American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper., 1846-08-04


The River and Harbor Bill, which contained
among other appropriations, 100000 for the
Harbor of Baltimore, and SEQ 900 for Havre-
de-Grace, was yesterday vetoed by the Presi-
dent.
EFFEcrs Of THE MEASURE. Ignorant men
may argue, that the tariff act lately passed, can
produce no injurious effect until it has gone
into operation and hence that 1t is a duty to
submit in silence until that period shall have
arrived Designing men who desire to impose
upon the community, may take the same
rround-but those fpractical knowledge know
that tbs is delusion, and that the disastrous
consequences will be measurably felt long prior
to the time of putting the act in force. Men
engaged in business which will be deeply injur-
ed by the act, will at once make preparations
to render The blow as light as possible, by cur
failing expenses as far as practicable. Indeed
they would be exceedingly foolish not to do so
and we know that, although the act has been
passed but few days, the result has been to
suspend work and to cause hands to be dis
charged. 1t is to be supposed that the manu-
iacturcr of iIon finding by the grade of duties
established by this BILL that he cannot success
fully compete with the English manufacturer,
will still continue to produce what he cannot
sell without loss: 1t will be found that men
engaged in this business are too keen-sighted
to their own interests to be guilty of so gross
an error, They will discharge their hands, re-
faip p1,yc ha tO
fulfil existing orders. In other lines of business
the operation will be the same-so that great
distress may be produced before the act shall
have gone into operation No panic is neces-
sary to produce these results; and it is ridcu-
lous to charge those who mention them, with
the design to create panic.
We have most sincerely desired, that the pol
icy of the country in respect to the tariff should
become settled; as the continual changes, and
the making of that policy an element of party
strife, are most destructive Of public prosperity.
Had Congress gone honestly to work to frame
such tariff as would have afforded Just pro-
lection to domestic industry whilst it furnished
sufficient revenue to government, we believe
and the whole country been satished-instead
of which party has been permitted to control
the whole proceeding, and the question will
again come up for decision before the peo-
pie. Are there not honest members of Con-
gress of both parties, who are willing to compare
ideas-adjust differences-and give the coun-
try fair and a Just tariff? We have no doubt
that, if it were not for the discipline of party,
which torbids ompromise-howeve beneficial,
a tariff, such as would have received general
appreciation, would have been produced. We
believe that manufacturers would be content
with such protection as would afford them
fair profits for their outlay and labor; and less
ought not to be expected by them. That the
protective policy will be abandoned we have
not the most distant idea; for it is so palpably
the interest of the nation to foster domestic in
dustry, that contrary measure would be at
once repudiated by the common sense of the
American people. That was tried in 1912, and
Congress was compelled to restore the protec-
tive principle; and so it will be again, The
present tariff will not be in operation one month,
probably not week, before memorials for
change in it will be forwarded from every di-
rectinn But it is said, that it will be contnu-
ed through the Influence of party. Not SO; it
is no longer party question with those who
are to be ruined by its operations. In Penn
sylvania, its most strenuous opponents are at
tached to the dominant party-and in the Sc
nate the severest denunciations uttered against
it, came from members of the democratic party.
We support the protection ofdomestic indus
try upon principle, disconnected from all party
influences and considerations. We stand now
upon the same ground which we have always
occupied, and shall remain unchanged, whatev
or may be the fluctuations of parties upon the
subject. We openly opposed the famous COM
promise act, for the reasons that did not afford
adequate protection, nor permanently settle the
policy the country. We foresaw that the con-
test would be revived, and that politicians
would seize the occasion TO deceive and impose
upon the people Were the two parties to
change position tomorrow, we should remain
unaltered in our opinions-we should still be
the unfinchng supporters of protection to do
mestic industry-prefering at all times, and
under all circumstances, the prosperity of own
felow-citizens 10 that of the people of foreign
governments.
CAMP MEETING. A Camp Meeting of the
Kent and Mlllington Circuits of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, will be held in Mrs. Brooks
woods, about eight miles from Chestertown,
commencing on Friday, the 7th inst.