The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-02
TO THE EDITOR OF THE UNION

| see nothing in the communication Of the Hon.
Mr. Mcllvaine, in the Union Of last evening, in re-
ply to my communication of the day before, which
requires any particular notice.
| recaptuation of the points of difference be-
tween us will show that he has utterly failed to
meet them
In his SPEECH he cited from the report of the
Commissioner of Patents, the wages Of agricultural
labor in France, Germany, and certain other coun-
tries, showing that they were very much lower in
those countries than they are in this, and then
charged the commissioner, and "this BundeIcund,'
with proposing" that is, designing, to reduce Amer
lean labor to 10 cents per day. In his late commu-
nication, he makes no such direct charge, but as
sumes that such would be the result of the policy
which the undersigned advocates.
ply, and see if the honorable gentleman has extri-
Gated himself from the dilemma into which he I'M
| consciously thrust himself
This is his argument, if it can be called such.
First, he shows that the wages Of the agricultural
laborer are very low in certain countries lin all he
might have added) in Europe. Second, Bundel.
cund is in favor of moderate revenue tariff, which
will equaze the burdens of taxation, and contribute
to the elevation Of no class of American citizens
over another. And hence, with most remarkable
force of logic he concludes thut Bundelcund is in
favor Producing the wages Of the American laborer
| TO 10 cents per day.
In this argument, he necessarily implies the fact,
that in the European countries which he cites The
free trade systen pery o,o tariffs prevail II is upon
this implied fact that his conclusion rests. Other.
| wise if free trade or low tariffs do not prevail in
| those countries, how can he infer that the under
signed, who is in favor of low tariff, advocates the
reduction of wages to ten cents per day. There
FORE if this assumed fact turns out 10 be unfoundcd
his conclusion falls to the ground.
Now, what is the fact in regard to those European
countries' Why, Just this. That in every one o
| them which he cited, and two more-viz: Russia ant
| IL he uyn,lld ALL n
| hciipe system, in its most odious and oppressiv,
forms prevails. The gentleman's system exist
| in those countries in which wages arc low, and no
the system of "this Bundelcund"
Now, if prohibtve systems reduce and degrade
the laborer in Europe, will they not produce the sum'
Same system can produce one effect in one country
and a precisely opposite effect in another eav'
it to the astute and learned gentleman from Penn
syyania to explain these Inconsistencies, and to ex
4 tricate himself from the dilemma in which he Il
: placed, if he can. IL is into such absurdities tina
I the advocates of false and unjust system of pol
4 lev rush blindfod. Or, if they go in with thei
ewes wide open, it is to delude the people into thu
support Of a system which preys upon them, bu
enriches those who delude them, or the master
whom those self sacrificing agents serve.
l But the honorable gentleman abounds IN incon
sistencies He says: al knew that most Of the gov
emments Of Europe have adopted the latter, (pro
tectye system and some of them after the fats
experiment of free trade" What have they adopt
ed protective systems, and still have low prices
low wages1 And yet the gentleman in favor o
: lust such system for this country, which must o
course, produce like effects.
Again, he says: docs he (Bundelcund) no
know that many Of them European ceuntries) hav
tried the system for which he is now contendine
and we're driven to protection to save themselve
from utter destruction Il because Tin the Ian
gusge of her minister of hnance) events have prove
, that our AGRICULTURE AND our COMMERCE, a
, we'll as our MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, are NJ
. only parayzed, but brought 70 The BRINK OF RUIN
that the Russian government adopted the protective sy
tenn"
il il so, indeed Have all those countries bee
:, compelled to adopt the protective system, and y
The poor IdbOrp has 10 pork for from 10 10 20 esnts