The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-10

for adopting the free-trade system in this country.
Mr. Clay himself tells IN the course Of his letter,
that the restrictive system has produced IN this eoun
try all the good effects both TO the quality and the
chespness OF the articles manufactured that It's
friends promised. What did they PROMISE That they
would give US goods perfect in quality and cheap
in price they can be imported from abroad. To
take Mr. Clay's own word, therefore, the time has
arrved-if the successful establishment Of manufac-
lures can ever bring the time-when our govern
ment should adopt the free-irade system.
But where, Mr.. Clay's friends may ask, where
shall we obtain market for our manufactures as
extensive as that which Britain possesses in her
colonies' Britain offers as that market We might,
for years past send our cotton 10 Great Britain on
payment of duty Of 10 per cent. ad valorem, and
TO Calcutta on payment of20 per cent But Britain
now proposes To throw open the ports OF the whole
empire 10 trade the ports of her colonies, well
as her own island Her manufacturers free trade
meni they ask no projections they will have no pro-
lection. The proposal Of her ministry is TO admit
manufactured goods into her colonies either free or
on payment Of nominal duty. If the boast OF the
manufacturers in regard to the quality and price of
our goods be founded in truth, we may then under
sell The British, not only at Calcutta, but at Man
chester. On MIR. Clay's own principle, therefore,
the time is arrived, far respects the certainty Of
an extensive market, for abandoning the restrictive
system.
But there are certain nations, says Mr.. Clay,
which cannot enter into this free competition with
others, because in them ''manufaetures are yet in
their infancy, struggling hard for existence" be-
cause they are not experienced and skful," and
because they are ''ust beginning TO naturalize and
Who are these nationsl The United States Ger.
tainly is not among them Our manufactures are not
In their infancy They have had the benefit Of pro.
lection for more than thirty years past, almost the
duration Of generation OF men. They are not
struggling hard for existence. lisa corporation which
iivid ital arr
Cling hard for existence Will Mr.. Lawrence and
Mr.. Appleton, or Mr.. Hudson and Mr. Webster,
who speak for them in Congress- the getters up Of
the luxurious national fair at Washington, aeknowl-
edge that our manufacturers not experienced and
skilfuR-that they do not possess, and cannot exer
else the best and most expeditions processes known
in any part Of the world Are the owners Of the
Lowell mills or the Pennsyyania foundries Just be-
ginning to naturalize and establish the arts' Mr..
Clay manifesily shrinks from making any such as
sertion, though he seems 10 intimate IL. This inti-
nation, however is direct contradiction OF all that
he asserts in the letter concerning the restrictive sys
tenn as having already carried our manufactures to
all that height Of excellence abundance, and cheap
ness which its advocates had promised.
No great and prosperous nation, says MIR. Clay,
has ever existed which did not draw It's essential
supplies OF food and rament from within its own
limits-a position from which he nfers that our
government ought TO compel the peope OF this coun-
try TO do the same thing Mr.. Clay blunders eyre
gousy. Holland-once great and prosperous
never raised her own harvests. Great Britain, With
her immense population, cannot obtain food for
them from within her own limits; and she derives
the cotton and the wool Of which she makes their
garments, the one from the United States and the
other from various regions Of the world. Our own
woollen mills spin and weave the Aeeces Of South
America.
There several other views minated in Mr.
Clay's letter, the absurdty Of which we might ex-
pose, if had time, and our readers patience. The
truth is, that the tariff Of 1912 is a measure for the
retaining Of which II is impossible TO invent any
thing which shall look like sensible apology; and
we do not, therefore, marvel that Mr.. Clay has
written feeble letter, full of contradictions.
From the Boston Morning Post
. THE TARIFF.
The decisive vote in the House OF Representa-
tives on the tariff bill, which publish to-day,
will be gratifying to the friends Of a more liberal
commercial system. Ii is more decided than, after
ter the recent declarations from some democratic
members, they had reason to expect. If this bill
becomes law, and there is but little doubt but it
will, important changes will be effected in
enue system, and needed reform effected. We
shall have tariff more equal In Its provisions,
consonant to the spirit of our institutions, more in
keeping with the great reform movements Of the
day, more permanent IN Its character.
Its chief Characteristic is, that it 10 not protec-
tive, but revenue measure; not framed to promote
revenue for the government
From the Boston Times.
THE NEW TARIFF BILL
Our readers were informed yesterday morning of
the passage, through the House Of Representatives
of this BILL and several interesting particulars
nected Herewith. This event has been the subject
Of much congratuation among democratic
friends in Washington, and also Of bitter disappont
ment among our whig friends, who resort not to ar.
enfo ont he IF heir
and disappointment, but rave and illuminate like the
veriest scolds. This 10 useless and unnecessary,
and it is ever the part of wisdom not to condemn
till it shall have been tried satisfactorily
The bill has not yet passed the Senate, but from
all that gather, it will do so with but triHing,
if any, amendments. When the bill finally shall
have become law, there will be ground for gene
raj Joy and congratulation. BY such a measure,
the great subject of the tariff will become settled on
a firm and durable basis, and all uncertainty and
Misunderstanding arising from changes and rumors
of changes the business policy of the country dis
appear. It has been this unsettled state of things
which has caused much of the dissatisfaction pre-
vailing among many manufacturers, and prevented
them from making mature calculations as to future
operations.
long before all reasonable will be satisfied and
we shall hear of but few discontinued spirits if any,
who would like the old state of things to be re-
stored
From the Lowell Advertiser.
PASSAGE OF THE TARIFF-THE LINE is DRAWN.
The "Union," by this mornings mail, brought
the bill and the news of the passage, through the
House, of Mr.. Folks revenue tariff As the news
spread through the city, wings and republicans could
be as quickly defined as if of different dcscent-the
former by the frown and the latter by the Joy de-
picted on the countenance. BY this single act Of
James X. Folks administration, he has imbedded
himselfin the hearts ofthe hard-fsted yeomanry Of
New England. Soon the bill becomes law, we
will lay itbcfore our readers. The honorable Sec
rotary of the Treasury has golden opinions for
his boldness of conception and emery in carrying
out his purpose. We pray God the Senate may do
its duty.
pnpEpT OWEN