hundred and sixty-fve arrivals from
Ne w Orleana n this and of tho yessela
are of the largest class-shps from 500 to 700 tons
burden. They have brought tobacco, Indian
corn, -four, cotton, beef, pork, lard, lead, &c,
amounting in the aggregate TO many millions Of dol
lars. Of the first three of these articles, which now
come to US in such quantities from New Orleans
our importations in former times were almost ex-
clusvely from Virginia, North Carolina, and Mary
land"
This competition on the part of the West, in the
production of of the articles whica the prnc pal
staples Of Virg mia, observes Mr.. Lawrence is likely
to increase. The only remedy he can think of for
the mischief which will TO the interests of
Virginia, il the introduction of manufactures which
he proposes shall be combined with what he calls
IAN, expansive system of popular education" Set
ting up spinning jennies the rapid waters of the
James river, where it dashes by the city of Rich
mond, would, he seems to imagine, enrich the cul-
,ivators Of the earth in Virginia, by giving them
home market. ..a
This old staking-horse of the home market we
have heard nothing of before for two three years
and we had hoped it was laid up forever in limbo.
IL serves, MIR. Lawrences purpose, however, and he
has brought il forth again with view of trying its
effect upon the people of Virginia.
But of what value is a home market for the plant
ers Of Virginia as long the people of the West,
on their virgin lands, raise tobacco and grain at
so much less expense, and with SO much more
ease' Create whatever home market you please,
yet while you allow the productions Of the to be
Sad tIak,
out competition. The Virginia farmer will obtain
more for his staples than he did before the home
market existed. The farmers Of Long Island have
an extensive home market in the swarmng and
swelling population Of this city and its surround
ing towns and villages. Yet the Long Island
furmer finds that his wheat cannot stand in com
petition with that which comes pouring into our
market abundan1y fiom the granaries Of the
West, and he is obliged to content himself with the
prices which the western farmers force upon him.
This plan for raising the prices Of Virginia to-
bacco and four by putting up few factories on the