Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1846-06-12
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@&@sIX@tsS9
FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE ~, 1916
THE TARIFF.

Late accounts from Washington are more
encouraging in reference to the Tariff. We
alluded few days since to a rumor that
caucus had been called for the purpose of
drilling McKay's bill through the House. 1t
is now understood that it proved a failure
none of the members from Pennsylvania,
N. York, or N. Hampshire attending. The
proposition to cut down the duties upon i'm
ports, in the midst of war which bids fair
to cost fifty millions, is too preposterous to
obtain the countenance of sane men-even
those who might go for free trade as peace
measure. 1t is in,imated however, that the
administration is in favor of such modifi-
cation of the tariff as shall "direct portion
'of the profits of the manufactures into the
"treasury to meet the extraordinary expen.
"ses Of The government, and evert the aern-
"ative Of an excise tax upon the people,
This proposition" says the Troy Wing, sis
worthy of the clique Of narrow minded parti-
zans, the miserable pedding politicians, who
are permitted for the present to WELD the
power and patronage of this great nation
They have assumed the responsibilities of a
war in the name of the whole people, and
now Ivy the way Of gratifying their spite
against the manufacturing and mechanic
population, they propose to draw the subsi.
dies for lis prosecution out of the pockets OF
these great industrial classes.
But the project is impracticable as well as
rascaly. lls success Is, of course, predica.
ted on the supposilion that the do nestic ar.
licles of the kinds on which il is proposed &c
reduce the duties, would be at once superse.
ded IN our markets by the foreign supply. In
no other way than thro' an influx Of foreign
goods sufficient to accomplish this object,
could an increase OF revenue be realized a,
the reduced rates of duty. But if Mr.. Polk
and his cabinet think that this would be the
immediate result they deceive themselves
Oar manufacturers would not sink at ono,
under the blow. Employers and hands
moved by common interest would sustain
each other-the former cheeriullv submit.
ting TO loss of their profits for the time be.
ing, the latter to a reduction of their wages
There would be no decrease of the domes,,,
supply for some time, and consequently bu
little increase Of the foreign importatons.-
Our spindes and looms and trip hammers
would be kept going as brskly as ever for a
least much longer period Than the Mexican
war is likely 10 last. The manufacturer.
would be beaten at last and compelled tc
disband their operatives or a large portion
of Them, il the policy were persisted in, bu
they would struggle long and maniuly, hop
ing for wiser rulers and better tmes-ant
probably their hopes would be fulfilled be-
fore the work of ruin should be fully accom-.
plished. But whatever might be the conse
quences of the precious scheme for raising
the wind, referred to and we are sorry /,
say approved by the True Sun, it piU no
be tried. The larfi, in spite of Lamentations
in the South and elsewhere, will remain sub
stantially, as il is. Without laying clam t.
the faculty of second sight we make this pre-
diction with perfect confidence"