The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-03


lea still cling with blind faulty to this relic of fsu
Idalismi ..r O.. d a.. = tr'". ..'-.'I ~
A coroiary from the preceding observations is
that protective duties we'll revenue are a Ia,
on consumption. Assuming this 10 be eorrect M
burdens and the benefits Of the protective tax ma,
be stated as follows:
First as &, the burdens. ain every case, - saws
distinguished fnancier and economist, already QUO
ted, 'the difference between the price before the dat,
was laid and that at which the domestic n,anufac
ture can be sold with reasonable profit, is, TO III,
whole extent Of that manufacture, loss 10 the com
munity. That difference Is equal, or nearly equal
on each yard of cloth, to the duty laid on a yard Of
the similar foreign article whenever that duty is moi
too high to prevent partial foreign importations."
The Secretary Of the Treasury, in his annual re-
port, asserts that the whole tax imposed upon the
people by the present tariff is not less that s5 goo
900, Of which S27 100000 paid to the govern.
ment, and the balance TO the protected classes.
II the national loss in consequence Of protective
duties did not exceed the amount paid 20 the gov
eminent, il would greatly overbslance any present
or probable benefits OF the system -
Second, AZ 10 the hcaefis- BY the cessuer OF
lo4O, the number OF persons engaged in manufsc-
turing pursuits and IN trades il ascerained To be
about 5O0,OOO OF this number, 554, 1873 are estma-
ted To be engaged in manufactures, and 237 ,56l in
the trades. ON. ....
Admitting that the laborers employed in manu-
lieStdicb uhu MOI ONcfWOfkeu, lndt hcy
arc well fed, well clothed and well paid, direct pro-
lection TO that extent is secured TO the six hundred
thousand. This is essentially the encouragement,
and all the encouragement that the ssiem affords to
labor. And even in this the greatest benefit
enures 10 the capitalist
But all labor of all descriptions is taxed by it
through the consumption Of the country, so that a
more precise definition Of il would be 'taxation of
the IL 900 900 for the benefit of the II 000"-the
hrst representing the nation, the last privileged CAPT
tai.
This is NOT protection; it is oppression of Ameri-
can labor, That such taxation is unjust and un-
equal is, believe, the growing conviction Of the
North and the West The farmers, and mechanics,
and laborers, are canyassing and will continue to
canvass this policy. The army of free labor is rising
IN It's strength; II - advancing; its mighty tread
may be heard in the distance. While zoe delay and
doubt, and hesitate, II may be upon u.s. with fresh
representation, demanding with settled resolution
not protection, not privilege, not compromise, but
the freedom Of traffic, and THE WORLD FOR A MAR
KET.
Here Mr.. b. remarked that having thus far d-
reced his observations to the restrictive system gen.
orally, and not to the particular modification of it
contained in the act of l642 he desired to give
extracts of documents, and to exhibit some state
ments and comparative tables, showing the cond-
ton OF agricultural industry under it, but that he
would not occupy the time of the committee in read
ing them. They will appear in the pamphlet ed-
ton of his remarks, He then proceeded:
Considered in any light that have been able to
view It, cannot but regard any system Of ,resric-
ton by protective duties, without the true prov
lnce OF egisaton-as at war with primary truths Of
political scIence-as usurping the rights of the cltl
zen-as favoring aggregated wealth at the expense
of labor-and finally as fostering a system OF profI-
sion and extravaganza in this government, which is
constantly levying recruits to the army of patron.
age.
How widely have we departed from the counsels
of Mr.. Jefferson. The wonderful man, when ele-
waited 10 the first magistracy contemplated with de-
light the great future of his country In his nsugu-
raj address, after drawing bright picture of the pc
culiar advantages of our situation, says:
with all these blessings, what more is necessary to
make us happy and prosperous peopef stu thing
more, ierlow-chzens. A wise and frugal government
which shall restrain from nurng snother shan
leave them otherwise free regulate their own pursuits
Of industry and Improvement and shall not take from the
mouth OF labor the bread has earned"
And how have we responded to this COUNSEL
Grinding taxation, profuse expenditure, oppressive
public debts, accommodating patronage, intermeddlng
with the occupations Of the citizen-these, and
such as these, Deeds more significant than
any words of respose, rather deinquencies, that
should mantle the check of honest patriotism with
shame.
1t is time to look to our soundings. We have di.
verged far from the true constitutional course-the
course of safety. We must retrace, or run upon
breakers.
In rejecting upon possible remedies against the
profusion and Capitalization of this government,
have sometimes thought that our first duty to
unmask the taxes to a sufficient extent to enable
constituents to know when, how, and for what pur-
pose they taxed. | have feared, and still fear,
that this course, and this course only, will be found
adequate to responsibility of representation,
and to insure frugal and equal government.
These views will doubtless be regarded as the
vagaries of freetrade-the illusions Of destructive
radicaism. While they arc sincerely entertained,
they will not restrain me from acting, as are
sometimes compelled by circumstances to act, when
every alternative presented has the appearance of
error.
IL could control circumstances with a wish,
would demand the issue of less restricted COM
merce than has been presented in either of the sub
s'itutes before us, for the existing tariff 1.-THE en-
couragement of agriculture, and of commerce as its
hand-maid," should be the paramount object.
If such an issue were presented, would venture
to suggest, that even the frec-trade much depre
Gated by some, is the cheap defence Of nations the
friend of universal labor in all chimes, The agent of
promoting useful knowledge among men, of teaching
humanity its rights and the peaceful redress Of its
wrongs; of infusng the counsels Of peace into the
deliberations of cabnets and, finally, the means of
allaying those prejudices and passions that the
harbingers Of hostility among nations, and Of sow
ing broadcast IN all lands, the seeds of TRUTH peace
and liberty.
Mr.. HUNTER next obtained the hoor and
addressed the committee follows:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: am aware of the many pract-
cal difficulties in the way of legislation upon sub
ject so complicated that of a tariff, whether i'm
posed for revenue or protection. There are so
many conflicting opinions and interests to be re-
conclled and so many subjects to be embraced in
such bill, that it would be unreasonable to expect
it to satisfy ALL as it would be impossible to fortel
with precision the entire results Of so complicated
system. If every man in the House concurred in
opinion as TO the end to be sought, whether Of
revenue protection it is scarcely possible but that
they would differ to the best mode Of attaining it,
With this view Of the difficulties to be encountered
by those who were to frame this bill have never
entertained the hope that it would be entirely salts
factory to myself. But although it is by no means
such as would have made it had there been no
opinions but mine to consult am still prepared to
sustainit as being, in my estimation, great i'm
provement upon the act of 1912 regard as relief
and blessing every approach 10 system Of inn
posts laid for revenue merely, and will move on
ward, whether fast or slow, towards such an OBJ
ject, in preference to standing still. Each step Of
Il Il. III