The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1846-02-17
MR.. LAWRENCE TO MIR. RIVES,
on THE TARIFF.
Boston, january 10th, 1916.
CO1cluCfed

Boston, january 10th, 1916.
Concluded.
Mr.. Walker proposes TO substitute ad va
loren for specific duties. in opposition TO our
own experience, and that of almost every
other country. have never yet found an
American merchant who has nos been in ia
vor oispecihc duties, wherever it can be done
with convenience to the importer and the
government. | confess il a bold measure TO
propose total and entire change of reve-
nue. system, which was established with the
government, and has stood the test of expe-
rience through all the trials OF political par
ties and administration, from General Wash
ington 10 Mr.. Polk 1t appears more extra
ordinary at this Time, as the country is in n
high state Of property. The revenue Is E.
nough FOR ali the reasonable wants of the
government, and the people appear TO be
satisfied with their condition. The resource
es Of the country were never developing
more rapidly; the Increase ofOur population.
the present year, will probably equal thai OF
the last, which | estimate at 100000 souls
our wealth, too, has been wonderfully aug
menied by the construction of railroads;
there has been d great increase OF our ship
ping, engaged III the domestic commerce OF
the country, not only by sea. but upon cur
rivers, and great lakes; the manufacturing
interests has been largely extended; and The,
soil. too. has been made 10 produce vastly
more than any former period. The whole
productive power Of the country has been
greater in three years Chat is. since the pas
sage Of the Tariff OF 1927 tllan dlrin any
equal space OF time in our national history
There have been three periods Of universal
| distress throughout our land since the peace
| of 1873, and in each case under low duties
] | appeal 10 those who remember those peri
DDS; and 10 others, refer to the annals Of
our country. Those periods were from 1883
(the conclusion OF the revolutionary war; to
1889, 1915 TO 1924. 1887 TO 1912.
| would respectfully recommend to the
Secretary Of The Treasury, who appears TO
have received new light upon the subject of
our national economy, 10 examine the history
Of The legislation Of Congress at the above
periods. He viii find in his own depart
meut of The government an abundance of ev-
iEence OF The distress that existed under low
duties. and a deranged currency.
There is a prevalent idea abroad. that the
cap til Of the country will suffer exceedingly
by revulson in It's business. and that the
tariff of 1912 has operated in favor of the
capital and not the labor of the country
There can be no doubt that capital is zen
orally prnhtahly and safely employed, and
well paid. The profits of capital are low
when wages are low; but capita, has usu-
| ally had the power 10 take care ofiiself. and
does not require tie aid Of Congress TO place
t IN any other position, than 10 put the labor
in motion. COncrcs should lcgiSlate for the
labor, and the capital will take care of itself
| will give you an example The rate Of wa
yes under low duties. and under tie TariI Of
lSl2. In 1911 and 1912 the depression of
| Ill kinds of business became so oppressive
that many oil The manufacturing establish
ments in New England were closed. the on
eratives dismissed, the mechanical trades
we're still. and every resource for The labor
ing man seemed dried up.
In the cry Of Lowell where there are
more than thirty arge cotton mills. from six
10 sixteen thousands 81 iI.Gits each it WAS
gravely considered Icy the PruPrie'ors wheill-
er tine mills should be- stopped. II was ron
cluded to reduce The wages; this was done
several times, until the reduction brought
down the wages from about s. 10 Sl.5C rer
week, exclusive OF board this operation took
place upon between 1000 and 5000 females
the mills run on; no sales were made of
goods the South and West had nciihe-
money nor credit; and finally. it was deter
iIlliCu ~ tlhtl BQl uil4l NDI4EESS SUlOl0 dCf
upon the Tariff. The bill passed, and Of
course the mills kept running, which would
not been the case il the act had been reject
ed; and now the average wages paid NJ
LoweIl,-taking The same number Of females
for the same service.-is rwo dollars per
week. exclusive OF board Yet Mr.. Walker
says labor has fallen. Where are the wages
oflabor, ask, lower than they were in 1922
Who is 10 be benefited by the adoption Of
system that gives up every thing. and gives
no reasonable promise Of any thing?
| have succeeded, trust, in showing that
there is no probability Of our exports increas-
ing. in consequence of reduction of the
Tariff. and that the products of the Western |
states find the best market among manufac
turers at home. In regard TO the Southern (
and cotton growing states, they are 10 be /
greatly benefited by the increase of con- /
sumption of their staples at home. No ap-
preciabIe quntiiy can be shipped TO England !
if the Tariff should be repealed, II being al 1
ready free of DUTY. The establishment and 4
successful prosecution of the spinning OF 4
cotton in this country, has enabled The plan
ters TO obtain, for several years past at least
an additional cent per pound on the whole
crop, and perhaps even more. The Ameri-
caYs are the greatest splnners of that article
in the world, the British excepted. This
competition has kept the price from falling TO
A ruinous point on several occasions, and il
has been acknowledged by many of he most
intelligent planters in The South. Our con-
sumption reached, the last year. one hundred
and seventy-six millions of pounds, which is
equal 10 the whole crop of;he Union in 1925.
and equal to the whole consumption OF
Great Britain in 1926. This is a striking
fact, and one that should be remembered by
the planters. The history of the production
and the manufacture OF cotton is so extraor-
binary, thai propose TO send you some STA
tistlcs on the subject furnished me by a
friend. hope you will not deem me over
sanguIne, when tel you that il is my be-
lief that the consumption of cotton in this
country will double in eight or nine years,
and that it will reach four hundred millions
of pounds IN 1856; and further. that we are
not only destined 10 be the greatest cotton
growers, but the most extensive cotton spin